Welcome To the e-travelguide to Hotels, guest houses and attractions in the South Downs

Make the most of your time in South Downs, use the information provided on this web site by clicking on the links above to plan your visit.

The South Downs is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the south of England, and comprises just over 100 miles of gentle rolling chalk hills between Winchester in the west and Eastbourne in the east. The region was one of those highlighted by the Hobhouse Report of 1947 as being of specific interest and importance and requiring special preservation, yet while regions such as the Lake District, Peak District and the North Yorkshire Moors were subsequently designated National Parks, more than 50 years on the South Downs is still only now on the verge of becoming the UK’s latest National Park - it is hoped that this new status will be granted by 2006.

The South Downs may not have the highest peaks or the deepest valleys, the expansive lakes or the isolated wildernesses of other parts of the UK, but the region is made up of wonderful rolling green scenery and chiselled chalk downland, features which no other part of the country can match, and the whole region possesses a quintessential and iconic English charm that has inspired artists, poets, tourists, ramblers and countless others for centuries. The glorious blend of dramatic white cliffs, gentle rolling hills, peaceful woodland and lowland wealden valleys in such a relatively small area provides the feeling of a constantly changing landscape.

Also in the favour of the South Downs is its convenient access; you can be whisked away from the seething bustle of London to the tranquil respite of the South Downs in less than 45 minutes, and with easy access via the M25 and M23 motorways, the rail networks and via London Gatwick Airport, the South Downs are accessible to all, from the UK and abroad. The South Downs also has a tangible sense of history, with strong reminders of how the region was inhabited by many generations from the Bronze Age, through Roman and Medieval times to the modern day. The South Downs is dotted with quaint and picturesque towns and villages, great castles and forts, and a host of attractions to appeal to all ages. With so many excellent hotels and restaurants as well as quintessential English pubs and inns, the South Downs offers so much, right on your doorstep.

Contact:   0118 971 4700