Kept Cottage, Ditchling, East Sussex – A charming holiday cottage in the Sussex village of Ditchling

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The Kept Cottage

England South East England East Sussex

From £125 a night
Sleeps 5
Cottage

A charming holiday cottage in the East Sussex village of Ditchling

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If you want to sample all that’s good about Sussex, Ditchling, in the heart of the South Downs National Park, is a good place to start, and The Kept Cottage is a great place to stay. It’s a pretty, three-bedroom holiday home a short walk from the centre of the historic village. From here, you can head out on long walks on the Downs, tour Sussex vineyards or even head over the hills to Brighton and its beach.

Your base at The Kept Cottage is not only handily located but well set up, too. From the outside, it’s full of old-world charm with a garden path leading across a small lawn surrounded by roses. But step inside and you realise the country cottage character has been brought up to date as a comfortable modern getaway. It has fireplaces, a butler sink and one or two vintage pieces of furniture, but also sumptuous touches and a bit of contemporary cool. In the comfortable lounge, for example, deep sofas face each other under the gaze of a Smart TV, with a glass coffee table in between.

The colour scheme throughout is simple – white with black and greys here and there. Everything feels incredibly light and clean. Upstairs, the bedrooms have warmer lighting and colours and are softer underfoot too, with carpets on the floors. Spanning two double bedrooms and a single, the house sleeps up to five and would suit a family or perhaps a small group of friends – the sort you’d like to walk with during the day and cook with at night. For that, the light and airy galley kitchen, with its good-quality appliances, works well and you can dine inside or out. In fact, there’s a garden at the back and in front which means you can enjoy the sunshine at any time of day.

A few minutes’ walk down the road in Ditchling, there’s a church, cricket pitch, plenty of half-timbered buildings, a handful of shops and a couple of good pubs. It’s even hung onto its old red phone box. In short, it’s a quintessential Sussex village, surrounded by countryside that’s great for walking. But there’s more: the hustle and bustle of Brighton is about 10 minutes’ drive to the south, and there are a growing number of vineyards within easy reach, the closest not more than two miles away.

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Facilities

From Brighton you sweep into the village down the famous Ditchling Beacon Road with its twists and turns most recognised by those brave enough to take on the hill during the annual London to Brighton Bike Ride. Parking is free on North End or High Street or within the Health Centre Car-park opposite The Bull which has 30-plus spaces and is just four-minutes on foot from Kept Cottage. Hassocks Station is just 5-minutes in a cab for those without personal transport.

The Kept Cottage is a welcoming sight, set back from the road behind a pretty front garden awash with the scent of roses. The lawn offers the ideal spot to sit out in the evening sunshine due to its westerly aspect and it feels remarkably private. As its name suggests, the interior of the cottage is beautifully ‘kept’ and is far more spacious than its sweet exterior implies. A stylish and restful scheme has been used throughout, in keeping with the ‘country cottage’ feel and the sitting room is homely with soft furnishings which offer ample space to cosy up and play games in the evening or watch a moving or streaming service on the wall-mounted, flat screen Smart TV with access to Netflix and Amazon Prime. Complementary WiFi provided as standard.

Moving through to the dining room, a generous table awaits for serving sociable home-cooked meals and drinks which can spill outside to either the front or rear gardens during summer. An electric stove sits within the fireplace hearth, giving extra heat and atmosphere during wintery suppers and the kitchen is easily accessible.

If you’re cooking for family or friends, the kitchen is well-equipped with every appliance you could need to whip up a delicious meal to be paired with an English sparkling wine purchased from any one of the local vineyards. There is a good range of crockery, glassware, cutlery, cooking utensils and pans, plus tea, coffee (and a coffee pot) and milk will also be provided. Should you need anything in particular, or have any special dietary requirements, please ask and we will make every effort to accommodate. There is also a washing machine and a dishwasher for your convenience.

Blissfully quiet apart from birdsong in the trees and the odd bleating of a spring lamb in the nearby fields, the rear garden is a real sanctuary which doubles the entertaining space for the cottage during high season. There is a lush green lawn for children to play and a dining area to the rear, plus the southerly aspect ensures it is bathed in sunshine all day.

Upstairs, there are two comfortable double bedrooms dressed in quality linens and interesting artefacts and paintings adorning the walls. The third bedroom is a roomy single and all rooms have deep hybrid mattress with plump pillows and season appropriate duvets. Once again, it feels deceptively spacious and light up here. Tranquil, countryside views fill each room and there is plenty of clothes storage. Nearby, the bathroom is immaculate with a modern take on a cottage style. A double width, walk-in shower is in place to fully revive you after a long hike over the hills.

The village setting is ultimately peaceful, plus the house has secondary glazing to the front bedrooms, so whatever time you fall into bed, you can ensure a truly restful night’s sleep.

The owner has kindly put together a welcome book with details of several country walks from the cottage of varying distances to suit your energy levels and timescales, plus there are several books to hand providing wonderful insights to the history of the village and the surrounding areas which can be enjoyed at your leisure.

Suitable For

No pets allowed. The kept cottage is suitable for all ages

Nearby

Ditchling is nestled into the South Downs National Park close to the neighbouring villages of Keymer and Hassocks and just 8-miles north from the City of Brighton & Hove. The historic County Town of Lewes is just 7-miles east and the coast is just 20-minutes away by car where you’ll find the pleasure beaches at Brighton or the quieter rock-pools and cafes of Rottingdean and Ovingdean.

Directly from Ditchling there are some beautiful countryside walks to be enjoyed with the South Downs Way clearly marked on any map. Scale the beacon to enjoy some of the most spectacular views over the county then walk over the ridge to the Jack & Jill Windmills before taking the gentle path down to the Jack & Jill pub for a hearty roast dinner.

Visit the nationally renowned Ditchling Museum of Art & Craft which is host to a lively programme of events and exhibitions held throughout the year. Likewise, The Turner Dumbrell workshops are home to many resident artists and craftspeople who open their doors during the Artists’ Open House Trail during the May Brighton Festival. Biannually, a fair has been held in the village since 1312, bringing the whole village together – both residents and visitors alike, to celebrate the rich traditions and keep the stories of Ditchling alive.

Food & Drink

For lovers of fine wine, look no further than Ridgeview Vineyard at Ditchling Common. From guided tours to relaxed wine tastings, or a bite to eat at The Rows and Vine, Ridgeview offers a journey of joyful discovery. Plan your visit to their breath-taking wine estate where their motto that ‘Life is for Celebrating’ truly comes alive.

Open

The Kept Cottage is available to book anytime of the year

Pricing

From £125 a night – contact Simple Getaway for the best rates

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The Owner Says

Ditchling is one of Sussex’s prettiest villages; surrounded by a dramatic landscape of rolling Downland hills and patchwork fields below vast, open skies. This beautiful holiday cottage sits in its midst, with floral gardens, leafy views from every room, and a homely and spacious interior with three bedrooms to sleep five people in complete comfort. The peace and luxury of your surroundings will allow you and your party to fully recharge away from the hubbub of city life.

Location

Contact Website 01273 640 281 The Kept Cottage, 40 North End, Ditchling, Hassocks, East Sussex, BN6 8TF

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Getting There

Train: Hassocks has a railway station with direct services from London Victoria, Gatwick Airport, and other locations. Once you arrive in Hassocks, you will need to use local bus services or other modes of transportation to reach Ditchling.

Bus: There are bus services connecting Ditchling to nearby towns and villages. Local bus services may operate routes to Ditchling or other nearby areas.

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Reviews

Let us know what you think of your stay.

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Rated ★★★★★ over 5 reviews

★★★★★

10/10

Lovely clean house really helpful host: 10/10

Apr 30, 2024 by Danny

★★★★★

Everything was just perfect

We had a wonderful weekend, thank you! Everything was just perfect.

Feb 10, 2024 by Victoria

★★★★★

Would recommend

Me, my partner and our 18-month-old son stayed here for a couple days over the Xmas break (away from the London hustle). We wanted something remote, with the luxury of a town near by. Picked Brighton and the Kept Cottage. We found the below: >Cottage had that “The Holiday” vibe >Clean and cosy >Great walks nearby >Great pubs; log fire and cosy atmosphere >Friendly village >Brighton and Worthing close by approx. 20mins to The Lanes, Brighton Sophie was a great host, very responsive and efficient, very pleased overall.

Dec 30, 2023 by Marios

★★★★★

Very comfortable

Fantastic host, great communication. Property as described, very comfortable.

Oct 15, 2023 by Charlie

★★★★★

Absolutely great!

My sister lives in the village and we stayed here to be close to her. Great location for the village and the cottage is really charming. Every detail has been thought of and everything worked. Sophie was responsive and friendly. Thank you!!! ❤️❤️❤️

Sep 22, 2023 by Helen