Wild Camping on the South Downs

Farmers are also out doing pest control with rifles fitted with lamps or night vision after dark, woodland with no rights of way are classed as a safe backstop. Might be orth considering that when planning a camping spot.

Go deep or find a gulley, certain parts of the down do have organised shoots although i doubt rimfires would be involved because of the 'cleared land' part of the licence requirements. probably going to do it soon as its on my doorstep.

I spoke to a chap recently, he had just completed the SDW and said he thoroughly enjoyed the route. He started with fish & chips in Winchester about tea-time. 1st night: he camped on the first ridge out of the city, next morning a full english breakfast in a cafe beside a fishing lake (right on the route) 2nd night: foresty commission shelter/WC/flat ground in Queen Elizabeth park. 3rd night: free camp site beside the route at Amberly, breakfast in Steyning. 4th night: camped on Black Cap, breakfast from burger van beside Lewes/Brighton road. Finished with fish & chips in Eastbourne about tea-time. He said there were water taps along the route and a good shop and 'ask the farmer' camping at Cocking Post Office. Hope this helps.

why the hell does it have to be so difficult to enjoy the beautiful wild , as in south africa , and canada , if fact most of the world , you can enjoy the wild ..........england needs this interaction to appriciate the beautilful natural wild .

I'm a member of the aforementioned Sussex Search and Rescue. Most of our work revolves around people with dementia who wander off into what is reputed to be one of Britain's most forested counties. I've also wild camped on the Downs. But I'm not telling you where! You might want to avoid anywhere where there are pheasant feeders - green barrels on tripods at the edge of thickets and fields.

I do a lot of wild camping in most parts of the uk and is the best way to see the country and enjoy your own space, as for the South Downs I live close to the the Downs and wild camping is easy if you abide by the the rules of leaving at first light and making sure you do not leave any sign that you were there...If you find a heavy wooded area it is possible to walk as far in and away from the paths so you are completely out of sight of any dog walkers farmers that may disagree with you camping, I use a basha and bivi as it is quick to set up and to pack up, as for lighting a fire this could give your position away, I tend to light a fire late into the evening when it is dark and not able to see the smoke, also keep it small and contained.

If you want to try wild camping? Dartmoor is a good area to start, you can wild camp in most places, but you need to know how to read a map and compass and don't just rely on GPS as they are not alot of good when the battery runs flat as it is easy to get lost on the moors!