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.

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.

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.

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.

Embrace the stunning scenery that surrounds you at Smugglers Barn Cottages where you will find peace and tranquillity in a wonderful spot of the South Downs National Park in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. With stunning backdrops, this is the perfect location for leisurely strolls with the dog, cycling or a quiet place to read your favourite book. You will feel fully relaxed at these cottages which are located in the quaint village of Jevington with close proximity to the well-loved seaside town of Eastbourne, known as the sunshine coast and boasting a three mile long seafront promenade.

At Oak Cottage (UK11597), with its cosy ambience and comfortable interior, you can enjoy evenings cooking with a modern, well-equipped kitchen and chilling out on the sofa in front of the TV. The double bedroom is very generous in size with plenty of storage for your belongings. The well cared for garden space to the front enjoys views of neighbouring gardens and across the gorgeous South Downs Way.

Fox Cottage (28830) is a delightful, semi-detached cottage and boasts plenty of space for two people to comfortably enjoy a peaceful holiday all year round. There is another similar holiday property on-site.

If you love exploring the outdoors, take a visit to Beachy Head and the soaring white cliffs of The Seven Sisters Country Park in Cuckmere Valley, a 10-minute drive away. It is a popular spot for birdwatchers, cyclists and canoeing. Other beauty spots and attractions nearby are Friston Forest Walks, Drusilla’s Zoo, Battle Abbey, Cuckmere Haven’s Sandy Beach and much more. For something different, Herstmonceux Castle, Battle Abbey and Glyndebourne are all nearby. The popular seaside town of Eastbourne is 4 miles and Hastings, Rye and Brighton are a little further afield. A car is essential due to the remote location of this property. Beach 4¼ miles. Shop 2¼ miles, pub and restaurant 500 yards. These properties can be booked together to accommodate up to 4 guests.