Sitting right at the gateway to the South Downs National Park, Eastbourne is a walker’s dream — and every autumn it celebrates the fact with a whole festival of guided walks. The Eastbourne Walking Festival offers dozens of free, expert-led walks and talks across the town, seafront and glorious Downs. Here’s what to expect and how to take part.
What the festival is
The Eastbourne Walking Festival is a ten-day celebration of the great outdoors, held each September. Now well into its second decade, it has grown into one of the highlights of the town’s events calendar, pulling together knowledgeable local volunteers, historians and outdoor experts to put on a rich programme of guided walks, talks and fringe events. The idea is simple but lovely: to introduce residents and visitors alike to the incredible trails, landscapes and stories on Eastbourne’s doorstep, while promoting the health and wellbeing benefits of getting out and walking. In some years it has run in partnership with neighbouring Lewes as a wider districts-spanning festival, broadening the range of countryside on offer even further.
The walks
The joy of the programme is its sheer variety — there really is something for everyone. Recent festivals have included:
- Gentle seafront strolls — easy, flat promenade walks tracing the story of how Eastbourne was built as a genteel Victorian resort, from the Lifeboat Museum past the pier to the Grand Hotel.
- History tours — guided walks with local historians around Old Town, Motcombe and the Devonshire Quarter, uncovering hidden corners and characters.
- Challenging downland hikes — hilly circular routes over the coastal Downs taking in Birling Gap, Belle Tout and Beachy Head, rewarded with some of the finest views in England.
- Nature and wildlife walks — late-summer butterflies, downland birds and chalk grassland flowers with expert guides.
- Cultural and quirky specials — walks exploring the Bloomsbury set’s Sussex haunts, dancer-led seafront tours, and more.
How to take part
The best news of all: the guided walks are completely free. The one thing to remember is that places must be booked in advance, as walks have limited numbers and the popular ones fill up. Each walk listing gives the meeting point, start time, distance, expected duration, difficulty and whether dogs or pushchairs are welcome, so you can pick the ones that suit you. The full programme is usually released a few weeks ahead on the festival’s website and through Visit Eastbourne, so keep an eye out towards the end of summer and book early to avoid missing out.
Local tip: Wear sturdy footwear and check each walk’s meeting point carefully — many start out on the Downs rather than in the town centre. For the tougher routes, bring water, a packed lunch and layers, as the weather up on the cliffs can change quickly.
All abilities welcome
One of the festival’s real strengths is that it’s carefully curated to include something for everyone, whatever your age or mobility. Alongside the strenuous cliff-top hikes, the programme always features shorter, gentler and flatter options — and several of the promenade walks are specifically pushchair- and wheelchair-friendly, with toilets en route and dogs welcome. If you’re new to walking or returning after a break, these accessible town and seafront walks are a wonderful, low-pressure way to explore in good company.
Good to know: Exact dates, the number of walks and the full line-up change from year to year, so always check the official festival website or Visit Eastbourne for the current programme before planning your visit.
Walking Eastbourne year-round
Can’t make the festival? Eastbourne is a fabulous walking base all year. Free guided promenade and Devonshire Quarter walks run on many summer weekends, and the countryside is open to explore any time. For inspiration, see our guides to the best walks in Eastbourne, the start of the South Downs Way, the beech woods of Friston Forest, and the views from Butts Brow.
Eastbourne Walking Festival: FAQs
When is the Eastbourne Walking Festival?
It takes place each September, running over around ten days. Exact dates change annually, so check the official website or Visit Eastbourne for the current year.
How much does it cost?
The guided walks are free, but places must be booked in advance because numbers are limited and popular walks fill up quickly.
Are the walks suitable for beginners?
Yes — the programme ranges from gentle, flat town and seafront walks to challenging downland hikes, with clear difficulty ratings so you can choose what suits you. Several are pushchair- and wheelchair-friendly.
Where do the walks go?
All over — the seafront and promenade, Old Town and the Devonshire Quarter, and out across the South Downs to Beachy Head, Birling Gap and the surrounding villages.
Plan your walking: the best walks in Eastbourne, the South Downs Way, and more events in Eastbourne.