The Beachcroft Hotel has just launched the Shore to South Downs Activity Retreat. This two or three-night package includes overnight accommodation at the hotel, meals, and adventurous activities like mountain biking and paddle boarding.
To celebrate the launch of the brand-new activity package, I was invited to the West Sussex beachfront hotel to try it out. Here’s how I got on.
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The Shore to South Downs activity retreat offers you the perfect way to get away from it all…while also having a fabulous adventure! It’s a great mixture of peaceful moments by the sea and the adrenaline-fuelled fun of racing downhill on a mountain bike.
Activities on the Shore to South Downs retreat
The Shore to South Downs Activity Retreat includes a guided mountain biking ride, a paddle boarding session, and a pilates class. You can also supplement your stay with your own activities.
Why not try wild swimming in the sea, a beautiful coastal walk, or a jog along the seafront? There’s no better place for it.
Alongside me on the retreat were two other bloggers, Jen from She Gets Around and Zoe from Juggling on Rollerskates.
Mountain biking with Marmalade MTB
The rolling hills of the South Downs are perfect for exploring by mountain bike, and the activity retreat includes a full-day guided ride over off-road trails. This guided ride is a great way to hone your skills if you have a little bit of experience off-road.
I would say that I’m probably worse than a beginner as I have a real fear of mountain biking after I fell off my bike many years ago. Because I don’t get out on a bike that much, I’ve never really gotten over it and got back into the swing of things.
I know they say, “it’s just like riding a bike,” but I actually find it quite tricky!
Luckily the guides at Marmalade MTB were absolutely fantastic. Sean and Clive were patient and encouraging, helping me to build my confidence and giving some great tips for technique along the way.
Although I gave some of the steeper downhill bits a miss, I definitely felt more comfortable on a bike by the end of the ride, and I was really proud of myself.
Stand up paddle boarding
Stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) takes place at The Beach Littlehampton. This thriving cafe, clubhouse, and watersports centre is a real community asset.
There’s such an amazing vibe about the place. I absolutely fell in love with it the moment I went in.
Unfortunately, the conditions weren’t great for paddle boarding on the sea as it was very wavy, so our plan B was to paddle board on the picturesque boating lake, just five minutes from the seafront. We practiced standing up, played games, and raced during the session.
We also tried pilates on the paddle boards, which I’ve always wanted to do. It felt so chilled to just concentrate on breathing and stretching while floating on the lake.
After this, we all jumped into the sea for a quick dip. Despite it being November, the sea wasn’t too cold (maybe thanks to our wetsuits!) and we had so much fun splashing about in the huge waves.
After our hot showers, we watched the sunset with an ice-cold cider from the rooftop terrace, and this was one of the trip’s highlights for me.
Beach hut accommodation
During our stay, we stayed in the beautiful Beachcroft Hotel’s Beach Hut suites where I stayed a couple of years ago. Inspired by traditional seaside holiday beach huts, this is one of my favourite places to stay in the UK.
The beach huts have a living area downstairs, a mezzanine master bedroom, and a room with bunk beds in if you’re bringing the kids with you. However, my favourite bit about the beach huts is the fantastic view that they enjoy.
They overlook Felpham Beach, and they really make the most of the view with a beautiful terrace where you can sit and enjoy the sunshine with a book and a glass of wine. If the weather isn’t so good, you can still enjoy the view from inside.
There are floor to ceiling windows in the living area, and you can even see the sea from your bed – the perfect way to wake up in the morning!
The beach hut was the perfect place to relax after a busy day of adventurous activities, and I loved spending time in there each evening.
Food at the Beachcroft Hotel
We started our days at the Beachcroft Hotel with a hearty breakfast. Of course, I went for a full English breakfast to set me up for the day ahead, but if you don’t fancy something quite so heavy, you can opt for something lighter, like poached eggs on toast.
I do love a hotel breakfast, and this one ticked every box. It was delicious.
I also ate in the restaurant twice in the evenings, enjoying a three-course meal each night. The food was high quality and included seasonal and local produce.
They also catered really well for food allergies and had plenty of gluten-free options. I really enjoyed the swordfish and the pork belly.
The activity package includes breakfast each day as well as a dinner in the restaurant and pizza on one night at Blakes Bar & Beach Terrace.
I had such an amazing time on the Shore to South Downs Activity Retreat. The busy days followed by hearty meals and then relaxing in the beach huts was the perfect UK staycation for me.
I can’t wait to go back!
