Situated on a beautiful working farm, there is ample walking and exploring to be done as soon as you step outside the door. Whether you're looking for a quiet week of R&R or an active holiday exploring the gems of Sussex, this is the perfect escape.
The Coach House is tastefully renovated, with an open plan kitchen, living room and dining room, with a door leading out to a walled private garden. There is a family bathroom downstairs with a bath, shower and loo. Upstairs there is a twin room and a double bedroom with an en-suite loo and shower. The semi detached cottage boasts character with exposed beams and features from when the property was used as a working building on the farm.
I can provide a highchair, travel cot (bedding not provided), bed guard and stair gate. Please let me know in advance if you require any of these items as they are not stored in the house.
You will have access to the whole property as well as the farm to explore and walk on as you please. I really do recommend a stroll through the fields to the lake which is a 15 minute walk and is very pretty and peaceful on a sunny day. There is also a small private reservoir on the farm, which you are welcome to fish in. The farm also has easy access to the Cuckoo Trail, a 14 mile surfaced path through the Sussex countryside which mostly traffic free and is a safe route for walkers and cyclists of all ages. I will on arrival provide a map of the farm and fields with key walking routes drawn on. Don't forget your wellies during the wetter months!
PLACES OF INTEREST:
EASTBOURNE: 15 minute drive. Eastbourne is famously known as the sunshine coast and having some of the best weather in England. The resort’s must-sees include the rolling South Downs which gently slope down from the national beauty spot Beachy Head to the almost 2 mile long Promenade. Eastbourne hosts the AEGON International Tennis Championship, a tournament which attracts many of the world's top tennis players; Airbourne, Eastbourne's annual free airshow and the biggest seafront airshow in the world as well as West End shows and ballets.
BRIGHTON: 30 minutes by train from Polegate or a 45 minute drive. Considered to be one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Europe, Brighton offers something for every walk of life. Visit the Royal Pavilion, the Brighton Sealife Centre, explore the seaside fun of Brighton Pier, the Brighton Wheel and the famous pebble beach.
LEWES: 30 minute drive or 15 minutes by train from Polegate. Browse the antique shops of the Cliffe, visit the Farmers market on the first Saturday every month pick up some delicious local fare. Pop into Bills for a cuppa or a bite to eat. Have a pint of Harveys, the local brew, and take in some music in one of the many friendly pubs in the area.
THINGS TO DO
GLYNDEBOURNE - 25 minute drive. One of the finest and most celebrated opera houses in the world it delivers performances to some 150,000 people across a summer Festival and the autumn Tour. If you are lucky enough to have tickets then The Coach House offers a perfect place to stay for the occasion.
CHARLESTON TRUST: 20 minute drive. Charleston is a seventeenth century Sussex farmhouse that was the country retreat for the Bloomsbury group. It opens every year between April and November to around 35,000 visitors and runs a public programme of workshops, talks, walks and events as well as two literary Festivals, one in May and a short story festival in September.
PEVENSEY CASTLE: 10 minute drive. With a history stretching back over 16 centuries, it was the landing place of William the Conqueror's army in 1066. Explore the dark dungeons and look out for the ghost of “the Pale Lady of Pevensey”.
HERSTMONCEUX CASTLE GARDENS AND GROUNDS: 20 minute drive. Herstmonceux is renowned for its magnificent moated castle, set amid beautiful parkland and superb Elizabethan gardens. Built originally as a country home in the mid-15th century, Herstmonceux Castle embodies the history of Medieval England and the romance of Renaissance Europe.
WALKING: There are romantic rambles, beachside walks and pub trails for you to enjoy in Sussex. Walk the Birling Gap cliffs and enjoy views across the South Downs and out to sea, and see the stunning Seven Sisters as well as a lighthouse. For more serious walkers there is the 1066 Country Walk. This 50 kilometre (31 mile) walk runs from Rye to Pevensey, exploring sites linked to the Battle of Hastings. It passes through rolling countryside beside oast houses, windmills and parts of the South Downs. An abundance of diverse and picturesque walks can be found online by searching 'Self-guided East Sussex walks'
ROYAL EASTBOURNE GOLF CLUB - 20 minute drive. Nestling under the South Downs, The Royal Eastbourne Golf Club offers all golfers from the beginner to the low handicapper, a truly great golfing experience. Set within 130 acres of chalk downland with panoramic views in every direction.
FAMILY FUN
SHARNFOLD FARM: 2 minute drive. Pick your own fruit and vegetables, Farm Shop selling local produce and coffee shop. Lots for children, with a Farm Trail, play area and school holiday events.
DRUSILLAS PARK: Enjoy a great family day out at one of the top tourist attractions in East Sussex. Drusillas is widely regarded as the best small zoo in the country. Masses of climbing, sliding, jumping and swinging fun, interactive maze, state-of-the-art soft play complex, Thomas the Tank Engine train rides, Hello Kitty secret garden and much more.
KNOCKHATCH ADVENTURE PARK: 10 minute drive away. a fantastic choice for families with a Falconry Centre, a large indoor play centre, several outdoor adventure playgrounds, petting farm and more.
THE CUCKOO TRAIL: Accessible from the farm. This 14 mile picturesque surfaced path is a great for walkers and cyclists of all ages and follows the former ‘Cuckoo Line’ railway track and stretches from Heathfield to Eastbourne Park.
