Polegate

Polegate itself keeps its accommodation modest: a handful of B&Bs and small guesthouses cater mainly to travellers passing through, visiting family in the area, or working nearby, and they tend to be simple, well-priced and unpretentious rather than aimed at leisure tourists. That suits the town's character as a practical base rather than a destination, and it means rooms are usually easy to book even at short notice outside peak summer weekends.

For a broader choice, including larger hotels, seafront options and more established chains, Eastbourne is only five miles south and offers everything from traditional Victorian seafront hotels to budget and boutique options, all within easy reach of Polegate by train or car. Staying in Eastbourne also puts the pier, promenade and Beachy Head within walking or short-drive distance, while Polegate remains a handy stop for the Cuckoo Trail and the South Downs.

Travellers heading further into the Downs or towards villages like Alfriston and Wilmington will find a smattering of rural inns and guesthouses too, often set in period buildings with the kind of quiet, countryside outlook that a stay in the town itself won't provide. Whichever option you choose, Polegate's railway junction makes it a convenient hub for reaching hotels across this stretch of East Sussex without needing to rely on a car for every journey.

Polegate's own attractions are modest but genuine, and the town is really a springboard for some of East Sussex's best walking and cycling country.

• Polegate Windmill — a handsome four-storey brick tower mill built in 1817, which worked commercially until 1942 and was restored in the 1960s. It's open to visitors on selected days, with three pairs of millstones and a small museum of milling and rural life inside.
• The Cuckoo Trail — an eleven-mile traffic-free walking and cycling path laid along a disused railway line, running north from Polegate through Hailsham, Horam and Hellingly to Heathfield. It's flat, well-surfaced and shaded for much of its length, making it popular with families and casual cyclists as well as commuters.
• South Downs National Park — the chalk escarpment rises just north and west of the town, offering some of the best ridge walking in southern England, with views stretching to the sea on a clear day.
• Eastbourne seafront — a short drive or train ride away, with its Victorian pier, promenade, bandstand and the dramatic chalk cliffs of Beachy Head just beyond.
• Michelham Priory — a moated 13th-century priory near Hailsham, a few miles north, with gardens, a working watermill and a resident collection of historic buildings to explore.
• Pevensey Castle — a Roman fort later refortified by the Normans, a short drive south-east near Pevensey Bay, with substantial ruins you can wander freely.
• Filching Manor Motor Museum — a small, enthusiast-run motor museum on the edge of Polegate housing vintage cars, motorcycles and land-speed-record memorabilia.

The town's dining scene is unassuming but reliable. The Long Man Inn is a recently renovated pub serving roasts and a broad menu that includes gluten-free and vegan options, while the Old Oak Inn is a long-standing local favourite for a straightforward pub meal. The Mill Coffee House & Restaurant offers a relaxed, family-friendly setting with a beer garden, and the Harvester Horse & Groom provides the familiar grilled-meat-and-salad menu of the chain alongside outdoor seating. For something further afield, the surrounding villages and nearby Eastbourne open up a much wider choice of cafes, gastropubs and seafront restaurants.

Camping around Polegate means making the most of its position between the South Downs and the Pevensey Levels, with the chalk ridgeline offering some of the best short walks and views in East Sussex right from a tent flap. As with anywhere in England, wild camping is illegal without the landowner's explicit permission, so stick to licensed campsites and certified sites in the area, several of which sit within easy striking distance of both the Cuckoo Trail and the coast at Eastbourne.

The terrain here is gentler than Sussex's better-known camping country further west; expect rolling farmland, hedgerows and the open, breezy top of the Downs rather than dense woodland, so pitches tend to be more exposed and worth checking for wind shelter if you're bringing a tent rather than a campervan. The Pevensey Levels side of town is low and can be damp underfoot after wet weather, while sites up towards the Downs drain better but can be a longer walk from the town's shops and station.

Late spring to early autumn is the most reliable window, when the ground is firmer and evenings are long enough to enjoy a walk on the Downs after pitching up; midsummer weekends are the busiest, particularly with Eastbourne's beach crowds spilling inland, so booking ahead is worth doing if you have fixed dates. Spring brings fresh, uncrowded trails and cooler nights, while a shoulder-season stay in early autumn often rewards you with settled weather and quieter sites once the school holidays end.

For those who'd rather skip the tent pegs, glamping options in the wider area range from safari tents and shepherd's huts to converted farm buildings, giving easy access to the same walking and cycling country with rather more comfort. Whichever way you camp, Polegate's flat, well-connected trails and its closeness to the coast make it a practical, low-key base for an outdoor break in East Sussex.