Stay in this charming 17th-century cottage located in the ancient village of East Dean, East Sussex. Overlooking the picture-postcard village green, this idyllic location is within the South Downs National Park with direct access to the Downs just two minutes along the lane. The beach at Birling Gap (one of the Seven Sisters cliffs) is just one mile away via road or a walk across the hills. Ideal for a family group or for friends, the property sleeps six across four bedrooms with two bathrooms and has more than enough space for everyone to relax after exploring the surrounding countryside and the many places of interest nearby. The garden is enclosed. Dogs are very welcome and you can bring four dogs to share in the fun. The cottage is a few steps away from a lovely deli where you can get a coffee and sumptuous cakes. A restaurant and the 15th Century village pub are nearby. A shop with post office for cash withdrawals is a 10 minute walk. Eastbourne and Seaford are 3 miles East and West respectively with general amenities and children’s attractions, and the historic County town of Lewes is 20 minutes North.
Visitors (and dogs) with a love of the outdoors will adore the 3.5-mile walk across the South Downs towards Beachy Head, an iconic South Coast landmark, via Birling Gap. Enjoy the glorious view from this, the second highest point on the south coast. Alternatively, a 4.5-mile walk south-west will take you towards the beach at Cuckmere Haven, sitting at the mouth of the River Cuckmere under the cliffs of the famous Seven Sisters. Cuckmere Haven is within the National Trust’s Cuckmere Valley and here you can explore the diverse wildlife of the area. Or just up the hill is Friston Pond which features in the Domesday Book, then cross the road and explore Friston Forest. For those wanting less walking, these locations are accessible via road and there is lots to do in the wider area. The village itself dates back 1,000 years to Saxon times: the local church has a Saxon tower with later Norman features added after the 1066 conquest. The Sussex coastline has a long history of smuggling and the house behind the village pub was built by a famous smuggler of the 1800s, James Dippery. More on smuggling history and local sleuths (!) in the visitor handbook.
The cottage is traditional throughout, decorated with classic British themes in floral and pastel shades. In the calming lounge, enjoy the sunlight overlooking part of the private garden: an ideal space to sit and read or have a snooze. Or settle in the family/dining space, featuring large ship’s timber beams distinctive of period cottages of this era. Here, you can, relax or watch TV. Leading to the lovely garden is a sunroom accessed via cottage-style stairs on the first floor or from the garden itself. The kitchen is well-equipped for those wanting to cook. The large, multi-level garden is fully enclosed and is made up of several terraces and surrounded by foliage and flowers. The lower lawned area of the garden is easily accessed from the house and the different terraces (exciting for children to explore) are connected by quite steep stone steps.
Outside you’ll find a table and chairs for dining alfresco, plus a couple of benches on which to relax and take in the garden air or do some bird-spotting: look out for the heron and the European Woodpecker. This beautiful period cottage overlooking the village green is a real picture-postcard scene (featured on actual postcards!) and a great place to relax or as a jumping off point for the area.