Dog-friendly Hotels East Sussex

An exquisite double Oast House overlooking its own private pond nestled in the countryside near Tunbridge Wells. Set deep in in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Comptons Oast offers five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a large kitchen/dining room and two living rooms. It has an abundance of space inside and outside this beautiful large home in which to enjoy a relaxing luxury family holiday. Entering through the western roundel of the twin Oast the open plan kitchen/dining room has stripped wooden beams and the cosy warmth of the Aga standing on the hearth. There is a traditional country house feel combined with modern design furnished with a farmhouse table, marble worktops and French doors leading to the terrace overlooking the pond. The large living room also looks over the pond through French doors. There is a cosy wood burner, large double corner sofa, table lamps and a Flatscreen TV with Freesat. Next door to the living room is a separate snug room allowing the kids to enjoy the holiday in their own space. There is also a wet room with underfloor heating set into the second roundel and a separate WC opposite. Heading up the gorgeous staircase that follows the curve of the roundel the upper landing stretches the full length of the house, providing a fantastic sense of the space this house affords. The circular bathroom has a double end roll-top bath, soak deep into the bubbles and enjoy sunset views over the pond below. There is a second shower room, a charming calm kingsize bedroom with fabulous views over the pond. Next door is ¾ double with the same lovely lake views a great room for an individual adult or a lucky child. The three further bedrooms include a serene super kingsize with lake views, a small twin and a spacious super kingsize. Outside the patio wraps two sides looking out over the pond, an idyllic spot to sit out with a good book and cup of something hot or glass of something cold. The patio is enclosed with fences and heading out through the gate the pond is yours to stroll around. You are even welcome to while away a few hours fishing for the mirror carp that can often be seen breaking the surface. Beyond the pond there is a sunken garden to discover and a small field set aside for sunbathing, a picnic or football. Comptons Oast offers a peaceful and private setting for your holiday and the owners live close by should you need anything.
This area in the rolling countryside of the High Weald offers no shortage of local attractions or places of interest to visit all practically on the doorstep or within a short drive. Nearby the Ashdown Forest covers 14,000 acres of lowland heathland that has never been cultivated and offers extensive opportunities for walking. It was famously Henry VIII’s hunting ground, but is also a must for all Winnie the Pooh fans. The adjacent village of Hartfield was home to AA Milne. Throughout the whole Wealden and Ashdown areas there are ample public footpaths and cycle routes to explore and an exhaustive supply of excellent country pubs to visit. Just 4 miles away the spa town of Royal Tunbridge Wells is a great shopping and dining destination. Shop and pub 1 mile, restaurant 3 miles.

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.

Forming part of this Grade II listed unique building which once formed The Duke of Wellington’s Headquarters this second-floor apartment is situated in the heart of Hastings Old Town. Taking pride of place on the wall outside the building is the historic blue plaque confirming that the property was the headquarters of Major General Sir Anthony Wellesley, later Duke of Wellington in 1806.

Only a few minutes’ walk away from the beach, bars and restaurants along with the boutique shops of the Old Town, this property is perfectly located. The apartment itself has been refurbished to a very high standard and has been filled with unique items and antique furniture, some of which are available to purchase. A painting of the Duke himself adorns the communal hallway leading up to the second floor apartment and once inside you will not be disappointed. The beauty of this apartment not only lies with the furnishings but also with the sea views which are visible from both the reception room and the bedroom.

Offering open plan living to the reception area and having been refurbished to a high standard, the character and finish offers a comfortable and cosy ambiance to relax in after a long day exploring. A welcome basket filled with goodies from local shops will await your arrival in the modern fitted kitchen also providing a dishwasher for your convenience. A beautifully decorated bedroom provides another sea view along with a large inviting bed and a stunning roll top bath to the corner of the room.

Hastings Old Town is the location of many festivals offering fun and frivolities. Whether it is the Jack in The Green May Day celebrations, Fat Tuesday, Carnival Week, Bonfire Night, or the Old Towns Food & Wine festival to name just a few, you are sure to have a great time. Why not visit the UK’s steepest funicular railway located only a few minutes’ walk away and take one of the original Victorian coaches up to the top of the West Hill to visit Hastings Castle and St Clements Caves, the location of the Smugglers adventures. Offering a choice of Adventure, Crazy or Pirate Golf you can test your skills on the beachside courses, Hastings adventure course itself is the home of the annual World Crazy Golf Championships.

The Old town itself also benefits from Hastings Contemporary Jerwood Gallery, the Fisherman’s Museum, Blue Reef Aquarium along with an abundance of seaside favourites such as fish & chips, doughnuts, arcades, and the Flamingo Amusement Park. The apartment is also within walking distance of Hastings with its pier and town centre with Hastings mainline railway station, allowing you to get access to the capital in just under two hours. Nearby towns of Bexhill, Eastbourne and Rye are all worth a visit if you are driving, and nearby locations such as Winchelsea Beach or the sandy beach of Camber also offer another option alongside Hastings seafront. Please note that due to the level of the apartment and there not being a lift it is not suitable for anyone that has mobility concerns or for children under the age of 11. Please no hen or stag parties. There is no washing machine provided at the apartment however there is a laundrette situated only a few doors away. An additional apartment in the building ’Duke of Wellington HQ’ is also available should you require space for more guests and can be booked alongside Wellesley Retreat.

Mount House Barn is a tastefully renovated 17th-century barn ideally located in the pretty village of Burwash, surrounding the property with wonderful views. The property boasts a wood burner in the living room to cosy up in front of in the colder months. The garden outside is a show stopper, as it is surrounded by luscious greenery from the surrounding fields; why not sit outside with your morning coffee and take in the fresh air around you, or dine al fresco in the evening with a hearty meal, watching the stars above you.
The property is surrounded by things to do for all the members of the family. Close by is the All Things Dog Park which allows your four-legged friend to explore and play while still being in the safety of the enclosed field. The park is open for 12 hours a day, all week allowing you to go and play any time of the day.
A short 15-minute drive away is the High Weald AONB which is filled with things to do. There are endless footpaths to take, each one producing its stunning scenery, or hike up some of the hills and get some breathtaking views below you, creating perfect photo opportunities. If cycling is more your thing, there are several cycle trails you can take, weiving you around the area into the most stunning locations.
Bodium Castle is also within a 15-minute drive and is filled with a plethora of different things to do. Interactive activities are held frequently for children to join in and get a taste of what it was like to live in Medieval times, joining quests and designing maps making this a memorable adventure for all. Other nearby areas include Eastbourne, Battle and Rye, all of which have adventures of their own.

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.

In the heart of Hastings Old Town, this attractive, cosily furnished Grade II listed fisherman’s cottage is 150 yards from the beach. Built c.1841, it retains many period features, exposed beams, brickwork. Relax in the secluded west-facing decked courtyard before trying one of many delightful seafood restaurants. Take the Funicular Railways to the country park, castle, smugglers caves. Visit the Blue Reef Aquarium, shipwreck/fisherman’s museums, boating lake, crazy golf. Shops, restaurants 200 yards, pub 25 yards.

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.

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.

Newhope is a modern detached property with a private courtyard garden making it the perfect base for a romantic get-away, with many areas of natural beauty surrounding the property. Located on the East Sussex coast, it enables you to enjoy endless walks around the area and absorb the breathtaking scenery whilst remaining close to the historic towns of Hastings, Rye and the sandy beaches of Camber Sands.
On arrival, just off the main coastal road, find your private car parking spaces on the approach to Newhope. The private and enclosed courtyard makes for a fantastic sun trap or alternatively let your furry friends roam freely. The property boasts patio doors opening from the living area onto the patio, letting the light and fresh sea air fill the property.
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is just 1 mile away and hosts a large range of wildlife in numerous different habitats. Shingle, saltmarsh, freshwater gravel pits and saline lagoons are only a few of the natural habitats that can be found when discovering the coastline. Alternatively you can delve into the rich military history which is attached to the area.
Newhope is also very close to Camber Castle, formerly known as Winchelsea Castle, which was built by Henry VIII to protect the Sussex Coast against French invaders in the 16th century. This, along with the golden sandy beaches of Camber Sands, can also be discovered on your visit to Winchelsea Beach. Beach 175 yards. Shop 350 yards, pub and restaurant 530 yards.

Visit England ROSE award winner 2017

Situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the Sussex High Weald, this detached holiday barn conversion has delightful rural views and footpaths right on the doorstep. Forming part of the owner’s grounds with 15th-century thatched cottage, this smallholding residence is shared by Golden Guernsey goats, ponies, ducks and an abundance of wildlife. Visit Battle Abbey and the 1066 Battlefield site, stunning moated Bodiam Castle, Herstmonceaux, Heritage steam railways, Weald gardens and stately homes. Eastbourne 15 miles. Tunbridge Wells 18 miles. Brighton 30 miles. Shop 2½ miles and pub 2 miles.