Holiday rentals in East Sussex

Dominated by the chalky hills of the South Downs, the landscape of East Sussex is one of gentle beauty, dotted with many villages and estates that can trace their histories back to the Domesday Book. In the north of the county spills the High Weald, known for its wooded hills and ancient farmland, while the 250 square miles of the Downs (now a national park) are covered in grassland and flowering heath that offer rambling walks and extensive views, some all the way to the English Channel.

It’s at the coast that drama can be found in East Sussex, from the 160-metre-tall cliff of Beachy Head to the rocky outcrops of the Seven Sisters and the Atlantic waves and winds that beat upon the shore. Seaside towns like Brighton, Eastbourne, and Bexhill combine Georgian elegance with an artsy culture, while Norman abbeys and a little town called Hastings hark back to one of the most famous battles in English history in 1066.

This land’s natural beauty isn’t diminished by cold weather. East Sussex can be as captivating in the bleak midwinter, blanketed in snow, as it is under a hot sun. That said, it’s a more comfortable experience from spring through autumn, and temperatures are usually at their best from May to August. The seawater never gets particularly warm, so don’t expect to spend all your time frolicking in the waves. Most of the beaches are pebble or shingle rather than sand, but they still attract plenty of visitors in the peak summer months of July and August, which is also when Brighton’s famous Pride Parade, the country’s largest LGBTQ festival, takes place. A more recent tradition, the Dunwich Dynamo, takes place in June, when thousands of cyclists ride through the night from London to Brighton. Many of the area’s historic homes are closed over the winter months.

Rye

Once surrounded by water, Rye’s medieval history as a Cinque Port town, defending England from invaders, is still apparent in its 14th-century tower and the overhanging timbered houses that cluster its cobbled streets. Artists, authors, and poets have all left their literary mark here, and the golden beaches of Camber Sands are just a 10-minute drive away.

Ditchling Beacon

The highest point on the South Downs, once the site of an Iron Age fort, offers views for miles in every direction, including to the sea. It’s a popular (and strenuous) climb for cyclists, and there’s a stunning walk down the valley to Devil’s Dyke. Nearby Lewes is a historic town with a great foodie scene and charming independent shops.

Seaford Coastal Trail

Stretching 10 miles east from Saltdean, this clifftop path takes you past a host of fascinating landmarks, natural and manmade, from the Art Deco Saltdean Lido to the line that marks the Greenwich Meridian, and from the marina of Newhaven to the shingle beach at Seaford, ending on the attractive banks of the Cuckmere River.