Dawdledown ticks all the right boxes for unforgettable large group stays in East Sussex. A fantastic house with a private pool and hot tub, a peaceful setting at the end of a no through lane, lots to see and do on the doorstep - there’s nothing not to like! 6 bedrooms mean snooze space for 12 plus 2 extra guests aged 16 years and under at no extra charge. The huge rambling garden is waiting to be explored, with lawns and trees, a pond where a willow lazily dips its boughs, and a play area for the little ones.
You might well be perfectly happy just idling the hours away at Dawdledown, but if you decide to venture out and see something of the local area, you won’t be disappointed. Within easy reach there are family attractions, beaches, activities and very good places to eat. Right from the doorstep you can pick up The Wealdway or the South Downs Way and go strolling in the beautiful South Downs National Park; wander up to see the famous Long Man of Wilmington carved in the chalk hillside, and then go to The Long Man Inn for lunch. The beer they serve there is from the Long Man Brewery just up the road, where you can book for tours and tastings.
Just a few miles away is Alfriston, a picturesque and much visited village on River Cuckmere; see Alfriston Clergy House, the first property to be saved by the National Trust, stop for homemade scones at one of the little tearooms, browse the shops and galleries and take a gentle amble along the river. From the village you can 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.
If you like art and culture, Glyndebourne Opera House is just 15 minutes by car; also close by is Charleston, the farmhouse where the Bloomsbury group gathered; almost every surface is painted in their distinctive style and the gardens are beautiful. If historic houses with glorious gardens are more your thing, you’ll be spoilt for choice but Firle Place and Michelham Priory should definitely be on your list.
Adventurous sorts should head over to the Seven Sisters Country Park to hire bikes and paddleboards, or at Buzz Active Eastbourne you can go kayaking, windsurfing and sailing. Spend lazy days on the beach at Cuckmere Haven or Seaford, stroll along the seafront at Eastbourne, climb up over the cliffs for a windswept walk to Beachy Head to see the lighthouse. Eastbourne hosts several exciting events throughout the year, among them are the Beachy Head Marathon and Eastbourne Airbourne, one of the best and biggest free seafront airshows in the UK
Go to Lewes for the day and discover this lovely town with its independent shops and eateries; or how about exploring Brighton with its famous pier and pavilion, and the brick paved lanes and narrow alleyways of The Lanes in the heart of the Historic Quarter. For family days out, Drusillas Park and Knockhatch Adventure Park are hard to beat. So much to see, so much to do! Feel inspired, venture out, see new places, make memories.