Enjoyed that, off on this trail soon myself. I like your choice of tent, I've used my solo on the Pennine Way, Wainwright Coast to Coast and the Southern Upland Way. It's a more than capable tent at a sensible price. Atb 👍🍺
Hi Johnathon congratulations on completing the walk and many thanks for filming, editing and taking us along. Very much enjoyed and took on many tips. Big thumbs up from me. Thanks again and ATB Dave aka wackyswanderings.
Thanks John, my gear now is as a result of research and buying the wrong stuff, pretty happy with it all. The SDW was great but really missing getting out and about at the moment, just back from the Allan King Way video to follow when I sort it out.
@@JonathanDowe amazing enjoy every minute, going to hit the southdowns way in just over a week my first long distance hike and wild camp!!! So nervous I won't survive 🤣🤣 but thank you so much for your tips and sharing your experience,
@@kM-xp3ik it’s a great first walk, take time to talk to some of the other people on the trail there are some great characters. I met people who had been posting on the SDW Facebook page as well, if you have not found it yet look it up it’s a good source of information. There is loads of wild camping places and I had no problems, take it easy and enjoy it. How many days you planning to take?
@@JonathanDowe thank you that's a great help I just requested to join. I have a whole 7 days to be out there :) which I think is a good length of time as it will be my first and I just know I will have loads of distraction stops from SWD beauty 🤣. how many days will you be in the cotwolds?
@@kM-xp3ik I am on the Cotswold for five days wild camping except the last night when I can have a shower before getting on the train at Bath, might be easier to get a seat if I wild camp all the way though. 🤔
Enjoyed the video, thanks. You had some great shots and also really good info on the water points. Wish we'd seen that to reassure us before we started our own SDW way walk this summer. Although there is loads of water it would have been nice to know, so we didn't need to carry so much with us! We've been doing the SDW in 2 night stages, and just have Lewes and Eastbourne section to go. Looking forward to the coastal leg next!
I know what you mean I ended up carrying more water than I needed too just because the waterpoint locations are a bit sketchy. The last section is lovely but I would advise choice a dry day there is not a lot of cover. On the video I show the water point at Excet which is available but behind the barrier round the back of the toilets. With that one and the one a Birling Gap you should be good for that last section, enjoy.
Inspired now to attempt this walk myself. Albeit with the luxury of the occasional B&B en route. Does anyone attempt the reverse journey? If so is it less challenging than the Winch to Eastbourne walk?
Mark glad you are inspired, there are lots of B&Bs on route and plenty of people I met were doing it that way. I was going to do Eastbourne to Winchester but logistics where easier the other way, some say Winchester to Eastbourne is easier as the prevailing wind is from the west. There was no wind I notice so I certainly did not think I was help by it.
Hi Jonathan, I've really enjoyed you vlogs on your trail walks and they have me looking forward to getting out this year to complete a minimum of the Test and Itchen way. I was wondering if you would take the time to do a kit list video of what you take on these walks?
Nicely done. Did you use any phone apps (Far Out? Hiiker?) and did you use a guide book? (maybe you said at the beginning and I have forgotten!) Coming from the USA to do this next month and thinking about getting the Trailblazer Guide to save running phone battery down! Not sure how the water grid references apply...could you clarify! Water is always the main concern!!
Hi Melanie, I used the Outdoors GPS app and a pocket map on this one. These days I always use Trailblazer Guides, honestly it’s all you would need on the South Downs Way, it will give all the water tap information. The SDW is one of the best walks I have done in terms of fresh water supplies. Hope you have a great hike, I am off tomorrow to do a section of the North Downs Way, seems ages (although only four months) since I was out on a long hike.
Walking With Jonathan hoping to go at the end of October. Probably not going to happen with the restrictions though. Also might be a bit dodgy with the weather 😂
Great video and thanks so much for highlighting where all those water points were. Very useful indeed.
Glad you enjoyed it, I try to be useful.
Enjoyed that, off on this trail soon myself. I like your choice of tent, I've used my solo on the Pennine Way, Wainwright Coast to Coast and the Southern Upland Way. It's a more than capable tent at a sensible price. Atb 👍🍺
It is, this year I have moved onto a even more capable tent at a stupid price, ZPACK Duplex. It’s a great tent I just don’t think about the cost.
Hi Johnathon congratulations on completing the walk and many thanks for filming, editing and taking us along. Very much enjoyed and took on many tips. Big thumbs up from me. Thanks again and ATB Dave aka wackyswanderings.
Thank you Dave, really enjoyed doing it and have my fingers crossed for at least a couple of 100+ mile walks in 2021.
@@JonathanDowe likewise. ATB Dave 😊👍
A delight. Really captures the deep pleasure of long distancing backpacking.
Stewart Brady thank you for such a nice comment. I really do get a deep pleasure from long distance backpacking I am glad it came across.
Really enjoyed that. I never quite finished my attempt last year. This is making me consider giving it another shot.
I have done quite a few trips but the SDW is something special, I would consider doing it again.
great video John, love your choice of hiking gear , very similar to mine, and great vlog, congratulations on hiking the whole way
Thanks John, my gear now is as a result of research and buying the wrong stuff, pretty happy with it all. The SDW was great but really missing getting out and about at the moment, just back from the Allan King Way video to follow when I sort it out.
Thank you for sharing, I really enjoyed watching :)
Thank you so kind, doing the Cotswold Way in a couple of weeks so more to come.
@@JonathanDowe amazing enjoy every minute, going to hit the southdowns way in just over a week my first long distance hike and wild camp!!! So nervous I won't survive 🤣🤣 but thank you so much for your tips and sharing your experience,
@@kM-xp3ik it’s a great first walk, take time to talk to some of the other people on the trail there are some great characters. I met people who had been posting on the SDW Facebook page as well, if you have not found it yet look it up it’s a good source of information. There is loads of wild camping places and I had no problems, take it easy and enjoy it. How many days you planning to take?
@@JonathanDowe thank you that's a great help I just requested to join. I have a whole 7 days to be out there :) which I think is a good length of time as it will be my first and I just know I will have loads of distraction stops from SWD beauty 🤣. how many days will you be in the cotwolds?
@@kM-xp3ik I am on the Cotswold for five days wild camping except the last night when I can have a shower before getting on the train at Bath, might be easier to get a seat if I wild camp all the way though. 🤔
Enjoyed the video, thanks. You had some great shots and also really good info on the water points. Wish we'd seen that to reassure us before we started our own SDW way walk this summer. Although there is loads of water it would have been nice to know, so we didn't need to carry so much with us! We've been doing the SDW in 2 night stages, and just have Lewes and Eastbourne section to go. Looking forward to the coastal leg next!
I know what you mean I ended up carrying more water than I needed too just because the waterpoint locations are a bit sketchy. The last section is lovely but I would advise choice a dry day there is not a lot of cover. On the video I show the water point at Excet which is available but behind the barrier round the back of the toilets. With that one and the one a Birling Gap you should be good for that last section, enjoy.
@@JonathanDowe That's super useful thanks very much. Yes, a dry day would be good! Just waiting for a weather window now.
Well done! A very enjoyable video to watch.
Dave Ford thank you, I tried to make something I would like to watch.
Inspired now to attempt this walk myself. Albeit with the luxury of the occasional B&B en route.
Does anyone attempt the reverse journey? If so is it less challenging than the Winch to Eastbourne walk?
Mark glad you are inspired, there are lots of B&Bs on route and plenty of people I met were doing it that way. I was going to do Eastbourne to Winchester but logistics where easier the other way, some say Winchester to Eastbourne is easier as the prevailing wind is from the west. There was no wind I notice so I certainly did not think I was help by it.
Hi Jonathan, I've really enjoyed you vlogs on your trail walks and they have me looking forward to getting out this year to complete a minimum of the Test and Itchen way. I was wondering if you would take the time to do a kit list video of what you take on these walks?
I have not done a kit list video before but in the absence of being able to get out walking it’s probably not a bad idea, I will see what I can do.
@@JonathanDowe brilliant. I look forward to this vid in the future. 👍
Nicely done. Did you use any phone apps (Far Out? Hiiker?) and did you use a guide book? (maybe you said at the beginning and I have forgotten!) Coming from the USA to do this next month and thinking about getting the Trailblazer Guide to save running phone battery down! Not sure how the water grid references apply...could you clarify! Water is always the main concern!!
Hi Melanie, I used the Outdoors GPS app and a pocket map on this one. These days I always use Trailblazer Guides, honestly it’s all you would need on the South Downs Way, it will give all the water tap information. The SDW is one of the best walks I have done in terms of fresh water supplies. Hope you have a great hike, I am off tomorrow to do a section of the North Downs Way, seems ages (although only four months) since I was out on a long hike.
Fantastic
Charlie Ross thank you, it was great fun doing it.
Taking notes....ta!
LordQuiche if you are looking to do the SDW I hope it will help. It’s a great walk really recommend it.
Walking With Jonathan hoping to go at the end of October. Probably not going to happen with the restrictions though. Also might be a bit dodgy with the weather 😂