Inclusive challenge returns to the Downs with events in East Sussex
A week-long programme inviting people of all ages and abilities to experience the South Downs will take place from Saturday 25 July to Friday 31 July 2026, with two days scheduled in East Sussex. The South Downs Way Disability Challenge – Andy Davies Memorial Event, organised with the support of the South Downs National Park Authority, aims to make the National Trail accessible to participants with disabilities and restricted mobility, as well as families, children and dogs on leads.
The programme commemorates Andy Davies, an outdoors enthusiast turned accessibility campaigner who died in April. After a diagnosis of limb girdle muscular dystrophy in 2019, he continued to champion inclusive access, notably organising the Thames Source to the Sea Community Challenge in 2023, which raised £30,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Society. The National Park Authority had been working with him to develop this initiative to show that the South Downs can be enjoyed by people with limited mobility.
What’s happening and where
Events will be held across five locations on or near the South Downs Way. Participants can attend a single day or take on the whole series. The centrepiece is the longer-distance route on Tuesday 28 July, but the remaining days are designed for relaxed, accessible exploration in supportive groups.
| Date | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 25 July | 10am–3pm | Queen Elizabeth Country Park | Opening day activities |
| Mon 27 July | 10am–3pm | Firle Beacon (Southease) | East Sussex session |
| Tue 28 July | 10am–5pm | The Challenge – Cocking Hill to Whiteways | Approx. 8.4 miles (13.5km); full or partial route options |
| Thu 30 July | 10am–3pm | Devil’s Dyke | Accessible routes and views |
| Fri 31 July | 10am–3pm | Beachy Head | East Sussex finale |
Organisers say the intention is to enable people to enjoy the Downs in ways that suit their circumstances. On the Challenge Day from Cocking Hill to Whiteways, participants are welcome to complete either the full section or a shorter stretch.
Focus on accessibility and inclusion
The event has been framed around making the South Downs Way feel more welcoming and manageable for people who may not have considered it accessible. While some parts of the National Trail present physical barriers, the organisers have selected routes and meeting points intended to broaden participation.
- Open to everyone: people with disabilities, those with restricted mobility, families and children are invited.
- Flexible participation: join for one day or across the week; choose distances that feel comfortable.
- Companions welcome: dogs on leads may accompany participants.
In addition to celebrating Andy Davies’ legacy, the week serves to highlight ongoing efforts within the National Park to identify and promote routes that work for a wider range of users. The supportive setting of group activities can also help newcomers build confidence on the chalk downs, where gradients, surfaces and exposure to weather can sometimes be challenging.
East Sussex days: Southease and Beachy Head
Local interest will focus on the Firle Beacon (Southease) event on Monday 27 July and the closing day at Beachy Head on Friday 31 July. Both sessions run from 10am to 3pm, giving families and individuals time to travel, participate and return during daylight hours. Southease offers access to the South Downs Way near the River Ouse, while Beachy Head provides dramatic cliff-top scenery above Eastbourne. Attendees are encouraged to choose sections and durations that match their needs.
Remembering Andy Davies
Andy Davies’ public advocacy followed years of personal enjoyment of running, cycling and walking. Friends and supporters credit him with creating opportunities for others to reconnect with the outdoors after his own diagnosis changed how he navigated the landscape. The memorial event aims to keep that momentum going by giving people tangible, low-pressure ways to experience the Downs.
In 2023, his Thames Source to Sea challenge demonstrated how a carefully planned route and a collaborative approach could bring people together and raise substantial funds for a national charity. The forthcoming week on the South Downs adopts the same spirit: practical steps, shared endeavour and a clear message that landscapes such as the Downs are there to be explored by as many people as possible.
How to take part
The organisers state that participants are free to join a single day or the entire programme, with the Challenge Day providing the longest continuous section at 13.5km. Anyone considering attending should plan for weather on exposed ridgelines and choose footwear and support appropriate to their mobility needs. Families may find the shorter, non-challenge days a useful introduction to the terrain and facilities available at each site.
As with any countryside activity, people are advised to check the latest on-site information, observe local guidance on dogs and livestock, and consider transport and accessibility arrangements to and from meeting points. The involvement of the South Downs National Park Authority underscores the intention to share practical routes that are enjoyable, sociable and achievable for a wide audience.
