Hale Dairy

Wealden's quiet countryside around Chiddingly makes for unhurried breaks away from busier parts of East Sussex. Hale Dairy is a converted barn set up entirely on the ground floor, which means no stairs to navigate—useful if anyone in your party has mobility concerns or simply wants to avoid them. The main living space is open-plan, combining sitting room, kitchen and dining in one airy area. A wood-burning stove provides atmosphere when the weather turns, and there's a Smart TV if you want it.

Two bedrooms sleep four: one has a double bed with an ensuite shower cubicle, the other two 3ft single beds that zip and link if needed. The family bathroom has a bath with shower over it. The kitchen is properly equipped for self-catering—induction hob, electric oven, dishwasher, washing machine and the rest—so you can cook as much or as little as you like. Wi-Fi, electricity, bed linen and towels are all included. Outside, a patio with garden furniture and a barbecue looks onto the grounds. There's space to park two cars on site. No smoking is the rule here. Note that children under five cannot stay, and the grounds themselves have a couple of steps.