Bluebells, Beckley

About this property

Stay in this beautiful holiday apartment set in 45 acres of stunning countryside, close to the historic town of Rye

You approach Bluebells along a narrow, quiet, winding country lane. Bluebells is an annexe of the large family home called Heron Lea, set in a beautiful 45 acres of woodland, fishing lakes and meadows.

You enter through your own side door, into a spacious, bright hallway. To your left you have the large principal double bedroom, with its own new modern shower ensuite. The modern family bathroom has a bath, with shower overhead, hand basin, WC and is finished with quality fittings and beautiful turquoise tiles. The second bedroom is next to the family bathroom and has a splash of colour and a luxury finish. There are two sofa beds available in the lounge for an additional fee, please enquire when booking.

The kitchen is modern and well equipped with a large freestanding fridge freezer and opens into the Orangery which has been set up as the dining room. The Orangery has triple aspect and looks out across the garden and the meadows, a beautiful sunny room.

The large lounge with bi-folding doors extends onto the patio, right next to the surrounding countryside. A stunningly bright room, with comfy sofas, cushions and throws, you will feel the stress slipping away as soon as you arrive. A telescope for stargazing in the evenings as the sky expands before you, no light pollution to worry about at Bluebells.

The apartment has been finished to a very high standard, with antique key pieces, soft furnishings and the owner's own unique Italian style.

You have your own private garden, a large gated meadow for family games of football or bug hunting, and access to the woodlands and fishing lakes at no additional charge. Please bring your own fishing equipment. There will be details in the apartment showing you how to link up with the national footpaths that cross their land, and other much needed local information.

Bluebells is a spacious family holiday apartment, where you can truly unwind, watch the buzzards float on the air currents above the meadows or sit beside the lake and just listen to the wind in the trees, you really will not want to leave.

Beckley and beyond

The village of Beckley was part of the Wealden iron industry dating back to 1578 when an iron furnace was built on the small settlement and a watermill powered the bellows. Production ceased in 1770 but by then the community was formed. In the 1830's many Beckley residents emigrated to New South Wales where their skills were needed, and work was becoming scarce as the parish hit hard times. Amongst the residents to emigrate were Thomas and Maria Ann Smith, the cultivator of the Granny Smith apple. The local parish church, All Saints, is located to the far west of the town and this indicates that the main village has relocated during its history. The village today has a thriving community of young and old and a good old traditional English pub, the Rose and Crown. Close to the Cinque Ports Towns of Tenterden and Rye it the perfect base for exploring Kent and Sussex.

The Medieval town of Rye is just six miles away and has lots for visitors to explore for the day, whether you are looking for Boutique shops or quaint tea rooms. The Heritage Centre, just a gentle stroll down to the Quay, is a good place to start. Here you can watch the 'Sound and Light' show exploring the town's past with the Town model or play using an old penny on the rare pier machines. You can visit the famous Rye Church and watch the 'Quarter Boys' strike the quarter hour and enjoy the beautiful stained glass windows or just take in the views from the 'Gun Gardens', over the marsh and towards the sea.

Just ten minutes drive from Rye is the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, where you can walk along the sea wall and out on to the marshes to enjoy flora and fauna. You can choose to walk out to Camber Castle, originally located on a shingle spit and where once it protected the towns of Rye and Winchelsea before the sea receded. Although no longer open to visitors it is still a striking landmark worth a visit. The beach of Camber Sands is just a short drive away and has miles of sandy beach and dunes to explore. Or visit the rock pools at low tide on the pebbly beach at Pett Level just a 10 minute drive from Rye. Tenterden is just ten miles away and is an interesting town to visit, with lots of history and antique shops to browse. Close by are two award winning vineyards which can be visited, Biddenden Vineyard and Chapel Down Winery, or you can step back in time and take a trip on Kent and Sussex Railway steam trains. Sissinghurst Castle and Smallhythe Place are both close by and are excellent National Trust properties to visit.

The Towns of Hastings and Ashford are around a thirty minute drive away, and here you can get a mainline train to London if you would like to explore the capital for a day. If you wish to take a day trip to the continent, the Eurostar can be picked up from Ashford International station and trains to Paris, Lille and Brussels are available. Alternatively the ferries run from Dover just 45 minutes away or the Channel Tunnel from Folkestone also a 45 minute drive.

Places to Visit

Pashley Manor Gardens

Kent and East Sussex Railway

Bodiam Castle

What's on events

Rye Arts Festival — September

Rye Bonfire Celebrations — November

Tenterden Folk Festival — October

Supermarket — 2.5 miles Peasmarsh

Restaurant — 2 miles Peasmarsh

Local pub — 2 miles Beckley

Mainline rail service 6 miles Rye for services to Ashford, London Bridge and Hastings

Gatwick Airport — 68 miles

Channel Tunnel — 38 miles