Mane Character

Mane Character: West Sussex

One of a collection of three cottages on a thirteen-acre working farm in West Sussex, this home is nowhere near as rustic as these details might suggest. Step behind the front door and you'll find an interior that's contemporarily styled with a few quirky touches.

The stark white walls and sleek tiling make for a blank canvas against which the colourful cushions and hand-painted kitchen chairs really pop off. As well as that, the modern grey kitchen and pristine bathrooms are a world away from the back-to-basics country cottages that pepper the map in these parts – the rolltop bathtub in particular is sure to make a lot of guests very happy.

When the weather's on your side, there's a private outdoor space with an alfresco table and barbecue, but it's also lovely to wander about the shared parts of the site. The hosts run a private stud and breed native ponies, so if you're lucky, you might see a foal or two during your stay.

The home is blessed when it comes to location, sitting almost equidistantly between South Downs National Park and the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – as you might imagine, there's a wealth of walking routes to embark upon that start straight from the farm or just a short drive away. The seaside isn't too far away, either – you can get over to Worthing in just over half an hour in the car.



Home truths:
*Both of the bedrooms and master bathroom are on the first floor, so the home might not be suitable for guests with reduced mobility
*There are five dogs, three cats and chickens that live on the site
*Guests get access to a shared barn with a football table and an emergency supply of wellington boots and coats
*There's space to park on the driveway
*The other two cottages on the site can accommodate two and four guests respectively