Dog-friendly Hotels East Sussex

This stunning Victorian mansion has been renovated in 2020 to an exceptionally high standard throughout. Large, social living areas with an open flow make Harbour Retreat the perfect escape for all your friends and family. It has been finished to a very high standard with a real touch of elegance and this luxurious, modern space is incredibly light and airy throughout. With many different aspects, this allows sunlight to pour into the property creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Soak up the sun in the private rear courtyard and enjoy a nice glass of wine in the evening or snuggle up in either of the two living rooms. Perfect for celebrating that special occasion or just getting everyone together, this detached holiday home is sure to create many happy memories and a fantastic stay.
Just a short walk away is the medieval and historic hilltop town of Rye. With its famous cobbled streets, lined with interesting historic buildings, an abundance of independent shops, restaurants and cafés, interesting art galleries and museums, as well as cosy and inviting pubs. Head to the harbour for quiet beaches, picturesque walks and coastal birdlife.
Rye is steeped in history and is well worth exploring, with a range of restaurants, bars, boutique shops and historical sites. Wander through the historic Landgate and along the cobbled streets to admire the House with Two Doors (filmed as part of the BBC Series ‘Mapp and Lucia’ and the infamous Mermaid Street). Take lunch at one of the lovely pubs serving food, followed by a visit to Rye Pottery for a creative afternoon. The glorious long sandy beaches and dunes of Camber Sands are also just 5 miles up the road. For wine enthusiasts, Chapel Down and Gusbourne Vineyards are well worth a visit where local wine can be sampled or enjoyed within the restaurant. Further afield are the interesting historic towns of Hastings and Battle. The Old Town in Hastings is a popular historic area with numerous traditional pubs with a vibrant music scene. A busy day of exploration can be rounded off with fish and chips on the seafront. Beach 2 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 50 yards.

The Challoners is nestled in the heart of the East Sussex Weald and redefines what to expect from a premium glamping holiday experience. As you enter through the gate, your two wood-clad cabins greet you unassumingly, but step inside and the lavish attention to detail can really be appreciated. The shepherd’s hut houses the bedroom which offers a sumptuous Hypnos double bed, while delicate finishing touches include softly painted cladding, ornate furnishings, and an antique electric stove heater. Through double sliding doors is a gorgeous en-suite bathroom with roll-top bath. In a separate lodge, just a couple of metres away, are your living quarters. Adorned with chic rustic style, this too is exclusively yours and features an open plan living space complete with large corner sofa and a selection of books, games, and puzzles. For ultimate comfort and convenience there is also a walk-in shower room here along with another washbasin and toilet in addition to those in the en-suite. Both cabins feature underfloor heating throughout for cosy winter evenings in this wonderful self-catering retreat.
Throw open the French doors to enjoy views over the Wealden countryside and your private garden with curved stone loveseat, a covered picnic table, BBQ, and a fire pit where you can gaze at the stars The garden is fully enclosed at this dog friendly accommodation near Bodiam and Battle, making it a perfect rural spot.
The Challoners is a place to enjoy some peace and quiet, so the owners have deliberately left out a TV - the perfect excuse to create your own intimate environment away from the outside world and take some time for you. You may come with good intentions to explore the area and find yourself not wanting to leave this haven all weekend! If you can pull yourself away there are 300 acres of foot and cycle paths to explore in the surrounding area, including access to the owners private 50 acres of woodland with one of the largest badger sets in Europe. A unique boutique countryside retreat for romantic short breaks and pure indulgent escapism.
The pretty village of Robertsbridge is just a mile away and offers a general store, local pub, and award-winning Indian restaurant. Both the local pubs are also dog friendly and the Salehurst Halt has a large dog-friendly garden. Bewl Water is 7 miles away and offers various water sports and the Bodiam Boating Station is 10 miles away which offers river cruises and boat hire for a more relaxed day out or kayaking for the more adventurous. You can also explore Bodiam Castle 3 miles away and a little further afield are Battle, the Cinque Ports town of Rye and the coastal town of Hastings. The area between Robertsbridge, Rye and Pevensey is called ‘1066 Country’ and boasts a host of tourist and leisure attractions, including Great Dixter, Bodiam Castle and Smallhythe Place. For those wanting to venture back to the time of steam trains, visit the Kent and East Sussex Railway and take a trip from Bodiam to Tenterden in one of the lovely old carriages. Visit the moated castle at Bodiam built in 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, a former knight of Edward III, only a 10-minute drive.

These two pretty, beamed, semi-detached holiday cottages, (refs 27442 and 27443) with mezzanine floor, have been attractively converted from former cow byres and are set in the owners’ 14-acre small holding which is home to farm animals including sheep and pigs. On-site is a small children’s play area. A 10-minute walk across the fields brings you into Sedlescombe with its village green and traditional country pub. In close proximity to Battle, with its famous battlefield and abbey, built to commemorate the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Relive one of the most famous days in history, and join the 1066 walk from the doorstep. Take a trip on the Kent and East Sussex Steam Railway from Tenterden, also known as ’The Jewel of the Weald’, through the Rother Levels to Bodiam, one of the most evocative moated castles (National Trust), built in 1385. Discover the one time coastal smuggling town of Hastings and medieval Cinque Port town of Rye with its cobbled streets. Picturesque sand dunes and interesting wildlife can be explored at Camber. Shop, pub and restaurant 1 mile.
Properties 27442 and 27443 can be booked to together to accommodate up to 4 guests.

Built to a good standard, these adjoining holiday cottages in the owners’ grounds are situated in the tiny village of Beddingham, which lies in the South Downs just off the Lewes to Eastbourne road (which although convenient, can be busy). The view to one side of the cottage is that of Mount Caburn, which is one of the highest landmarks in East Sussex and is the home of an Iron Age fort! Both cottages have wheelchair access to the ground floor rooms. Lewes, 2½ miles, is dominated by the ruins of a great Norman castle and boasts twisting medieval streets and tiny twittens. The port of Newhaven lies on the land with the shortest sea route between London and Paris and Seaford is a quiet, informal holiday resort from where Seaford Head, The Seven Sisters Country Park, Beachy Head and the village of Alfriston can all be visited. Glyndebourne and the outdoor opera, 2 miles. Drusillas Zoo Park, Charleston - the home of the artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant and rural bolt hole for the Bloomsbury group, Firle Place and Newhaven Fort are all a short drive. Eastbourne, 12 miles, Brighton 10 miles. Shop 1½ miles, pub 1 mile.

Follow in the footsteps of Elizabeth I and spend some time exploring the beautiful Cinque port market town of Rye. In 1573 she bestowed the title Rye Royale. Stay in this well thought out and stylish holiday cottage which is just a 6 minute walk from the centre of the town, with its large selection of pubs, restaurants and cafes. You could discover for yourself why many authors, musicians, artists and celebrities have chosen to settle here. Rye is one of the best preserved medieval towns in England, despite being the haunt of the notorious smugglers, The Hawkhurst Gang. Visit The Mermaid Inn, their famous hideout, where the cellars date back to 1156. Visit the Rye Museum and climb St Mary’s Tower for breathtaking views across to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve and Winchelsea. See Lamb House, the home of Henry James and later E. F. Benson, and where they filmed the recent production of ’Mapp and Lucia’. Another great film location is Camber Sands and going in the other direction towards Hastings where ’Foyles War’ was filmed. There are also connections by train to London. Shop 300 yards, pub and restaurant ½ mile.

Enjoying peaceful, rural vistas overlooking fields, Half Moon has its own private entrance through a 5 bar gate, parking and a garden. It adjoins the owners’ home and is situated on the edge of the South Downs, where walks and cycle paths are on the doorstep. Just along the lane is one of the largest post windmills in the country - an ideal windmill location as it’s built on some of the highest ground in the area, overlooking the Pevensey Levels and English Channel. Herstmonceux Castle with grounds and gardens is nearby, and is home to the Observatory Science Centre, providing spectacular hands-on science among the domes and telescopes of a world-famous astronomical observatory. Explore 7 acres of grounds and gardens at Michelham Priory, with the longest water-filled moat in England, 9 miles. Also, visit Pevensey Bay and Castle, where William the Conqueror landed in 1066, Burwash with Batemans, home to Rudyard Kipling and Charleston Farmhouse, home of the Bloomsbury set and decorated by Vanessa Bell, sister to Virginia Woolf, which are all within a short drive. Eastbourne is approximately 10 miles away, with its award-winning beaches and train connections to London. Golf and horse riding locally. Shop ½ mile, pub and restaurant 300 yards.

In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, on the edge of the village of Beckley and above the River Rother, are these three stylish holiday properties. The Little Lodge (ref W43703) is situated down a quiet lane overlooking fields and adjoining the owners’ home, it sits in 3½ acres of grounds, surrounded by forestry and woodland, where a small orchard is set aside for the guests’ sole use. The Lodge (ref UK11986) is a beautifully appointed property in a gorgeous rural setting, perfect for those looking for a peaceful getaway. You will find a home from home in this single-storey lodge with its wonderful spot in this countryside location with even a beauty room with bookable treatments on site, including manicures, pedicures and more. Being a pet friendly property located within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it is a fantastic choice for those who enjoy cycling and scenic walks with their dog. The Little Abbey (ref UK12598) is perfectly finished for that cosy couples getaway. The beautiful décor is of a very good quality throughout and poses the best spot in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This single-storey property adjoins the owners property, yet has its own parking and entrance. The Little Abbey comfortably sleeps two guests in the large super kingsize bedroom and benefits from its own private garden section which overlooks the owners beautiful horses. You will find the home from home modcons here with 2 televisions both with built-in DVD and free Wi-Fi for guests to use.

Located in this gorgeous spot in the countryside and teeming with wildlife, you can enjoy horse riding at the stables just 15 minutes’ drive away (at cost) and a nearby fishing lake is available at Iden Wood Fishery (at cost, license required). To truly indulge in relaxation, you can treat yourself to the on-site medical beauty clinic appointments by arrangement only (at cost).

The village of Beckley is nearby with an array of local amenities, and exploring the small town of Rye is easily accessible with it being only 8 miles away. Rye is famous for its 18th-century smuggling activities and boasts a stunning port area with cobble lined streets with restaurants and shops. The beach can be reached at Winchelsea, and has associations with Spike Milligan and Camber Sands, as the name suggests there are miles of golden sand dunes. It is home to various film locations including ‘The Monuments Men’ with George Clooney, and ‘The Invisible Woman’ with Ralph Fiennes. Take a boat trip from Northiam and arrive at the fairytale Bodiam Castle, which is 4 miles away, or catch the Kent and East Sussex steam railway which travels to Tenterden, described by many as ’The Jewel of the Weald’. Beach is 8.5 miles away, shop 1 mile away, pub and restaurant 1.5 miles away.
These properties can be booked together to accommodate up to 8 guests.

Set in an idyllic, rural surrounding, Kipling Cottage is the ideal, get away from it all holiday, hosting its own flower laden large private sun terrace with accompanying summerhouse and panoramic views over the beautiful Dudwell Valley. Less than a 30-minute drive from Tunbridge Wells, the property looks like something straight out of a fairy tale, style and opulence flow throughout creating a wonderful space to enjoy time with loved ones, with a dining area to seat 4. Renovated and modernised in 2018 by the current owners who live nearby, the attention to detail and stylish touches are exceptional. It boasts a stunning Parisian spiral staircase, walk-in shower equipped with Bluetooth and use of a luxurious viewing theatre for watching movies (please request). Wildlife regularly visit the gardens.
You’ll find Kipling Cottage nestling in the bucolic rolling countryside of the High Weald in East Sussex, a mile or so from Batemans, where Rudyard Kipling, author of The Jungle Book, spent most of his adult life where he penned the classic ’If’, which still remains the nation’s favourite poem. Built in 1634, Batemans is a beautiful 17th century mansion and is now one of the National Trust’s most fascinating tourist attractions and is well worth a visit. In the area Kipling Cottage is conveniently located close to the borders of Kent and East Sussex enabling a wealth of interesting towns and villages to visit in both counties. Etchingham is also located within 1066 country which has many castles, from the ruins of Hastings and Pevensey to the storybook romance of Bodiam and Herstmonceux, where history and beautiful grounds are waiting to be discovered. Gatwick Airport is an hour away, 40 miles. Beach 15 miles. Shop and pub 3 miles, restaurant 5 miles.
Kipling Cottage is only half an hour from the historic town of Rye, which has a wealth of history and historic places to visit as well as being the home of the Rye Jazz Festival. Also close to Lewis, which hosts an amazing fireworks display in November, and there are a multitude of beaches in the area, including Camber Sands.
Kipling Cottage can be booked together with Kipling’s Place (UK36118) to accommodate up to 14 guests.

These two pretty, beamed, semi-detached holiday cottages, (refs 27442 and 27443) with mezzanine floor, have been attractively converted from former cow byres and are set in the owners’ 14-acre small holding which is home to farm animals including sheep and pigs. On-site is a small children’s play area. A 10-minute walk across the fields brings you into Sedlescombe with its village green and traditional country pub. In close proximity to Battle, with its famous battlefield and abbey, built to commemorate the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Relive one of the most famous days in history, and join the 1066 walk from the doorstep. Take a trip on the Kent and East Sussex Steam Railway from Tenterden, also known as ’The Jewel of the Weald’, through the Rother Levels to Bodiam, one of the most evocative moated castles (National Trust), built in 1385. Discover the one time coastal smuggling town of Hastings and medieval Cinque Port town of Rye with its cobbled streets. Picturesque sand dunes and interesting wildlife can be explored at Camber. Shop, pub and restaurant 1 mile.
Properties 27442 and 27443 can be booked to together to accommodate up to 4 guests.

The Horseshoe Annex is a Tardis of a property with lots of room in a very cosy space. As you walk into the property you are greeted by the kitchen/dining room which is well-equipped with everything you are going to need for this year’s staycation. There is a lovely living room and family bathroom. There is a kingsize bedroom and a twin room. The grounds are shared with the owners, but you do have your own piece of garden to the side of the annex. Situated in Steyning at the north end of the River Adur gap in the South Downs, 4 miles north of the coastal town of Shoreham-by-Sea. Located on the edge of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty this is a fantastic place to stay for the dog walker, rambler and for those of you that like a day out with the kids, there is a plethora of places to go.
Whether you are looking for relaxation, adventure, history or culture there are plenty of events, attractions and activities to keep you busy. If you are looking for a break from city life, you could take a ramble across the South Downs, or hire a bike, stopping for a rest in one of the tea rooms or inns. It’s the perfect place to relax and unwind. The hiking highlight has to be Chanctonbury Ring which is a late Bronze or early Iron Age hill fort that boasts sublime views over the South Downs countryside. The ring, which is well-known for its prominent beech trees, is hailed as a place where the supernatural happens. Steyning itself is a pretty historical town with a wealth of 16th century buildings, local independent shops, places to eat and drink and the host to many different festivals. If you are a more of a biker then there are plenty of trails locally, to keep you busy. This is a very special holiday home that is going to give you lots of pleasure and a fantastic place for you to stay this year in a quiet and peaceful location.