About this property
Smugglers Keep is on the edge of the small village of Hooe, close to Battle and Pevensey Bay, the perfect base for exploring 1066 country.
Smugglers Keep is a snug cottage for two, with open plan living. A cosy lounge area with flat screen TV, books on local places to visit and board games for evenings spent unwinding.
A well equipped kitchen area and a dining space to comfortably seat four, for relaxing evening meals or casual breakfasts, planning your days out.
There is a modern bathroom with bath and overhead shower and a delightful bedroom which has a feature wall, with flint discovered from the renovation. French doors open out on to your own private patio, with rural views and the chance to stroll amongst the owner's small orchard.
Hooe and beyond
Smugglers Keep is nestled in an area known for its smuggling past and the 'Hooe Company' who operated from the local Red Lion Pub. The leader of the gang, James Blackman had links with the notorious 'Hawkhurst and Groombridge Gangs'. Numerous places close by were known to have been used by the smugglers to conceal their contraband, even in the table-tombs at Herstmonceux churchyard. So a stay at the cottage, is the perfect base for exploring all the history that 1066 Country has to offer. Battle is a short drive away and here you can relive the Battle of Hastings and discover the quaint tea rooms and boutique shopping, alongside the history.
Pevensey Bay is close by and the unspoilt pebble beach is an excellent spot for a stroll or summer picnic. The castle at Pevensey is worth a visit with 2/3 of its towering castle walls still standing and the chance to spot 'The Pale Lady of Pevensey' who is supposed to haunt the grounds. Pevensey is only five miles from Eastbourne and a short distance from Eastbourne’s Sovereign Harbour. It is one of the premier marinas in England with a lot of prestigious yachts moored there.
There is good reason why Eastbourne is known as the sunshine coast, since it attracts some of the best weather in England. Everything is within easy reach, the lower slopes of the South Downs drop down from Beachy Head on to the magnificent promenade that stretches for almost two miles to Eastbourne’s Victorian Pier. It is a town of tradition yet it has very much a modern feel with plentiful restaurants and bars. In the summer, Eastbourne comes alive with the very popular Airbourne, together with the aegon International Tennis Tournament in Devonshire Park which attracts many of the world’s top tennis players prior to Wimbledon.
With its sheltered setting next to Beachy Head, Eastbourne also has some of the best Blue Flag beaches along the south coast. Beachy Head is a magnificent backdrop, with its dramatic chalk cliffs, lighthouse and gently undulating Downs. It is within the South Downs National Park and also marks the start of the 100 mile South Downs Way to Winchester.
East of Pevensey is Bexhill-on-Sea, which has retained the qualities of a traditional Victorian seaside town and English life at the start of the last century. Like Eastbourne it benefits from some of the best sunshine in the UK and is rightfully known as being part of the sunshine coast. It is filled with Victorian and Edwardian architecture and is possibly most famous for the De La Warr Pavilion located right on the promenade.
For those who want to visit further afield, the historic, cobbled medieval town of Rye is twenty miles away and is a great day out. No persons under the age of 35.
Places to visit
Battle Abbey
Pevensey Castle
Herstmonceux Castle and Science Centre
What's on
Jack in the Green Festival — May
Herstmonceux Medieval Festival — August
Tulip Festival Pashley Manor — Spring
Hastings Seafood and Wine Festival — Sept
Nearby points of interest
- Battle Abbey & Battlefield
- Amberley Castle
- Treasure Island Adventure Park
- Seven Sisters Country Park
- Beachy Head
Reviews (7)
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T Hardie
The cottage was a much better base than using a hotel which was our initial option. The cottage was very pleasant, comfortable and well equipped. The bed was very comfortable and a great nights sleep every night. Plenty of space in the cottage to spend time there, again much more useful than a hotel room. Obviously having parking right outside the cottage was helpful. Driving to and from the cottage was easy and there were plenty of tourist sights within a half hour drive, so a great base for exploring the Battle of Hastings area. Ian the owner was always very helpful and friendly and we would see him often, he was always full of ideas and advice for the area. The weather was quite good for our stay which obviously added to the enjoyment of the holiday. As a couple in our mid 40's looking for a relaxing and peaceful place and also somewhere relatively close to tourist sights we were very happy with the property and would recommend it
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Anonymous
While the weather during our stay at Smugglers Keep was disappointing, the cottage itself was wonderful. The open-plan kitchen/living room is large and comfortable, and the bedroom is lovely and relaxing too - it's a long time since I've slept as soundly as I did there! There's a nice, private, outside area where you could eat if it was nice, but as I said, the weather wasn't especially kind to us. Thankfully, the radiators kept us nice and toasty! Location-wise, you're really close to Pevensey Castle, Bexhill-on-Sea, Battle and Hastings - all worth a visit. Brighton's a bit further afield, but it's perfectly practical to have a day-trip there if you don't mind driving. If I'm ever taking a holiday in the area in future, I wouldn't hesitate to stay at Smugglers Keep again.
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A Barnes
Lovely cottage, a great base to visit all local attractions. Plenty of places to eat and drink nearby. Very helpful owner offering local knowledge and advice. Also a lovely welcome of milk and a bottle of wine in the fridge.