South Downs Walking and Wine

Perfect for those looking for a fantastic countryside escape! On this slower adventure walking tour, you can expect to sample some delicious sparkling English wines at chic Sussex vineyard estates while enjoying largely a mix of easy-going and moderate walking on the best bits of the South Downs Way National Trail.

Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.

Solo Travellers, Families with Teens

The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years

The South Downs Walking and Wine tour is graded from easy to moderate and the path is generally on good surfaces throughout with gentle and gradual gradients. Some sections can be undulating with a few moderately steep sections but we've kept them in as we feel these are the best sections of the South Downs Way National Trail. The final walk along the tops of the iconic Seven Sisters Cliff is the longest/most challenging but is also the most rewarding (around 20km but can be shortened by around 2-3km with public transport towards the end). 

We choose country hotels, inns, guesthouses, and B&Bs to ensure that you enjoy every minute of your stay. They are a mix of superior and comfortable quality accommodation on this tour. In some cases, there aren't superior quality hotels in certain towns/villages or we believe the local hosts at guesthouses provide a better experience for our customers.  On your final evening, we always attempt to have you stay in the 5-star, Grand Hotel in Eastbourne, which has a bit of a wow factor to it!

It is also worth mentioning at the pre-booking stage that on the South Downs Way, you may at times be staying in old traditional buildings that might have slightly smaller room sizes than others!

Single and Solo Rooms

If you require single or solo rooms we will do our best to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable and due to the nature of the accommodations and luggage transfers it is a lot more expensive.

Meals

We don't include lunch and dinner, so you are free to choose from the available options. As you walk along the South Downs Way you will be able to see our recommendations on the Macs App. It shows the exact locations of convenient lunch, dinner, cafe or pub stops – Expect a mixture of traditional inns, cosy café’s or fine-dining restaurants.

You also have the opportunity to have lunch or dinner at the Wiston, Ridgeview and Rathfinny Wine Estates – all have their own restaurants and are highly recommended. We have given more details in your information pack on how to book them.

Additional Nights

You may wish to take some extra nights along the route, either to rest or for those with plenty of energy to explore some of the other walking opportunities nearby. We recommend extra nights at:

• Arundel - Staying an extra in Arundel is a great option, it's a quirky town with plenty to see and do. Not too far from the popular town of Chichester (An hour by public transport or 15 mins by taxi). The Tinwood Wine Estate is also located on the outskirts of Chichester and offers wine tasting sessions.

You will be following large sections of the South Downs Way which is very well well-waymarked. We also provide comprehensive route notes, maps and GPX tracks through our smartphone app, so you shouldn’t have any problem finding your way. 

Booking in advance is recommended or some flexibility may be required to ensure you can experience the wine-tasting tours - The vineyard's tasting session schedules change year on year and if you are booking last minute, the tours may already be full. 

This walking holiday can be enjoyed from April to September. Summer can be hot on the South Coast and very busy, especially over the school holidays. We would advise walking in the spring to see the wildflowers that coast the fields you walk through. 

In Lewes if you would like to visit Harvey's Brewery Shop they are open from Tue-Sat, Anne of Cleves House is open Tue-Sun and the 15th Century Book Shop is open on a Sat and Sun only.

By nature, the south coast of England is prone to varying types of weather throughout the year. Always be prepared for changeable conditions when walking in England. Waterproofs are essential all year round. In the summer months, be prepared for hot weather also, with a lack of shade on the paths - ensure you have sunscreen. in the shoulder seasons of March or October expect colder temperatures (it’s not a bad idea to pack some gloves or a woolly hat). 

Before you set off each day, it is also important that you pay attention to any weather warnings in place. We recommend visiting https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/  (the UK’s official source for weather warnings). Do not attempt to walk any sections if any serious weather warnings are in place.

By Air

Ideally, we recommend arriving via Gatwick Airport as it has a regular direct train service to Arundel from the airport itself (1 hour and 30 minutes). If you are arriving at another international airport in London such as Heathrow, you will need to make a connecting change to London Gatwick Airport or London Victoria train station via the London tube/rail lines or bus - then connect onward to Arundel. We provide further information on how to do this in your information pack.

By Rail

From your starting location, you want to get connecting transport to London Victoria train station where there is a direct train to Arundel (1 hour and 30 mins). If you are coming from the North of the UK to London you will likely arrive at Euston or Kings Cross station, where you will need to then take the London tube to London Victoria train station. We provide further information on how to do this in your information pack.

By Car

Disclaimer – We have not attempted to park a car for a week in Arundel or Eastbourne so cannot confirm the below parking suggestions are fully accurate or secure.

If you are planning on driving it is possible to do so – there are various options for parking in Arundel. You can find them at the "Visit Arundel" website: https://www.visitarundel.co.uk/love-arundel/parking/

Alternatively, you could opt to park your car in Eastbourne on your intended arrival day and then take the train to Arundel (via Gatwick or London Victoria train stations) on Day 1 – meaning when you end the tour in Eastbourne, you can drive home on your onward travel day. The "Visit Eastbourne" has suggested places to park: https://www.visiteastbourne.com/plan-your-visit/tourist-information/car-parking

By Air

Ideally, we recommend departing via Gatwick Airport as it has a regular direct train service from Eastbourne to the airport itself (1 hour and 30 minutes). If you are departing from one of the other airports in London, you will need to make a connecting change at London Gatwick Airport and take a bus or use the London tube/rail system to connect to the airport you are flying from. We provide further information on how to do this in your information pack.

By Rail

Take the train from Eastbourne to London Victoria train station - a direct train runs from Eastbourne daily. 

From London Victoria, you will catch a connecting train to the relevant outbound train station to your intended onward travel destination - If departing London and heading to the North of the UK to London you will likely depart at Euston or Kings Cross station. 

On day 3 and day 4 - You will take your overnight bag with you in your morning taxi transfer. You will be dropped off at the Wiston Wine Estate (Day 3) and Devil’s Dyke (Day 4). Your bags will then be forwarded onto your next overnight accommodation by the taxi driver.

On day 5 and day 7– Your bags will be transferred via our regular South Downs Way luggage handler. Ensure your bags are at your accommodation reception by 9am.

At Macs Adventure we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase.  Ninety-nine per cent of the time they will only transfer one bag per person, but the allowed weight ranges from anything between 15 and 20kg per bag, depending on the tour you are taking.  We do not have control over the limits that these providers set. Therefore, it is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees) which we must respect.