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Vineyard walk · East Sussex

Alfriston and the Rathfinny Trail

A four-mile loop from Alfriston, one of the oldest villages in Sussex, through the vines of Rathfinny on the estate’s own trail. You can stop for a free tasting at the Cellar Door, then come back over the downs on a bridleway along the top of the ridge.

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See the map Download the GPX file

The walk at a glance

Distance6.6km (4 miles), a loop
Walking timeAbout 1 hour 45 minutes, plus your stop at Rathfinny
Start and finishThe Tye, by St Andrew’s Church, Alfriston
UnderfootVillage roads, the estate’s concrete road, farm tracks and a chalk bridleway, with a climb onto the downs
RoadsAbout 500 metres of White Way, a 40mph road, to reach the estate
VineyardRathfinny Wine Estate, about halfway round
BookingNone needed for the trail or a drop-in tasting
DogsOn a lead on the estate
When not to goDuring the October harvest, when the trail is closed
Rathfinny’s vines filling a valley in the South Downs
Rathfinny’s vines fill a whole valley of the South Downs.

The map

The walk runs anticlockwise from the village, and the stops follow the steps below. The shaded area is Rathfinny’s vineyard.

  1. AThe Tye, Alfriston
  2. BRathfinny estate entrance
  3. CCellar Door and The Hut
  4. DThe bridleway above the estate

Download the GPX file

Rathfinny’s own estate and trail map numbers the points on its trail. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Map of the walk: Alfriston and the Rathfinny Trail The route, with lettered stops: A, Alfriston village; B, Rathfinny estate entrance; C, Cellar Door and The Hut; D, The bridleway above the estate Alfriston Rathfinny Wine Estate AStart BEstate entrance CCellar Door DBridleway ½ mileN

The route

  1. Alfriston to the estate entrance

    1km, about 15 minutes

    From the Tye, the green by St Andrew’s Church, take the path across to Tye Road and turn left onto the road heading south out of the village. It becomes White Way. There is a pavement at first, but for the last 500 metres or so it is a 40mph road with no pavement mapped, so take care. Rathfinny’s entrance is a large drive on the right, about 50 metres past Riverdale House.

  2. Up the estate road

    1.7km, about 25 minutes

    Follow the estate road west through the vines, past the estate office. This is point 1 to point 8 on Rathfinny’s trail map. Rathfinny’s trail map allows about 25 minutes from the estate entrance to the Cellar Door. The vines either side were the first planted, in 2012. It is a working estate, so watch for tractors and estate traffic on the road.

  3. At Rathfinny

    The Cellar Door offers free drop-in tastings. From November to March it opens from 10am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday, and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays. From April to October it opens from 10am to 5pm every day. The Hut, the outdoor wine bar next to the Cellar Door, opens at weekends only, from 10am to 4pm, between November and March. From spring to the end of October it opens every day from 10am to 5pm. It is walk-in only and does not take cash.

    The Rathfinny Trail is a permissive footpath. It is closed during the harvest, usually for several weeks in October, and on some other days for vineyard work. Free trail maps are at the Cellar Door. Tours are booked ahead, and our Rathfinny guide has the details.

    Rathfinny winery building at the foot of Cradle Valley
    The winery, with the Cellar Door, at the foot of Cradle Valley.

  4. Up to the bridleway

    900 metres, about 15 minutes, uphill

    Carry on along the trail past the winery, heading west towards the Flint Barns. About 600 metres from the Cellar Door, leave the trail where a track heads up the hill to the right, and follow it up to the bridleway along the top of the ridge. The GPX file shows the turning.

  5. Over the downs to Alfriston

    2.7km, about 40 minutes

    Turn right onto the bridleway. It runs north-east and then east along the downs, with the estate below you on the right, and drops down to White Way at the edge of Alfriston. Turn left along the road and retrace your steps to the Tye.

Getting there

Alfriston has no station. Cuckmere Buses’ 126 runs between Berwick station, Alfriston and Seaford, but only a few times a day. Check the times on bustimes.org before you rely on one. Rathfinny runs no shuttle bus. Berwick and Seaford stations are each about 10 minutes away by car, so book a taxi ahead.

If you are driving, you can start the loop at Rathfinny instead, at point C. Parking at Rathfinny is free, at the Cellar Door and at the Flint Barns.

Good to know

  • The chalk paths are slippery when wet, so wear boots.
  • Dogs on leads are welcome on the trail and at The Hut. In winter there are sheep grazing in the vineyard.
  • The trail is a permissive path, not a public right of way, so keep to it and follow the signs.
  • We have not walked this route ourselves yet. It follows Rathfinny’s trail map and the paths on OpenStreetMap, and we last checked the details on 5 November 2026. If something has changed, please tell us.

Questions people ask

How long is the walk?

6.6 kilometres, or four miles. Allow about an hour and three quarters, plus time at Rathfinny.

Do I need to book?

No. The trail and the drop-in tastings at the Cellar Door need no booking. Tours are booked ahead.

When is the trail closed?

During the harvest, usually for several weeks in October, and on some other days for vineyard work. Check Rathfinny’s website before you go in autumn.