The Sussex Coast & South Downs

The Coast & The South Downs

Castles, Stately Homes & Gardens

Walking Cycling & Other Activities

Fun for the Young

Where to eat
& drink

THE COAST
From lively resorts to quiet rural beaches. There are many scenic fishing villages and coastal towns to visit. Local beaches at Norman's Bay, Pevensey Bay, Cooden Beach, Birling Gap and Cuckmere Haven or the resorts of Eastbourne, Hastings and Brighton. Camber Sands is a popular Sandy Beach with The Place Hotel, renowned for seafood and Romney Marsh lamb close by.

Sailing, jet-skiing and wind-surfing are popular pursuits at Pevensey and Normans Bay (approximately 6 miles) - a quiet spot where the car may be parked adjacent to the beach. The Spray Water Sports Centre, Eastbourne offers courses in sailing, wind-surfing, canoeing, body-boarding and power boating or try canoeing, kayaking and surfing at The Seven Sisters Canoe Centre, Cuckmere.

The New Marina at Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne has harbour-side cafes, bars, restaurants and shops.

THE SOUTH DOWNS
A fascinating place, truly a landscape of outstanding natural beauty. An area rich with geological, historical and cultural reminders of the past as well as being a vibrant living landscape today. The new National Park with it's stunning scenery, the South Downs Way and multitude of other bridleways offer some of the best rambling and off road cycling in the country. Breathtaking views of the Seven Sisters from Birling Gap to Cuckmere Haven, perhaps taking in Beachy Head, is but one of the unique byways with local hostelries en route. Drive up to Firle top for a bracing walk with amazing panorama; or mountain bike to Alfriston returning along the Old Coach Road, taking lunch at the Cricketers at Berwick or at the Rose Cottage Inn at Alciston.

Picturesque villages include Alfriston, a beautiful Medieval village boasting a fantastic church, St Andrews, 'The Cathedral of the Downs'; The Clergy House next to St Andrews was the first building acquired by the National Trust (for £10). Firle's narrow village street looks much as it did a century or more ago. Litlington, with a flint church dating back to 1150, West Dean, probably founded in Saxon Times, where Alfred the Great had a palace, nestles at the foot of the downs adjoining Friston Forest; and close-by at East Dean is the Tiger Inn. There are countless country pubs. Also take time to explore the picture book towns of Lewes, Arundel, Midhurst and Petworth.

Alternatively experience the great outdoors with high adrenalin activities such as Hang Gliding and Paragliding, SHGP, Beddingham, and Flybubble Paragliding, Ringmer offer tuition and taster days