7 Days Wild Camping and Thru-hiking on the South Downs Way | Walking from Winchester to Eastbourne
Вставка
- Опубліковано 6 лип 2021
- We’re on a mission to hike 14 UK National Trails and the South Downs Way was lucky number 1. Starting in the city of Winchester, where Tom and I met, studied, and got married, follow our journey to Eastbourne; a 100-mile thru-hike wild camping in rain and shine, with some impromptu accommodation stops, scary ventures through cow fields and some truly epic 360-degree views.
The South Downs Way is a well-marked trail but we used the Hiiker App to find water, towns, pubs, shops and all local amenities.
Download here: hiiker.app/
***
In 2020 we created our very own challenge called ‘Walk for Good’ but then Covid happened. A year later we’ve moved out of our house, into our self-built van and our Walk for Good is now back in business! Following 14 beautiful National Trails around the United Kingdom, we’re going to attempt to walk all 2422 miles and raise money for two charities: Reach (www.reach.org.uk) for upper limb difference and Mind for mental health. And we’d love it if you followed us every step of the way!
Find out more about why we've chosen to raise money for Reach & Mind, and support our Walk for Good here: ittakesajourney.com/support-ou...
Follow our Journey...
Instagram: / ittakesajourney
Facebook: / ittakesajourney
Website: ittakesajourney.com/
Definitely one of the better 41 minutes and 58 seconds I’ve had in my life!! Well done and thank you for sharing 😊
I do trail ultras. In October I am turning 70 and I’m doing two 50-milers to celebrate. I primarily power walk these and they are not too hard to do. I have done several before, so I know what to expect. I did 100 miles at a multi-day event in be foot after another. Boom! Be safe.
Congratulation for October. That's VERY impressive! I can only hope that I will be saying the same thing when I'm 69. :P We have yet to do anything much more than a marathon and even we find that quite excusing hahaha. I did do an Iron Man a few year ago but for now we'll be sticking to the Thru-hiking.
You'll have to let us know how you get on the 50-miles hope the training goes well!
All our best,
Tom
For the size an weight of my stove I wouldn't be having cold coffee and food. Braver than me!
Haha! Good on you! It does mean when we get back and stick the kettle on a hot coffee tastes EVEN better! I camped on Monday night and didn't have a stove, a cup or a spoon so made a spoon out of cardboard and added the coffee to my water bottle! It did the job! lol
This brings back memories. I did this trail a few years back with my dog. Got as far as Devils Dyke and my autoimmune arthritis flared up like a massive pain! So near...and yet so far! One of these days I'll finish. Good on you! Only torrential rain once, but the ticks were horrendous!
Hi Jeanette,
That arthritis does sound like a right pain. Sorry to hear that, but cracking job on getting to Devils Dyke! Ticks yuck! No thank you lol. Hope you get to finish it soon!
Thanks for the comment. Tom
I thought it only rained like this in Scotland. Jesus... Good effort.
Haha I know 😅😝
Love this! Missing this trail big time. Simple but beautiful!
Love that. Simple but beautiful!
You guys are both so amazing and inspirational. What a roller coaster of emotions! Well done!!
Cheers Anya. We are really enjoying your cycling. Keep up the good work!
Brilliant account of the South Downs Way. I love both of your sunny disposition's despite the rain!
Thanks Andy!
Nice One.Enjoyed it a Lot
Glad you enjoyed it! 😜
Fantastic video, well done 👏
Thank you! Cheers!
Awesome video Thankyou guys
Thanks Joshua!
Guys, super going , especially with that amount of rain 🌧.
Well done
Thanks Nigel!
Great videos really enjoyed them 👍
Glad you like them!
The South Downs Way is my nearest big hiking trail... you've now made me feel compelled/inspired to stop mooching around and actually plan to give it a go! Big props to you for dealing with all that rain! Loved the video, thanks for sharing :)
Hi Chloe thank you for your message and you definitely should hit the SDW trail, it's a really lovely one, even in the rain! I think we were very unlucky with the weather but hey we'll just have to do it again one day! :) Happy hiking and thank you for getting in touch :)
Just came across your video and thoroughly enjoyed - great stuff completing the trail in the terrible weather you had. Pleased it came out sunny in Eastbourne for you…👍
Thanks for your comment!
Rain is fine, it when you get cold is the issue.
I always remind myself that the sun will always come out at some point!
All the best,
Tom
The coffee van near Winchester hill is a perfect Oasis. Did the first part of the Downs in summer 23. Will continue this summer. great video take care.
Thank you for making and sharing your adventure across the South Downs! I live in eastbourne and starting my day hiking adventure very soon, I’m hoping to day hike across the South Downs in sections over the summer months. Would love the idea of doing it all in one, but due to family commitments, can’t quite do that. Amazing journey! Thanks again for sharing!
Sounds great! Its a beautiful trail the views and breath taking and the Seven sister is amazing!
Going through hiking videos binge and so glad I stumbled on your channel. Great video. Thank you for sharing. Considering doing South Downs way, this is helpful.
Its a great and pleasant hike. Fully recommend it!
What a beautiful couple you are ❤️ great editing and putting stuff together
And positivity of two of you ! Thanks for sharing. ATB
Thanks so much! 😊
Love the rain skirts what a great idea I will steal it
I really love your videos! Greetings from Sweden 🇸🇪
Hi Paul, Thanks for your comment! Glad you like the videos!
We hope to come and visit your beautiful country at some point in the near future!
Cheers x
Hei- hei.. UA-cam suggested your video to me.. have watched it only for two minutes and absolutely loving it! You two are so lovely and fun.
Just wanted to say it.. will carry on watching now.
Linda :)
haha. What a nice comment!
Thank you very much!
Always nice to read nice things from nice people!
We had to stop at 15 minutes because we didn't pass that yet! We just bailed on this after one of us got a knee injury. Your ultra-light packs are giving us envy! Will have to do research. Also we thought our weather was pretty rough, but you guys are real troopers haha!
#nospoilers 😜. Light gear is good on the knees and can make hiking a lot more enjoyable. Defiantly recommend it! I hope you can find the time to finish this brilliant trial.
Cheers, Tom
Loving the rain gear colour coordination! Seems like a beautiful route just shame it was so wet for ya but the miles still bring smiles. was hoping youd camp on the golf green them predug cat holes speed up time in the morning 😂
😂 The time saving on predug cat holes must be through the roof 😜.
Great video guys. You come across as such a lovely couple and it must have been great spending quality time together on the trail! I may go in August 2022 😁
Thanks so much! 😊
Firstly, great effort and inspirational video . Doing the C2C with the Mrs in the summer . We’re be a mixture of wild camp , camping and b&b . You’ve made us feel a little more normal 🫡
Brilliant guys big thumbs up. Loved the video, know the feeling with the cows😕 dang things scare the life out of me. Anyhoo well done and Atb Dave aka wackyswanderings
Cheers Wachyswanderings! That cow field was exceptional but we are feeling more confident about cows now. Apparently, they are really like curious dogs. That said we really want to stay on the right side of them 😊.
@@ItTakesaJourney 🤣😂👍 Atb Dave
Thank you very much, Max and Tom, for this wonderful, beautifully filmed, and interesting video! I loved your never-ending positivity in the nearly ceaseless rain 👍👍 Generally, the toughest hikes make the best memories. You got a new subscriber from the Southern part of Finland, with currently "only" -8 oC, and snowing, again 🌨 Wishing all the best to both of you, and lovely new adventures 💕
Good job guys. Well done for cracking on. Small tip, cows are just really big dogs, be confident. The are just very inquisitive
Great stuff even when it's raining it's us against the elements mix it up with a night in a pod they look so cosy great videos thanks for posting bren new subscriber
Cheers Bren! That pod was a proper mood enhancer and yes very cosy.
Tom
Love your videos. Superbly done and very inspirational. I did the cotswold way with a walking mate and now trying to persuade the wife. Both the cw and SDW are quite challenging. I also did that over 5 wild nights and the coast to coast walk over 12 nights. . Cleveland way and Cumbria way also My wife and I have done the Dales way x2, Ridgeway x2 , Anglesey Cx1, Peddars /Norfolk CP x 3 (its flat) The isle of wight is one of our favourites, so varied and living in Surrey is quite accessible. We have a motorhome so getting my wife back into a tent is not easy😂, We are now 65 and 66! You look as though you are really light with z pack gear etc, even a rain skirt😂👍. You must do a gear review/list as we always seem to be around 10/11 kg. Looking forward to your next adventure. We'll done you guys! 👏👏
Thank you for your lovely message! You guys have sure done a bunch of the UK hikes. Max has a bad knee atm but hoping to hit up the SWCP later this year but we will see about that. The light gear is a game-changer in terms of easy movement and not such a knee killer. You just have to hope that the weather stays good. lol
Hope your keeping well and staying fit this winter. Bring on some sun shine!
That was an unbelievably wet July.
Unbelievably is the right word for it!
❤️
Cheers Paul!
Loved the video! Indeed a joy and inspiration to watch your big smiles in the rain...
You need to come trek in Israel and our neighbors
Hi David,
Thanks for the nice comment!
Israel sound like a must do!
I walked this route in the first week June (2021), my first ever thru. Loved just about every moment of it. From the looks of it I enjoyed much better weather than you guys; managing wet gear is always a challenge.... I did try in October 2020 and I ended up getting on a train to London at Amberley, completely soaked.....
Congratulation on completing the trail, 100 mile is a very good walk indeed!
The weather can be hard to deal with and no matter how good your wet weather gear is the water is always going to get in. It really is about staying warm and sometimes that means visiting a pub lol.
What's your next hike going to be?
@@ItTakesaJourney Too true, maybe I need to factor a few pub stops into my next hike, either the Yorkshire Wolds Way or the Cotswolds Way (inspired by your video).
Really enjoyed your video and well done on completing the walk in such bad weather.
Which camera did you use?
I’m new to all this and plan to do the coast to coast next year . Are cows and bulls to be scared off?
Also what’s those silly looking skirts about? Could you do a full pack and kit video someday soon you guys certainly know what you’re doing.
Excellent that sounds great! We'd love to do that one one day! I would just say to be very wary of cows and especially of bulls. We read online not to make eye contact, give them space, don't give them a fright. I wouldn't walk through a field with a bull in knowingly. People do get hurt, apparently cows are like big dogs, they're just curious, but I'm happy to avoid them lol! Also, if they come too close for comfort, a farmer told us just give them a tap on the nose with your walking pole.
The rain skirts are fantastic for summer, we used them on the Appalachian Trail because it was super hot and they keep your legs breezy and they're super lightweight.
I'll certainly chat to Tom, a pack video sounds like a good idea, thank you for the suggestion! Happy trails!
@@ItTakesaJourney cool stuff … looking forwards to it 👍🏼
Wonderful video guys. I am interested to know why you chose ponchos for your wet weather gear? I am wondering if the poncho is better than a jacket and leggings.
Hi Jason, Thanks for the comment!
We use rain jackets and rain skirts / kilts, not ponchos 😋. The jacket and rain skirt are very light, which is good for weight, but there is a compromise they aren't as waterproof as heavier weight gear. Plus we got court out big time on this trail by the rain lol. The goal really when it's raining is to stay warm as even the best-wet weather gear has its limitations.
The gear we use is: Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket & Ultralight Adventure Equipment Rain Kilt
Probably too much info here...
Cheers, Tom
Hello Tom. Do you feel you made the correct decision in choosing the kilt/skirt?
I think the unnerving thing aboit cows is that you expect them to f off sharpish when you approach them and they dont move a muscle!
Agreed, they will often only move if you are in very close proximity and you can only hope that they are more scared of you. but you don't know until your real close 😬
I’m planning on doing this in 2 weeks, do you have more specific locations on where you wild camped?!
Hi Jeremy, Unfortunately, we don't have them pinned on a map I'm afraid. But I'm sure you will find some good spots. I wouldn't be too worried about wild camping on the trail it's quite a regular sight. 😋. Let us know how you get on.
All the best, Tom
We did the sdw to we finished in the exact same month as you guys!?!
Go on Dan!
What a great trail it is!
Hopefully you managed to miss the rain!
Sure did sorry you got the unfortunate weather
The hideous noise accompanying your intro to the video put me right off immediately. In no way does it relate to the idyllic perfection of that classically romantic English landscape of rolling green hills, ancient villages and farms, tiny flint and stone churches from Saxon times and the chalk horse carved into the land by the hands of men who lived so far back in time that they predate the Norman conquest, the Saxons and even the Romans, by hundreds of years,and whose tribal identity, lost in the mists of a time before written language, can only be guessed at in the vaguest of terms.
All of that and more is the historical, visual, and spiritually uplifting priceless treasure, of the South Downs Way, and your video deserved an intro which reflected that, rather than the raucous noise of a fairground disco.
Sorry to disappoint you Arthur! 😬
Thank you for making and sharing your adventure across the South Downs! I live in eastbourne and starting my day hiking adventure very soon, I’m hoping to day hike across the South Downs in sections over the summer months. Would love the idea of doing it all in one, but due to family commitments, can’t quite do that. Amazing journey! Thanks again for sharing!
Sounds like a great idea! let us know how you get one. Best thing about the day hikes is getting back home for a proper dinner and your own bed. Cheers,
Tom