South Downs Challenge

Accommodation

Accommodation is provided in a local hostel. Sleeping arrangements are in same-sex twin share rooms. Please let us know if you wish to share with a specific person.

Why book with Charity Challenge?

Everything included from to ensure your safety and enjoyment on the day. Packed lunch and snacks at checkpoints throughout the day and then a medal to celebrate at the end.

• Fully qualified Challenge Leaders to help and support you throughout.
• Safety checkpoints along the whole route. Food and drink will be available at each checkpoint, along with first aid assistance.
• The highest quality South Downs charity event experience on the market!

Level of Difficulty

The South Downs challenge is graded as tough. This is the perfect challenge for participants who are of an adventurous spirit and an open mind, who have taken part in other trekking challenges and now wish to test themselves in a slightly tougher environment. You can tell your supporters that on your Trek South Downs Challenge you will be:

• Trekking a full day on the varied and undulating terrain of the South Downs National Trail
• Ascending nearly 1000m across the whole route

Clothing & Equipment

Equipment of good quality and durability could make the difference between a fantastic challenge experience and an uncomfortable one. For this challenge, waterproof and well-worn in boots or trail shoes will be indispensable. The terrain is uneven and can be very rough, so it is vital that you use either boots or trail running shoes with a good grip. Sports trainers are not suitable.

A full kit list for this challenge is available on the website and this outlines the different kit required for those looking to trek during the challenge and those looking to run.

Once you book you will have access to kit discounts with our partners The Outdoor Shop, Outdoor Hire and Cotswold Outdoor.

Training

The Trek South Downs is a long, sustained event of up to 10 hours and covering remote terrain with steep ascents and descents. Therefore it requires a good level of fitness. The ideal training for this challenge is, naturally, walking along similar terrain. However, if you do not have the luxury of living near the great outdoors, then the gym or running/walking in your local area are good places to start. Most training should be part of an ongoing lifestyle, but if this is not the case then you should begin training 4-6 months prior to the challenge and gradually build up. Remember to use the clothes, equipment and especially the shoes that you will be wearing on the challenge in order to get them worn in.

The more you exercise before the challenge, the more you will get out of it. Also see your Charity Challenge Fitness Training notes.

Money

During the challenge, there are limited opportunities to spend any money. You will pass through a small village with a shop. We would advise you should need no more than £20.00, excluding your joining and returning home travel costs.

Insurance

We don’t offer insurance for our UK trips, as any medical emergencies would naturally be covered through the NHS. If you wish, you could look into your own policy that covers cancellation for travel within the UK.

Climate

As you know, the weather in the UK can be highly unpredictable and at times erratic, so being prepared is the key! We will run UK challenges between April and October, and although the summer months of June-August should be, in general, warmer, sunnier and more stable in terms of the weather conditions, we all know that this isn’t always the case. Please check the weather forecasts up to ensure that you bring clothing suitable for warm sunny walking weather and also sudden wind and downpours should they occur.

Terrain

Despite its location in the UK, the difficulty of this trek should not be underestimated as it includes one long day of hiking, with tough ascents and descents. The route is on good paths, but it's the variation of terrain that makes this challenge a unique and fun experience. In particular terrain along the cliff tops of the Seven Sisters Country Park can be loose and rocky, and the ascents and descents here are short but steep.

Responsible Tourism

At Charity Challenge we are committed to sustainable and responsible tourism. On this challenge, in particular, we always liaise with the rangers at the South Downs National Park to make sure that we minimise our impact on the local environment. Our leaders care passionately for the environment and will be keen to talk to you about how you can do your bit to conserve the local area and enhance your experience. We believe that acting responsibly should add to your enjoyment of the challenge so we won’t lecture you about not dropping litter. Instead, we’d like to encourage you to support the ‘South Downs National Trail’ who maintain the excellent footpaths we will be walking on. The South Downs National Trail has an excellent website that provides information on their fantastic work and allows you to donate to them directly. Their website can be viewed here.

We would also like to encourage all our participants to spend a little extra time in the local area. Why not consider booking an extra night in a local B&B, and go out for a meal in one of the excellent local pubs after the challenge? Not only will you be able to celebrate your achievements but you will also be putting more money back into the local area.

For extra information, please visit our Responsible Tourism section.

Challenge Timings

Precise arrival times and instructions will be sent out 1 month prior to the challenge.

Your challenge begins early in the morning and you will be need to be ready on the Saturday morning for a 7.30am start. We expect people to be trekking for approximately 10 hours.

Getting There

The event registration point will be at Brighton train station.

The event finishes at Beachy Head, near Eastbourne, and a bus will provide transport back to Brighton train station.

Food & Drink

You will be provided with breakfast on the morning of your challenge, and a packed lunch during the day. There will also be refreshments available before each activity changeover.

Dinner is not provided on the evening that you arrive at your hostel but there are options locally.

Toilets

There will be toilet facilities both at the start and end of the trek; however, during the challenge, such facilities will be limited to the great outdoors!