Southeastern England for 11 Nights

[artnbarb]

Thank @Ian Sutton ! I like what you said about diversity in holidays - I'd never really thought of it that way, but mixing up city stays with rural stays and beach stays is certainly appealing. Although I'm not a big beach person, I thought the retro feel of an old fashioned beach town, combined with walks along the beach, might be something a little different - which isn't always easy for me as I seem to have become a creature of habit!

 

[artnbarb]

Take a look at THIS ONE in Middleton!

 

[TourMama]

Just saw this thread, and immediately thought of a wonderful resource that can still be accessed (as of this evening) on the SlowTrav site - ST member WSB wrote a wonderful guide to Southeast England that is full of information on what there is to see and do. This may help you decide how long to stay in the area. We love this part of England - we have family in both Kent and Sussex, and have spent many happy vacations wending our way on back roads to find an interesting garden, or castle, or stately home, or country pub.

 

[Ian Sutton]

Take a look at THIS ONE in Middleton!

Avast yer landlubbers, cast off for a life on the ocean wave! That one is certainly quirky!

 

[Ian Sutton]

Thank @Ian Sutton ! I like what you said about diversity in holidays - I'd never really thought of it that way, but mixing up city stays with rural stays and beach stays is certainly appealing. Although I'm not a big beach person, I thought the retro feel of an old fashioned beach town, combined with walks along the beach, might be something a little different - which isn't always easy for me as I seem to have become a creature of habit!

Personally I'd very much favour the beaches in Yorkshire (a week alongside another week in York, Harrogate, or walking in the Dales). Scarborough is the classic 'saucy postcard' type destination, however the northern section is a bit more classy, but you've also got Bridlington (home of the wonderful Sutcliffe B&W phoographs), Filey, the utterly beguiling Robin Hood's bay and more. This would be my choice for getting a feel for a beach/coastal area, but without feeling that it was all a bit tacky. Here's a decent little video that shows the entry into Robin Hood's Bay (very steep hills) and the beach itself is very much unspoilt.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUoFr9eI9QU

Another option for a similar birds-eye view as you swoop down to the beach, is Lulworth Cove in Dorset, certainly well worth consideration for a day trip on that section of your trip.

p.s. talking of B&W photos and earlier of Brighton, I have in my study a framed photo of the old Volks railway 'spider' seagoing car. No longer in use (it really wasn't a very practical idea), but was a truly remarkable achievement
http://www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk/page_id__5603.aspx.

They do still have the original Volks railway though, going from near the pier to near the marina, it's the oldest electric railway in the world.

 

[artnbarb]

I'm making a list of potential properties and here's what I have so far:

• Apartment in Lewes - Lewes might be larger than I want, and the second floor is not ideal
• Flint Cottage in Alfriston - The cottage looks cute and I think the village is smaller than Lewes
  
• Figgy Cottage in Rottingdean - Looks like a good location, closer to the coast than the others, but still in a small village.
• Granary Cottages in Chiddingly - A rural location, and slightly further NE of my target location
  
• the Bow in Middleton-on-Sea - Yes, the quirky one! But it's on the beach. The village is small but there are plenty of shops/restaurants close by.

Right now I would would say Figgy Cottage and Flint Cottage are at the top of my list. mainly because they're both IN villages, which is what I THINK I want. It's probably less important for a short stay like this than it would be for a longer stay, so I'm open to rural locations as well.

I'm hoping that arriving on May 15 is somewhat early in the season so that we might have a chance to rent for 11 nights, Tues-Sat. Arriving on Tuesday could be a problem!

Comments?

 

[Ian Sutton]

Sounds like you're getting there! TBH an 11 day rent should negate any reluctance in the owners for it to start on the Tuesday

 

[artnbarb]

Just saw this thread, and immediately thought of a wonderful resource that can still be accessed (as of this evening) on the SlowTrav site - ST member WSB wrote a wonderful guide to Southeast England that is full of information on what there is to see and do. This may help you decide how long to stay in the area. We love this part of England - we have family in both Kent and Sussex, and have spent many happy vacations wending our way on back roads to find an interesting garden, or castle, or stately home, or country pub.

Thank you! A treasure trove of information!

 

[artnbarb]

How do I embed a map? What I've tried so far isn't working! Do I just have to post a link?

 

[Ian Sutton]

p.s. Just got some additional day trip ideas from someone who lives in Lewes. Ripe, Bodiam and Sheffield park, the latter a National trust managed park. He says he's biased, but agrees it's a very good location and Lewes itself a place of genuine appeal.

 

[jonathan]

Lewes is an attractive town but, with a population of 17,300, definitely not a village( as Veronica pointed out). Alfriston definitely is (829): very pretty, and right in the middle of some good walking country.

 

[artnbarb]

So - Alfriston or Rottingdean?

 

[Ian Sutton]

Your choice!

Rottingdean is slightly incongruous, in being a charming picture postcard location, separated from, but on the fringes of a major town (or did it get city status recently). It wins for convenience and it definitely has charm.

Alfriston is wonderful if you want to feel as if you're in a village in nature, but in pretty easy reach of other places, and if having great walking on your doorstep appeals it's very good.

No wrong answer between those two IMO, but see if others have a stronger opinion.

 

[artnbarb]

Thank you! I hope some others also have an opinion. For now I can say that Rottingdean is much closer to the beach, meaning we could walk right out the door and be on the beach. And it's £100 cheaper than the one in Alfriston. But I like the look of Alfriston for some reason!

What I really want is the Rottingdean house to be located in Alfriston, but in the end I think the house in Alfriston is too dark and too small, and the price I was quoted appears to be a full 2 week rental, so the owner didn't earn any points there. So - I think it's going to be Figgy Cottage!