South Downs Way Walking Holidays

Half South Downs Way and Short Break Walking Holidays

Eastern Section =  Amberley - Steyning - Pyecombe - Lewes - Alfriston - Eastbourne 
Western Section = Winchester - Exton - Buriton - Cocking/Midhurst - Amberley 
Short Break =  Lewes - Alfriston - Eastbourne 
Vineyard Locations =  Midhurst - Amberley - Lewes - Alfriston 

East or West in 4 or 5 days... 

Walking half the South Downs Way is perfect if you do not have a full week available. We suggest making  Amberley the half way point, largely due to the location of the train station there on the direct line to London.       
Lots of other options and variations are available. 
The eastern end of the trail is more dramatic and has lots of vineyards, the western end is arguably quieter if you are looking to get away form it all. 

West
Winchester to Exton 12 miles
Exton to Buriton 12 miles
Buriton to Cocking/Midhurst 12 miles
Cocking to Amberley 11 miles

East
Amberley to Steyning 10 miles
Steyning to Pyecombe 9 miles
Pyecombe to Lewes 9 miles
Lewes to Alfriston 14 miles
Alfriston to Eastbourne 12 miles  

Short Breaks & Vineyards

Our South Downs Way short breaks are perfect for long weekends and 'doing' the national trail in short sections. 
A number of  towns along the trail have access to main-line train stations and we usually offer these as start and finishing points. 
A few examples
Winchester - Exton - Buriton
or
Buriton - Cocking/Midhurst - Amberley 
or
Amberley - Steyning - Lewes 
or
Lewes - Alfriston - Eastbourne

Vineyards in Sussex are a hidden gem, and many of them have been winning awards both here and on  the international stage.  Tinwood, Ridgeview and Wiston 
are three favourites. 
We have been combining our short break walking holidays  with  visits to one or two of these fabulous vineyards; 
come and see why!
The South Downs Way is a long distance footpath and bridleway running along the South Downs in Southern England, and is one of 15 National Trails in England and Wales. The trail runs for 100 miles (160 km) from the ancient cathedral city (and first capital of England) Winchester in the West, through to the white chalky cliffs of the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head at Eastbourne in the East.
The undulating South Downs Way National Trail begins in Winchester and moves past Cheesefoot Head, the towns of Petersfield and Arundel, Steyning then onto Devil’s Dyke viewpoint near Brighton, followed by Ditchling Beacon and miles of chalk downland across to Beachy Head, and finally ending in Eastbourne. Diversions are needed to visit Brighton or Lewes, the latter town being of great beauty with an historic centre. Without exception it is a very well maintained and signposted route. Although the trail crosses various villages for provisions, much of it is surprisingly isolated and quiet considering the density of the population in South-East England. The South Downs Way allows you to experience great views, attractive wildlife, visible prehistory, fine pubs and pretty villages, as well as a challenging walk!!

         Three good reasons to book a walking holiday with Footprints of Sussex

       Local Knowledge

There is rarely a week goes by when one of us is not out walking somewhere on the South Downs Way. Whether it's meeting people, checking something or just enjoying our own local trail. There is no substitute for local knowledge.

       High Standards

We believe that at the end of a great day walking the hills you deserve a little comfort. A warm welcome from a friendly host, an ensuite bedroom and a nearby pub or restaurant with an interesting menu.

       Peace of Mind

When the unexpected happens it's reassuring to know that your holiday provider is not far away. And we are a family business where you will have a named contact just a local call away.

      What We Include  

  • High Quality Accommodation
  • Shuttles on and off trail where the              accommodation is more than 1km                away
  • Daily baggage transfers 
  • The ‘Cicerone’ route guide & map book
  • Durable, quality baggage labels
  • Our own route notes and guides
  • Our own pub and restaurant listings 
  • Peace of mind, knowing we are                    nearby on the trail,  

   South Downs Way Specialist

  • The B&B’s we use along the South              Downs Way have all been personally          inspected by us
  • We check rooms are available before          making a holiday offer  
  • We are based in Steyning, West Sussex
  • We like to personally meet all our                guests during their holiday
  • We actually walk the South Downs              Way ourselves every June

What's it going to cost?


As a guide and based on two people sharing a room: 

2 Nights - £345.00 per person
3 Nights - £395.00 per person
4 Nights - £455.00 per person 


Want to tailor 
your holiday? 

  • How about a rest day in Amberley, Steyning or Lewes  
  • Or a luxury night at Amberley Castle or The Grand Hotel in Eastbourne  
  • Maybe take a day to visit one of our award winning vineyards  
  • Or have friends and family join you for a night or two                                                                                just ask and we'll take care of it
Rudyard Kipling

“If you wake at midnight and hear a horse’s feet don’t go drawing back the blind or looking in the street. Them that asks no questions isn’t told a lie, watch the wall my darlin’ as the gentlemen go by”