Holidays
3 Night Pilates & Walking Holiday in the South Downs

3 Night Pilates & Walking Holiday in the South Downs

3 nights

Oct, Nov

Grades 2

57kg CO2

3 nights from

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Members

From

£459

Non-members

From

£489

Groups of 10+

or call

020 3974 8865

For an ideal mind-body connection, this holiday combines walking in the peaceful countryside with Pilates - the method that uses targeted movements to improve posture, strength, flexibility, and muscle tone. Spend half your day working on simple exercises and techniques with an expert Pilates teacher and the other exploring the stunning surrounds with an experienced HF Holidays Leader. This holiday suits all levels of Pilates experience; from beginners to the more advanced.

What You’ll Love

Enjoying both Pilates and walking every day
Guidance and tuition from an expert Pilates teacher
Learning and practicing easy-to-follow Pilates exercises
Exploring the area on walks with our experienced HF Holidays Leaders
Relaxing at our comfortable country house
Spending time with like-minded people in the great outdoors

What's Included

En-suite accommodation in our 4-star country house
Cream tea on arrival day
Cooked or continental breakfast every morning
Daily packed lunches
Three-course evening meals, plus tea & coffee
Easy-to-follow routes, maps, and information available in our Discovery Point if you want to explore independently

Itinerary

All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take alternative routes or adapt the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.

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Check-in at the hotel is available from 16:00. If you are a member you can arrive at the house from 14:00. Enjoy a complimentary cream tea at 16:30 and meet other guests.

After lunch, there is free time for you to join a guided walk, explore the area independently, or perhaps relax at the country house. The choice is yours!

In the late afternoon, there will be another Mind & Body session for you to join.

After dinner, you may wish to partake in an optional relaxation session or join in with the in-house activities.

WALKS INFO:

Day 2 - Thakeham and Warminghurst

Distance: 5 miles (8km)

Total ascent: 350 feet (120m)

In summary: From the house we ascend to the ridge and then make our way to Thakeham. We continue through open fields join a woodland track which takes us to Warminghurst. We return to the house via the outskirts of Thakeham.

Highlight: The peace and quiet of the woodland tracks.

Day 3 - Perrett's Copse and Wantley

Distance: 4 miles (6.5km)

Ascent: 200 feet (60m)

In summary: We walk along the ridge to the west of the House and then turn south for a short distance before turning eastwards to Wantley, just north of Storrington. From here we walk northwards to complete our circuit, re-joining the outward route for our return to the House.

Highlight: Views from the ridge are stunning.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home.

Download trip notes

Daily Walk Options

Easier Walks

Good paths but walks are a bit longer. Some walks, particularly in mountain areas, may have sections over rough or steeper terrain.

Accommodation

Abingworth Hall

Country living just got cosier at this former farmhouse. Abingworth Hall is just a skip away from the village of Thakeham at the foot of the South Downs – a landscape of ancient woodland, hidden valleys, chalky cliffs, and high-backed hills so deserving of its national park status finally bestowed in 2010. While the views from the doorstep are as wow-worthy as you’d expect, the walking opportunities around the sightseeing greats such as Devil’s Dyke, Seven Sisters Country Park, Kingley Vale, Parham House, and the Clayton Windmills (known locally as Jack and Jill) are equally standout. You’ll also be within easy driving distance of several historic towns and cities, most fabulously Arundel, Chichester, and Brighton.

A warm welcome
We want you to feel comfortable from the moment you arrive. You’ll find a welcome pack in your room with guest registration forms, menus, order forms for dinners and picnic lunches, the Wi-Fi password, and the front door code. Our houses are locked at night, so we recommend noting the Duty Manager’s number on arrival in case of an emergency (or getting locked out).

Evening entertainment

While evening entertainment varies from house to house, HF Holidays Inter-House Quiz night held after dinner on Wednesdays is a weekly staple. Your HF Holidays leader may be around for tips on guided and self-guided waking routes as well as visit-worthy local attractions.

Walks talks
Our HF Holidays walk leaders host guided walking information briefings before dinner on guided walking holiday arrival days. This is followed by a group Walks Talk for information on the following day’s guided walks (held before dinner every evening). Self-guided walking guests are, of course, welcome.

The walking day
Prior to setting off on guided walks, your HF Holidays Leader will run you through a short safety briefing. There’s also an up-to-date weather forecast on display at the house to ensure you have appropriate clothing and footwear. If you choose to do your own walks or are on a self-guided walking holiday, we ask that you please complete an Independent Walker Card each day. These can be found near the Discovery Point in the house.

• 27 well-appointed guest rooms • Exclusive occupancy: 35 guests minimum • Check in from 4:00pm • For members check in from 2:00pm • Full-board (including cream tea on arrival) • Free Wi-Fi • Free on-site parking • Boot room and drying room • Travel cot & high chair • Discovery Point offering a wide range of local area maps, route guides, and information for self-guided walks • Books and games to borrow • Licensed bar • Three lounges • Heated outdoor pool (open May to September*) • Electric vehicle charging point - Please note, you will need to bring your own cables to use this EV charging point

Check in & check out

You are welcome to check in from 4pm at the earliest. HF Members can check in earlier, from 2pm. On arrival, you’ll enjoy a complimentary cream tea and get to meet your fellow guests, our HF Holidays Leaders, and the rest of the friendly team. Check out 10am.

Seasonal dining, tailored for you

Our team of skilled chefs design our dinner menus to showcase the best of each season, from warming winter comfort food to vibrant summer dishes, including vegetarian, vegan and high-protein options. We also source fruit and vegetables within a 40-mile radius of each house, open every break with a Chef’s Special menu inspired by dishes and flavours of the local area, and are able to adapt dishes to suit special dietary requirements.

Welcome Cream Tea

What better way to start your stay than with a cream tea, served fresh on arrival to make you feel instantly at home. A quintessentially English tradition, our scones are baked in-house and served with preserves and clotted cream, providing the perfect opportunity to meet fellow walkers.

A hearty breakfast to start the day

Start the day with a freshly-prepared cooked breakfast and a wide choice from our continental buffet, including hot drinks, juices and fresh fruit. Our team offer a quick and friendly service, leaving you fuelled and ready for your day’s adventures.

Our famous picnic lunch

Our personalised picnic lunches are perfect for a day out walking, ready to enjoy when hunger strikes. Choose from a large selection of fresh sandwiches and salads, freshly baked cakes and snacks, including the ever-popular Freddos chocolate bar! Everything is designed to fit neatly into your rucksack, and all of the packaging we provide is recyclable or compostable.

3-course evening meals

Our à la carte evening menus feature a wide choice of starters, mains, and desserts, made with seasonal ingredients and, wherever possible, herbs and vegetables from our own gardens. Shared around sociable tables, dinners are relaxed occasions, with drinks available to order at the table or from the bar, and a traditional Sunday roast to round off the week.

Designed with your comfort in mind, Abingworth Hall has 27 well-appointed guest rooms available in two categories: Classic and Premium.

Classic Rooms are comfortable en-suite guest rooms, ideal for a peaceful night's sleep. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, and shower gel), and a TV.

Premium Rooms are more spacious en-suite guest rooms*. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers.

We love: The Premium Rooms for views of the impossibly pretty surroundings.

The Choose Your Room service is available at our UK country houses, allowing you the option of choosing and confirming a specific room for an extra charge of £30 per room. This is subject to availability. Upgrade supplements apply.

Room supplements

Premium single	Premium double/twin	Choose your room
£20 pppn	£20 pppn	£30 per room

*Views and layout reflect each properties unique character and location

*Please note, pool opening hours are: 07:00am – 09:00am and 16:00pm – 18:30pm

For accessibility and assistance information, please contact our expert team on 020 3974 8865 or view the accessibility information online for Abingworth Hall

View more details View holidays here

More Information

Walks may be changed for safety reasons and are subject to a maximum and minimum number of guests.

Leaders always consider the safety of the group as a whole, and may need to alter or curtail the walk if the conditions dictate. Your leader may refuse to accept a guest where clothing, equipment or behaviour is unsuitable. In the event of a problem all leaders carry a mobile phone, first aid kit, group shelter, spare maps and a compass.

Please note: If you choose to leave the group your leader is no longer responsible for you.

If you have a particular health condition or disability please put this on your guest registration form. This information will be confidential to your leaders and the house manager, but leaders do need to take account of any issues when planning walks. Please carry a copy of these trip notes with you, or note down the contact phone number for your accommodation (details in the travel section) should you need them in case of emergency.

Mind & Body sessions

No special clothing is required for your Mind & Body holiday, but it is recommended that you wear loose-fitting clothes to facilitate easy movement. There may be some lying down work, so you need to bring an exercise mat and a small blanket.

Walking

The UK has a famously unpredictable climate so it's best to be prepared for weather that’s sunny one minute and raining the next. To make it easier, here’s a list of items you should consider packing.

Essentials

Suitable footwear such as waterproof walking boots that provide ankle support and good grip
Waterproof and windproof jacket
Comfortable clothing (jeans & waterproof capes are not suitable)
Mid-layer(s) to keep you warm. Fleeces make a good choice
Waterproof overtrousers
Gloves and a warm hat
Rucksack with waterproof liner
Flask for hot drinks
Water bottle (at least 1 litre capacity)
Sunscreen
UV sunglasses

Recommended

Several base layers (long-sleeve or short-sleeve)
Cushioned walking socks to avoid blisters
First aid kit, including plasters and insect repellent
Sit mat
Waterproof pouch for valuables
Rubbish bag (remember to always leave no trace)
Wallet/purse
Camera
First-aid kit

Carbon Footprint - 57kg CO2

We see it as our responsibility to minimise our emissions, not just for this year but every year to come. Our work with sustainability experts, ecollective, has enabled us to measure our carbon footprint and create a strategy to reduce the carbon intensity of our product by 5% each year. Our ambition is to be net zero by 2040 – earlier if we can.

Learn more

Reviews

Code: ABW03-KHW05

2026

Back to dates

Fri 30 Oct – Mon 2 Nov 2026

Trip Note Download

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Single Price - Land Only

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Single Supplement

Members

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Non-members

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Itinerary: 3 Nights - Itinerary

All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take an alternative route, or vary the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.

All holidays are subject to availability. Supplements may apply.

3 Night Pilates & Walking Holiday in the South Downs

What You’ll Love

What's Included