Day 1: Following your home taxi collection we travel south-east, arriving at our hotel mid-afternoon for our five night stay on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis.
Day 2: We start the day with an excursion to visit Alfriston, a pretty village surrounded by the Wealden South Downs. Around the village, visitors can enjoy the famous church St Andrew's (the "Cathedral of the South Downs"), the clergy house (the National Trust's first property) and a wide range of galleries, cafés, pubs and shops. (attractions in Alfriston subject to individual choice and payment). After our stop, we continue through the Sussex Countryside, passing near Lewes before we arrive in Brighton where we spend the rest of the day. Renowned for its quirky shops in the famous ‘Lanes’ and stunning pavilion it is the perfect place to spend the afternoon. On our return journey to Eastbourne, we follow the South Coast’s beaches and cliffs with breath taking views over the sea. We pass through Newhaven and see Beachy Head Lighthouse as we return to the hotel.
Day 3: Today we travel along the coast to the fortified hilltop town of Rye. Rye's ancient medieval streets are clustered around a sandstone hillside, overlooking the meandering River Rother and Romney Marsh. This relaxed, historic and picturesque little East Sussex town is a wonderful place to explore. Hundreds of years ago, Rye was surrounded on all sides by water. It formed part of the medieval Cinque Ports with the town's hilltop vantage point useful for detecting and repelling marauding invaders. Today, you can explore cobbled alleys lined with untouched historic buildings – from medieval relics to beautiful Georgian houses. Ypres Tower, built in 1249 to defend the town, is still open for viewing. Rye has managed to retain most of its charm and heritage – as well as a sense of the strange! Walk along Mermaid Street and you'll come across houses with names like “The House Opposite”, or the “House with Two Front Doors”. You can also see the remnants of Rye's smuggling past throughout the 18th and 19th Centuries, with networks of tunnels, secret passages and hidden caves. A long-time favourite with poets, artists and craftspeople, Rye is a unique, stunning and inspirational place.
This afternoon we travel the short distance to Hastings. Two points of interest dominate the character of this bustling East Sussex town – the sea and 1066. Once a medieval Cinque Ports, Hastings has long had a close relationship with the ocean, and although its fishing industry has declined, it still has Europe's largest beach-launched fishing fleet. As for the Norman Conquests, Hastings is not the actual location of the famous battle in 1066. That exact spot is just a few miles down the road at Battle Abbey. However, its legacy still colours the entire town. The remains of William the Conqueror's first English castle still stand today, though centuries of warfare and erosion have taken their toll. Today the town offers a range of attractions, from Britain's steepest funicular, to the meandering alleyways of the Old Town, it's a great place to explore for a few hours. (attractions today are subject to individual choice and payment)
Day 4: A day at leisure to explore. Eastbourne has a leisurely atmosphere with its elegant seafront terraces, level promenades and immaculate gardens. Enjoy a seafront stroll, make your way into the town to explore or just sit and relax and watch the world go by.
Day 5: This morning after a leisurely breakfast we head to Herstmonceux Castle Gardens. Set within the picturesque East Sussex countryside, the stunning 15th century moated castle is the centrepiece of a 300-acre estate that features beautiful themed and formal gardens, including the Elizabethan, Rose, Shakespeare, and Apothecary. Beyond these are woodland trails, lakes, and meadows as well as hidden delights such as The Folly, built in the 1930s in the style of a Georgian house complete with its own walled, cottage-style garden. Sympathetic management of the gardens and grounds has led to a rich abundance of flora and fauna throughout the estate.
This afternoon we head to Sheffield Park Gardens. The garden is a horticultural work of art, formed through centuries of landscape design, with influences of ‘Capability’ Brown and Humphry Repton. Four lakes form the heart of the garden, with paths circulating through the glades and wooded areas surrounding them. Each owner has left their impression, which can still be seen today in the layout of the lakes, the construction of Pulham Falls, the planting of Palm Walk and the many different species from around the world.
Day 6: Sadly this morning we depart our hotel and make our way back to Norfolk making suitable stops en-route. Upon arrival we re-join our door to door taxi service who will return you to your homes.
Holiday Information:
5 Nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast (Evening meals will be buffet style)
Price: £706pp
Single Supplement: £nil (Limited Availability)
Additional Singles Beyond Allocation From: £125 (Will be allocated a true single room)
Insurance: TBC (Insurance not currently available)
Tour Reference: AWE4989
Deposit Required: £50pp
Balance Due: 8 weeks prior to departure