hfholidays.co.uk

Great accommodation, food, service and walks

I have just returned from a group walking holiday to Abingworth Hall Hotel. I have never holidayed with HF Holidays before and found the accommodation, food and service was excellent. There was nothing that was too much trouble and the staff were helpful, efficient and friendly. The choice of food at breakfast, lunch and dinner was very good. Breakfast had all the usual choices plus healthy options such as natural yoghurt, fruit, prunes, avocado on toast with a poached egg if you want it. The packed lunch was very comprehensive. You are given a form to tick boxes with numerous sandwich options, or a salad box which was delicious (green leaves, beetroot, grated carrot, quinoa, chickpeas, a pot of very nice dressing plus various options to go with it such as chicken). Then you are allowed up to 5 snack options, some healthy (including fruit) some not. I couldn't eat all that food, so I ticked some options and took them home for family and friends. The 3-course evening meal had about 3 or 4 options for each course, with vegetarian and healthy options. All really good. I don't normally eat vegetarian meals but the two I tried; a vegetable curry and a roasted butternut squash meal were both delicious. My favourite dessert was the Tiramisu. Then coffee/tea (including fruit teas) was served in the lounge. Entertainment was provided on several evenings, either quizzes or the one time we had an excellent presentation by a local beekeeper. If you don't want to participate there is a separate drawing room to you can retire to in peace where there is also all the information about self-guided local walks. The bedrooms are very varied, from lovely spacious premium rooms with nice views over the garden, down to very basic small single rooms. Some rooms have walk in showers, some have baths with a handheld shower. All rooms have tea and coffee making facilities.The 3 walk leaders were very good. I particularly enjoyed the walks led by Chris; Pulborough Brooks and Parham Park, and the Seven Sisters. Chris is an excellent natural walk leader, giving all the relevant information needed for safety, without being over cautious. He has lots of local and wildlife knowledge and doesn't need to refer to notes. They were all also helpful and friendly at breakfast and dinner, and the evening entertainment was good fun.However, I did not enjoy the walk to the Knepp estate. It is a commendable rewilding project, but the scenery is quite boring. It is a very flat walk and yes there are birds to identify, a few wild ponies and cattle, a stork's nest and a lily pond, but if you want beautiful or dramatic scenery, it won't float your boat. The cafe at the end of the walk with rusted metal outside furniture was awful.Conversely, the Seven Sisters walk on the chalk cliffs of the South Coast is definitely not to be missed. Be aware, that regardless of which level walk of a guided walk that you do, either 6.5, 9 or 10 miles, it comprises of seven quite steep hills, so obviously there are seven ups and seven downs. You can do a shorter 4-mile self-guided walk. The views are spectacular and there are various birds of interest. All in all, a great holiday and I will definitely do another HF Holiday

Date of experience: Jun 13, 2025