48 hours off-grid in the South Downs: the guide to what to do, where to eat and where to stay
The South Downs National Park has a particular quality to it. The hills roll in a way that feels generous rather than dramatic, the sky above them seems bigger than it should and the footpaths out here have been walked for centuries. It's an hour from London on the train and sitting on top of one of those hills it feels like that doesn't quite make sense.
Here's how we'd spend 48 hours based out here, with the cabin as your starting point for all of it.
Getting there
By car: 1 to 1.5 hours from London, depending on traffic. Worth stopping in Petersfield on the way in to grab your food and supplies for the stay.
By train: London Waterloo or Clapham Junction to Petersfield is just under an hour. From the station it's a 7-minute taxi ride to the cabin, around £10-15. A2B Taxis Petersfield (01730 233299) are the reliable local option. Book in advance if you can.
Pick up firewood before you leave Petersfield — petrol stations all carry it, or the Waitrose and M&S in town. Stock up well because you're in the middle of the countryside once you're in.
Day 1: arrive, eat, settle in
Lunch in Petersfield
Petersfield is a genuinely nice market town and worth more time than just a shop. For lunch, Josie's is the best spot for brunch and coffee, Madeleine's Kitchen is dog friendly and does great cakes, sandwiches and deli things, and if you're after pastries then Hoxton Bakehouse (opposite the new Gail's) is hard to beat.
If you want to do a proper food shop, the M&S and Waitrose are both in town. Durleighmarsh Farm Shop is 7 miles from the cabin and a better option if you've got time for it — pick-your-own fruit in summer, good local produce year-round.
Head to the cabin and get settled
Park up, load the trolley and walk into the field. The cabin sits up on a hill with views across the South Downs that hit you before you've even got your coat off. Get the fire going, get your food sorted, spend the afternoon doing very little. That's the idea.
Walk to the White Horse
The White Horse — known locally as the Pub with No Name — is 1.5 miles from the cabin across the fields. A whitewashed 17th-century inn sitting in the middle of nowhere, with a pond out front and real ales inside. Walk over in the evening, eat well, walk back. The Hawkley Inn is also walkable at about 20 minutes, good food and classic ales with a beer garden and views of the village church. Either way, you're doing it on foot.
Day 2: slow morning, proper walk
Take your time with the morning - No alarm. Coffee first, whatever's out the window second. The cabin looks out over the South Downs and the light on those hills first thing is something you don't want to rush past.
The big walk - The Shoulder of Mutton Viewpoint loop is 8km and about 3 hours — it takes you up onto the ridgeline with views across the rolling landscape south towards Petersfield and the coast. On a clear day you can see a long way. That's the walk if you want to feel like you've really been somewhere. The Pub with No Name loop is 5km and easier — flat, rural, lovely, and you end up back at the pub for lunch if you time it right. Good for any fitness level. If the South Downs Way is on your list, it passes nearby — the full trail runs 100 miles from Winchester to Eastbourne through the National Park, but you can pick up a section of it and walk for as long as you want before turning back.
Back at the cabin - This is an evening for the fire pit and cooking outside. The BBQ is the right call if the weather's cooperating - get it hot for 30 minutes before you cook and it'll do whatever you put on it properly. Sit outside for as long as feels reasonable, then go in and get the wood burner going.
Day 3: pack up and explore before you head back
Check out is 11am, which gives you a proper morning rather than a rushed one. Queen Elizabeth Country Park is 2,000 acres of open woodland just down the road — you can walk up to Butser Hill, which is the highest point on the South Downs Way, and the views from the top on a good day are worth the climb. Arundel Castle is worth the drive if you want something more substantial - one of the most impressive medieval castles in England, with a full set of historic rooms and a good café. Midhurst and its Cowdray Ruins are slightly closer and a bit more off the beaten path, good for a wander and lunch before the drive home. The seaside is also only about 30 minutes away. West Wittering is the best beach in the area, Hayling Island is wilder and less crowded. Both are worth a stop if the weather's playing along.
Thinking about your next stay?
The South Downs are brilliant for big walks and open countryside. If you want something wilder and more remote, Dorset is the one to try - the Cerne Abbas chalk giant, proper Dorset valleys and a thatched pub two minutes from the cabin. Or if you want to stay on the coast, the East Sussex cabins are an hour east with Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters cliffs on your doorstep.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the South Downs off-grid cabins?
The cabins (Caspian and Jadis) are near Petersfield in Hampshire, on the edge of the South Downs National Park. About 1 hour from London Waterloo by train.
Can you get to the South Downs cabin without a car?
Yes. London Waterloo or Clapham Junction to Petersfield is just under an hour, then a 7-minute taxi to the cabin. Book the taxi in advance.
Are the South Downs cabins dog friendly?
Yes, all Escape Off The Grid cabins are dog friendly. A 15m stake and lead is provided at each cabin.
What pub can you walk to from the South Downs cabin?
The White Horse (known locally as the Pub with No Name) is 1.5 miles away on a footpath through the fields — a beautiful 17th-century whitewashed inn with real ales and good food. The Hawkley Inn is also walkable at about 20 minutes.
What's the best walk from the South Downs cabin?
The Shoulder of Mutton Viewpoint loop is 8km with brilliant ridge views. The Pub with No Name loop is an easier 5km circular. Both start from the cabin.
