The House
Pootle slowly down to the end of the no-through lane, and go through the gate to Dawdledown; park up, take stock, open the front door and step inside. How very lovely the house feels, how warm, and welcoming.
Left of the hall is the living room, where you can all put your feet up for a family movie night or to chat and play games. In the colder months, come back and light the wood-burner after a walk on the South Downs; when it’s warm out open the doors to the garden.
Opposite the living room there’s a shower room, in between is the kitchen/dining room, fully equipped for your large group stay, a long table beneath the lantern roof setting the scene for celebration feasts.
Upstairs are Bedrooms 1-3 and a family bathroom; Bedrooms 4 and 5 are on the ground floor, and Bedroom 6 is in the wheelchair friendly annexe at the front of the house; this also has a living room and kitchen, and a shower room, and can sleep up to 4 so it’s great for a family or for grandparents who like to have their own space.
The huge and rambling gardens are lovely, with different areas to explore; there are big lawns to play on, a play area, a little bridge, a pond where a willow tree dips its leaves in the water, and even a ‘secret garden’ with stepping stones. Trees whisper gently in the breeze, flowers bloom, and there’s a wisteria covered pergola to stroll beneath. The pool is in a part walled garden next to the house, the hot tub is in the courtyard outside the annexe.
Local Area
From the doorstep you can join footpaths taking you deep into the beautiful South Downs National Park; see the famous Long Man of Wilmington carved in the chalk hillside, and then go to The Long Man Inn for lunch.
A few miles away, Alfriston is a picturesque village on the River Cuckmere; see Alfriston Clergy House, the first property acquired by the National Trust, stop for homemade scones at one of the little tearooms, browse the shops and galleries, amble along the river. Stroll across the fields to Berwick to see the church, famous for its Bloomsbury paintings, then go for a pub lunch at The Cricketers Arms.
For more art and culture, Glyndebourne Opera House is just 15 minutes by car, and Charleston, the farmhouse where the Bloomsbury group gathered, is close by. If historic houses with tranquil gardens are more your thing, put Firle Place and Michelham Priory on your list.
For family days out go to Drusillas Park and Knockhatch Adventure Park , for outdoor adventures head over to the Seven Sisters Country Park to hire bikes and paddleboards, or check out Buzz Active Eastbourne for kayaking, windsurfing and sailing. Spend lazy days on the beach at Cuckmere Haven, stroll along the seafront at Eastbourne, climb up over the cliffs for a windswept walk to Beachy Head to see the lighthouse.
Discover Lewes with its independent shops and eateries; explore Brighton with its famous pier and Pavilion, go shopping in The Lanes at the heart of the Historic Quarter.
There’s so much to see and do round here! Feel inspired, venture out, see new places, make memories.