Enjoy Sussex!
£60
- Description
- Itinerary
- WHAT'S INCLUDED?
- ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCES
- WHERE WILL YOU STAY?
- Concierge
- Reviews (21)
Description
ENJOY SUSSEX!
Come and experience this beautiful and fascinating county.
Do you enjoy browsing for antiques, visiting historic houses and castles, exploring nature? Let us show you Sussex and an England that few see.
We take care of the details, help you plan your visit and can accompany you while you’re out and about – leaving you free to relax and enjoy your stay in our beautiful Sussex cottage.
Read the review on Yours online https://www.yours.co.uk/travel/holidays/articles/spring-cottage-amberley-review
One week for 6 people, £60 per night per person. Minimum stay 3 nights – sleeps up to 6 people*
This escape includes airport collection, your own concierge, transport, admission to some houses/gardens and castles, welcome hamper.
See What’s Included for more information. No car needed.
This is an escape for lovers of the countryside and of historic houses and gardens. Suitable for guests with limited mobility as we drive and accompany you.
Rustic Escapes wants to share with our guests our love of this beautiful county. We are interested in rural life and history and the way people lived throughout the ages. We can show you Sussex dwellings from the Bronze Age through Roman times to the Tudor and Georgian periods, right through to the modern day when Sussex retains its charm and wealth of history and culture.
We can also organise a special escape for nature lovers; visiting woodlands that are hundreds of years old, seeing deer and pheasant and the many species of migratory birds that call Sussex home, visiting nature reserves and local wetlands. We can count on a local expert concierge, an expert horticulturist to accompany our guests to visit the great gardens we have on our doorstep including Nymans, Denmans, Parham, Petworth, High Beeches and Wakehurst. Enjoy Sussex as seen by few!
Guests stay in a picturesque village in the Sussex countryside near the country estate of Parham House and overlooking the Amberley Wildbrooks Nature Reserve. From the decking of the cottage they can look for deer, pheasants and many different birds. They can either walk up onto the South Downs and along the famous South Downs Way or across the fields and along the riverbank of the Arun river.
Your concierge will drive you along Sussex country lanes, enjoying the beauty of the English countryside; spotting hidden medieval farmsteads, deer among the trees, pheasants strutting across the fields, village ponds and little known hamlets. Nature lovers will enjoy walks through woods which have been there for hundreds of years, stopping at country pubs and village tea shops along the way ; contrasting this with visits to the great gardens of Denmans, Nymans, High Beeches, Parham and Capability Brown’s parklands at Petworth. If you love birds we can take you to the Arundel wetlands or Pagham harbour. Guests can choose to have lunch overlooking fields full of Sussex sheep, or in a pub by the river or in the country towns of Arundel and Petworth.
If your thing is social history and rural life you will love strolling around the countryside museum of Weald and Downland Living Museum with its recreated dwellings from the Bronze Age through to Tudor times. We even have two major Roman settlings on our doorstep! You can ‘live like a Tudor’ at Anne of Cleves and St Marys’ and we visit Parham House to see how people lived in Elizabethan times. In the towns of Petworth and Arundel browse through antique shops full of treasures and then visit Arundel Castle to see some medieval jousting or Petworth House to see how life was both above and below stairs in Georgian times .
Let us plan with you and accompany you on a wonderful discovery of West Sussex and all it has to offer; leave us to take care of the details, while you relax and enjoy your stay.
For more details please see the ITINERARY and WHAT’S INCLUDED sections.
*5th and 6th persons where sharing bedrooms. The house has three double rooms. A single small bed can be arranged for in one of the double rooms.
FOR SELF-DRIVE OPTIONS AND SIMPLY RELAXING IN SPRING COTTAGE PLEASE SPEAK TO OUR RESERVATIONS ADVISOR. One week for 4 people: £45 per person per night.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS ESCAPE IS NOT AVAILABLE BETWEEN 22 DECEMBER AND 02 JANUARY. PLEASE SEE CHRISTMAS ESCAPE TO BOOK DURING THIS PERIOD.
Day 1 Arrival You will be greeted at Spring Cottage by Rustic Escape’s local representative who will give you an overview of the local area and welcome you with a drink. A welcome hamper will be waiting for you to enjoy during your stay. You can enjoy a walk down to the river or up into the South Downs or simply relax in the garden or on the decking which overlooks the Wildbrooks Nature Reserve. There is a cutting garden for you to pick your own flowers and an open air hot tub for evening stargazing enjoying a glass of local sparkling wine. Or soak in a roll top bath then enjoy a cosy afternoon in front of the fire. In the village you have a lovely shop and post ofice, a pretty tearoom and our village pub, The Black Horse and the 11th century castle, open for breakfast lunch and dinner. Day 2 We want this escape to please you, our guest. Our Local representative will be in contact and happy to provide suggestions 24 hrs a day and our Concierges will accompany you wherever you would like to go, looking after the details so that you are free to relax and enjoy your stay. Here are some suggested itineraries. Some historic houses open only at selected times; your concierge can suggest alternatives. Day 2 We shall collect you at your leisure and drive you through the Sussex countryside, through the little town of Fittleworth, to the pretty georgian town of Petworth. Nature lovers can first visit Nymans gardens after a drive through the Pulborough wildbrooks. Visit the grand Petworth House with gardens designed by Capability Brown and (April to October the Little cottage museum) to learn about life in Georgian times. Later browse through the antique market and have lunch either in the town or at the country Cricketers´pub on your way to Chichester to either visit the cathedral or enjoy an afternoon of shopping in this pretty market town. Lovers of wildlife spend the afternoon either in Denmans gardens or in Pagham harbour seeing the hundreds of migratory birds who visit Sussex throughout the year. Day 3 Nature lovers will enjoy a morning stroll around Swanbourne lake and a visit to the Arundel wetlands centre, with drinks by the river and lunch in the little village of Burpham while you may prefer to visit the castle and cathedral grounds. The town has a good variety of antique shops and a butchers´and delicatesen open since 1765. Your concierge will then drive you over Goodwood hill with its lovely views of the South Downs to the Weald and Downland museum to stroll across the beautiful parkland with its reconstructed dwellings from the Bronze age through to Tudor times. Lunch will be in a little known pub in the little village of Chorton, nestled in the South Downs , by the roaring fire; or, if its a lovely day, out in the garden overlooking the fields full of grazing sheep. Return home across the countryside, seeing pheasants and deer and learning more about the rich, agricultural farmland of Sussex. Day 4 Rest on the decking at Spring cottage or stroll down to the river for lunch at the Bridge Inn or 16th century George & Dragon pub. Your local representative can reserve tables for you. Visit the Amberley chalk pits museum or walk up and along the South Downs way walking to the village of Storrington to visit Parham House and gardens; a magnificent Tudor home. Rustic Escapes can arrange for our concierge, an expert horticulturist, to accompany you on this day. See ´Additional Experiences´for places to visit. Day 5 or 6 Your concierge will collect you at your leisure and drive you to Anne of Cleve´s house and Lewes castle to experience life in Tudor times. Nature lovers will visit High Beeches or Wakehurst gardens with lunch in the pretty village of Ditchling and an afternoon stroll and tea in Stanmore park or a climb up to the ancient druid Chanctonbury ring. Guests with a love of history will then visit St Mary´s and the pretty villages of Steyning and Bramber. If guests wish to visit the bustling seaside town of Brighton our concierge will happily drive them past the grand georgian terraces of Palmyra and Brunswick Squares and onto the Pier. Waiting while guests visit either the Grand Pavillion or Lanes for shopping. Day 5 Guests may like to take a train to visit the historic town of Horsham with its excellent variety of shops or take the Victoria station train to London, which departs every hour and takes only 1 hr 20 minutes. The local representative will happily book the tickets for these and provide a drop off service to the station, collecting you on your return.The station is a short stroll away, only 1 km down the road,past fields with grazing horses . Returning in the evening from the bustle of the capital, seeing Amberley castle and the river as you arrive and stepping down onto the country station of Amberley is a gentle and uplifting experience, especially when a glass of wine or pint of beer in the Bridge Inn awaits you before you stroll back to the cottage and get the fire going! Your local representative and concierge will happily suggest many more experiences. There is plenty to do and to see. Let them prepare an individual programme for you. [/porto_carousel]
You will be met by a Rustic Escapes representative at Gatwick airport or at Gatwick or Horsham train stations.
Included
Our Reservations Team can help you to plan your escape and select experiences. Contact us for any details.
Amberley Castle
Amberley Castle
With records dating back to 683AD this castle has a rich and varied history. Now a hotel combining ancient architecture with modern design, you can visit for traditional afternoon tea, lunch or dinner. It is a short easy walk from Spring Cottage.
Arundel Castle, cathedral, town, and wetlands
Arundel Castle, cathedral, town, and wetlands
Experience almost 1,000 years of history at this great castle, situated in magnificent grounds and built at the end of the 11th century. Continue your vist to Arundel by visiting the imposing Roman Catholic Cathedral, antique shops and art galleries.
Chichester
Chichester
Chichester blends old with new with its cathedral, shopping, annual flower festival and cultural opportunities including Chichester Festival Theatre. Near to Goodwood, the Weald and Downland Museum and West Dean Gardens.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is a historic port and a dynamic waterfront city. The historic dockyard is the UK’s premier destination for naval history. Inside you will find attractions including Lord Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory and the National Museum of the Royal Navy. You can also get out onto the water on the Harbour Tour excursions.
Horsham
Horsham
Horsham is a good centre for shopping and a historic centre where you can have lunch or a drink.
Denmans Garden
Denmans Garden
Denmans Garden started as a market garden in 1946 to grow vegetables and cut flowers for the Covent Garden Market in London. Having been redesigned by John Brookes, it is now a timeless, contemporary garden with unusual plantings and quiet places to contemplate.
High Beeches Garden
High Beeches Garden
This woodland and water garden is one of Sussex’s finest gardens with a collection of rare, exotic and award-winning plants.
Anne of Cleves House
Anne of Cleves House
Explore how the Tudors and Elizabethans lived, worked and relaxed at home. Learn the story of one of England’s most famous kings, Henry VIII.
Parham House and Gardens
Parham House and Gardens
Parham is one of England’s finest Elizabethan houses (dating from 1577) that has changed little over the centuries and is set in beautiful gardens. Combine with a visit to Brighton, Horsham or Petworth.
Petworth House and Gardens
Petworth House and Gardens
Petworth House is a stately 17th century mansion housing the finest art collection in the care of the National Trust. The town of Petworth is well-known for its antique shops.
Weald and Downland Living Museum
Weald and Downland Living Museum
Discover rescued rural homes and buildings which tell the stories of the people who lived and worked in them for over 1000 years. There is also an opportunity to book rural and historic-themed workshops.
Bignor Roman Villa
Bignor Roman Villa
See the stunning remains of this Roman home with world-class mosaic floors in the heart of the South Downs National Park.
Brighton
Brighton
The Georgian town of Brighton attracts many visitors to see the pier, the Royal Pavilion (built by George VI) and the elegant houses of this seaside town. There are countless bars and restaurants, excellent shopping in big shops or in the independent shops of the Lanes.
London
London
Founded by the Romans as Londinium in 45BC with the River Thames running through it, London is the political and economic capital of England. The price quoted is to travel by train from Amberley (journey time of 1hour 40minutes from Amberley Station. Your concierge can help you to plan your visit in advance if you would like recommendations.
Fishbourne Roman Palace
Mosaicos de Fishbourne
Enjoy the luxury that would once have surrounded the proud owner of this lavish Roman residence. Stroll around the recreated Roman gardens – the earliest gardens found anywhere in the country – and enjoy the largest collection of mosaics in situ in the UK.
Nymans
Nymans
A garden lovers’ home for all seasons, with an extensive yet intimate garden set around a romantic house and ruins.
RSPB Pulborough Brooks Nature Reserve
RSPB Pulborough Brooks Nature Reserve
Pulborough Brooks is an RSPB nature reserve that is situated within 420 acres of the South Downs National Park and is one of the south east’s most impressive wetlands. The nature reserve and visitors centre is open all year round and is a haven for wildlife.
Sheffield Park and Gardens
Sheffield Park and Gardens
Acres of landscape garden bordered by historic parkland and woodland.
South Downs Natural Park
South Downs Natural Park
Spring Cottage in Amberley is situated on the route called the South Downs Way. This is a famous path from Eastbourne to Winchester that crosses the rolling hills of the South Downs. Walk some of the 120km of the South Downs Way which ends in Winchester, the ancient capital of England.
Wakehurst
Wakehurst
A botanical garden with the world’s largest seed conservation project. Funded and managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. An Elizabethan mansion stands in 500 acres of ornamental gardens, woodlands and a nature reserve.
West Dean Gardens
West Dean Gardens
One of the greatest restored gardens open to the public today.
Combine with a visit to Chichester or Weald and Downland Museum.
Arundel Wetlands Centre
Arundel Wetlands Centre
Stroll along gentle pathways to quiet spots to watch Sussex wildlife and take a boat trip among the reeds. A relaxing way to spend a couple of hours and of course great for birdwatching.
Amberley Wildbrooks Nature Reserve
Amberley Wildbrooks Nature Reserve
Our guests are lucky to be staying in the Amberley Wildbrooks Nature reserve and can look for deer, foxes, pheasants and many other animals from Spring Cottage.
Spring Cottage is a much-loved family home which has been decorated in traditional English style with pretty colours and antique furniture. The country kitchen (with Smeg fridge and range cooker) offers all facilities to prepare your own meals if you wish to eat at home. The dining area in the sitting room features a large Georgian mahogany table and chairs and grandfather clock. There is a large fireplace for colder evenings flanked by comfortable armchairs and a beautiful Liberty’s chaise longue with a television, DVD player and internet-based film and TV streaming. Each of the three bedrooms has a double bed and they are served by two bathrooms (including showers and a roll-top bath). The downstairs bedroom and bathroom are suitable for guests with limited mobility.
A secluded courtyard leads off the kitchen and glazed doors open from the dining area to a large terrace with swing-seat and the terraced garden overlooking Amberley Wildbrooks Nature Reserve. The views from here and from the upstairs master bedroom are wonderful and you can sit for hours watching the wildlife and enjoying nature. The garden is such a special place. Steps lead down from the terrace and on each level, you can stop to cut your own flowers or maybe sit in the hot tub while you enjoy those views.
When it’s cold you can light the fire in the sitting-room and enjoy a cosy winter evening with a good book or maybe drink a glass of English wine or beer under the stars from the warmth of the hot tub. We cater for all weathers by offering our guests a selection of umbrellas, jackets, scarves and wellies during their stay.
Your local representatives will be waiting to greet you on arrival. Our concierge will answer any questions and advise you – not only recommending restaurants and local pubs but also can organise your visits to cultural or sporting events, theatres, musicals and many other events.
Amberley Village Stores supplies quality local and fresh produce and we will prepare a welcome hamper to await your arrival.
If you would like any information about our escapes or our concierge service, just get in touch. Our reservation team will help ensure your stay is interesting, enjoyable and relaxing. During your stay, just speak to your concierge to change or add to your programme.
Amberley is a quintessentially English country village near Arundel in West Sussex with thatched cottages, old brick and tilework and flowers everywhere you look. Nestled in the rolling hills of the South Downs, the village is surrounded by the wetlands of Amberley Wildbrooks Nature Reserve, important for its wild deer, pheasants and a wide variety of migratory birds from across the globe.
This country village has its own castle, and XIIth century church. It also boasts its own pub and tearoom (serving delicious home-made cakes) and Amberley Village Stores with its friendly service and local fresh produce which can be delivered to your door (and the recent winner of the South East regional category for the best village shop/Post Office in the Countryside Alliance Awards).
AMBERLEY, SUSSEX
Walk up to Amberley Mount with its steep climb up to the South Downs Way or stroll along a section of the beautiful River Arun which is so atmospheric when shrouded in mist. Walk, cycle or horse-ride part of the South Downs National Park which offers 1,600km2 of breath-taking views or pause at night to appreciate the world’s newest International Dark Sky Reserve and enjoy the star-studded skies. If you are feeling more adventurous, guests can request paddle and surf board for use on the river or sea which is only ten minutes away by car. Accompanied river trips by boat can also be arranged from Arundel or by paddleboard from the nearby resort of Shoreham.
Participate in the annual Ale at Amberley (beer festival) with musical entertainment to enjoy and pop in to the Amberley Working Museum to see old agricultural and industrial machinery at work. Let us take you a little further afield to visit beautiful gardens, castles and old houses or to buy antiques or local crafts.
Spring Cottage is not far from Amberley train station and the short walk is a real pleasure. You feel you are miles from everything and time slows down as you are immersed in nature. Stop off en route for a drink or meal at one of the local pubs and you will know you have arrived!
Our concierge service offers a personal touch. The concierge will usually accompany you on your experiences or just drop you off and collect you later if you prefer. Of course they can also advise you where to eat, help you with shopping enquiries, assist in buying theatre tickets etc and answer specific questions you may have about your stay at Spring Cottage – little touches that make your stay comfortable and personal to you. (Note the concierge does not stay at the cottage with you.)
Scott –
Wonderful escape for a week, made lots of use of the hot tub. Fantastic views and wonderful host. Thank you. (August 2020)
Toby –
Thank you so much for sharing your gorgeous home, we don’t want to go home! The view and the hot tub are immense. We will be back (August 2020)
Mira –
What a lovely place to come and hideaway for a few days. Very comfortable and relaxing. Emma has made this place very pleasant and taken time to make sure the little details matter. Amazing place!! Thanks Emma (August 2020)
Tom –
The beds and pillows were AMAZING!! Lovely evening spent in the hot tub. We visited the Arundel Castle gardens which are a must see. Emma was helpful and has made this a great place to stay. Simply FABULOUS!! (August 2020)
Joanne and Peter –
A lovely relaxing stay in your comfortable cottage (August 2020)
Chris –
Thank you for sharing your magnificent home with us. Our visit has been sublime and a rejuvenating retreat, the perfect setting for relaxation. All the care and amenities were supremely appreciated. We would love to come back again (August 2020)
Ami and friends –
Thank you for having us! We had such a great and restful weekend away post-lockdown to celebrate a birthday. We really enjoyed having meals on the terrace and cooking in the very well-stocked kitchen. The hot tub was great too! We also paid a visit to Stopham Vineyard which we would highly recommend. Thank you to the Rustic Escapes team! (August 2020)
Palmer family –
A wonderful relaxing stay. We have really enjoyed our break in Amberley. Spring Cottage is just lovely with beautiful views and everything one could need. Thank you to Nic also for being so welcoming. The hamper was a welcome addition also. Many thanks. (August 2020)
Sue –
Idyllic position, beautifully appointed and maintained – wonderful hot-tub. Thank you to all. (July 2020)
Jackie –
A lovely cottage and wonderful home. No wonder everyone loves it. I want to stay for ever! This trip was for my birthday (85th) – my two daughters brought me and what a wonderful treat. I love the garden, so peaceful. Thank you. (July 2020)
Martha –
Wow, what a great week. Amazing walks, Black Rabbit and Bridge pub, boating from Riverside and the amazing Castle gardens in Arundel. … A massive hit! Thanks. (July 2020)
Simon –
A wonderful stay at Spring Cottage. We love the hot-tub and the amazing views. Thank you Emma – on arrival my son thought you were ‘really nice and funny’! (July 2020)
Kristo –
Truly the best Airbnb I’ve ever rented. This house massively over-delivered on the pictures, the view is breathtaking and you’re not overlooked at all. An amazing house in an amazing location. The house was sparking clean when we arrived, with a wonderful welcome hamper of goodies. We absolutely loved the Jacuzzi, which was crystal clear and perfectly clean. The terrace and garden were just delightful. We were welcomed by Emma, who really made us feel welcome and at home. She went out of her way to make sure we had everything we needed. Amberley has to be the most hospitable village I have ever been with two amazing pubs. booking in to the Black Horse for dinner, the garden is beautiful and the food is fabulous. Highly recommend It’s also a perfect spot for running/ cycling.
Paul & Charlene –
What an amazing stay we had, a beautiful, peaceful weekend.
Vicente T –
We stayed at Spring Cottage in the adorable village of Amberley, the perfect spot to chill out. Situated right on the edge of the Amberley Wildbrooks Nature Reserve, it perfectly meets the idea of a traditional English village with its individual cottages with thatched roofs and rose-covered archways with cottage garden plants. … Read More at https://www.yours.co.uk/travel/holidays/articles/spring-cottage-amberley-review?rq=spring%20cottage
Taylor –
We absolutely enjoyed our stay from the minute we saw how beautiful the cottage was; each room has its own personality. The living room has a large glass door which leads to an enormous terrace overlooking the fields, where we enjoyed breakfast while looking out for deer and pheasants.
As Arundel was very near, we decided to visit its famous medieval Castle and antique shops. We then finished the morning having lunch at the pub called “Black Rabbit” situated on the banks of the River Arun with stunning views over the wetlands to Arundel Castle.
Just a half an hour drive away you have the lovely Georgian town of Chichester where you must visit the Cathedral
Joanna Travers –
I loved it! What a fabulous day at Parham House and gardens, enjoying Sarah Raven´s flower arranging workshop. The house and gardens themselves were a delight. While I have stayed at the Spring Cottage Rustic Escape before, enjoying visits to other gardens in the area, this was my first visit to the Tudor gardens and I really appreciated the guidance by my Rustic Escapes´concierge. I was able to identify and discover flowers and plants I had never seen and could really imagine life in the gardens as it must have been in the house´s hayday.
The flower demonstration was fascinating. The colours of each arrangement were beautiful.My mother thoroughly enjoyed the treat and took back to London bags full of seeds to start her own cutting garden! I bought home the notes and photographs I took and have been practicing ever since! I have attached them so that you can post them in a blog on your web; I really enjoyed the day and just wanted to say thank you to you all for such a lovely time.
Tanya Moravec –
Our Autumn Fungi Forage!
Rustic Escapes organised a fun day learning about mushrooms with Hunter Gather Cook in Ashdown Forest. It was a real outdoor adventure in wild food foraging and we enjoyed every moment.
The day began with an introduction to edible fungi from Nick and his expert team before we all headed into the heart of the forest to forage. The leaders (and their dog) astounded our small group with their knowledge from false caps to ceps and we came across types of fungi that we had never seen before. They told us the history, myths and science behind every species we found – well over 20 different types!
After a couple of hours spent exploring and identification, we returned to camp with full baskets of mushrooms and were welcomed with a hot Bloody Mary. Following a hands-on lesson in partridge butchery, the team set about cooking a delicious selection of dishes on an open fire including cep carpaccio, chanterelles with poached eggs and finally our own partridge, ballotined and served with local truffle.
In the afternoon we were treated to a fascinating demonstration of truffle hunting by the truffle-dog and picked up more tips on foraging for wild food from the team of experts.
All in all the experience was a true celebration of nature and a unique way to enjoy the countryside whilst learning new skills – ideal for any discerning cook or outdoor enthusiast.
Thank you Rustic Escapes – it was a great way to spend a Saturday in October!
Julia Craig –
Rustic Escapes booked us onto the Mill Experience in a 17th century watermill at The Weald and Downland Living Museum. We spent an interesting morning learning about the workings of this historic building and even made our own bag of flour to take home.
Rescued rural homes and buildings bring history to life at this extraordinary living museum in Sussex demonstrating the lives of the people who lived and worked in South East England over 1,000 years. Join their programme of traditional rural trades and crafts courses such as stone carving, blacksmith skills or participate in a medieval feast. Or just enjoy exploring the beautiful gardens and the woodland and seeing the farm animals – and don’t forget the ducks on the large lake!
After a walk around the grounds in the September sunshine, we were pleased to sit down for lunch in a local pub nearby – a 400 year old inn to be precise. Fish and chips and a traditional Sunday roast were washed down with half a pint of beer. Perfect! We walked off lunch with a leisurely stroll around the beautiful city of Chichester, did a spot of shopping, popped into the Cathedral and decided to return at a future date to see a play or musical at Chichester Festival Theatre.
The Weald and Downland Living Museum and Chichester are just a 20 minute drive from Rustic Escapes’ country cottage in Amberley. Your Concierge can accompany you and introduce you to this beautiful and historic part of Sussex. We would recommend it!
Nigel Watson –
What better way is there to relax after a day of sight-seeing and antique hunting than with a chilled glass of Prosecco in the bubbling jacuzzi looking out over the Amberley Wildbrooks Nature Reserve? I challenge you to find one!
Three days at Spring Cottage is the perfect de-stressing rustic escape, knowing that your every need is catered for – a welcome hamper of local Sussex produce presented to you on arrival, comfortable sofa and armchairs to curl up on, large TV with lots of channels and Netflix, drench shower, roll top bath and complimentary dressing gowns, slippers and toiletries… This is certainly not Airbnb and its more personal and bespoke than a hotel. There’s even a daily cleaning service and a well-stocked, pay-as-you-use larder and bar, so you could quite easily stay at the cottage for the 3 days and have everything you need and never even venture outside! But of course you do, either independently or using the concierge or drop-off service.
Our Concierge, Nick, took us to Anne of Cleves House and Lewes Castle as well as allowing us free time to wander the antique shops of Arundel and Petworth. He was friendly, knowledgeable and charming and nothing was too much trouble. We paid extra for a private chef to come in and cook us a 3-course meal on the Friday nights but there were pubs and restaurants nearby that Nick recommended that serve good food.
Saturday night was the highlight as Nick picked us up and drove us to Arundel Castle for an open-air performance of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. Nick wasn’t merely our chauffeur but also acted as host for the evening, serving us the food and wine from the complimentary picnic hamper, choosing good seats for us in the open-air auditorium and giving us a synopsis of the story (Shakespeare is not our forte!).
The attention to detail at Spring Cottage is second to none – vases of fresh flowers, bottles of water in the bedrooms, local magazines to read, immaculate gardens. It’s a unique experience staying here and you leave feeling very special, having been looked after, pampered and spoilt.
And the castle we visited, we felt totally spoilt from the moment we arrived. A lovely welcome from Steve and the complementary basket of goods.
Everyone needs a Rustic Escape more than once a year in their busy lives. We’re already planning our next trip!
Jennifer Hooliran –
Thank you Nick for my fabulous holiday in November. What an amazing time I had. The weather was chilly but you certainly warmed me up with your lovely kind and humorous company. I had a great time! The Ardingly fair was brilliant, those baskets I bought arrived fine, by the way, and I now wish I had bought more…there was so much to see. The day we spent with you driving through the Sussex countryside, visiting all of those little shops was super too. Let me know when Tooveys has its next live auction and I’m coming back! I’ld spend my life browsing round the antique shops with you if I could. Regards to Steve and Caroline, the local reps. They were sweet too. Thank you all for a memorable trip. I shall be back! Jennifer Hooliran