The South Downs Eco Lodge and Hostel is a haven of tranquility in stunning English countryside, and provides 5 types of accommodation. The eco hostel, B&B, yurts, shepherds huts and campsite are all part of the Sustainability Centre which promotes environmental awareness and low impact living in the heart of the South Downs National Park. Read along to experience this exciting adventure as I did, traveling all the way from Sheffield on public transport – for under £17!
Day one:
Opting for a gruelling 5am start (which I didn’t feel very happy about at the time) I began the first leg of my journey with a brisk walk down to the bus station from my house, to hop on board the London-bound national express. I was pleased to have found this coach for only £6.90, which would deliver me straight to Victoria coach station.
I settled back into the journey with my book and some long overdue jumper knitting to whill the time away. Before too long the coach was leaving the motorway and approaching central London. At Victoria, I had a couple of hours in changeover time to head to the train station over the road and find my train, which was plenty of time and enough to get a coffee without rushing too.
My train connection to Portsmouth was easy to find online, a £10 bargain all the way to Southsea station – who would’ve thought you can get all the way from Sheffield to Portsmouth for under £17! My latest hack for discovering cheaper trains is to purchase tickets direct from the company, rather than through a 3rd party such as Trainline – avoids booking fees and can enable more sales and discounts too.
However, trains in the UK being what they are, mine was diverted due to works on the line and I had to follow instructions from the conductor on what to do next. You just can’t predict these things unfortunately, and I ended up having to get 2 more trains and then a local bus service into Southsea from a town nearby. Luckily, the conductor informed passengers that all tickets would be valid on connecting trains, and also on the local bus services – so my total spendings still remained at £16.90. This section of the journey was a bit of a nightmare to say the least, but I did eventually make it to my destination.
On reaching Southsea, I met up with Niesha, a friend who lives in the area for work and the seaside atmosphere. Together, we had booked a stay at the Eco Lodge intending to hike a stretch of the South Downs Way the following day. We enjoyed catching up on our news and she gave me a tour of the very windy Southsea seafront and its piers, which I found delightfully atmospheric in the stormy Spring weather. We found our way to a local pub with views of the harbour, and enjoyed pie and chips with a well-deserved pint as the light faded over the sea.
For the final stretch of the mammoth journey to the Eco Lodge, we opted to take a taxi from Southsea rather than navigate more trains. The Sustainability Centre is only a twenty minute drive into the country, and at £10 each it was more than doable to hire a taxi – especially after I’d saved so much money on transport already.
So finally at 7pm, the two of us arrived at the South Downs Eco Lodge. We were greeted by friendly staff who explained the check in/out process, and how to arrange breakfasts for the next morning. The B&B Lodge has 11 ensuite rooms, and is beautifully decorated with local handmade and upcycled materials – and every booking includes continental vegetarian breakfast. We were shown to our lovely twin room and settled in for the night.
Day two:
After the kafuffle of getting there the day before, I was SO happy to finally be at the Eco Lodge – ready to explore the beautiful South Downs countryside, and discover what the Sustainability Centre was all about.
We started the day with a wholesome breakfast of croissants, toast, yogurt and museli served in the annex, and planned the itinerary for the day. First up was to check out the grounds of the Sustainability Centre: this place is not just an accommodation provider, it is also an independent learning and study centre and a reserve for native wildlife. The Centre covers 55 acres of woodland and natural chalk downland, with the South Downs Eco Lodge including B&B, hostel and campsite situated within.
First of all, we headed to the main building, which houses a gift shop as well as rooms to be booked out for their courses. This little shop was delightful, and I purchased a few greetings cards and handmade decorations to gift to people. They also had a what’s on? board with the courses currently on offer, a few of which were nature-led meditation, advanced knife skills and a composting masterclass! We didn’t line up our visit with any of interest to us, but I took note for next time.
Next, we explored the woodland trails and camping areas tucked away in the natural landscape. As we visited out of season, nobody was camping this weekend (it’s still March after all). But Niesha, who has previously camped at the Eco Lodge, pointed out the spot where she pitched her tent, and the solar showers, campfire areas, clay pizza oven and other quirks of the site. The peaceful campsite also features a shepherd’s hut, and three different sized yurts – which are offered in the summer season. Beyond the campsite there are lots of areas for learning bushcraft skills and forest school sessions, all ideal for youth groups staying in the hostel. All around you, you can find dens and tents put up by children, and little creations of natural materials left behind – you can tell this place must be treasured for imaginary games.
After exploring, we set off on our hike for the day: a 7 mile circular along the South Downs Way, crossing through East Meon and looping back onto the national trail. The weather app was uncertain but we decided to chance it, and to our luck it worked out with even a bit of sunshine along the way. I really enjoyed the natural landscape here as it was so different to where I normally walk in the Peak District. Chalky ground underfoot was a new concept to me, and I finally understood how the chalk horses of Wiltshire shine so brightly in the sun. The first signs of Spring were abundant and magical in their ability to raise spirits – daffs, daisies, crocuses, blossoming boughs of cherry, and even a few lambs here and there. At last, my soul felt listened to.
Back at the centre, we felt stretched out and refreshed but not too shattered from our excursion. The two of us visited the onsite Beech café for a (very) late lunch, getting there just in time before the kitchen closed. This lovely little café serves nutritious vegetarian meals, and great coffee too – we had soup and salad in a rainbow of colours. It was great to rest up inside after a very gusty hike!
After relaxing in the café for a long while, I said goodbye to Niesha who was headed back to Portsmouth that afternoon. It was a lovely chance to catch up and spend some quality time in a beautiful place. As for myself? Well, I had a whole other plan for the next two nights of my trip…
I am lucky to be part of an event welfare team called TTK Welfare, who are based in Eastbourne on the East end of the South Downs national park, but with staff and volunteers nation-wide. I’ve been working summer festivals with this team for 5 years now, it’s fulfilling work and I get to travel to seasonal events all around the UK and provide specialist support to festival attendees. TTK had booked out the eco hostel for two nights to host their annual training weekend for core staff – an anuual top up on safeguarding protocols, neurodiverse support guidance and the latest drug and alcohol trends in young people.
Around 5pm the first of my welfare colleagues started arriving at the hostel. The hostel building is located just round the corner from the B&B, so I didn’t have far to move my rucksack! The whole hostel was booked to accommodate the group of about 20 of us (although it can sleep up to 39), so it was a perfect chance to experience more of what this fantastic place has to offer, and how a group hire can differ to an individual booking here.
I settled myself in with friends that I’d not seen since last season, and enjoyed catching up and sharing a hot meal of jacket spuds and veggie chilli made in the huge commercial standard kitchen. It was rather a different flow to my first night at the more luxurious B&B, but one with which I am very familiar as a hostel enthusiast! The hostel has a lovely spacious communal area with loads of books and games, and a large dining room. It sleeps guests in 14 comfortable private rooms with linen & towels provided, and shared bathrooms. Rooms can be booked individually as well as whole hostel hire.
Exhausted from what has been a very busy couple of days, I hit the sack early and caught up on some well-needed sleep in my comfy twin room, which I had all to myself.
Day three:
Saturday was consumed by a busy schedule of training for the full day, with a break for lunch that the group enjoyed in Beech café, sat outside in glorious sunshine. I won’t go into details on the training, but it was very engaging and a valuable top up of knowledge and resources for the summer season ahead. The course took us right up to half past 5, and by the end we were all ready to call it a day on the brainwork.
As a frequent hostel visitor, I’ve stayed in all shapes and sizes of hostel, bunkhouse, barn and bothy, both as an individual and part of a group. But for many in this company it was a first-time hostel experience. I found it super interesting to hear people’s perspectives on the South Downs Eco Lodge, as an unusual example of a hostel within the greater boundary of the Sustainability Centre.
Lots of us have experienced hostels in our youth, either through school trips, scouts and brownies and other youth groups. But the majority of adults haven’t been back since then – not for any negative reasons, but because most people havent considered them as an option. Increasingly, holidayers aren’t presented with hostels as an option much of the time, with hotels and apartments winning SEO algorithms.
Most people assume hostels are strictly for sharing large dorm rooms to cut prices down, and while it’s usually an option, the South Downs Eco Lodge has private twin and triple rooms only. Members of my group were more than happy with private bedrooms and shared facilities, and said they would totally reconsider hostels as family holiday destinations in the future.
My favourite thing about all the accommodation here is the thoughtful little touches to every single space – with coat hooks made from tree branches, handcrafted wicker lampshades, local woollen blankets and up-cycled furniture. Much of the furnishings are made on the site by talented craftspeople, or repurposed from local businesses. The B&B is entirely heated by a ground-source heat pump, and has a state of the art air circulation system, and the hostel and other building here are heated by an air source heat pump. All accommodation has triple glazed windows for maximum insulation. Both hostel and B&B have such distinctive character that reflect the ethos of the Sustainability Centre. The eco credentials of this place are high up there with all the top eco hostels in the Independent Hostel guide.
After another jam-packed day, we shared a tasty and wholesome meal cooked in the fully equipped kitchen, and played games, laughed and chatted late into the evening in the large communal spaces. My third night here was restful and relaxed – I felt fulfilled and excited for Summer festivals to come with this lovely lot of creative people.
Day four:
Sunday arose bright and early in the South Downs, and I was lucky enough to be able to hitch a lift back home with a Sheffield based friend. I paid my way in petrol money and after a 4 hour drive up the M1, I was back home at last.
It felt great to be home earlier than planned, and as I reflected on my diverse weekend of many parts, I realised what a crazy adventure I’d had. From a rather infuriating public transport voyage (which my tight arse was pleased to secure for a bargainous price), to exploring Portsmouth’s gusty seafront, an energising hike through stunning natural scenery, and a full training course of learning and absorbing the latest event welfare updates. My week ahead was no longer a daunting prospect, but a refreshing shift back to the normality of the working week after a fun trip away. There’s nothing like a jam-packed trip to make you really appreciate the mundanities of life.
This eco hostel truly blew me away. I can’t recommend it enough to anyone that shares the vision of sustainability that the South Downs Eco Lodge promotes. The best thing of all, is that this accommodation is placed right on the stunning national trail the South Downs Way. Therefore, ideal for walkers, cyclists, families and large groups of outdoor adventurers. I cannot wait to return and explore more of this stunning National Park!
Have I interested you in booking a stay at the South Downs Eco Lodge? You can find out more about this eco hostel on IndependentHostels.co.uk, and book direct on their own website too. You can also read about the other eco-hostels on the Independent Hostels website, to find one suitable to your needs and location.