Homely rural Bothy in Victorian garden; LGW 15min

Peacefully set in 4+ acres of Victorian gardens with stunning views, the Bothy is a private, homely dwelling in a pretty courtyard. Spacious, comfy and characterful with shower room & kitchen/dining areas. 5 mins from M23 & Balcombe/Ardingly & 15 mins to Gatwick. Quick rail access to London & Brighton. Great walking and cycling and close to Wakehurst/other famous gardens. Fun watersports on Ardingly reservoir. 'Fibre to the premises' broadband, Freeview TV and home cinema. And homemade cake! Firstly, we are following all the Covid Guidelines to ensure that The Bothy is as clean and safe as possible during this difficult time. The Bothy light, clean, airy and quiet south-facing studio apartment over a large garage outbuilding, the east facing wall of which dates back to Victorian times when it formed part of the façade of a historic manor house which sadly burnt down in 1939. An earlier 17th century house on the same site was home to the Balcombe family after whom the village was named. They subsequently emigrated to America. The Bothy forms part of an attractive courtyard drive with our house adjacent and looks over the beautiful Victorian gardens in which we hope you will find time to relax and enjoy. The gardens offer breath-taking views across the valley towards Balcombe village and beyond. There is plenty of secure parking right in front of the building. The Bothy has its own private front door which opens into a small hall with stairs up to the accommodation. There is a good-sized separate shower room with loo, basin and plenty of toiletries and soft towels. In addition to the comfy king size bed with large end drawers for clothes storage there is a surprisingly comfortable single sofa bed. There is a cosy sitting area and a small dining table and chairs, a perfect area to work or enjoy your breakfast. A small wardrobe with shelf and hanging space offers more storage if needed. There is a kitchen area with a characterful dresser where crockery, glassware and cutlery is stored, as well as cereals, breads and a large variety of teas and coffees - including freshly ground coffee and a cafetiere. A half-size fridge contains fresh milk and orange juice, a selection of breakfast breads, butter and a range of delicious homemade jams (from fruits grown in the garden. There is a microwave, toaster and kettle - everything you need to prepare a delicious breakfast. The Bothy has a hairdryer, a steam iron and an ironing board. There are two wonderful old heirloom trunks full of games and puzzles for you to enjoy on that rainy day or quiet night in. There is a bedside digital radio and a 32" LCD TV, a humax freeview box and wifi. In addition there is a 5.1 surround sound cinema audio system with HD projector, Blu-ray player and airplay connectivity - this is available by prior agreement (and a bit of training from my husband!) The Bothy will be your own private space to enjoy and in addition we very much hope that you will enjoy a stroll around our extensive gardens, ponds and dell - 4 1/2 acres in all. You may however be accompanied by our friendly Labradors Betty and Willow who hate to miss out on any walking opportunity! The gardens are impressive for most of the year and The Bothy looks out towards the centrepiece of it all, our Atlantic Cedar which is said to be the oldest cedar in Sussex and whose records are held at Wakehurst Place gardens just a short walk across the valley. Perhaps the most breathtaking time of year is the Spring/early Summer when we enjoy a sea of colour from the many azaleas, camellias, flora and fauna. Enjoyment of our gardens and outside facilities is entirely at your own risk. Please note that there are deep pools which are fenced off/guarded but please be careful with children who must be supervised. We do occasionally open our garden for the National Garden Scheme and special local charity days which we thoroughly enjoy, with teas being served on the croquet lawn! Garden highlights throughout the year: Early Spring: Crocuses, snowdrops, primroses, daffodils and a sea of colour from different camellias Late Spring: Bluebells and tree blossom, stunning azaleas and rhododendrons Summer: Roses and blooming herbaceous borders and grasses Autumn: Rich variety of autumn colour from acers and deciduous trees Winter: Variety of tree formations, barks and flowering hellebores Whilst The Bothy is very much your own private space, I am always available to offer help or advice whenever needed and will do everything I can to make your stay as enjoyable as possible. Please let me know if you have any special dietary requirements (eg: gluten free diet) and I will do my best to accommodate. The Bothy offers peace and tranquillity in a truly beautiful rural setting yet it is only 15 minutes from Gatwick airport and with Balcombe station close at hand you can easily travel by train, whether it be up to London (40 minutes) or down to Brighton (25 minutes). A car is recommended, however. We are in the heart of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty where wonderful walks are in abundance right from your door. Wakehurst Gardens (part of Kew Gardens) with the famous Millennium Seed Bank and the village of Ardingly with the South of England Showground and reservoir and Activity Centre are all close at hand to the east, with Balcombe lake and the beautiful surrounding rolling countryside to the west, interspersed with many well-maintained footpaths. The large-scale maps in The Bothy will help you to explore this wonderful area and to plan any good walks but we do ask that you do not take them with you. Your own car is recommended. Balcombe main line station is 5 minutes' drive away and there are many local taxi firms should you not wish to use the car. We are not blessed with many buses so transport is best by private car, train, taxi or on foot! Balcombe is a pretty village with a tea room, an excellent village shop and a wonderful community-owned 17th century pub which offers great pub food. There are also many other good pubs and eateries close by, either in the neighbouring villages of Ardingly and Cuckfield or in Haywards Heath (just 10 minutes away) where there is a wider range of shops, supermarkets and restaurants. Do study the 'Guidebook' on my listing for useful local information and tips including recommended local pubs and eateries. There is also a folder inside The Bothy with similar information and containing detailed local maps of the area to help you to explore and plan any walks, although we do please ask that the maps remain in the building. The Bothy also has two wonderful old heirloom trunks full of games and puzzles which you are welcome to use and enjoy.