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South East of England

South Downs Way – Westbound – 12 Nights

Apr, May, June, July, Aug, Sept, Oct £1379 pp

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SUMMARY

South Downs Way – Westbound – 12 Nights

No. of People: 1

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TOTAL £999

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The South Downs Way, Westbound, is a classic long-distance trail stretching roughly 100 miles (160 km) from Eastbourne on the Sussex coast to Winchester, the ancient capital of England. When walked westbound, the route offers a gradual progression from dramatic coastal cliffs to gentle chalk downs, rolling farmland, and historic countryside — a journey that feels like moving from sea to heartland.

Overview

  • Start Point: Eastbourne, East Sussex

  • End Point: Winchester, Hampshire

  • Distance: ~100 miles / 160 km

  • Waymarking: National Trail acorn symbol (easy to follow)

  • Terrain: Chalk downs, grassy ridges, woodland tracks, and quiet bridleway.

Why Go Westbound?

  • Sun and Wind Advantage: The prevailing winds are usually from the southwest, often at your back.

  • Sunset Views: Walking west rewards you with evening light across the downs.

  • Climactic Finish: Ending in Winchester gives a sense of arrival — from coast to cathedral.

Highlights

  • Beachy Head & Seven Sisters

  • Ditchling Beacon and Devil’s Dyke

  • Amberley and the River Arun valley

  • Chanctonbury Ring and Bignor Hill

  • Old Winchester Hill Nature Reserve

  • Winchester Cathedral

Other versions available

Quick Facts

  • 12 nights’ accommodation
  • 12 days’ walking
  • Luggage transfers each walking day
  • Map and guide book plus detailed directions to your accommodation from the trail
  • Expert local knowledge and 24 hour emergency assistance during your trip
  • The option to walk the route Eastbound is also possible

About & Details

Beginning in Eastbourne, the route immediately impresses with its spectacular coastal ascent over Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters cliffs, offering panoramic views of the English Channel. After Cuckmere Haven, the path turns inland through the rolling hills of the South Downs National Park — a landscape defined by open skies, ancient tracks, and sweeping valleys.

As you travel west, the scenery softens:

  • Around Lewes and Ditchling Beacon, you’ll encounter iconic downland vistas and Iron Age hillforts.

  • Through West Sussex, the path undulates past ancient yew forests, quaint villages like Amberley, and the chalk ridge above the River Arun.

  • Approaching Hampshire, the countryside grows more wooded and pastoral, passing sites such as Old Winchester Hill and Beacon Hill, rich in wildlife and archaeology.

The final leg descends gently into Winchester, where the trail concludes beneath the medieval cathedral — a fittingly historic endpoint to a journey steeped in England’s natural and cultural heritage.

Inclusions

  • 12 nights’ accommodation in a good quality B&B or hotel with en-suite or private bathroom and breakfast
  • Luggage transfers each walking day
  • Map and guidebook plus detailed directions to your accommodation from the trail
  • Expert local knowledge and 24-hour emergency assistance during your trip
  • Professional event organisation
Exclusions
  • Travel to the start and finish points of the trip
  • Lunches and evening meals
  • Personal insurance (for cancellation, accident, health, emergency evacuation and loss, theft of, or damage to baggage and personal effects)
  • Guiding (please contact us if you would like this trip to be guided)

Optional Extras

  • Single room supplement £65 per person per night (subject to availability)
  • Solo traveller supplement £65 per person per night
  • Odd group supplement £65 per group per night
  • Extra night prior to start (single room) £170 per person
  • Extra night prior to the start (twin room, needs 2 people) £90 per person
  • Extra night at the end of the event (single room) £170 per person
  • Extra night at the end of the event (twin room, needs 2 people) £90 per person

Please select from Optional Extras at checkout.

Getting There and Back

Getting There:

By road: The major road leading into Eastbourne is the A22 from London, which runs through the town and connects to major routes like the A27 from the west,  the A259 scenic coastal route from the east and the A23/M23 towards Gatwick Airport

By public transport: There is a regular train service to Eastbourne

By air: The nearest airport is London Gatwick

Getting Away:

By road: M3, A34 or A31

By public transport:  There is a regular train service to Winchester and National Express coaches run from London Victoria, Heathrow and Southampton

By air: The nearest airports are Southampton and London Heathrow

Check traveline.info for the latest public transport information.

Evening Meals and Lunches

You can purchase evening meals either at the accommodation or nearby. When our adventure travel planners send you the schedule with your itinerary you could prearrange directly with the accommodation or during the walk.

For lunches we would suggest bringing some of your own favourite snack bars and then asking the accommodation for a packed lunch for the following day and also supplementing that at stops en-route.

Accommodation

Accommodation is generally at B&B, guest houses and small hotels. Once booked in, your adventure travel planner will send you a list of your booked accommodation. It is possible to adjust according to preference at this stage so please mention it if you wish to change.

Dog-friendly

If you would like to bring your four legged friend, then we will do our best to source dog friendly accommodation.  There will be a supplement for your dog and there may also be a hotel and taxi supplement payable.  Therefore, once booked in, please alert your adventure travel planner that you would like to bring your dog and we can proceed from there.

Need a guide?

If you would prefer to have a guide for your walk, even for just one day, then we are happy to help. We can provide a qualified leader (also first aid qualified) to lead your trek or alternatively for only one of the sections. Just ask us.

A guide can not only take the stress out of navigation, but you will also find them a great asset in terms of providing an insight into all things environment and nature.

Dates and prices

For available dates please see the ‘book now’ option on the left hand side on desktops or at the bottom on mobiles. You can reserve your space via this route.

After you book

After placing your booking with us, you will in the first instance receive an automated email from our system confirming receipt of your reservation. If you don’t receive your confirmation, it would be worth checking your spam/clutter folder.

In the process of placing your booking you will generally set up an access password to our online gateway, where you can review the details of the booking.

Your personal adventure travel planner will then be in touch with you to start confirming the details. This contact will usually be taken up in the working day after receipt of your booking, but may, in busy times, take a little longer. The adventure travel planner will then liaise with you regarding the details of the course. If you have any specific requirements, please do mention it at this stage.

At the end of your trip

Unfortunately, all good things come to an end.

Some people like to treat themselves to an extra night’s stay at the end. And why not? You’ve earned it. You can arrange this as an optional add-on with your adventure travel planner.

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Itinerary

  • Day 1 - Arrival in Eastbourne

    Stay: Eastbourne
    Highlights: Seaside promenade, Victorian pier, beach walks, pre-hike rest
    Optional: Visit Towner Art Gallery or enjoy dinner overlooking the sea

  • Day 2 – Eastbourne to Alfriston (via Seven Sisters)

    Start: Eastbourne seafront (trailhead near Wish Tower)
    Finish: Alfriston village, Cuckmere Valley
    Terrain: Coastal cliffs and rolling downland, with steep ascents and descents
    Highlights: Beachy Head, Birling Gap, Exceat, Litlington, Alfriston village

    Time: 4-5 hours walking (moderate to challenging)

    Distance: 10½ miles / 17 km

  • Day 3 – Alfriston to Southease

    Start: Alfriston village
    Finish: Southease (near the River Ouse and train station)
    Terrain: Rolling downland, open ridges, and gentle river valley walking
    Highlights: Cuckmere Valley views, Firle Beacon (optional detour), chalk grasslands, historic churches

    Time: 3-4 hours walking (easy to moderate)

    Distance: ~7 miles / 11 km

  • Day 4 - Southease to Housedean

    Start: Southease (near the River Ouse and railway station)
    Finish: Housedean Farm (A27, between Falmer and Lewes)
    Terrain: Rolling chalk downland with open views, short steep climbs, and farm tracks
    Highlights: Mount Caburn, the Ouse Valley, views toward Lewes, Kingston Ridge, and glimpses of the sea

    Time: 2-3 hours walking (moderate)

    Distance: ~6 miles / 9½ km

  • Day 5 - Housedean to Pyecombe

    Start: Housedean Farm (A27, between Lewes and Falmer)
    Finish: Pyecombe village (north of the A27 near Brighton)
    Terrain: Chalk ridge and open downland, a few steep ascents/descents, mostly farm and grazing paths
    Highlights: Balmer Down, Ditchling Beacon, panoramic views across the Weald and to the sea

    Time: 3-4 hours walking (moderate)

    Distance: ~8½ miles / 13.5 km

  • Day 6 - Pyecombe to Botolphs (Adur Valley)

    Start: Pyecombe village
    Finish: Botolphs (near the River Adur, close to Upper Beeding)
    Terrain: Chalk ridge walking with one steep climb and long open sections; mix of grass paths and farm tracks
    Highlights: Devil’s Dyke, Fulking Escarpment, Downs vistas, Adur Valley crossing

    Time: 3-4 hours walking (moderate)

    Distance: ~7½ miles / 12 km

  • Day 7 - Botolphs to Washington

    Start: Botolphs (near the River Adur, close to Upper Beeding)
    Finish: Washington village (near A24)
    Terrain: Rolling chalk ridges, open farmland, and wooded hillsides
    Highlights: River Adur, Steyning Bowl, Chanctonbury Ring, sweeping Wealden views

    Time: 3-4 hours walking (moderate)

    Distance: ~7 miles / 11 km

  • Day 8 - Washington to Amberley

    Start: Washington village
    Finish: Amberley village (near the River Arun)
    Terrain: Rolling chalk ridges, open downland, occasional woodland, gentle descents into the valley
    Highlights: High ridge walking, South Downs panoramas, Amberley village, River Arun

    Time: 2-3 hours walking (moderate)

    Distance: ~6 miles / 9.5 km

  • Day 9 - Amberley to Cocking

    Start: Amberley village
    Finish: Cocking village
    Terrain: Rolling chalk ridges, open downland, wooded slopes, occasional steep ascents and descents
    Highlights: Amberley Ridge, Bignor Roman Villa (optional detour), South Downs panoramas, Truleigh Hill, Cocking Down

    Time: 7-8 hours walking (moderate to challenging)

    Distance: ~12 miles / 19 km

  • Day 10 - Cocking to South Harting

    Start: Cocking village
    Finish: South Harting village
    Terrain: Rolling chalk ridges, open downland, occasional wooded sections
    Highlights: Cocking Down, West Dean, Harting Down, South Harting village

    Time: 3-4 hours walking (moderate)

    Distance: ~7½ miles / 12 km

  • Day 11 - South Harting to Buriton

    Start: South Harting village
    Finish: Buriton village
    Terrain: Rolling chalk ridges, steep climbs and descents, open downs, and woodland patches
    Highlights: Harting Down, The Trundle (optional detour), Butser Hill, Buriton village

    Time: 1-2 hours walking (moderate)

    Distance: ~3½ miles / 5.5 km

  • Day 12 - Buriton to Exton

    Start: Buriton village
    Finish: Exton village
    Terrain: Rolling chalk ridges, open downland, occasional wooded sections, gentle ascents and descents
    Highlights: Butser Hill (nearby), Queen Elizabeth Country Park, open ridge walking, Exton village

    Time: 6-7 hours walking (moderate)

    Distance: ~12 miles / 19 km

  • Day 13 - Exton to Winchester

    Start: Exton village
    Finish: Winchester (Westgate/City Centre)
    Terrain: Rolling chalk ridges, wooded valleys, farmland, small villages, occasional steep ascents/descents
    Highlights: Meon Valley, Old Winchester Hill, Butser Hill viewpoints (optional detours), Alresford, Winchester Cathedral

    Time: 6-7 hours walking total (moderate)

    Distance: ~12 miles / 19 km

Disclaimer

Please note: This itinerary is a guide only. Timings and mileages are approximate.

We will always endeavour to accommodate you in the locations detailed in the above itinerary. Due to very high demand, some accommodation providers may occasionally have limited availability and so we may need to accommodate you in an alternative location, nearby. In this case, we will arrange a taxi transfer for you to take you from the trail to your accommodation and back again the following morning. An additional charge may be payable. We will notify you of this when confirming your booking

The Route

Why book with us

We know you have a choice of companies providing trips for your next adventures. Here are some of the reasons you should choose to travel with Maximum Adventure:

  • We are an established adventure travel business
  • We have been trading since 2002
  • We are financially protected in accordance with the 1992 travel regulation
  • Knowledgeable and available office staff
  • Qualified leaders and guides with ascents ranging from Ben Nevis to Mount Everest
  • All activities are risk assessed
  • We will provide you with the best service available
  • We are aware this is your holiday/your challenge and will do our best to make it an enjoyable and rewarding experience
  • We have many repeat clients stretching back over a number of years
20+ years adventure organisation experience
Full liability & financial protection
Leading provider of high quality adventure challenges
Great team of staff to support you
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