Hensill Farmhouse

Why you'll love staying here

Hensill Farmhouse is a beautiful 19th-century cottage surrounded by farmland and woodland in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Once home to the estate’s gardener, it has been sympathetically restored to blend 21st-century comforts with period character, incorporating elements from a neighbouring Tudor house.

At the heart of the home lies the spacious kitchen. Contemporary Shaker-style cabinets in grass green, butcher’s block worktops, and a full range of modern appliances are paired with flagstone floors and the original fireplace, now home to a range cooker. A rustic oak farmhouse table sits beside French doors that open onto the patio, offering lovely views across the garden and fields beyond, the perfect spot for a hearty breakfast before the day’s adventures. Adjacent to the kitchen is a handy utility room with plenty of space for coats, boots, and outdoor gear.

The elegant sitting room has plenty of comfortable seating in muted creams and greens, creating a calm and inviting atmosphere centred around a cosy wood-burning stove, just the spot for relaxing with a glass of wine and an evening film. There is also a charming study for those needing to catch up on work or simply enjoy some quiet time with a good book.

Upstairs, both bedrooms are designed with comfort in mind with wonderful views over the garden. Decorated in neutral tones and furnished with deep-filled mattresses and high-quality linens, each guarantees a restful night’s sleep. The master bedroom includes an en-suite shower room, while the family bathroom is beautifully styled with chic black-and-white floor tiles, sage green tongue-and-groove panelling, and a gorgeous blush-pink roll-top bath. With the addition of a sleek walk-in shower, guests can choose between a long, lazy soak or a more refreshing start to the day.

Outside, the large garden is delightful, set within almost 100 acres of arable land where you might spot the farmer in his tractor working the fields. Mostly laid to lawn, it has a large pond that attracts dragonflies, frogs and herons. The patio at the front of the house is a lovely place to enjoy a morning coffee beneath the shade of a mature fig tree, from which guests are welcome to pick fruit in late summer. Beyond the garden lie ancient woods, criss-crossed with streams and dotted with small waterfalls, a pleasure to explore and rich in wildlife. Keep an eye out for deer and woodland birds such as great spotted woodpeckers, pied flycatchers, and goldcrests, as well as buzzards soaring overhead.

The High Weald National Landscape is home to over thirty small manor houses, castles, and beautiful parks and gardens, including nine cared for by the National Trust. Just a short drive from Hensill Farmhouse is Sissinghurst Castle Garden, created by Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson in the early 1930s. Its famous series of garden ‘rooms’ each feature distinctive planting schemes and unique designs. Climb the tower of the Elizabethan manor house, once home to Vita’s writing room and her heavy oak desk, for panoramic views of the formal gardens, the working farm, and the wider 450-acre estate.

Nature lovers will enjoy exploring Ashdown Forest, ten square miles of lowland heath and deciduous woodland supporting many rare and threatened species. Dartford warblers breed here, and nightjars can be heard churring at dusk. Ancient breeds of sheep, cattle, and ponies graze the landscape, and the area is also home to foxes, rabbits, stoats, weasels, bats, and badgers. The forest famously inspired A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh stories, and visitors can still play Pooh Sticks on the original wooden bridge built in 1907.

A short drive from Hensill Farmhouse is Chapel Down, the award-winning English winery, where you can wander the vineyards at your own pace or book a guided tour with tutored wine tastings. The Swan restaurant, set within the estate, serves lunch and dinner made from the finest locally sourced ingredients. Book the Chef's Table for a special treat.

For a day beside the sea, Camber Sands is arguably the finest beach on the East Sussex coast. Close to the Kent border, it is renowned for its miles of soft golden sand and rolling dunes. Despite its popularity, it remains largely unspoiled and offers excellent conditions for watersports including kitesurfing, windsurfing, and sailing. Nearby, the historic market town of Rye has stunning views over the Romney Marshes, and cobbled streets lined with craft, book, and antique shops, medieval buildings, and beautifully preserved historic houses, perfect for a leisurely afternoon before relaxing in a quaint café.