Dog-friendly Hotels South Downs

Converted from former farm buildings, these four holiday properties (two of which have been adapted for the disabled with shower chairs available), are in the Southdowns National Park. Properties 17320 and 17321 command fine views over the surrounding countryside. 17320 also has a worktop which has been lowered for wheelchair access to the sink in the kitchen. Situated in the grounds of the family farm (non-working), they are only 100 yards from the village of Compton with village shop and tea room with free wi-fi access. Enjoy peaceful walks along a bridle path leading to the South Downs Way, 2 miles designated as a National Park. The historic cathedral town of Chichester lies 10 miles away, with its cobbled streets adorned with tea rooms and restaurants, and the ornate cathedral. Scenic boat tours can be taken around the harbour. Goodwood and Fontwell races or polo at Cowdray are all within a short drive. Portsmouth, with shopping and leisure facilities, within easy reach. Hawking and falconry days can be arranged, prices on application and must be pre-booked direct with owner. Shop and pub 100 yards.

Situated at the end of a lane, Pepper Pot Cottage is the middle section of a Grade II listed building in a beautiful quiet area of the South Downs National Park. On the ground floor it has a good sized living room with an open fire, fully-equipped kitchen, a twin bedroom and a cloakroom with toilet. Upstairs are two good-sized bedrooms, one with a king-size bed, the other a twin, and a bathroom.
It has a south-facing garden with a patio, garden table and barbecue for eating out, and is approached by a path which follows through to a further property. There is a pub 70 yards away and a community tennis court and recreation ground in the village. Next to the cottage is a bridle path. Wonderful walks, cycling routes, welcoming pubs and lovely scenery are all around. The West Sussex Falconry, Uppark House (NT), the South Downs Way and a variety of golf courses are close by. Goodwood for horse and motor racing, Petworth, Midhurst, Cowdray Polo, Chichester with its cobbled streets and cathedral, and the beaches at Hayling Island and The Witterings are a short drive away. Portsmouth with HMS Victory, Gun Wharf Quay and day trips to the Isle of Wight are within easy reach. Jane Austen’s House at Chawton, the Watercress Steam Railway, Birdworld and Winchester make good day trips. Beach 15 miles. Shop, pub and tea room 70 yards.

Fairwind is a detached bungalow perched at the top of the cliffs, with a covered outdoor swimming pool in the rear garden. Uninterrupted sea views of the English Channel can be enjoyed from the garden or the comfort of the living room. The sleepy seaside town of Peacehaven offers stunning clifftop walks or a beach walk accessed via a ramp a couple of hundred yards from Fairwind. The Greenwich Meridian dividing east and west, runs through the town and there is a marker on the cliff top close to Fairwind where the 0 degree longitude line travels from the cliffs and out to sea. 6 miles to the east is buzzing Brighton where you can visit The Royal Pavilion, explore The Lanes or view the coastline from the British Airways i360 tower, named the most slender tower by the Guinness World Records in 2016. Enjoy a stroll along the pier or visit the oldest operating aquarium in the world with its original Victorian architecture. The port of Newhaven offers the opportunity to take a day trip to France or from the marina, a boat trip to explore the Seven Sisters Heritage Coast. The area also produces some excellent wines so don’t leave without taking a tour around a Sussex vineyard. Beach 150 yards. Shop 800 yards, pub and restaurant 300 yards.

Steyning Kilns is located on the site of five old lime kilns dating back to the early 1800s. It is a lovely detached property with the added benefit of air conditioning, located on the side of the South Downs, able to comfortably accommodate up to six guests. It provides a fantastic secluded location for couples, families, or small groups of cyclists or walkers to stay, when looking to explore the wider Sussex area. Outside there is a tap for bike and boot washing and an eating area with table and chairs for six, barbecue and fire pit (with free logs) for those cooler evenings. There is a large paddock area for recreation and some outdoor play equipment available for the children.

Steyning is a small, picturesque town, originally one of the most important places in the county during the middle ages, with its large and prosperous port. Now, it resides about 5 miles from the coast, up the River Adur from Shoreham-by-Sea. The centre of the village still has a large number of historic buildings, including many from the medieval and Tudor period.

Today you’ll find independent shops, an assortment of tea rooms and restaurants, pubs, a well-stocked supermarket and a local butcher all on the high street. The award winning Sussex Produce Company stocks high quality produce and some excellent ready meals, where you can shop for food seven days a week and until late in the evening. Also well worth a visit is the Steyning Bookshop and Cobblestone Walk - a unique shopping arcade, all based around a 16th-century tea house.

The property is ideally positioned on the side of the South Downs, bordering onto the National Park boundary, but only ½ a mile from the South Downs Way path, the Downslink Trail and Steyning High Street. It offers many miles of bridle and cycle paths, and footpaths to explore, with pretty rural villages and traditional country pubs to discover along its routes. You can visit the nearby Steyning Bowl, Chanctonbury Ring, with its stunning views, and the Iron Age hill fort at Cissbury Ring.

The cosmopolitan city of Brighton on the south coast lies roughly 12 miles south east, where you can take a tour around the Regency terraces, the Royal Pavilion, the trendy Lanes district and book your ticket for the British Airways i360 observation tower. The town of Worthing, with 2019’s ‘Pier of the Year’ is only 7 miles away.

Other must-see places within Sussex include Arundel with its famous castle, RSPB Pulborough, The Bluebell Steam Railway, Ashdown Forest or slightly further afield to the west, you’ll find the historic Chichester Cathedral and Goodwood and Fontwell races.

Outdoor pursuits are well catered for in the county, including horse riding on the Downs, and golf enthusiasts will find a variety of courses available locally, and hang gliding enthusiasts can visit The Flyers at nearby Devil`s Dyke on The Downs, 7 miles away. Beach 5 miles. Shops, pubs and restaurants ¾ mile.

Located just a short stroll from Arundel’s historic castle, Bridles Park Place can accommodate up to six guests across its three bedrooms. It is also dog friendly and features an impressive four poster bed in its master bedroom. Outside, to the rear of the cottage, there is a delightful garden which features a walled courtyard and garden furniture. Overlooking the stables at Arundel Riding Centre, this beautifully furnished, well-equipped, end-terrace holiday home offers a surprisingly spacious base in the in the stylish market town of Arundel. The town has an abundance of boutique, craft and gift shops, art galleries, tea rooms, gastro pubs, amazing independent restaurants and tiny delis selling delicious local produce.

This fantastic market town is located amongst some of the most beautiful rural countryside and is easily reached from London by car or by train. Arundel train station, connecting to London Victoria and Bognor Regis, is less than a mile away from the cottage. Goodwood Racecourse and Motor Circuit, which are the homes of the infamous Goodwood Festival of Speed, Goodwood Revival and Glorious Goodwood, is located just over 10 miles from the property and well worth a visit. There are also plenty of outdoor activities nearby to keep you entertained, from horse riding across the road, canoeing on the River Arun, golfing and clay pigeon shooting, to lovely walks and cycling trails. Take a trip to the stunning Sussex coast, which is within easy reach, as is the beautiful South Downs National Park. Whether it’s for a short break or a longer stay, there’s plenty to keep you busy in this beautiful part of West Sussex. Beach 5 miles. Shop and restaurant ½ mile, pub ¼ mile.