South East England – Chalk Downs, Wooded Weald, and Clifftop Coast

Ridgelines, ancient woodland, and shoreline shaped by long-established paths

South East England is shaped by its walking routes, rolling chalk hills, wooded valleys, and coastline, where long-distance trails connect historic towns, protected landscapes, and quiet countryside. Routes such as the South Downs Way and North Downs Way follow high ridgelines across Hampshire, Sussex, Surrey, and Kent, linking open downland with villages, farms, and cathedral towns in one of England’s most closely settled yet deeply walkable regions.

The geography is defined by contrast rather than height. Broad chalk escarpments rise above the surrounding land, offering long views across the Weald, while below them lie wooded slopes, river valleys, and pasture. Inland, ancient woodland and hedged farmland create a patchwork landscape of fields and lanes. To the south and east, white cliffs and salt-edged shores meet the Channel, where paths follow headlands, beaches, and tidal inlets.

Much of the countryside is protected. The South Downs National Park forms the region’s backbone of open chalk downland and river valleys, while the Surrey Hills National Landscape, Kent Downs National Landscape, and High Weald National Landscape safeguard wooded ridges, farmland, and historic rural scenery. These areas preserve not only wildlife habitats but also long-established patterns of settlement and land use, where footpaths pass easily between field, forest, and village.

Movement through the South East often follows historic routes. Ridgeways, drove roads, and ancient trackways still guide modern trails across the hills. The South Downs Way traces a continuous chalk crest from Winchester to Eastbourne, while the North Downs Way links Farnham with Dover through the Surrey Hills and Kent Downs. Shorter regional paths weave through the High Weald and along the coast, including the developing England Coast Path and clifftop routes between Seaford and Eastbourne beneath the Seven Sisters.

Walking here is shaped by rhythm and proximity. Settlements appear frequently, with market towns, farms, and churches marking steady progress across the landscape. Routes feel connected rather than remote, allowing long days on foot that move naturally between ridge, woodland, and shoreline without ever feeling isolated.

This is a region best understood step by step: along chalk escarpments, through beech woods, and beside the sea, where landscape and settlement remain closely interwoven.

Routes & Landscapes Across the Region

The South Downs National Park and South Downs Way provide continuous ridge walking with wide views across Sussex and Hampshire.

Further north, the Surrey Hills, Kent Downs, and North Downs Way link wooded slopes, valleys, and historic towns across chalk country.

The High Weald offers quieter inland routes through ancient woodland and sandstone ridges, while the England Coast Path and clifftop trails around the Seven Sisters trace the shoreline between headland, beach, and harbour.

Counties of South East England

Hampshire, Sussex, Surrey, and Kent each offer distinct variations of this chalk and woodland landscape, providing natural bases for longer regional journeys between ridge, forest, and coast.

Beginning to explore South East England

South East England’s trails, protected landscapes, and historic paths form a connected network rather than a single destination. Exploring by ridge, valley, and shoreline reveals how centuries of movement have shaped one of England’s most varied and accessible walking regions.