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South Downs to the Sea

Rolling chalklands & the ‘Roman Riviera’
 
Combine leisurely walks through the unspoiled and varied landscapes of the South Downs with stays at high-quality accommodation and visits to hill-top forts, Bosham Quay and the cathedral city of Chichester. This self-guided walking holiday includes luggage transfers.
South Downs to the Sea. 6 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
South Downs to the Sea. 6 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A walking holiday in the South Downs

Humans have been walking in the South Downs for centuries, all taking in the views that found Virginia Woolf “overcome by beauty more extravagantly than one could expect.” Characterised by rolling chalk countryside, and presenting an enticing tableau of fertile valleys, varied woodland and – as you move towards the coast – soft seascapes, our chosen portion of West Sussex makes for idyllic walking country.
This unspoiled swathe of southern England is also rich in culture and history: from Bronze Age burial mounds and panoramic Iron Age hillforts in the South Downs National Park, to the ‘Roman Riviera’ of Chichester Harbour – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Here, reminders of Roman occupation are as abundant as the many thriving nature reserves and pretty waterfront villages; the walled city of Chichester has a particularly strong connection to the past: as well as the Roman walls and bathhouse, you will find graceful Georgian town houses and a stunning medieval cathedral – the only English cathedral visible from the sea.

To complement the far-reaching views and fascinating history, we have chosen three high-quality places for you to stay: two fine country inns and a charming hotel offering excellent service and delicious, locally sourced food.
 

Book with confidence

We are accepting bookings for English holidays. Our flexible booking arrangements, commitment to safety and financial protection mean that you can book with confidence.

What we’re doing so you can book and travel with confidence >
 
Gallery
 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.

    You should always be prepared for wet weather, whichever month you are travelling.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 8 8 11 14 17 20 22 20 20 15 11 8
    mm 65 48 47 51 48 45 49 47 43 70 65 67
  • Arrival in Chilgrove
    Night 1: at the White Horse Inn (the first of two nights here).
    As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of walking.

     
  • Circular route from Chilgrove: 12.5km (8 miles), 4hrs
    Today’s walk to Beacon Hill is a favourite of ours, with enough – but not too much – of a challenge. From Beacon Hill, on a fine day, views extend from the Weald in the north to the Isle of Wight in the English Channel. There’s also an Iron Age hillfort here (archaeological evidence suggests that the down was first occupied around 3000 BC), as well as a former telegraph station. This was a link in the shutter telegraph chain (1796-1816) which connected the Admiralty in London to its naval ships docked in Portsmouth and Plymouth. After being replaced by a semaphore station, ‘Telegraph House’ was the home of the famous Beacon Hill School run by the renowned philosopher, Bertrand Russell. Also featuring on today’s walk are the Devil’s Jumps – Bronze Age burial mounds whose name owes much to local legend.
    Beacon Hill
    Circular route from Chilgrove: 12.5km
  • Chilgrove to East Lavant: 12.5km (8 miles), 4hrs
    You begin with a steady uphill section, but then are rewarded with a descent through Kingley Vale, a National Nature Reserve and the highlight of today’s walk. You arrive along a wooded ridge intersecting with the top of this horseshoe-shaped dry valley, where first you encounter several Bronze Age burial mounds or ‘barrows’ known as the ‘Devil’s Humps’ (not to be confused with the Devil's Jumps that feature on the Beacon Hill circuit), before descending through some magical, Tolkien-esque yew groves that boast curiously shaped specimens over 500 years old. Picking up the West Sussex Literary Trail, you eventually reach the attractive village of East Lavant, where your next two nights are spent at the Royal Oak Inn.
    Kingley Vale
    Chilgrove to East Lavant: 12.5km
  • Choice of routes from East Lavant: 12.5-18.5km (7.5-11.5 miles)

    Circular route via West Dean Gardens and The Weald & Downland Living Museum: 12.5km (7.5 miles), 4hrs; 210m ascent/descent
    This circuit takes you along the picturesque Lavant Valley to West Dean village, then passes the eponymous gardens and The Weald & Downland Living Museum before ascending St Roche’s Hill to The Trundle – an Iron Age hillfort overlooking Goodwood racecourse. You finish with a descent along Chalkpit Lane with views over Chichester Harbour. If you would prefer to linger longer at either the beautiful and unusual West Dean Gardens or the outdoor museum of rural life – or even both – you can use the bus to reduce the walking and make the most of these highly recommended sites.

    Halnaker to East Lavant, starting by taxi: 18.5km (11.5 miles), 6hrs; 350m ascent/360m descent
    This longer route through rolling countryside begins with a taxi transfer to nearby Halnaker (pay locally). Walk through a splendid ‘tunnel of trees’ and up to Halnaker Windmill (a Sussex landmark) before continuing along the line of a Roman road then descending to three pretty hamlets alongside the River Lavant to reach Singleton. The final part of your route is the same as the first option, taking in St Roche’s Hill and The Trundle before descending with views towards the English Channel. You can shorten this walk to 13km (8 miles) by taking the bus to Lavant from Singleton.
    West Dean Gardens
    Halnaker Windmiill
    Circular route via West Dean Gardens and outdoor museum: 12.5km
    Halnaker to East Lavant: 18.5km
  • East Lavant to Bosham: 10.5km (6.5 miles), 3.5hrs; no ascent/descent
    Today you leave East Lavant and head south towards Chichester on the Centurion Way. This walking and cycling trail was once the Chichester to Midhurst Railway line, although it is now some years since the last train ran and the tracks were removed, and even longer since the Romans marched nearby – the Centurion Way is so-named as it crosses the course of a Roman road. From the Centurion Way, you have the option of detouring into the historic centre (see Day 5 below). The second half of this easier walk includes a boardwalk path through strikingly tall reeds before hugging the Fishbourne Channel, then following field paths across to Bosham, where your final nights are spent at the Millstream Hotel.
    From pretty East Lavant...
    Route through the Fishbourne reed beds
  • Choice of routes from Bosham: 14.5-16km (9-10 miles)
    Bosham itself has an attractive quayside, an arts and crafts centre with many small, independent boutiques, and an impressive Saxon church that is mentioned in the Domesday Book. The village is also well placed for further exploration, lying within the Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and just a few miles from the city of Chichester.
     
    Circular route via Itchenor & Dell Quay*: 16km (10miles), 5hrs; no ascent/descent
    Explore picturesque waterfront villages and peaceful farmland paths on this walk around Chichester Harbour. This unspoiled stretch of coastline, with its twisting creeks and rich range of habitats that include saltwater marshes and tidal mudflats, is a haven for wildlife, attracting large flocks of wading birds and wildfowl. The birdwatching opportunities are a real highlight of the route, as are the fantastic views across the water and the varied terrain. This area is also very popular with the sailing fraternity, and as you pass through the different villages, you’ll spot boats of all shapes and sizes bobbing in the marinas.
    *The walk involves a ferry crossing. From 1 May to 30 September boats run daily, but only at weekends during the rest of the year
     
    Chidham Peninsula: 14.5km (9 miles), 4.5hrs; no ascent/descent
    This route from the hotel takes you into the peaceful area to the west of Bosham Channel. There is a lovely sense of remoteness as you stroll by wetlands and the edge of the inlets, with no shortage of good opportunities for bird watching, especially around Cobnor Point Nature Reserve at the southern end of the peninsula. From here, the route swings north to follow a path along a levee, offering views towards the South Downs, before following field paths across the peninsula back to Bosham Channel. You can opt to add on a 1.6km (1 mile) detour to take in the sleepy village of Chidham. Note: there is stretch along the shore in the middle of the walk that is impassable at high tide for about an hour, but there are benches where you can wait and watch the world go by.

    Explore Chichester
    Alternatively, catch a bus from Bosham to nearby Chichester. This compact cathedral city is charming to explore on foot, and a particularly interesting perspective can be gained from the Roman walls. Constructed in the 3rd century AD, these are the best-preserved ancient defensive walls in the south of England, and walking along them you will enjoy fine views across Chichester’s historic centre and to iconic sights such as the impressive Cathedral, 16th-century Market Cross and legendary Priory Park cricket ground.
    Chichester channel
    Chidham to Cobnor Point Nature Reserve
 

Accommodation

You stay at two high-quality inns – or ‘dining pubs’ – of character, followed by a traditional 4-star hotel set within its own gardens.
 

Options to extend or shorten your stay

 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
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  • 6 nights: 01 June 2021 - 31 October 2021 & 01 March 2022 - 31 October 2022

    Start Sunday-Wednesday | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 Jun - 31 Aug 2021 # £695 £525
    1 - 30 Sep 2021 £660 £480
    1 - 25 Oct 2021 £595 £425
    1 - 31 Mar 2022 £595 £425
    1 - 30 Apr 2022 # £625 £450
    1 - 31 May 2022 # £695 £500
    1 Jun - 31 Aug 2022 # £730 £555
    1 - 30 Sep 2022 £695 £500
    1 - 25 Oct 2022 £625 £450
    3rd & 4th person discount -£35
    Single traveller supplement £35
    # Easter & other bank holidays: supplements apply over the Easter weekend, as well as the May Day, Whitsun and late summer bank holiday weekends; please contact us for details

    Please note: dogs are not permitted on Inntravel holidays

    Included travel: transfer Bosham-Chilgrove to collect car OR from/to Chichester railway station

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    White Horse Inn, Chilgrove
    'Feature': 01 Jun - 31 Oct 2021 £8
    'Feature': 01 Mar - 31 Oct 2022 £10
    Royal Oak Inn, East Lavant
    'Feature': 01 Jun - 31 Oct 2021 £8
    'Feature': 01 Mar - 31 Oct 2022 £10
    The Millstream Hotel & Restaurant, Bosham
    'Premium': 01 Jun - 31 Oct 2021 £8
    'Premium': 01 Mar - 31 Oct 2022 £10

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Royal Oak Inn, East Lavant (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Jun - 31 Aug 2021 # £72 £144
    01 Sep - 31 Oct 2021 £65 £130
    01 Mar - 31 Mar 2022 £58 £116
    01 Apr - 31 May 2022 # £70 £140
    01 Jun - 31 Aug 2022 # £76 £152
    01 Sep - 31 Oct 2022 £70 £140
    # Easter & other bank holidays: supplements apply over the Easter weekend, as well as the May Day, Whitsun and late summer bank holiday weekends; please contact us for details
    The Millstream Hotel & Restaurant, Bosham (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Jun - 30 Sep 2021 £86 £172
    01 Oct - 31 Oct 2021 £68 £136
    01 Mar - 30 Apr 2022 £72 £144
    01 May - 30 Sep 2022 £90 £180
    01 Oct - 31 Oct 2022 £72 £144
  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Connecting travel options - via Chichester railway station

    Outward route Price per person Latest train
    arrival time
    taxi Chichester station to hotel (0h20) included flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest train
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Chichester station (0h15) included flexible
What is included
  • 6 nights
  • 1 dinner
    2 picnics
    6 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • taxi from/to local railway station or to collect car
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 7 reviews
  • Dorothy (Cambridge)
    31 August 2019

    A recommendation for picnic lunches - and we appreciated the individual choice at The White Horse in Chilgrove - water now comes in glass bottles, which of course is preferable in most contexts. Walkers should be advised in advance to provide their own (lighter) containers.

    Highlights: Petworth, the Royal Oak at Hooksway (from Chilgrove) is worth a visit, view from Beacon Hill, Kingley Vale and the earlier part of that day.

  • Mr T Frajka
    Hampshire
    25 August 2019

    Excellent introduction to walking holidays. Our 9 and 12 year old kids managed the daily dose of walk just fine. The notes are excellent, almost never used the maps. The accommodations are great with very good food options. The walk provides splendid vistas and is overall very pleasant and enjoyable. The packed picnics are very good as usually there were no pubs or food options along the way.

  • Mr C Woodcock
    Holmfirth
    22 July 2019

    This was a glorious holiday on some of the hottest days of the year. We were delighted at the surprisingly quiet and unspoilt countryside. On our first day we completed the entire walk without encountering another soul, apart from in Petworth itself. We loved following the twisting white ribbon, the South Downs Way, with its wild flowers, clouds of butterflies and skylarks soaring above. The Weald and Downland Museum kept us fascinated for 4 and a half hours. Many encounters will stay in the memory: the guide at Petworth House who gave us an insight into the history behind some of the paintings; the German family with whom we had a mutually enlightening discussion on Brexit and the locals in the Black Horse at Byworth who during a long and happy evening filled us in on ‘Testicle Ted’, the notorious former landlord of the Welldiggers.

  • MJFS, Wilmslow
    09 July 2019

    A really excellent holiday, which took us to a part of the country we didn't know and provided an enjoyable and interesting introduction. Thank you

  • Mr W Robinson
    Stockton-on-tees
    14 June 2019

    Despite some inclement weather we enjoyed our visit to the South Downs National Park. On our last day we visited the Weald and Downland living museum, well worth a visit in its own right but made more special by turning out to be the location of BBCs Repair Shop and they were filming the day we were there!

  • Anon
    07 June 2019

    Lovely area, interesting routes. The yew trees at Kingley Vale were truely impressive! Don’t miss West Dean Gardens as they are beautiful. 

  • Professor I Harvey
    Norwich
    03 May 2019

    Chichester is well worth a visit and the Pallant House art gallery is excellent. The scenery of the South Downs is very varied and the ancient yew wood at Kingley Vale was a highlight. The Hare and Hounds pub at Stoughton provides a very good lunch stop on the optional circular walk from Chilgrove
 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • If your holiday plans go awry because of Coronavirus, rest assured that we’ll do right by you. Since the start of the pandemic, our flexible booking policy and prompt issuing of refunds to customers who prefer not to defer their holiday have earned us high praise in the national press.
  • We sincerely hope that your holiday experience will be as enjoyable as it would have been before the pandemic – walking holidays are ideal in these times of social distancing, and we’re not operating holidays if the key highlights can no longer be delivered – but, naturally, there will be some changes to ensure your and other people’s safety.
    Your holiday experience: what to expect >
    Safety measures being taken by hoteliers & others >
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from hotel to hotel, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. If/when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation, meaning that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.

    For more detailed information, see our walking holidays in Europe page.
  • Yes, prior to going on holiday you will be able to download GPX tracks so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. It’s entirely up to you whether or not you use them – our detailed, step-by-step route notes remain the principal means of guiding you from A to B – but we provide them as a secondary means of navigation for additional reassurance when walking.
  • Yes, absolutely. Over the years, we have arranged a great many walking holidays in the UK for customers living in the USA, Canada, Australia and beyond.

    If you've never travelled with us before, it's worth reading the web pages which explain how we can cater for customers who live outside the UK. The main thing to bear in mind is that our tour operator's licence doesn't allow us to book flights that originate outside the UK, and nor are we able to book rail travel in the UK, so we can't make travel arrangements for you, other than pre-arranging taxis between the local railway station and the accommodation – see the ‘prices & travel options’ section for the options available.

    As regards entry requirements, it is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. Our essential travel information page provides links to websites where you can find out about the applicable requirements, along with general official travel advice.
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to take out our recommended travel insurance policy (if you live outside the UK you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    We'll ask you for the details of your policy (insurer, policy number and medical emergency phone number) so that we can help out if the worst happens while you are on holiday. It's up to you, though, to check that your policy covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs; we don't check alternative policies.
  • You are the best judge of your child’s/children’s capabilities. We are happy to take bookings for families of older children/teenagers if they walk regularly, love the outdoors and are comfortable with the distances and ascent/descent involved. Please note that the bedrooms at most of the accommodation we use will normally only sleep a maximum of 3 people, and sometimes only 2.
  • Unfortunately not. The Inntravel team includes many dog owners, but the extra considerations – such as whether taxi firms accept dogs for transfers to the start of walks, whether routes cross private land on which dogs are not allowed, and proximity to a vet’s – would add another layer of complexity to what are already quite complex holidays.
Last fetch time is : 6/12/2021 8:02:21 AM