01694 723600 info@secrethillswalking.co.uk

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From rolling hills to bustling market towns, our solos guided walking holiday introduces the South Downs National Park’s landscapes which cover 1,600km2 of breathtaking views and hidden gems. A rich tapestry of wildlife, landscapes, tranquillity and visitor attractions, weave together a story of people and place in harmony.

Solos and Singles Guided Walking is our unique speciality. We offer guided walking holidays for solos and singles in beautiful locations in both the UK and Europe. We have an extra speciality in that we also design bespoke holidays for special groups.

Three days
Refund guarantee
Expert Tour Guides
Two Nights
Location: South Downs
Sep 29 (2023) June 28, August 16, October 4 (2024)
£520 for 2024

What you get on a Secret Hills Break

Hotel bed and breakfast– en suite two nights/ three nights if the holiday falls on a Bank Holiday – Spring Bank or August Bank Holiday
Dinner- three course.
Lunch- except first day
Sole Occupancy
Personal service
Expert guiding- friendly, local guides that know the area superbly well
Transport to walks start and finish as needed
Flexibility
No single supplement
A social, relaxed approach
Full joining details prior to your holiday
Our administration support from the point of booking to you joining the holiday

Hotel and Meals

We stay at the Hydro Hotel in Eastbourne, close to the sea front with excellent views over the English Channel.

The hotel is within easy walking distance from the centre of Eastbourne and has lovely en suite rooms and spacious public areas. Parking is either in the small hotel car park or off road outside the hotel.

Check in time – you should be able to access your room by 2.30pm.

Meals

We eat in the hotels dining room – three courses. Dress code is smart casual.

We have lunch at one of the South Downs lovely country pubs.

Flexibility

We offer you the opportunity to stay additional nights, and many people extend their weekend as they wish. Just reserve what nights you need.

Great reasons to join us

There are other walking holiday companies that cover the countryside but we believe we offer the best value for many reasons….

We specialise in organising guided walking holidays for single and solos travellers
We are a small friendly company
We have a loyal customer base who return again and again (so we must be doing something right) – read our testimonials page on the website
We offer a lot of flexibility – you can stay extra nights which we are happy to organise for you. We are also very flexible on the walks we provide, adapting to suit walkers and weather conditions
Our walk leading is second to none. Unlike some other large Walking Companies, we use LOCAL leaders who live in the area and who love their surroundings. They have expert knowledge of everything you need to know to make an area come alive.
You are safe in our hands – our guides are experts, fully qualified in first aid. Also, because of their local knowledge of the hills, they can respond to any situation that might for example demand cutting short a route. They don’t need to consult maps – they know the hills intimately.
Our leaders are all easy-going, genuinely sociable people who want to ensure that you have the best time you can with the rest of the group. They make the weekend fun by engaging with all members of a group, and ensuring that everyone feels part of the group experience.
We give great value for money. Because we recognise that lots of walkers holiday on their own, we have negotiated no single supplement deals with all our hotels to ensure the best possible deal.
We always use good hotels.
We have smaller groups than some of the larger walking companies, because we believe the social experience is much better in a smaller group. People can talk to everyone, especially at dinner where you can all sit on one table in a small group. Our numbers vary from holiday to holiday but an average group size would be 8-12.

Directions

By train – Eastbourne is the nearest station some half a mile away. Taxis are readily available. See National Rail website for train times.

By car – the post code for your Sat Nav is BN20 7HZ for the Hydro Hotel. Full detailed journey instruction will be sent with your Joining Details prior to the holiday. The hotel’s web site also has detailed instructions.

Itinerary

Solos and Singles Guided Walking in the South Downs

This is a two and half day walking weekend, starting at 2.30pm on Friday afternoon from the hotel reception.

We walk on Saturday and Sunday and finish on Sunday afternoon at 4.00pm.

If you have booked an additional night’s accommodation, note there is no walk on the Monday.

Grades and Difficulty

We walk between 9 and 11 miles on a full day. We walk at a steady pace, we don’t rush. We want you to enjoy our lovely scenery – this countryside is a walkers paradise with good paths and an ever changing landscape. Paths are well walked and maintained, sometimes on grassy slopes. We walk through forests and these paths can be muddy.

Sample Walks

A typical itinerary might include the following sample walks but we may change these according to the group’s ability and prevailing weather conditions.

Walk One- Friday afternoon- starts at 2.30pm – please meet at 2pm ready to walk.

3.5-mile circular walk at Seaford Head, with excellent views across to the Seven Sisters to where we will be walking the next day, and an opportunity to hunt for fossils on the beach. From the Cuckmere Inn at Exceat bridge, we walk via Chyngton Farm and Hope Bottom to the beach at Hope Gap, then head inland via part of the Vanguard Way to Exceat for a drink at the Cuckmere Inn before returning to the hotel. Solos and Singles Guided Walking in the South Downs

Saturday

10-mile circular walk taking the South Downs Way along the famous Seven Sisters chalk cliffs, on Sussex’s unspoilt Heritage Coast. The route takes in Birling Gap, the meanders of the Cuckmere River and the beech wood of Friston Forest.

Sunday

7.5-mile circular walk from Wilmington, taking in the historic chalk figure of the Long Man of Wilmington. We explore Lullington Heath National Nature Reserve (a rare habitat of chalk heathland), before heading west via one of the smallest churches in England to Alfriston for lunch at one of this iconic village’s historic establishments. We complete the route through arable fields and an ancient churchyard.

Equipment and weather

We cannot control the weather but we can manage the conditions – so rely on us to change the programme if weather conditions require it. The comfort and safety of our walkers is paramount. Having the right equipment is one way of managing adverse weather conditions so please note the list below.

Walking boots obligatory, no trainers. Walking shoes designed for drier weather walking acceptable but only in drier conditions
Good walking socks
It is also important you do not wear jeans to walk in as these become very heavy when it rains
Wet-weather gear – good waterproof jacket, over trousers if you wear these
We recommend ‘layers’ of clothing so you can add/remove accordingly
Small rucksack, sufficient volume (minimum 25 litre recommended) to take all the above
Rucksack cover (or internal plastic bags) for wet weather
Water (and flask recommended Oct – Apr)
A walking pole is useful if you normally use one, but we can lend you one
Hat and gloves
Suntan cream
A hat/cap for wet weather and sun
Sunglasses
Paracetamol in case you suffer any aches and pains
Camera

Meet New Friends

Its all about meeting new friends. Each holiday is designed to be a friendly, relaxed and stress free occasion. Talking is as important as walking on Secrethills Walking Holidays. We don’t go in for discos, we may use an event that is taking place in the area we are in to boost the weekends activities – but its good, old fashioned chat that makes our short breaks successful.

“Make new friends that turn into old friends” – that’s our motto.

You might be surprised by what fun you’ll have with people who are older or younger than you during a holiday with us, and that’s exactly the sort of atmosphere we encourage; people find it very rewarding. It doesn’t matter what your reasons for traveling with us are, we’ve had people who are single, divorced or widowed, people who have partners that are unable to travel, and people who can’t holiday with their friends anymore as they’ve all got married themselves. There are people who want to make friends, see sights, and experience something completely new. Whatever your reason, we’ll welcome you with open arms and our friendly hosts will help you to get the most out of your holiday.

Don’t worry if this is the first time you have ventured to join a group holiday – its always a bit daunting – but we will look after you and ensure that you get used to being amongst friends again. Trust us to to get you back into the swing of things.

Oh – by the way – its not a dating agency – over the years we have had people meet and fall in love – but that’s just chance. Our aim is that you make like minded friends – just relax and enjoy.

Just arrive and enjoy.

How to Book

To reserve a place on any of our holidays, please follow these simple instructions.

Reserve online – once you have chosen your holiday, click on Proceed Booking and complete the online form. If you have difficulty reserving online, please contact us (tel: 01694 723600, email: info@secrethillswalking.co.uk) and we will assist you to complete your booking.

Payment

Please note we cannot take credit/debit card details over the phone. You may pay by the following methods when you book online…

Paypal – if you have a Paypal account, simply click on the link to the Paypal website.
Credit / Debit card – we use Paypal to host our credit/debit cards facility because it is a very secure system. So if you want to pay with a card, simply click on this option which will take you to our page on the PayPal website. Check in there as a “Guest” to enable your card payment. You do not need to have a Paypal account for this transaction.
We will also accept a Bank Transfer – you will find our account details on the booking form.
Finally, we will also accept a cheque payable to Secret Hills Walking Holidays and sent to: Secret Hills Walking Holidays, 35 Sandford Avenue, Church Stretton, Shropshire, SY6 6BH

Please note than an initial deposit is required with each booking regardless of which payment method you choose. Your booking will be accepted when your payment (deposit or full balance) is received. Note – if you are reserving a holiday within a month of the start date then the full amount is due immediately and no deposit should be paid.

It is important that you read the terms and conditions before you sign the booking form.

Note – if you are reserving a holiday within a month of the start date then the full amount is due immediately and no deposit should be paid.

Location

Guided walking in the South Downs From rolling hills to bustling market towns, the South Downs National Park’s landscapes cover 1,600km2 of breath taking views and hidden gems. A rich tapestry of wildlife, landscapes, tranquillity and visitor attractions, weave together a story of people and place in harmony.

Discover the white cliffs of Seven Sisters, rolling farmland, ancient woodland and lowland heaths or enjoy our ‘picture perfect’ villages, traditional country pubs or flourishing vineyards. Let the South Downs National Park subtly seduce you.

Stop anywhere in the South Downs and it is hard not to find an inspiring view. There are stunning, panoramic views to the sea and across the weald as you travel the 100 mile length of the South Downs Way from Winchester to Eastbourne, culminating in the impressive chalk cliffs at Seven Sisters. From near and far, the South Downs is an area of inspirational beauty that can lift the soul.

But the landscapes that can take your breath away are more than just scenery, they are living, working, ever changing places shaped by human use over thousands of years and natural factors such as geology, landform, soils and biodiversity. Our landscapes also give us food, wildlife, clean water and access to the countryside in one of the busiest parts of the UK. Solos and Singles Guided Walking in the South Downs

The geology of the South Downs underpins so much of what makes up the special qualities of the area: its diverse landscapes, land use, buildings and culture. While most people immediately think of chalk when they think of the South Downs, greensands and clays form the Western Weald. In this relatively small area a rich diversity of landscapes exist. Within these diverse landscapes you can discover hidden villages, thriving market towns, farms both large and small, and historic estates, connected by a network of paths and lanes, many of which are ancient.

Eastbourne

Eastbourne is a large town, seaside resort, and borough in the non-metropolitan county of East Sussex, on the south coast of England, 17 miles (27 km) east of Brighton. It is located immediately east of Beachy Head, the highest chalk sea cliff in the United Kingdom and part of the South Downs National Park.

Photos

Solos and Singles Guided Walking in South Downst

Solos and Singles Guided Walking in the South Downs

Reviews

12 Reviews

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Nicola Howard

Solo Traveller

It was REALLY great weekend; Alison was a brilliant, friendly, knowledgeable leader, the scenery was stunning, lunch pubs excellent, I will definitely be returning there, and to other places, with Secret Hills. Thank you all !

October 4, 2023

Nicola Jarman

Solo Traveller

It was great and I will definitely recommend Secret Hills to my friends and will return to visit other areas with you.
The guided walks were fantastic. Alison had gone to a lot of trouble to plan routes that were interesting and varied. She is incredibly knowledgeable about the area and able to share her passion with us. She is also good at judging when to just let us enjoy the experience for ourselves, which I think is important too when you are in such a wonderful place. It was a joy to be able to walk in this beautiful area of England with such a lovely group of people. The organisation was seamless, thank you.

October 4, 2023

Penny Latty

Solo Traveller

I thoroughly enjoyed the Guided walking. Allison (walk leader) was excellent – informative, humorous, caring and patient. The locations and routes taken were varied and showed us lots of the South Downs, including churches and villages, in addition to the lovely coastal views…
thank you, it was a lovely break.

July 14, 2023

Sheila Davis

Solo Traveller

The guided walking experience was excellent. Alison (walk leader) was very knowledgeable about the area and happy to answer any questions we had. It was good to have both coastal and inland views on the walks. The lunchtime meals were very good.
I would be happy to go on another Secret Hills walk and would recommend your company.

July 14, 2023

Andrew Browning

Solo Traveller

Enjoyable weekend. Organisation good. Good variety of walks in coast and countryside.

July 13, 2023

South Downs and Seven Sisters

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