This four-day South Downs walking itinerary from Amberley to Eastbourne involves one long day, between Upper Beeding and Lewes. If you only do one-half of the South Downs Way, this is the half we’d recommend. The scenery gets more and more spectacular as you go on, culminating in the climax of the spectacular Seven Sisters and Beachy Head.
4-Day Walking Holiday from Amberley to Eastbourne
4 days
56 miles / 90 kms
Overview
(Booking code AE4)
Day one
Arrive in Amberley
Arrive in Amberley and check in to your accommodation. Take the time to explore picturesque Amberley, while historic Arundel is just a 5-minute train ride away.
Day two
Amberley to Steyning – 13 miles / 21 km
Highlights:
• Views of Amberley Brooks nature reserve after climbing out of Houghton Bridge and Amberley.
• Chanctonbury Ring – said to be haunted, it’s the site of an Iron Age hill-fort dating back to the 6th Century BC. Fantastic views out to sea and along the downs.
Day three
Steyning to Lewes – 18 miles / 29 km
Highlights:
• River Adur – views south towards the stunning hillside Abbey at Lancing College.
• Fulking Hill – spectacular 360-degree views.
• Devil’s Dyke – legend has it that the Devil dug the valley to drown the parishioners of the Weald..
• Jack & Jill Windmills – famous local landmarks that can be seen from miles around.
• Ditchling Beacon – heading east from here, there are fantastic views inland across the weald and towards the Ashdown forest.
• Lewes – this pretty county town is steeped in history
Day four
Lewes to Alfriston – 14 miles / 23 km
Highlights:
• Monk’s House, Rodmell – this was the home of Virginia Woolf, now owned by the National Trust and open to the public.
• Iford Hill – great views inland towards Mount Caburn to the north and the sea to the south.
• The picture postcard village of Alfriston.
Day five
Alfriston – Eastbourne – 12 miles / 19 km
Highlights:
• Cuckmere Valley – where the river Cuckmere meanders its way to the sea
• Seven Sisters – iconic, glorious coastal scenery, arguably the highlight of the whole South Downs Way
• Beachy Head – spectacular chalk cliff jutting into the English channel with fine views west across the Seven Sisters and east over Eastbourne and beyond.
The spectacular Seven Sisters make a fitting finale to the South Downs Way. You can then either depart Eastbourne in the afternoon or stay over and depart the following day, giving you a chance to explore this elegant seaside resort or just put your feet up!
£590 per person for 4 nights.
£650 per person for 5 nights (overnighting in Eastbourne at the end of your walk).
These prices are based on two people sharing, a single supplement of £50/night applies.
This walk is available to book any time between 01 April – 30 September 24 (with the exception of 20 – 30 August) .
We understand that good quality accommodation is the key component to a successful walking holiday and often the difference between a good holiday and a great one! So rest assured, after a long day’s walking you can expect a very warm welcome. We don’t like leaving anything to chance, so we personally visit all our accommodation providers, as well as constantly monitor customer feedback and online reviews. For extra peace of mind we book the accommodation and send your confirmed itinerary before you need to pay your deposit, so you can see exactly where you will be staying before committing to the walking holiday.
Optional Add-ons
If you’ve time to spare, we’d recommend taking an extra day at the start of your walk to explore historic Arundel, just a 5-minute train ride from Amberley. The town is dominated by the magnificent castle, and there’s also a gothic cathedral to explore as well as a bustling town centre.
Upgrades
If you’d like to celebrate a special occasion while you’re away, or if you just fancy treating yourself for a night or two, we can arrange upgrades to some of the very best accommodations the South Downs has to offer. Here is just one example of some truly memorable places to stay:
Why book with us?
We love what we do!
We are passionate about the South Downs and are only too happy to share our knowledge and expertise to help you get the very most from your trip. Every walk we offer is one we have enjoyed ourselves!
South Downs Way experts
Our years of experience of working in, as well as walking and cycling throughout the South Downs National Park give us a level of expertise that’s hard to beat!
Perfect planning
We believe that attention to detail is the key to arranging the perfect walking holiday, so we take great care in planning your holiday to ensure everything runs like clockwork.
Flexibility and choice
Our friendly and flexible approach means that we can offer a genuinely tailor made service, and help you find the holiday that is perfect for you.
Handpicked accommodation
We understand that good quality accommodation is the key component to a successful walking holiday and often the difference between a good holiday and a great one! So rest assured, after a long day’s walking you can expect a very warm welcome. We don’t like leaving anything to chance, so we personally visit all our accommodation providers, as well as constantly monitoring customer feedback and online reviews. We know all our B&B owners very well and we only work with nice people!
Personalised service
We take great pride in ensuring that every single one of our customers receives outstanding service, specifically tailored to their needs. You’ll deal with the same person from your first enquiry until the end of your holiday, ensuring continuity and great service!
24/7 support
For your peace of mind, we provide you with a mobile number to contact us on should you need support outside office hours.
Responsible tourism
The natural beauty of the South Downs National Park is central to all our walking holidays, so we feel it’s important to play our part in protecting this beautiful area. We have a whole page on our website dedicated to responsible tourism and are also members of the South Downs Society, an independent charity dedicated to protecting the National Park for the enjoyment of future generations.
What’s included?
Handpicked
We only use a very select range of B&B’s which we personally visit and regularly review to ensure high standards.
En suite bathrooms
For your comfort, all rooms we book come with an en suite or private bathroom.
Luggage transfers
We operate our own luggage transfer service and guarantee to collect your bags each day after 0930 and drop off before 1600.
24/7 support
For your peace of mind, we provide out of office hours support.
Guides and map
We provide you with a Trailblazer guide book and a handy sized OS map booklet covering the whole route (one of each per booking).
Personalised trip notes
Our personalised trip notes include all our favourite lunch stops, points of interest along the route, directions to/from your accommodation and a guide to each town or village you stay in, including pub and restaurant recommendations.
Luggage labels
We will provide luggage labels to attach to your bags at the start of your trip.
Transfers
Most of the accommodation we use is within a mile or so of the South Downs Way, but occasionally we use B&B’s a bit further from the trail so as not to compromise on quality. In these cases, we will provide you with a taxi transfer to/from your accommodation.
Booking Form
Please complete the form below to book your holiday and we will respond to you within 48 hours.
