In Pictures
Great Sussex views, wine and food.
Spend a night or two and take things slowly, stopping for leisurely lunches on the way, or stock up on provisions at one or our farm shops brimming with local produce. For the more ambitious cyclist, challenge yourself to complete the trail in a day – remembering to stop for lunch on the way!
Not a fan of the two wheels? Not to worry – you can still enjoy the remarkable landscape from your car. Why not extend your tour by visiting the stunning Blackdown Ridge Estate. They also offer a hospitable cellar door experience.
Routes created by Olly Evans, Southern eBike Rentals
Tinwood Estate to Ashling Park Estate
A relatively short and flat ride between two of Sussex’s finest vineyards, this route skirts around Goodwood House and past the Goodwood motor circuit before passing through the pretty village of Lavant and over the river Lavant. After that the quiet lane to West Stoke offers great views of Stoke Clump and Kingley Vale. The final stretch through the woods can offer magnificent bluebells if doing the route in late spring.
Both estates offer overnight accommodation and our other accommodation reccomendations will suit most budgets.
Distance 14 km.
Along the way...
Places to eat and places to stay
The following are a selection of great stops for you to enjoy whilst travelling from Tinwood Estate to Ashling Park
Ashling Park Estate to Upperton Estate
This ride over the Downs to Upperton is a challenging classic combining road and off-road sections, staying almost completely away from busy roads and taking you deep into some of the most beautiful parts of West Sussex.
The route begins with a very gradual climb through a medley of charming Downland villages – Funtington, Walderton, Stoughton and East Marden – before dropping down to Hooksway tucked away in the depths of the National Park. Here tarmac gives way to firetrail (for roughly 4 miles) and the track up to the South Downs Way is a long and rutted climb that will need at least a hybrid or gravel bike but preferably a mountain bike.
Arriving on the ridge of the South Downs Way brings views both north and south as a reward as you head East and down towards the Cocking road. After dropping into Cocking, the route turns off into the quiet, scenic lanes north of the Downs, eventually crossing the Rother before joining the A272 for the last couple of miles before a well-earned break at Upperton.
At nearly 35km this is the longest section of the route.
Along the way...
Places to eat and places to stay
The following are a selection of great stops for you to enjoy whilst travelling from Ashling Park to Upperton
Upperton Estate to Tinwood Estate
Though fairly short at under 15 miles, the steep climb up the Downs and 3 miles off-road mean this route should not be underestimated. Departing to the East, the route soon turns off the A272 into farmland before passing the picturesque Burton Mill Pond and heading through chocolate-box pretty Sutton and Bignor.
The north side of the Downs is much steeper than the south side and the climb up Bignor Hills is tough, hitting more than 20% gradient, albeit briefly. Tarmac gives way to gravel and great views of the Solent await as you head East along a relatively smooth gravel fire road and into serene Eartham Woods. Rejoining the road takes you through Eartham, another gem of a village before freewheeling down the hill to Tinwood.
Distance: 23.6km
Along the way...
Places to eat and places to stay
The following are a selection of great stops for you to enjoy whilst travelling from Upperton Estate to Tinwood Estate.
On the map
Upperton Vineyards
Upperton Vineyards is a family owned vineyard nestled in the heart of Sussex. Producing English Sparkling wine and “Defining Great English Sparkling Wine”. Established in 2005, Andy Rogers began Upperton Vineyards with 800 trial vines. These vines were comprised of three…
Horse and Groom Chichester
Ideally located just four miles west of Chichester and on the edge of the South Downs National Park, the Horse & Groom has been East Ashling’s public house for more than 200 years. Popular with locals and visitors alike, our…
Blackdown Ridge
Blackdown Ridge Estate sits at 440 feet above sea level in the Sussex Weald, enjoying extraordinary views over the South Downs National Park. Here we have planted vines to create fine English wines, taking advantage of the superb location and…
The Three Moles
The Three Moles is a small rural village pub in the village of Selham in the heart of the South Downs National Park. Selham is located halfway between Petworth and Midhurst about half a mile off the A272. We are…
Tinwood Estate
Join us for a vineyard tour and wine tasting every day at 3pm. We have a beautiful tasting room overlooking the vines, after a short insightful walk amongst the vines then head back to try our range of delicious sparkling…
Saddlers B&B
We’re perfect for people who want to stay in a boutique B&B, have a home from home feel and enjoy the peace and quiet, but close enough to the city centre and major attractions. Saddlers is situated in the…
Coultershaw Heritage Site
See a working waterwheel power an 18th century beam pump and explore an enchanting riverside heritage site. An exhibition explains the history of Coultershaw – the early use of water power and the installation in 1782 of a pump to…
Langham Brewery – Award Winning Beer – near Petworth
Langham Brewery offers delicious, fresh beers – in cask, keg, bottles and cans – which are lovingly created and brewed at their award-winning independent microbrewery, near Petworth, in the stunning South Downs National Park. Offering over 17 innovative, flavoursome real…
Goodwood Farm Shop
Buy local, organic meat, dairy and beer fresh from the Goodwood Estate. Enjoy delicious Goodwood produce at home. The Goodwood Home Farm has been providing food for the estate for over three hundred years. Our field-to-fork philosophy is at the…
Ashling Park Estate
Ashling Park Estate has to be one of the luckiest places in the whole of the South Downs. Our loamy soil and sheltered position provide the perfect environment for growing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier – the holy trinity…
South Downs Walk – Lavington and Duncton
Enjoy a beautiful circular walk in the landscapes around Lavington Common and Duncton Mill that inspired Ivon Hitchens. Modern British landscape painter Ivon Hitchens (1893-1979) lived and worked at Lavington Common from 1940 until his death in 1979. Painting in…
The Richmond Arms
We are an independently owned, food-centred pub and restaurant with accommodation, based in the beautiful village of West Ashling. Set at the heart of the West Sussex countryside, we sit on the edge of the South Downs National Park and…
Farmer, Butcher, Chef
Farmer, Butcher, Chef is Goodwood’s exciting, flagship restaurant located just yards from Goodwood Home Farm. It is the final stage in a unique process dedicated not only to showcasing Goodwood’s organic meat in terms of flavour, quality and provenance, but…
Harting Down Walk
One of the largest areas of ancient chalk downland in the care of the National Trust, Harting Down in West Sussex is a renowned nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest. Sheep grazing helps conserve this grassland environment where…
Stoughton Down & Kingley Vale
A 4.5 mile circular walk in a really picturesque part of the South Downs National Park. The walk begins in Stoughton Down before climbing high into the Kingley Vale Nature Reserve where the climb is rewarded with spectacular views both…
Weald & Downland Living Museum
Come and explore a fascinating collection of rescued rural buildings set in a beautiful 40-acre site within the South Downs National Park. Discover the stories of the people who lived and worked in them over a 1,000-year period from…
Goodwood Aerodrome
Goodwood has a thriving Aerodrome. Open all year round, it has a rich variety of aircraft constantly coming and going. From World War II Spitfires, Hurricanes and Harvards to the ultra-modern Cessnas, this is the perfect place to watch, or…
West Dean Gardens
Come and enjoy the beauty that is West Dean Gardens. Creatively inspired by its rich heritage and South Downs setting, the gardens include a Walled Kitchen Garden and 13 working Victorian glasshouses, extensive and richly planted grounds including a stunning…
The Dairy Farm
No longer part of a farm, we bought the condemned house from the farmer in 1978, the house still overlooks open farmland from the garden. We try not to make our presence felt too much and we encourage guests to…
Spread Eagle Hotel & Spa
Thirty-nine delightful bedrooms and a modern spa housed in one of England’s oldest coaching inns. Dating back to 1430, history, character and charm await you around every corner. There are fascinating stories associated with many of the rooms: a secret…
Halfway Bridge Inn
A cleverly styled mix of restful shades, contemporary furnishings and quirky original features, our suite’s decadent bathroom even allows you to watch a movie while you soak through its sliding glass partition! With emphasis on boutique detail and maximum comfort,…
Concierge Camping
Concierge Camping at Ratham Estate opened for business in April 2015. From its very first year, the campsite was awarded the AA South East Campsite of the Year and both a Premier Park and Best of British holiday park status.…
The Angel Inn (Petworth)
For an authentic West Sussex experience, there is no better spot to stay than the historic Angel Inn, voted one of the Best English Country Hotels. With seven comfortable, beautifully renovated rooms, plenty of character, and excellent food, The Angel…
Badgers
Set in the South Downs National Park, the Badgers Inn is just a 5-minute drive from Petworth village. Fresh, local produce is served in the restaurant which specialises in shellfish during the summer and game in the winter. Local wine…
The White Horse
The historic building of the White Horse Graffham dates back to the beginning of 1900 when it was a popular Inn in the area. Today, more than a hundred years later, this beautiful place still charms all its new visitors,…
The Old Railway Station
Formerly Petworth Railway Station, built in 1892 – now the perfect place to relax in colonial splendour. Stay in one of our converted Pullman railway carriages or in the main Station House itself. All rooms are lovingly restored to accommodate…
Oving Lodge
Welcome to Oving Lodge. Our Grade 2 listed home is just outside of Chichester, between the South Downs and the coast and within easy reach of Goodwood, Arundel and Portsmouth. Situated in Oving, a small quiet village with its thatched…
The Old Store Guesthouse
Welcome to The Old Store Guest House, our lovely Georgian home and charming bed & breakfast in the heart of the South Downs. Situated on the edge of the Goodwood Estate, just four miles from the cathedral city of Chichester…
