8-Day Walking Holiday From Winchester to Eastbourne

Day one

Arrive in Winchester

Check in to your accommodation then explore this beautiful, historic city.

Day two

Day two – Winchester to Meonstoke – 12 miles / 19 kms

Highlights:

• The cathedral city of Winchester.
• Beacon Hill – it’s a nature reserve and commands outstanding views of the surrounding countryside.
• Old Winchester hill – great views and there is a fine Iron Age hill-fort site at the top.

Day three

Meonstoke to Clanfield – 10 miles / 16 kms

Highlights:

• Old Winchester hill – great views and there is a fine Iron Age hill-fort site at the top.
• Butser Hill – the highest point on the South Downs Way at 270 metres.

Day four

Clanfield to Cocking – 15 miles / 24 kms

Highlights:

• Queen Elizabeth Country Park – large area of beautiful mixed woodland.
• Harting Down – fantastic views across the Weald, it’s possible to see the North Downs on a clear day.

Day five

Cocking to Amberley – 12 miles / 19 kms

Highlights:

• Heyshott Down – great views inland.
• Bignor Roman Villa – dating back to 3rd Century AD, with amazingly preserved mosaic floors. It’s 1.5 miles from the South Downs Way and just off the old Roman road Stane Street.
• Bignor Hill – fantastic views right along the Downs.
• Amberley Working Museum – excellent museum of local history, just off the way.
• Amberley village – one of the prettiest villages in the South Downs, just off the way.
• First views of the sea to the south.

Day six

Amberley to Steyning – 13 miles / 21 kms

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 seven

Steyning to Lewes – 18 miles / 29 kms

Highlights:

• River Adur – views south towards the stunning hillside Abbey at Lancing College.
• Fulking Hill – spectacular 360 degree views.
• Devils’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 eight

Lewes – Alfriston – 14 miles / 23 kms

Highlights:

• Great views inland to the north and the sea to the south, particularly from Firle Beacon.
• The picture postcard village of Alfriston.

Day nine

Alfriston to Eastbourne – 12 miles / 19 kms

Highlights:

• Cuckmere Valley – where the river Cuckmere meanders it’s 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!

£1095 per person for 8 nights.

£1160 per person for 9 nights (overnighting in Eastbourne at the end of your walk).

These prices are based on two people sharing, single supplement of £60/night applies.

This walk is available to book (subject to availability) any time between 29 March – 24 October 25. We may still be able to help with dates outside of this range, please get in touch.

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. 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 have the time to spare, we'd really recommend taking a day off during your walk. This not only gives your legs and feet a rest, but also gives you the opportunity to explore the local area, and there is plenty to see and do!

The historic town of Arundel, with its magnificent castle and cathedral, is well worth a visit, as is the historic county town of Lewes. Or you could just take a leisurely stroll around the beautiful village of Amberley, or just put your feet up for the day!

Arundel Castle

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 accommodation the South Downs has to offer. Here are just a couple of examples of some truly memorable places to stay:

Amberley Castle, Amberley

Wingrove House, Alfriston