Gorgeous Waterside Eco-Barn

The Tack Barn is our super stylish and sustainable holiday cottage here at Upper Lodge. It is tucked into a quiet woodland corner overlooking the pond with lush gardens all around and kitted out with products and art from local makers. Ideally located for Lewes and the South Downs National Park. Hop into the hammock and sit by a glowing fire-pit in the summer, or snuggle up in front of the wood-burner in the winter - the Tack Barn is special all year round. The main living area is an exceptionally bright and lofty room with french windows opening straight onto the deck, the outdoor dining space and fire pit. There are beautiful views, over the pond and through the trees onto fields. In chilly weather you can light the wood-burning stove and settle down on the sofa. We have fitted out the kitchen with everything a food-lover will need in the hope of encouraging you to make the most of our local food and drink. In the bedroom there is a king-sized bed from which you can look out at the view, with crisp Egyptian cotton sheets and cushions. The double doors open directly onto the deck and there is also plenty of hanging space and drawers. There is room for a cot too, which we can provide on request. The bathroom has a double ended bath with shower over, sink and WC. We provide the towels and candles for you. The wrap-around deck connects you to the woodland garden and pond. There is a sheltered outdoor dining space for balmy days and a fire pit for chilly ones. At night listen out for the owls in the wood. If you plan to mix business with pleasure and do some work while staying here there is super-fast broadband both inside and out - although we can always switch it off if you would prefer! There are some wonderful artists and makers working in and around Lewes, some even work in the studios here at Upper Lodge, so it seemed like a good idea to use some of our favourite products and art in the barn. The Tack Barn is self-contained, but we would be delighted if you want to wander around the garden or enjoy a sun-downer on the jetty while you are staying here. We live on site too and so are around to give you help and advice during your stay, should you wish. To welcome you and help you settle in we will leave a basket of essentials in the kitchen for you on arrival. There are also three artist's studios in the barn here at Upper Lodge which you are welcome to look in on if you are interested. This is a wonderful area to explore. We are very close to the South Downs National Park and wonderful walking. The spectacular South Downs Way stretches from Winchester to Eastbourne and near us at its eastern end are the iconic landscapes at Seven Sisters, Cuckmere Haven and Beachy Head. Our county town of Lewes is ten minutes away, with its historic high street, independent shops, Norman castle and Bonfire celebrations. Excellent for antique hunting, second-hand bookshops and auction houses. There are many surrounding Downland villages worth exploring, notably Alfriston, Firle and Ditchling. Sussex has always been a haven for artists and writers, with many of their homes to visit and art festivals. The country homes and haunts of the Bloomsbury Group are all on our doorstep including the Woolf's house in Rodmell and Charleston Farmhouse. As we are in the countryside we are not very well connected by public transport. Our local towns are Lewes or Uckfield (10 minute drive) and both have a mainline train station to London. Please note that we prefer not to do check ins / check outs on Sundays. We only take bookings for a week or more over the Christmas / New Year period If you are planning a visit to the opera at Glyndebourne we can provide you with everything you might need; a picnic kit, a festival programme and we can also recommend places to fill your hamper up with lots of local treats.