Managing authority
Natural England / South Downs National Park Authority / South Downs Way National Trail partnership
National park authoritySDWAY completion certificate
South Downs Way Completion Certificate
A 160 km chalk-ridge National Trail from Winchester to Eastbourne, ending above the English Channel after the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head.
SDWAYRegistry route
Image source and licence
Rackham Banks cross dyke, Amberley, West Sussex 16 by Simon Burchell, CC BY-SA 4.0; cropped and colour-treated.
Verification application
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Trail context
A certificate grounded in the journey.
A considered completion record for South Downs Way, built around private evidence review and a permanent public verification layer.
Completed South Downs Way? Submit route-appropriate GPS tracks, activity links, dated photos, stamps, permits, guide confirmation, club confirmation, or a clear completion narrative. Route variants are assessed from the evidence provided.
Structured trail record
Authority, season and access
Official route status
Designated National Trail from Winchester to Eastbourne
National TrailNormal endpoints
South Downs Way marker beside Winchester City Mill to South Downs Way marker at Holywell, Eastbourne
Catalogue references: 51.061, -1.307 to 50.752, 0.268Elevation range
5 m to 245 m
Rounded catalogue elevationsRecommended months
March-October
No routine trail-wide closure. Chalk erosion, storms, livestock operations and rights-of-way works may produce signed diversions.Access requirements
No trail-wide permit or compulsory guide. It is a multi-user route on many sections; walkers must share with cyclists and horse riders.
Permit/bookingCollection and characteristics
National Trail
National TrailChalk DownsMulti UserCoastWaymarked
Coordinates and elevations are rounded catalogue references for discovery only. They are not navigation-grade or emergency waypoints. Always use current official route information and an appropriate map.
Reviewed route data
Route, stages and elevation
Interactive map of South Downs Way
160-162.2 km, depending on route variant
162.94 km
2,351 m on mapped route
0–232 m
7-9 walking days
StartSouth Downs Way marker beside Winchester City MillFinishSouth Downs Way marker at Holywell, Eastbourne
- 1Winchester
- 2Beacon Hill
- 3Old Winchester Hill
- 4Queen Elizabeth Country Park and Butser Hill
- 5Cocking
- 6Amberley
- 7Chanctonbury Ring
- 8Devil's Dyke
- 9Ditchling Beacon
- 10Southease
- 11Alfriston
- 12Seven Sisters and Beachy Head
- 13Eastbourne
Planning summary only. Check current closures, permits, weather, transport, and official navigation sources before travel.
Why get this certificate?
A 160 km chalk-ridge National Trail from Winchester to Eastbourne, ending above the English Channel after the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head.
Your certificate includes a premium PDF, a permanent QR verification page, registry-signed metadata, and privacy-aware public display settings.
Accepted evidence
Route-matched proof examples
- Continuous dated GPX, FIT, TCX, or equivalent activity record covering the recognised route
- Route checkpoints: Winchester; Old Winchester Hill; Queen Elizabeth Country Park and Butser Hill; Amberley; Devil's Dyke; Southease; Alfriston; Eastbourne
- Dated endpoint and checkpoint photographs plus stage history where track coverage has material gaps
- Evidence of required permits, bookings, guide arrangements, or access compliance where applicable
Before payment
Prepare proof that tells the whole route story.
Best evidence: GPX, FIT, or TCX files, trusted activity links, dated trail photos, stamps, permits, or guide confirmation. Photos alone may need supporting context.
Expected review level: Evidence Reviewed. Most reviews target 2–3 working days after payment and private proof upload.
Trail proof checklist
- Continuous dated GPX, FIT, TCX, or equivalent activity record covering the recognised route
- Route checkpoints: Winchester; Old Winchester Hill; Queen Elizabeth Country Park and Butser Hill; Amberley; Devil's Dyke; Southease; Alfriston; Eastbourne
- Dated endpoint and checkpoint photographs plus stage history where track coverage has material gaps
- Evidence of required permits, bookings, guide arrangements, or access compliance where applicable
Distance and route variants are reviewed conservatively. Public pages never publish raw GPS points or private proof files.
Private review layer
Your proof is not your public profile.
Reviewers may see
GPS and activity files, uploaded photos, permits, stamps, guide confirmations, completion narrative, and clarification replies.
The public may see
Certificate status, trail, privacy-controlled display name, dates, verification level, issue date, fingerprint, and registry signature state.
Supported route variants
A recognised signed alternative runs through Jevington near Eastbourne. Either official signed approach may be accepted when documented; temporary diversions do not create a separate variant.
Key route sequence: Winchester - Beacon Hill - Old Winchester Hill - Queen Elizabeth Country Park and Butser Hill - Cocking - Amberley - Chanctonbury Ring - Devil's Dyke - Ditchling Beacon - Southease - Alfriston - Seven Sisters and Beachy Head - Eastbourne.
Prepare your proofVerification levels
Evidence ReviewedPrivate completion evidence was assessed by a Verified Hikes reviewer.
GPS Evidence ReviewedA GPS file or trusted activity record formed part of the evidence review.
Photo + GPS ReviewedPhotographic context and GPS or activity evidence both supported the review.
Partner ConfirmedAn approved partner confirmed completion through a defined workflow.
Authority ConfirmedA trail authority explicitly confirmed the record through an approved workflow.
How the process works
Start verification
Create a paid application for this trail.
Upload proof
Add GPS, activity links, photos, stamps, permits, or confirmation documents privately.
Registry review
A reviewer checks evidence, dates, privacy, and verification level.
Certificate issued
Receive your premium PDF and QR-verifiable public record.
FAQ
What does the QR code prove?
It opens a safe registry page showing certificate metadata, signature status, evidence summary, and PDF fingerprint.
Request correction
See outdated trail facts? Send a correction request so the registry team can review the route record before publication changes.
Request correction/update