Home for the holidays

In their recent TV ad for Visit England, they suggest there is no need to go abroad when we have so much treasure on our doorsteps.

There are a few glaring omissions in their argument (notably, our unreliable weather) but they have a point when it comes to rediscovering our landscape.

When was the last time you took a break within Sussex, for example?

Few of us would have chosen to make it home without an appreciation of its riches, but it can be easy to become complacent.

To help you fall in love with the county all over again, Society highlights some of the county’s most beautiful, eccentric or unusual places to holiday.

Belle Tout Lighthouse, Beachy Head

Built in 1832 and decommissioned in 1902, Belle Tout has been a teashop, a private home and the set for the BBC’s adaptation of Fay Weldon’s The Lives And Loves Of A She-Devil.

It is now an unusual B&B offering 360 degree views of the English Channel, Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters. The cosy rooms hark back to its beginnings – take your pick from The Captain’s Cabin, Old England or the Keeper’s Loft (featuring an elevated bed accessed by a ladder) – while the former lamp room has been converted into an airy spot to enjoy evening drinks or morning coffee.

In the daytime, take a walk across the open expanse of Beachy Head, a boat trip around the Seven Sisters or lunch at nearby pubs The Beachy Head or the Tiger Inn in the village of East Dean.

Visit www.belletout.co.uk.

George Bell House, Chichester

Seeking some peace and quiet from the modern world? George Bell House is an eight-bedroom house situated in the historic precincts of Chichester Cathedral.

A former archdeaconry, it has been restored to its original glory, with elegant twin, double and single rooms ideally suited to contemplation and rest.

George Bell (Bishop of Chichester, 1929 - 1958) has a worldwide reputation for his work in the areas of international reconciliation, the arts, education and church unity and the house that bears his name is intended to provide a space where work in these areas can prosper.

While peaceful, it benefits from a central location at the heart of historic Chichester, so is an ideal base for those looking to explore the city and its Cathedral, galleries and shops.

Visit www.chichestercathedral.org.uk

Mulberry Cottages

Among the many holiday properties in Sussex managed by Mulberry Cottages, Little Bucksteep Oast is one of the most charming.

A country cottage set in the grounds of a Queen Anne manor house in the village of Dallington, it is surrounded on all sides by mature gardens, making it the perfect getaway to enjoy time with friends or family.

Furnished in a traditional style, each room features original beams, oak panelling and other period features.

The master bedroom includes an antique four-poster bed. Contemporary additions include a swimming pool and tennis court.

Spend time in historic Battle, then return home for dinner and wine around the living room’s woodburning stove.

Visit www.mulberrycottages.com.

The Old Railway Station, Petworth

Forget trainspotters and rail enthusiasts, Gudmund Olafsson says the majority of guests at his beautiful hotel are “born romantics.”

Built in 1892, the former Petworth Railway Station is now a Grade II listed building.

Its one-time waiting room, with a 20-ft vaulted ceiling, has been converted into a breakfast room and lounge where guests are greeted on arrival with a pot of tea and slice of homemade cake.

There are en suite rooms within the Station House but the real treasure is on the platform outside, where a collection of vintage Pullman railway carriages await.

Expertly furnished with period fittings, double beds and private bathrooms, make believe you are on the Orient Express as you lower the blinds for the night.

While it’s something of a disappointment not to wake up in an exotic destination, this is quickly remedied by a splendid English breakfast.

Spend the day pottering around Petworth’s numerous antiques shops, before dining at the excellent Badgers inn, just a few steps from the hotel and offering an impressive array of dishes and local ales.

Visit www.old-station.co.uk.

Blackberry Wood, Streat, near Ditchling

For a camping holiday with a difference, this quirky site at the foot of the South Downs can’t be beaten.

Among the secluded woodland pitches stands a double-decker London Routemaster bus, Gypsy caravan and even a converted 1965 Wessex search and rescue helicopter.

The bus has been transformed into delightfully eccentric accommodation, with a kitchen downstairs and bedroom on the upper deck.

Like the “Holicopter”, which features two double beds and an outside kitchen, it sleeps two couples or a family.

The original Gypsy caravan, built in the 1920s, is the perfect hideaway for a romantic weekend, with a woodburning stove and highly decorative interior, or you might choose to stay in ‘Bubble’, a Dutch caravan dating from 1963.

Nearby attractions include Drusillas zoo and fun park, the Bluebell Railway and the South Downs.

Visit www.blackberrywood.com.

The Original Hut Company, Robertsbridge, East Sussex

This cute collection of four huts are all hand-built from reclaimed, recycled and locally sourced materials.

Although inspired by the traditional huts that would have accommodated shepherds and agricultural workers, they have been built for comfort and are double-glazed and heated by tiny woodburners.

Each hut also has a fitted hob and stove though you may prefer to dine under the stars using the individual fire pits – surrounded by woodland and open fields, it’s the perfect way to unwind.

There is a separate communal toilet/shower and washing hut and a heritage Hopper’s cookhouse (complete with inglenook fire), provides a warm space for cooking, chilling or cuddling up in front of the embers.

Hosts Nick and Anna can offer a wealth of information about the local area, from where to buy fresh produce to the best route for a walk. The only Michelin star restaurant in East Sussex is less than a mile from the site while Sedlescombe organic vineyard and the artisan Lighthouse Bakery are also within walking distance.

Visit www.original-huts.co.uk.

The Rolling Downs, near Halland, East Sussex

In a secluded corner of Bentley Wildfowl & Motor Museum’s Sussex estate, two shepherd’s huts offer the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle.

Each hut sleeps up to four adults and two children and both have proper beds, woodburning stoves and a selection of board and outdoor games including skittles, quoits and rounders.

The main hut has its own shower, a (proper) toilet and kitchen.

Campers can cook their bangers on the fire pit supplied, or, for total relaxation, have dinner delivered; Lewes’ excellent Buttercup Café has just started working with the site and offers hampers packed with fresh meats, homemade cakes and salads. Now in its second year, Rolling Downs is proving a huge hit with Sussex locals; there has been a 70th birthday celebration here and owner Clare even reports one dad commuting to work from the hut and returning home every night to eat dinner outside with his family.

The site is within easy reach of Glyndebourne opera house and Charleston’s famous farmhouse and, for a single entry free, guests can access all of Bentley Wildfowl & Motor Museum, which boasts a playground with tree platforms, willow tunnels, a miniature railway, ducks and vintage cars.

Visit www.therollingdowns.co.uk.