South Downs Discovery
Fall in love with England’s newest National Park
-
United Kingdom
5 nights
Half Board
-
Jun
Jul
Sep
Oct
Tour codes: 50050
Explore the world at a slower pace...
Call us on 01707 817311
Or, email us at [email protected]
Call us on 01707 817311
Or, email us at [email protected]
Fall in love with England’s newest National Park
United Kingdom
Jun
Jul
Sep
Oct
Tour codes: 50050
This holiday includes an active sightseeing programme with unchallenging walks, either city tours or strolls on relatively easy terrain in the surrounding countryside. If in a mountainous area, the walks will be amongst the hills rather than up and down them. Local guides, winery visits, traditional villages and time to pause and watch the locals going about their lives are likely to feature.
Overview
The South Downs is England’s newest National Park, stretching from Hampshire to East Sussex. With 3,300km of footpaths, byways and bridleways, it’s a walkers paradise. Offering a combination of dramatic coastlines, pretty villages, rolling chalk hills, ancient woodland and glorious cities, it is the ideal place to unwind in and rediscover the beauty of the UK.
We stay in Arundel, a scenic market town in West Sussex. It is an ideal location with thousands of years of history displayed within its traditional buildings, glorious castle and cathedral. Its pretty streets are filled with locally run independent, antique and craft shops and you'll also find a selection of tea rooms, art galleries, restaurants, and cafes. We stay in the charming Norfolk Arms Hotel located in the centre of Arundel.
Our holiday includes a walk along the beautiful coastal cliffs to the Seaford Head Nature Reserve with panoramic views of the distant Seven Sisters where the limestone hills reach the sea at impressive cliffs. There is also a day spent in and around the attractive city of Chichester and Bosham, at Chichester Harbour, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We spend a day in Arundel visiting its historical museum and spectacular castle before enjoying a delicious afternoon tea. We take a fascinating journey through the Weald and Downland Museum, now famous for the BBC 'Repair Shop' TV series. This holiday offers an eclectic mix of walking, history and culture.
Click the button below for a detailed Holiday Information Sheet containing all the particulars about this trip.
NOTE: Itineraries and Holiday Information Sheets can vary by a specific date chosen
Itinerary & Travel
Whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the outlined itinerary and advertised programme, local conditions can change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. This may mean that routes and timings need to be amended or the order of days may change, sometimes at short notice. All local transport costs, entrance fees and tipping to local providers are included in the cost of your holiday.
Accommodation
Below is a summary of the accommodation featured on this holiday across all departure dates. Please refer to the Itinerary for more detail about each night's accommodation for each departure date.
We stay in the charming and traditional Norfolk Arms Hotel located in the centre of Arundel. This Georgian style inn is full of character and only a short stroll away from the scenic River Arun, Arundel castle, restaurants, cafes, shops, and bars.
We stay in twin, double and single bedded en suite rooms. Although the rooms are smaller and the ceilings are low, they have been recently refurbished with a charming atmosphere and traditional décor. Rooms include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee making facilities, TV, telephone and hairdryer.
Parking at the hotel is £6 per car per night and is not included in the holiday cost.
Please also be aware that there is no lift in the hotel.
Trip Information
All Adagio holidays are expertly designed to allow you to immerse yourself in the destination. Leisurely exploration of the must-see, as well as lesser known, highlights together with relaxed enjoyment of local food and wines is what we have in mind.
There may be days of sightseeing on foot around a spectacular city or unchallenging strolls on easy terrain in open countryside interspersed with winery visits, guided tours, boat trips, cafe stops and traditional restaurants.
We use a mix of privately hired vehicles, taxis, and public transport which gives us some flexibility in our itinerary. We have a wonderful programme of walking, sightseeing and visits planned to let you fully experience the area along with opportunities to relax at our wonderful hotel and enjoy your surroundings.
Holiday Budgeting
Local transport costs, entrance fees and tips to local providers are included in your holiday price. You may wish to budget for any meals and drinks not included in the holiday arrangements, non-included entrance fees and any optional excursions you may choose to participate in locally. A general guideline for lunches and drinks is £10-£20 per person per day.
Local Transport Costs
We include the local travel costs using private hire coaches. Our Adagio Leader will arrange everything. You just need to be at the right place at the right time.
Tipping
We include tips in the holiday cost and your Adagio Leader will take care of making sure tips are given to hotel and restaurant staff and to local guides and drivers. If you feel that someone has gone out of their way to make your holiday enjoyable or help you in anyway, please feel free to give a personal tip to the person should you wish. If you are having an independent lunch or other service not included in the holiday arrangements, tipping is at your own discretion.
Group Size
We believe that the best things come in small packages, and our Adagio holidays prove just that. We limit our groups to a maximum of 18 persons, plus the Adagio Leader, so that everyone has the opportunity to mix, share their love of travel and return home with new friendships. Small groups also have less detrimental local impact, allows us to use public transport on some days, eat at small local restaurants and, we believe, offers a better experience.
Your Leader
An Adagio Leader will accompany you throughout the holiday. They are all experienced travellers with a love for exploring and will help capture the true essence of the destination with their stories, knowledge and insights. They are well-organised, pay great attention to detail and enjoy being with people. They are there to help make your holiday as enjoyable and stress free as possible.
Leaders Evening Briefing
Your Adagio Leader will discuss the programme for the following day with the group at each evening briefing. This will be your opportunity to find out more details and ensure the planned activities suit your walking ability. Also, if you have any questions or concerns on clothing or lunch arrangements, this can be discussed then. If you wish to opt out of the organised group programme, this is fine, just let your Leader know.
Getting to your Holiday
Check-in at the hotel is from 3:00pm. Our Adagio Leader will meet with you prior to your evening dinner for a group welcome meeting. Our Adagio Leader will also offer a local walk in the afternoon, leaving at 4:00pm.
To reach the hotel by car:
From A27/A284 roundabout, take the exit signposted Town Centre. Continue along Maltravers Street for 0.3 miles. The road will veer left onto New Cut and then merge to the right onto High Street. Follow High Street and you will see the Norfolk Arms Hotel on your left.
To park, continue passed the hotel and turn left onto Mill Lane. You will see the car park in front and to the left beyond the Indian Restaurant (chargeable).
To reach the hotel by train:
Nearest train station is Arundel which is 0.6 mile. It is a 10 minute walk or a 3 minute drive. We recommend to prebook a taxi such as Castle Cars 01903884444 or A-Cab 07747011694.
To reach the hotel by air:
Brighton City Airport is 15 miles away and Gatwick Airport is 41 miles away. We recommend to pre book a taxi to Arundel.
Personal Details Check
Please ensure that the personal details we have on file for you are up to date and that you have provided the information we need to secure your holiday travel and accommodation arrangements.
Please check your passport details, date of birth and any other important details necessary for us to accurately manage your holiday booking are correct at the time of booking (including health and dietry requirements). You can view and update information already provided, and add details not yet asked for, by using the Manage My Booking facility on our website www.adagio.co.uk, or by calling our Sales and Reservations team on +44 (0)1707 386700. When you receive your booking confirmation please check the details as soon as possible.
We include breakfast and dinners at the hotel and can expect delicious home cooked and traditional dishes made from fresh locally sourced produce. A delightful afternoon tea is included in Arundel. Lunches are not included in the holiday price.
Footwear
Comfortable, broken in, walking boots or shoes with a good sole are recommended for this holiday. Walking shoes or other comfortable footwear will be suitable for sightseeing days.
General Kit List
We recommend you bring the following items with you:
Water To Go
An alternative to bottled water from single-use sealed water bottles is filtered water from a refillable bottle containing its own water filter such as a Water-to-go bottle available from www.watertogo.eu. Just fill up from any water source and save the environment from disposable plastic bottles.
We have negotiated an exclusive 15% discount with our partners Water-to-Go for you as a thank you for helping the environment. Please go to their website at www.watertogo.eu and enter the code RWH17 when ordering. In addition, Water-to-Go will match the discount with a donation to our charity, Heart & Sole, which will allow us to continue to make a difference in the countries you visit on our holidays.
Travel Document Checklist
To ensure your holiday gets off to a good start, please make sure that you bring the following documents and information with you:
The Map Shop
If you cannot find the maps or books locally we recommend:
The Map Shop
5 High Street
Upton upon Severn, Worcs
WR8 0HJ
England
Tel: 01684 593 146
Website: www.themapshop.co.uk
E-mail: [email protected]
If you key many of the local places mentioned in this holiday fact sheet into YouTube, you will find a vast array of spectacular footage of the area.
Further Health Advice
For further advice please visit:
You might wish to take a small bottle of antibacterial hand gel with you for times when you're unable to wash your hands.
Travel Insurance
Although insurance is not compulsory for this holiday for UK residents, we strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance to cover you in eventualities such as unexpected cancellation.
Responsible Travel
We're committed to operating responsible tours in all our destinations as best we can. Our holidays are designed for you to discover the essence of the country you are visiting. Travelling in small groups not only gives you an up close and personal experience of your destination, but minimises your impact on the immediate environment. We feel that the most important starting point to protect the environment is to be out in it. For more details visit our website.
Ramblers Holidays Charitable Trust
Unlike many tour operators we have our own trust through which RWH Travel Ltd’s (inc Adagio) profits are channelled back into a variety of outdoor, walking-related or environmental conservation projects in the UK. The focus of the Trust’s financial support is Britain’s leading walking charity, The Ramblers, and their role in promoting the benefits and importance of walking to the British public.
In addition the Trust welcomes applications for small grants from local organisations in the UK who need support for walking-orientated activities. This includes the establishment of footpaths and bridleways, funding for rebuilding bridges and renovating huts, as well as bursary funding for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for children who could not otherwise afford to do it. Please visit the ‘About Us’ section of our website and click on the Charitable Trust link for more details.
Heart and Sole
We appreciate that we are in a fortunate position to be able to use our profits to help make a difference to people's lives. Heart & Sole is a venture managed by our office staff, whose aim is to reach the heart of the communities in the countries we visit. Through Heart & Sole, we hope to make more of a long term, direct impact to these communities, particularly in less developed countries where even a small amount goes a long way.
Reviews
Useful Information
Capital
Currency
Language
Time Difference
Visas and Passports
January
Avg. Rain: 70mm
February
Avg. Rain: 51mm
March
Avg. Rain: 51mm
April
Avg. Rain: 46mm
May
Avg. Rain: 49mm
June
Avg. Rain: 51mm
July
Avg. Rain: 58mm
August
Avg. Rain: 65mm
September
Avg. Rain: 62mm
October
Avg. Rain: 75mm
November
Avg. Rain: 74mm
December
Avg. Rain: 73mm
View Dates & Book
Can't find what you're looking for?
Call for help or regional flights on 01707 817311