7 Night South Downs Walking with Sightseeing Holiday
These holidays offer a perfect mix of short, guided walks (4-5 miles), combined with time spent sightseeing. Visit a selection of standout highlights in the South Downs with hassle-free coach travel and the help of an HF Holidays Leader.
What you’ll love
- Visiting Petworth Park created by Capability Brown
- Admiring the beautiful Elizabethan Parham House
- Walking from the harbour village of Bosham to Fishbourne Roman Palace
- Discovering the heritage of Sussex at the Weald and Downland Living Museum
- Following the river to historic Arundel with its impressive castle and cathedral
What’s included
- Comfortable en-suite accommodation in our country house
- Cream tea on arrival day
- Cooked or continental breakfast every morning
- Daily packed lunches
- Three-course evening meals, plus tea & coffee
- Guided walks and sightseeing visits with an experienced HF Holidays Leader
- All transport to and from walks and sites of interest
- Easy-to-follow routes, maps, and information in our Discovery Point if you want to explore independently
Please note - Entrance fees are not included. See Essential Info tab for details.
Trip Notes
Easy to download as a PDF, our trip notes provide detailed information for every holiday. Please click below to find the trip notes for your departure date.
All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take alternative routes or adapt the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.
You're welcome to check in from 4pm onwards. Enjoy a complimentary cream tea on arrival.
Distance: 4.25 miles (6.75 km)
Total ascent: 575 feet (175m)
Today's walk begins at West Dean Gardens and takes the Monarch’s Way gently uphill around West Dean Park’s wooded perimeter. We then make our way over St Roche’s Hill passing the Trundle – an Iron Age hill fort – enjoying wonderful views of the coast to the south and rising downland to the north. From here we walk downhill through fields to reach the village of Singleton and the opportunity to spend time exploring the extensive Weald and Downland Living Museum.
Distance: 4 miles (6km)
Total ascent: 650 feet (200m)
We start our walk in the picturesque village of Amberley, with its village pottery and castle (now a hotel). We then head up onto the Downs, to Rackham Hill, for superb views all round. The ascent out of Amberley, and the descent down from Rackham Hill is steep, but we take it slowly. Any extra effort on this walk is more than rewarded by the superb far-reaching views which greet us; views over the Arun Valley one side and over Littlehampton to the English Channel on the other. Our walk then takes us on to the beautiful Elizabethan Parham House & Gardens (also visible from the top of Rackham Hill), leaving us plenty of time to explore. The house is surrounded by a large deer park which is home to around 350 fallow deer.
Discover more about Abingworth Hall and the local area for ideas on how to make the most of your free day.
Distance: 3 miles (4.5km)
Total ascent: 330 feet (100m)
A day spent in and around Arundel with a chance to visit the spectacular Arundel Castle, home of the Dukes of Norfolk for nearly 1,000 years. We start by visiting the cathedral as we make our way to Arundel Park. We have a leisurely walk through the beautiful park passing Swanbourne Lake and the Wetlands Centre on a circular loop that takes us back into the town. We've left plenty of time for a visit to the castle with its exquisite collections of furniture, tapestries and paintings, and its wonderful gardens, or the chance to explore the shops and tea rooms.
Distance: 4½ miles (7km)
Total ascent: minimal
We begin with a walk taking us to the picturesque winding streets and quaint cottages of the pretty harbour village of Bosham, a honeypot for arts and crafts shops. Leaving Bosham our walk takes us across fields to the Fishbourne Channel estuary of Chichester Harbour. Following the estuary inland we reach Fishbourne and the impressive Roman Palace, with its museum and gardens. There's time to discover the reconstructed Roman gardens and probably the best collection of Roman mosaics in the country, plus there's a good tea shop too!
Distance: 4 miles (6.5km)
Total ascent: 450 feet (140m)
We begin our walk near the village of Lodsworth, taking us through rolling countryside to Upperton, where we enter Petworth Park. Created by Capability Brown, we take one of the various routes through this beautiful park, looking out for fallow deer as we make our way to magnificent Petworth House.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home.
Abingworth Hall
Country living just got cosier at this former farmhouse. Abingworth Hall is just a skip away from the village of Thakeham at the foot of the South Downs – a landscape of ancient woodland, hidden valleys, chalky cliffs, and high-backed hills so deserving of its national park status finally bestowed in 2010. While the views from the doorstep are as wow-worthy as you’d expect, the walking opportunities around the sightseeing greats such as Devil’s Dyke, Seven Sisters Country Park, Kingley Vale, Parham House, and the Clayton Windmills (known locally as Jack and Jill) are equally standout. You’ll also be within easy driving distance of several historic towns and cities, most fabulously Arundel, Chichester, and Brighton.
Rooms
Designed with your comfort in mind, Abingworth Hall has 27 well-appointed guest rooms available in two categories: Classic and Premium.
Classic Rooms are comfortable en-suite guest rooms, ideal for a peaceful night's sleep. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, and shower gel), and a TV.
Premium Rooms are more spacious en-suite guest rooms. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers, and comfortable mattresses.
We love: The Premium Rooms for views of the impossibly pretty surrounds.
The Choose Your Room service is available at our UK country houses, allowing you the option of choosing and confirming a specific room for an extra charge of £30 per room. This is subject to availability. Upgrade supplements apply.
Check in & check out
You are welcome to check in from 4:00pm at the earliest. On arrival, you’ll enjoy a complimentary cream tea and get to meet your fellow guests, our HF Holidays Leaders, and the rest of the friendly team.
On the day of departure, we kindly ask all guests to check out by 10:00am. You’ll be asked to settle your bill prior to leaving. You may, of course, make a charitable donation to our HF Holidays Pathways Fund if you wish. Please note that we only accept card payments.
Room supplements
| Premium single | Premium double/twin | Choose your room |
| £20 pppn | £20 pppn | £30 per room |
About your stay
A warm welcome
We want you to feel comfortable from the moment you arrive. You’ll find a welcome pack in your room with guest registration forms, menus, order forms for dinners and picnic lunches, the Wi-Fi password, and the front door code. Our houses are locked at night, so we recommend noting the Duty Manager’s number on arrival in case of an emergency (or getting locked out).
Evening entertainment
While evening entertainment varies from house to house, the HF Holidays Big Pub Quiz held after dinner on Wednesdays is a weekly staple. Your HF Holidays Leader may be around for tips on guided and self-guided walking routes as well as visit-worthy local attractions.
Walks talks
Our HF Holidays Leaders host guided walking information briefings before dinner on arrival days. This is followed by a group Walks Talk for information on the following day’s walking delights (held before dinner every evening). Self-guided walking guests are, of course, welcome.
The walking day
Prior to setting off on walks, your HF Holidays Leader will run you through a short safety briefing. There’s also an up-to-date weather forecast on display at the house to ensure you have appropriate clothing and footwear. If you choose to do your own walks or are on a self-guided walking holiday, we ask that you please complete an Independent Walker Card each day. These can be found near the Discovery Point in the house.
Food & drink
Led by experienced chefs, we serve a wide range of dishes made with fresh and seasonal ingredients. We always aim to source the best produce available and use home-grown herbs and vegetables from our own gardens whenever possible. Additionally, we have a licensed bar with beers, soft drinks, and a superb selection of spirits. Full-board comes as standard and includes a cream tea on arrival and a hearty breakfast on departure day.
HF Holidays understands the importance of managing allergens effectively to ensure food is safe for guests with food allergies. Whilst we are always able to confidently inform guests which allergens are present in our ingredients and dishes, we are unable to guarantee absolute freedom from the 14 main allergens in our kitchens. Vegetarian and vegan menu choices are available. If you have allergies, food intolerances, or any special dietary requirements, please inform our reservation team at the time of booking.
Accessibility
For accessibility and assistance information, please contact our expert team on 020 3974 8865 or view the accessibility information online for Abingworth Hall
Getting to Abingworth Hall
Find out more about this location including travel details and room types.
More InformationEssential information
Please note
Admission fees are payable locally and aren’t included in your holiday price. Many of you have English Heritage (EH) or National Trust (NT) memberships already, which entitle you to free or reduced price entry to some of the attractions visited. Please see below, approximate totals for entrance fees, should you choose to visit all the highlighted attractions during your holiday. If you have National Trust or English Heritage membership – please make sure to bring your membership identification with you.
|
Approx. cost of entrance fees |
3 night holiday |
4 night holiday |
7 night holiday |
|
NT & EH members |
£32 |
£40 |
£72 |
|
NT members |
£32 |
£40 |
£72 |
|
EH members |
£32 |
£53 |
£85 |
|
No memberships |
£32 |
£53 |
£85 |
Essential information
The UK has a famously unpredictable climate so it's best to be prepared for weather that’s sunny one minute and raining the next. To make it easier, here’s a list of items you should consider packing.
Essentials
- Suitable footwear such as waterproof walking boots that provide ankle support and good grip
- Waterproof and windproof jacket, preferably insulated
- Comfortable clothing (jeans & waterproof capes are not suitable)
- Waterproof overtrousers
- Gloves and a warm hat (or sunhat)
- Rucksack
- Water bottle (at least 1 litre capacity)
- A small torch
- Sunscreen
- Mobile phone and portable charger
- Watch
- UV sunglasses
Recommended
- Several base layers (long-sleeve or short-sleeve)
- Cushioned walking socks to avoid blisters
- First aid kit, including plasters and insect repellent
- Sit mat
- Spare pair of socks
- Energy snacks
- Waterproof pouch for valuables
- Rubbish bag (remember to always leave no trace)
- Wallet/purse
Optional extras
- Walking poles, useful for descents
- Flask for hot drinks
- Durable lunch box
- Gaiters
- Blister kit
- Waterproof rucksack liner
- Head torch
- GPS device
Abingworth Hall Calendar
- Guided Walking
- Self-Guided Walking
- Special Interests
- Unavailable to Book
Guest reviews
All holidays are subject to availability. Supplements may apply.
Non-member fee: £30 per person.
All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take an alternative route, or vary the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.
Holiday prices
| Date (Start - End) | Itinerary | Double / Twin Room | Single Room | Notes / Offers | Trip Notes | Book | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ||||||||
|
14 Jun - 21 Jun 2024 7 nights |
Sightseeing Walk Single from £1,004 £954 Double from £1,179 £1,129 pp |
from £1,179 £1,129 pp |
from £1,004 £954 |
Save £50 Per Person | Trip Notes | Book Now | ||
|
19 Jul - 26 Jul 2024 7 nights |
Sightseeing Walk Single from £1,179 £1,089 Double from £1,179 £1,089 pp |
from £1,179 £1,089 pp |
from £1,179 £1,089 |
Save £90 Per Person | Trip Notes | Book Now | ||
|
11 Oct - 18 Oct 2024 7 nights |
Sightseeing Walk Single from £860 £770 Double from £1,035 £945 pp |
from £1,035 £945 pp |
from £860 £770 |
Save £90 Per Person | Trip Notes | Book Now | ||
7 nights
from
£1,035pp
£770pp
On offer
or call 020 3974 8865
For group bookings of 10+ guests click here
