The Cottage in the Garden | A luxury cottage for couples near Ashdown Forest, Sussex

In the heart of the Sussex High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, in the depths of a lovely garden sits this tranquil old cottage. Completely self contained, it allows you to relax in its peaceful surroundings in considerable comfort. The owners have done everything to combine many of the luxuries of a top hotel with the charm and freedom of your own country cottage.

Many of the guests at The Cottage in the Garden come for very special occasions such as wedding proposals, honeymoons or a recovery after trauma. To accommodate this the owners have given special attention to all the little details so often overlooked; a homemade cake on arrival, fresh flowers, relaxing bath salts and luxury dressing gowns. No wonder then that this romantic hideaway has been recommended by The Daily Telegraph, Tatler Magazine and the Japanese version of Homes & Garden.

Painted in pale Farrow & Ball whites and duck egg blues, the Cottage in the Garden is decorated in Gustavian / French shabby chic giving it a unique calmness and tranquillity. Inside the pretty living room is flooded with light from the beautiful bay window from which there are stunning views over the adjoining countryside.

In the large bedroom there is a superking-sized bed complete with crisp pure cotton linen. This huge bed will make you feel like royalty; high up and super comfy it affords views over the lovely countryside while you enjoy your cup of tea in the morning. Bliss!

In the bathroom you’ll find thick, fluffy towels, dressing gowns and slippers. This level of equipment continues in the kitchen with all the cooking utensils and china that you are likely to use, down to a champagne stopper. It has a cooker, dishwasher, fridge, washing machine and tumble drier.

The veranda, or stoop, which runs along the whole of the south side overlooks a stunning view and makes a wonderful place from which to enjoy a lazy breakfast or a pre-dinner drink. You will be struck by the sheer beauty of its setting and the staggering view all the way to the South Downs, one of the best in Sussex, and we witnessed some spectacular sunsets which are a frequent occurrence.

Privacy is another asset of the Cottage in the Garden which is some distance from the main house and wholly un-overlooked. In summer the sloping lawn below the veranda or stoop is a mass of wild flowers and folding chairs are provided for guests who enjoy sitting in their own little meadow.

The Regency town of Royal Tunbridge Wells is a short drive through beautiful countryside as are many historic houses including Rudyard Kipling’s home Batemans, Scotney Castle, Sissinghurst, Chartwell the home of Sir Winston Churchill, Groombridge Place, Knole and Penshurst. Other fascinating places to visit include the Cinque port of Rye and the old town of Hastings with its fishing fleet and artists’ quarter featured in the television series Foyle’s War. We loved the many romantic gardens in this area so much that we wrote an article about it. And because of its proximity to the world famous Glyndebourne Opera House this romantic cottage in Sussex makes a perfect base for visiting its annual festival.

The remote location gives a real ‘away from it all’ feeling. There is wildlife all year around with birdsong, buzzards and even a pair of resident tawny owls. It is rare to hear a vehicle, occasionally a tractor, more often the sound of horses’ hooves on the lane; The Cottage in the Garden really is another world…