Bespoke self-contained garden cabin in South Downs National Park - haven for walkers & cyclists. In rural hamlet of East Chiltington with award winning gastro pub: Lewes 4m, Glyndebourne 6m, Heritage Coast & Brighton 13m. Lots to do! Optional plant-based meals & half board tailored to personal needs by holistic trained cook/coach. London, Gatwick trains to Plumpton, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill stations; Newhaven Ferry 10m Contact host with food & dietary requirements & if bringing a
The space
Re-opened for the summer 2025 season. Originally the cabin was conceived with the intention of providing balance and respite from the hurly burly of modern life and allowing connection with ourselves and nature. For this reason, there is optional WiFi inside the hut - please ask for the password. Guests have the option to make full use of this retreat - to truly ground and relax and restrict their use of gadgets and mobile phones, by requesting the WiFi is off. Alternatively, with WiFi on, guests can email, search the www, stream or download video or film. There is also WiFi on the garden deck during sociable hours for those who want the best of both worlds!
The hut is built sustainably from timbers and roof repurposed from a local barn; windows and doors are recycled. Exposed timbers, feature wood clad wall, bare wooden floor, simple furniture and soft furnishings gives it rustic charm inside.
The hut sits in the corner of a mature garden, 20 metres from host's home. Nestled under trees it's remarkably cool in summer. The hut is also well insulated for winter and quickly warms with a convection heater. And on cold nights, draw the curtains over the bed and you are snug as a bug - extra duvet and blankets supplied.
Apart from bags of character, the hut is strong on amenity too. There is a space saving en-suite shower/wc (towels supplied), double cabin-bed with extra thick cotton-filled futon mattress (for a deeper sleep) and luxury feather and wool filled duvets and pillows - cotton bed linen supplied. In the seating area and behind French curtains, you will find a small underwork-top fridge and washing machine, and on the counter - a sink, kettle & toaster.
Cooking or eating in the hut is not compulsory but if you're inclined the cabin does come equipped with everything you need to prepare picnics, and prepare and serve your own tasty plates of cold food. Also, there is a portable single ring induction hob if you want to make porridge in the mornings or scratch cook a 1 pot hot meal - microwave cooking is not in keeping with our ethos of mindful eating.
Of course, if you would rather take a break from cooking - the host will bring a macrobiotic breakfast to you in the hut to eat in bed, on comfy chairs or stool at table as you wish. Cushioned lap-trays are provided too. Apart from breakfasts, other delicious plant-based meals can be brought to the hut or served in the owner’s home or garden. Fish is also available to flexitarians and those transitioning to plant-based eating.
If you have come to explore the countryside, and surrounding villages and towns you will find all manner of books, guides and other information relating to the South Downs National Park including the iconic Seven Sisters, Cuckmere Haven and Heritage Coast, Ditchling Beacon, Devils' Dyke, the picturesque villages of Ditchling & its award winning museum (within walking distance), Barcombe, Firle and Alfriston, town of Lewes, and city of Brighton and numerous houses, gardens and local attractions including Glyndebourne Opera House, Charleston House, Sheffield Park NT, Monk's House NT, Bluebell Railway, Drusillas Zoo and many attractions further afield. The closest beach is at Seaford - 12 miles away. You will find details of the host's favourite walks, pubs and eating places in her guest directory in the cabin. Our local gastro-pub is the Jolly Sportsman, winner of Best Sussex Pub in the 2024 & 2025 BRAVO Awards, and just a few minutes walk from the cabin.
Guest access
The cabin is self-contained.
Gardens, decking and all outside seating areas are open to guests and shared with the owners
Other things to note
The price quoted by Airbnb is for accommodation only
Breakfasts and evening meals are paid on site in cash or by BACs. Food for half board is paid by BACs in advance of your stay
Accommodation is free to babies and infants (up to 2 years old) if sharing the cabin bed or using a travel cot. Regretfully, it is not possible to provide good quality, plant based food without charge to babies and infants. Home-made short-grain brown rice porridge and other weening foods and infant breakfast and meals are available for an additional charge and costed according to needs
Optional 2 course evening meals are priced at £15pp for starter and main dish or £20pp for main meal and dessert. For fish option: an additional £3.50pp.
Packed lunches are also available - from £10pp
We can provide sample menus in advance of your stay.
Naked flames are not permitted in the cabin - there is wood everywhere. Do not burn candles, incense or use other naked flames (eg. matches, lighters etc) inside the
Hut.
Dog Owners:
There is limited floor space inside so not all dogs are suited to life in the hut.
We do not accept large dogs. We accept ONE assistance dog or ONE well behaved dog.
Regrettably it is not possible to accommodate a dog if TWO guests are sharing AND they are accompanied by a baby or small infant.
In order to maintain the integrity of the space, we ask:
Keep your pet off the furniture including the cabin bed
Please provide your own doggie blanket or bed - it is a hard wooden floor your dog sleeps on
Feed and water your pet outside the cabin where there is shelter
After muddy walks please shower your dog before entering the cabin - garden hose provided
Bring your own towels to dry your pet before entering the cabin
A pet must not be left unaccompanied in the cabin. We love dogs but our focus is to support people rather than animals: we are unable to check on the welfare of your animal or provide a dog-sitting service
Please clear up after your dog
