Stage 5 of 7 · South Downs Way
Washington → Keymer
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Route briefing
What comes next
Climbs, water and huts in route order. Not listed does not mean absent: it may not be mapped.
Start
0 m
Washington
Start
Route geometry · source 2026-04-02
About 0 min in
24.4 km remaining
+641 m remaining
Water
0 m
Drinking Water
Water
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-02
About 0 min in
24.4 km remaining
+641 m remaining
Water
10.4 km
Drinking Water
Water
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-02
About 2h 42m in
14.0 km remaining
+502 m remaining
Water
13.3 km
Drinking Water
Water
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-02
About 3h 27m in
11.1 km remaining
+316 m remaining
Water
18.5 km
Drinking Water
Water
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-02
About 4h 48m in
5.9 km remaining
+216 m remaining
Water
19.3 km
Drinking Water
Water
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-02
About 5h 01m in
5.1 km remaining
+214 m remaining
Finish
24.4 km
Keymer
Finish
Route geometry · source 2026-04-02
About 6h 20m in
0 m remaining
Trail route lab
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Start: Washington
No nearby transit stop. Consider getting dropped off or using the previous stage's end stop.
End: Keymer
No nearby transit stop at the end. Check the next stage's start stop.
Segment Breakdown
Auto-analyzed from the elevation profile. Each segment shows the dominant character for planning your effort.
| Segment | Dist | ↑ / ↓ | Time | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington → km 8.2 (99m) 99–234m | 8.2 km | +134m / -143m | 1h 58m | 🏃 Highly Runnable |
km 8.2 (99m) → km 16.3 (173m) 2–203m | 8.2 km | +246m / -172m | 2h 10m | 📈 Climbing |
km 16.3 (173m) → Keymer 92–214m | 8.1 km | +243m / -203m | 2h 10m | 🏃 Highly Runnable |
| Total | 24.4 km | +641m / -542m | 6h 20m |
Pace & Fuel Calculator
Adjust your flat 10K pace to see personalized finish time, calorie burn, and hydration needs.
Terrain Analysis
Surface & Technicality
Gradient describes steepness, not exposure, scrambling, footing or current conditions. Technical difficulty is unknown where no mapped rating is available.
Surface
Estimated for the full route from the 74% with mapped surface data in OpenStreetMap.
Current Conditions
Based on 1991–2020 climate averages, the weather on South Downs Way Stage 5: Washington → Keymer is usually best from March to November.
Weather this week
Loading the forecast for low point (sea level) and high point (235 m)…
Weather by month
Typical weather on this stage: at the lowest point (sea level) and the highest point (235 m). Select a month to see why it is rated as it is.
| Month | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather | Mixed | Mixed | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Mixed |
| High point, day / night | 7°/1° | 7°/1° | 10°/2° | 13°/4° | 16°/6° | 19°/9° | 21°/11° | 21°/11° | 18°/9° | 14°/6° | 10°/3° | 7°/1° |
| Low point, day / night | 8°/2° | 9°/2° | 11°/3° | 14°/5° | 18°/8° | 20°/10° | 23°/12° | 22°/12° | 20°/10° | 16°/7° | 12°/4° | 9°/2° |
| Rain, mm | 89 | 68 | 56 | 52 | 51 | 56 | 55 | 66 | 63 | 99 | 102 | 101 |
| Snow at high point | Possible | Possible | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Frost |
| Daylight | 8 h 24 | 10 h | 11 h 47 | 13 h 46 | 15 h 29 | 16 h 29 | 16 h 07 | 14 h 38 | 12 h 44 | 10 h 49 | 9 h | 7 h 59 |
Source: TerraClimate 1991–2020 monthly averages. Averages for the area at each point’s elevation (4 km grid, corrected for height). Not a forecast or a report of current trail conditions. Snow at the high point is estimated with a simple snowpack model from these temperatures and precipitation, not observed; steep islands and high summits can hold more snow than it shows. Daylight is for the 15th of each month. Hut, transport and park seasons are separate: check them for your dates.
Averages cannot establish current trail conditions. Check recent local reports, the forecast and restrictions before departure. Snow and ice can persist on shaded sections or arrive outside the usual season.
Planning ahead?
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Safety & Bailouts
We do not have a verified emergency exit plan for this route. A nearby settlement, hut or route endpoint is not necessarily reachable or open. Do not leave the trail based on a straight-line distance or compass direction.
Review possible exits against current local information before your trip. In an emergency, contact local rescue services; this page is not live rescue guidance.
Suggested Gear List
Auto-generated based on 24.4 km, 641m ascent, max altitude 235m, ~6h duration.
- 👟 Trail running shoes / hiking bootsRequired for any trail
- 📱 Phone (charged) + offline mapNavigation & emergency contact
- 💧 3L hydration vestEstimated 3.2L; verify refill availability
- 🍫 Trail mix, bars & sandwichEst. 2219 kcal burn
- 🆘 Emergency space blanketCritical for preventing hypothermia if you stop moving
- 🧴 SunscreenBasic sun protection
- 🧥 Light rain jacketWeather changes fast in the mountains
- 🔦 Headlamp6h route — plan for delays
- 🩹 Mini first aid kitBlister plasters, tape, antiseptic
- 🧊 Microspikes / light cramponsSnow risk in Jan, Feb
- 🦵 GaitersKeep snow out of boots
Logistics
This route runs from Washington to Keymer (24.4 km by trail). You'll need to arrange transport back to your starting point.
Nearby Points of Interest
🛖 Shelters
- Shelter km 9.3 · 943m off trail
- Shelter km 16.6 · 951m off trail
💧 Water Sources
- Drinking Water 172m off trail
- Drinking Water km 10.4 · 594m off trail
- Drinking Water km 13.3 · 205m off trail
- Drinking Water km 18.5 · 1.2 km off trail
- Drinking Water km 19.3 · 1.5 km off trail
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