Guided Inn to Inn Walks

Winchester To Eastbourne:
9 nights accommodation and 8 days guided walking    £935.00

Our guided inn to inn walk includes expertly chosen quality accommodation, baggage transfer and a qualified walk-leader with local knowledge of the route.

Please click here for departure dates

Guided Walk: The South Downs Way - Detailed Itinerary

Winchester To Exton: 12 miles/19.5 km

This is a day of gentle walking through meadows and rolling woodland with some lovely scenery to savour. Leave Winchester by way of it's splendid cathedral, past Chalk Ridge and into the countryside. The trail rolls on happily until the ascent of Beacon Hill, followed by more pastureland before arriving in Exton, our nights accommodation.

Exton To Buriton: 14 miles/22 km

Leaving the village of Exton, the trail climbs steeply up to the summit of Old Winchester Hill. You are rewarded with fantastic views towards the Meon Valley, Hampshire's New Forest and beyond to The Isle Of Wight and the shimmering sea. The trail continues through rolling meadows until the sharp ascent of Butser Hill, at 270 metres the highest point of the South Downs Way. This is followed by excellent gravel path walking through the Queen Elizabeth Country Park and down into the picturesque village of Buriton, our nights accommodation. Buriton features numerous pretty flint and sandstone cottages synonymous with the area, and a handsome 12th century church beside a pond.

Buriton To Cocking: 12 miles/19.5 km

The route has now moved on from the gentle Hampshire hills and meadows towards the dramatic, chalk South Down ridges and river valleys. The trail leaves Buriton and passes through fragrant woodland, past the fine 17th century manor house of Uppark. From here, the trail enjoys wonderful ridge views after climbing Tower Hill and Harting Down. Ascend Beacon Hill to revel in more beautiful scenery towards the Channel Coast. Stride through woodland past a Bronze Age burial mound and in to Cocking, our night's accommodation. Cocking, like Buriton, displays fine flint cottages, and a lovely Norman church along with excellent food options in this charming village.

Cocking To Amberley: 12 miles/19.5 km

We leave the pretty village to resume the trail through forest and farmland. Suddenly, the trail opens up on to fantastic pastureland and an opportunity to stride out along Stane Street, an old Roman Road that stretched to London. Just off the route is Bignor Roman Villa, featuring wonderfully preserved mosaics. The trail now slices through the Arun Valley, past some lovely villages before dropping down into beautiful Amberley, our nights accommodation. Amberley with lovely thatched roofed cottages, historic church and pubs is another fantastic place to relax after another enjoyable day's walk.

Amberley To Steyning: 14 miles/22 Km

Leave the village and resume the trail with an initial steep ascent up the Arun Valley. The reward is great South Downs ridge walking on a chalk and flint track until the village of Washington. Ascending the next valley results in amazing panoramic views at Chanctonbury Ring. This fascinating site has seen host to a Roman temple, and contains Iron Age and Neolithic remains. Local folklore even links the area to mysterious UFO sightings. From here there is a two mile hike to Steyning and our nights accommodation. The town of Steyning is in an outstanding conservation area and offers all the charm of a South Downs settlement with a ruined castle to admire.

Steyning To Kingston-near-Lewes: 15.5 miles/25.5km

The trail crosses the River Adur and is succeeded by undulating hill and valley walking until the summit of Devil's Dyke, an historic beauty spot owned by the National Trust. From here the view stretches towards the Channel Coast and cosmopolitan Brighton. The route continues to roll through the South Downs past a pair of quaint 19th century windmills nicknamed 'Jack and Jill' and then gradually up to Ditchling Beacon. You are now rewarded with more great views beyond Brighton and glimpses of the chalk coastal cliffs. The walk bypasses Plumpton Plain and meanders through meadows and woodland up a ridge and to our nights accommodation at leafy Kingston-near-Lewes.

Kingston-near-Lewes To Alfriston: 13.5 miles/22.5 Km

After the rolling downs scenery of yesterday's walk, today welcomes a series of mainly flat ridges with some sweeping panoramas over the Weald farmland to the north, and to the south the Channel Coast. This captivating ridge walk culminates in skirting Southease village and across the bridge over the River Ouse. There is a final climb up the valley toward Alfriston, our nights accommodation at the base of the South Downs. Alfriston is impossibly pretty, and contains all the quintessential elements of a perfect English South Downs village and more. It even has a beautiful Norman church surrounded by a grassy moat and a bountiful supply of quaint pubs and cottages to admire. The Long Man Of Wilmington is only two miles from here and well worth a detour. The impressive chalk drawing is said to be the guardian of the South Downs but it's exact meaning has baffled archaeologists and historians for years.

Alfriston To Eastbourne: 12 mile/19.5 km

Leaving stunning Alfriston, the trail heads south to welcome the last and most exhilarating day on the South Downs Way. The path follows the River Cuckmere where it meanders until the village of Litlington, and through woodland to The Seven Sisters Country Park. This enjoyable and pretty wooded section is followed by more gentle riverbank walking as the trail rejoins the Cuckmere. The river meets the open sea at Cuckmere Haven, a moment to savour. The excitement builds as the trail follows the coast eastwards and up to the summit of Haven. From the peak, revel at the awe-inspiring views of the English Channel and the enchanting Seven Sisters. The chalk cliffs glint in the sunshine next to the glistening sea and are a fine reward for your efforts on the South Downs Way. The trail continues around the coastline past Birling Gap to Beachy Head, the lighthouse standing proud in the sea, another iconic English image to enjoy. It is now only two miles to a plaque marking the end of the South Downs Way. More fitting is to continue along the promenade to Eastbourne, your nights accommodation, and to sit proudly at the end of the fine 19th century pier to reflect on your achievement.

Please be aware that slight variations to these itineraries may have to be made due to availability of accommodation.

£20 pppn for Single Occupancy rooms

Dates Of Departure For Guided Walking Holidays

2009 Bookings

To coincide with the famous Winchcombe Christmas Market

2010

Please fill out the booking form quoting the date required

£20 pppn for Single Occupancy rooms