Dog-friendly Hotels East Sussex

Experience authentic Sussex village life at this charming 14th-century dog-friendly property in the heart of Ditchling.

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.

Cowbeech Farm Cottage is situated in the beautiful grounds of the owner’s farmhouse on the edge of the village which bears the same name. Originally part of the old dairy and very much a working dairy farm back in the 1950s, it has its own enclosed garden off the original farmyard. The stunning farmhouse grounds have featured in the National Garden Scheme, and other magazines, and guests can stroll around the lake and marvel at the unusual Japanese garden. On the boundary of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and within strolling distance of the local hostelry, which dates back to the early 1600s. A walkers and cyclists paradise, try the Cuckoo Trail, 19 miles of walkways and lanes that follows the old Cuckoo Line Railway from Heathfield to Eastbourne, and gained its name from the releasing of a cuckoo at the Heathfield Fair.
Michelham Priory, Herstmonceux Castle and its gardens, Drusillas Zoo and the Bluebell Railway are great days out, or spend a Saturday evening stargazing at Herstmonceux Science Observatory. Eastbourne with its beaches and pier is a 30-minute drive, and Battle is 8 miles with good rail connections to London. Should the weather be inclement, there is a leisure centre at Hailsham with flumes, inflatables and ten pin bowling. Beach 9 miles. Shop ¾ mile, pub and restaurant 175 yards.

In the High Weald AONB and converted to a high standard, this attractive, single-storey barn is accessed via a track ¼ mile from the lane and lies quietly in 500 acres of Brightling Park (once known as The Rose Hill Estate) with sheep and horses on the farm. Brightling is famous for the many Fuller follies. Excellent walks on the doorstep. Visit Bateman’s (Kipling’s home) and Sarah Raven’s famous cutting garden at Perch Hill. Rye and Tunbridge Wells are 30 minutes by car, Brighton is 45 minutes. Mainline station to London is 5 minutes’ drive from Robertsbridge. Shop and pub 2 miles.

Coblye Barn (PJJR) and Ox Lodge Barn (PQQW), situated 1 mile apart, can be booked together to accommodate up to 7 guests.

Originally built in 1896, Spilstead Barn has been converted in 2018 into a delightfully welcoming holiday cottage. Still used for livestock and farming today, the 22 acre estate sets the scene with stables greeting you opposite the front door.
You enter into the open plan living area, with a modern kitchen, shower room and the sitting and dining areas. You can see exposed glimpses of the original barn, with the beautifully restored beams cleverly separating the spaces. An extra touch of luxury has been added too, with new underfloor heating downstairs to keep your toes warm in colder months.
The stairs lead you onto a large landing with soft, deep pile carpets and a cosy reading corner. There are two bedrooms, one a twin with lovely oak furniture, and a master bedroom at the far end with king size bed and fabulous views over the estate. There is also a smart shared bathroom to unwind in after a day out visiting the local towns and natural beauty of 1066 country.
Outside you have a private, fully enclosed garden. With children and dogs welcomed, this is a perfect space for them to play while you relax on the decking and enjoy some shade and a book under the parasol. When you are ready to explore a little further, head out of the gate and the hidden gem of Spilstead Barn is reached by a glorious half mile walk. Stroll past the paddocks on a tree-lined avenue, along the old vineyard which meets the open fields, and you will find the beautiful, secluded private lake. With a picnic table and small rowing boat awaiting, you can dip your toes in the water, enjoy a spot of fishing or even take a leisurely swim around the island.

A fabulous wing of the owners' home just outside the medieval town of Rye. Excellent accommodation for families and couples. Dog-friendly. Stunning views and country walks direct from the door. Rye 2 miles.

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.

Steyning Kilns is located on the site of five old lime kilns dating back to the early 1800s. It is a lovely detached property with the added benefit of air conditioning, located on the side of the South Downs, able to comfortably accommodate up to six guests. It provides a fantastic secluded location for couples, families, or small groups of cyclists or walkers to stay, when looking to explore the wider Sussex area. Outside there is a tap for bike and boot washing and an eating area with table and chairs for six, barbecue and fire pit (with free logs) for those cooler evenings. There is a large paddock area for recreation and some outdoor play equipment available for the children.

Steyning is a small, picturesque town, originally one of the most important places in the county during the middle ages, with its large and prosperous port. Now, it resides about 5 miles from the coast, up the River Adur from Shoreham-by-Sea. The centre of the village still has a large number of historic buildings, including many from the medieval and Tudor period.

Today you’ll find independent shops, an assortment of tea rooms and restaurants, pubs, a well-stocked supermarket and a local butcher all on the high street. The award winning Sussex Produce Company stocks high quality produce and some excellent ready meals, where you can shop for food seven days a week and until late in the evening. Also well worth a visit is the Steyning Bookshop and Cobblestone Walk - a unique shopping arcade, all based around a 16th-century tea house.

The property is ideally positioned on the side of the South Downs, bordering onto the National Park boundary, but only ½ a mile from the South Downs Way path, the Downslink Trail and Steyning High Street. It offers many miles of bridle and cycle paths, and footpaths to explore, with pretty rural villages and traditional country pubs to discover along its routes. You can visit the nearby Steyning Bowl, Chanctonbury Ring, with its stunning views, and the Iron Age hill fort at Cissbury Ring.

The cosmopolitan city of Brighton on the south coast lies roughly 12 miles south east, where you can take a tour around the Regency terraces, the Royal Pavilion, the trendy Lanes district and book your ticket for the British Airways i360 observation tower. The town of Worthing, with 2019’s ‘Pier of the Year’ is only 7 miles away.

Other must-see places within Sussex include Arundel with its famous castle, RSPB Pulborough, The Bluebell Steam Railway, Ashdown Forest or slightly further afield to the west, you’ll find the historic Chichester Cathedral and Goodwood and Fontwell races.

Outdoor pursuits are well catered for in the county, including horse riding on the Downs, and golf enthusiasts will find a variety of courses available locally, and hang gliding enthusiasts can visit The Flyers at nearby Devil`s Dyke on The Downs, 7 miles away. Beach 5 miles. Shops, pubs and restaurants ¾ mile.

This delightful barn dating from 1860 has a stormy history – in the great hurricane of 1987 it was totally demolished. Rebuilt two years later using many of the original beams, it was reborn into a luxurious and stylish property. For anyone wanting to enjoy a period property, with all the modern conveniences then Saunders Oast Barn is not to be missed.
The stylish entrance hall with oak beam framing, leads to the open plan living room with its cool, contemporary decoration. Comfortable sofas look out over the patio/garden from French doors, perfect for relaxing of an evening in front of the flat screen TV. While the small size pool/small snooker table is excellent for keeping everyone amused of an evening or on inclement days.
The large contemporary kitchen, in cool gleaming white, is well-equipped, with a dining table making it ideal for those lazy breakfasts. Or open the door to the patio/garden and enjoy an evening meal, while listening to the tranquil sounds of the countryside.
The bedrooms are all large and luxuriously furnished, with sumptuous linen, soft fluffy, duvets and pillows, and all with exposed oak beams and oak furniture. With a calm and peaceful atmosphere which tempts you to enjoy a lazy morning or early night.
On hot summer days enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside from the patio, which looks out over rolling countryside and is often frequented by the neighbouring chickens and geese! Or enjoy an alfresco meal or BBQ of an evening, while watching the evening sun sink in the sky.
If you can bear to leave this wonderful barn for a while, then historic Hastings with its castle ruins, and the coast are easily reached. While the medieval town of Rye with its impressive Norman church is nearby. Shop 3 miles, pub 1 mile.