Self-guided · Southern England
54 kilometres from Hassocks to Eastbourne along the eastern half of the South Downs Way — Ditchling Beacon, Alfriston and the Seven Sisters in a single long weekend.
Chalk under your boots, big skies overhead, and the sea closing in fast — this is the South Downs Way distilled into a single long weekend, on the stretch every long-distance walker remembers.
The Experience covers the finest 54 kilometres of the National Trail, from Hassocks station on the London-to-Brighton mainline to Eastbourne's Victorian promenade — three days at Explorer pace, with proper Sussex accommodation and your bags moved between stages. It's the shortest way to get the highlights of the South Downs Way without committing to the full week from Winchester.
The Experience divides naturally into three stages — the ridge above the Weald, the descent to the Cuckmere, and the sea-cliff finale.
Jack and Jill Windmills · Ditchling Beacon · Blackcap
Climb from Hassocks to the Jack and Jill Windmills and join the South Downs Way, then follow the ridge over Ditchling Beacon — the highest point in East Sussex — to the working farm at Housedean.
Firle Beacon · Southease · the Cuckmere
Climb Castle Hill along Jugg's Road, cross the River Ouse at Southease, and follow the ridge over Firle Beacon before descending into the Cuckmere Valley to medieval Alfriston.
Cuckmere Meanders · Seven Sisters · Beachy Head
Follow the Cuckmere through Litlington and Friston Forest, meet the sea at Cuckmere Haven, then climb the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs to Belle Tout lighthouse and Beachy Head before descending into Eastbourne.
Build your trip
Pick your pace, party size and dates. The itinerary, distances, nightly stops and the price all update live — no commitment until you're happy.
Your day-by-day itinerary updates live in the Your itinerary section below.
This is the itinerary you're building. Change the pace, party size or start date in the planner above and every stage, distance and date updates here.
Where you'll stay
Sussex village B&Bs and walker-friendly inns, with a night at YHA Southease where that's the strongest option on the trail. Alfriston's medieval pubs are the highlight of the three nights.
Every trip is planned around your dates and party, so we can't promise you a specific inn — but we can promise the kind of welcome that makes a walking holiday feel like a proper holiday.
Self-guided, but properly supported. You turn up, you walk, you eat well, you sleep well. We handle the logistics.
Walking the South Downs Way Experience alone doesn't mean being out of touch. We lend you a small GPS tracker for the trail, and a private map link lets the people who care about you follow along from home.
Carry it in your pack and it updates your position as you walk — no phone signal required.
See your own progress on a secure map, with your overnight stops visible at a glance.
Send the private link to family or friends so they know you've arrived safely each day.
We'll start planning your trip right away. Not happy with anything? We'll adjust it or refund you — no questions asked.
The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 for Big Trail Adventures (member 5690). Protection is provided for non-flight packages. Full details in our booking conditions.
The Experience is the most accessible of our multi-day trips. On the 3-day Explorer pace you'll walk 14, 23 and 17 km — comfortable for anyone with a reasonable base fitness. The chalk drains fast, the paths are wide and well-signed throughout, and you're never more than an hour from a village or a road. A very good first long-distance walk.
April to October is prime — long days, wildflowers on the chalk grassland and largely dry underfoot. June is our favourite for the balance of daylight and settled weather. The trail stays open year-round, but winter days are short and the ridge takes the wind.
Hassocks is 55 minutes from London Victoria on a direct Southern Rail service. Eastbourne is around 90 minutes back to Victoria on the same line. Start Friday evening, finish Sunday afternoon or Monday — home for dinner. No car required.
Yes, every day. Your main bag moves between accommodation each morning with a 20 kg allowance; you walk with a daypack containing water, lunch, waterproofs and layers. Good carrier coverage across the whole route — no awkward gaps.
A mix of village B&Bs, walker-friendly inns and YHA Southease where that's the best on-trail option. Alfriston in particular has some lovely medieval inns — the Star and the George — and we always try to get you the strongest option on each night. Book well ahead for summer weekends.
The 3-day Explorer package starts at £180 per person — accommodation with breakfast, daily luggage transfer, planning, route notes and our support line while you walk. On top, budget £10–15 a day for a picnic lunch and £20–30 for a pub dinner. Most walkers spend an additional £150–250 across the weekend on food and drinks.
The Experience is what I recommend to people who want to test out multi-day walking before committing to a whole week, or to walkers who already know they love the South Downs and just want the best bit again. Three days, direct trains at both ends, and the Seven Sisters to finish. Hard to beat for a long weekend.
154 km, Glasgow to Fort William. Scotland's most famous long-distance walk.
127 km from Fort William along Loch Ness to Inverness. Lochside and forest walking.
127 km through the southern Highlands, following the outlaw's old country.