Peaceful Sussex cottage between the Downs and the woods

Our cottage in Lodsworth, West Sussex, is a peaceful retreat set between the South Downs and ancient woodland. It’s full of character — wood burner & underfloor heating, books, and the quiet hum of nature all around.

We use it as a creative base for writing and music, but it’s equally perfect for walkers and anyone who loves the English countryside. You can step straight from the door onto footpaths that lead through meadows, streams and hidden villages.

The cottage sleeps four comfortably (two double bedrooms - one with a mezzanine), with a modern kitchen, and two bathrooms. There’s a small garden and a terrace for morning coffee, and the village shop and pub are just a short walk away.

We sometimes exchange from Lodsworth instead of Brighton — ideal if you’d like a rural swap close to Petworth, Midhurst, Cowdray, and the South Downs Way.

About the location

Lodsworth is a picture-book Sussex village tucked between Petworth and Midhurst, surrounded by rolling hills, beech woods and meadows. It sits within the South Downs National Park, one of England’s most beautiful landscapes — perfect for walking, cycling and slow exploration.

The village itself has a friendly community, an excellent pub (The Hollist Arms), and one of the country’s best community-run shops, stocked with local produce, wine, and freshly baked bread.

Within a few minutes’ drive you’ll find Petworth House and Park (National Trust, with art by Turner and Blake), Cowdray Park ruins, and a network of quiet lanes leading to Goodwood, Chichester, and the coast beyond. The area is rich in vineyards, farm cafés and independent galleries, while nearby Haslemere and Pulborough provide rail links to London and the south coast.

Lodsworth offers that rare mix of tranquillity and accessibility — a place where you can walk for miles without seeing a car, yet reach a good restaurant or concert in under half an hour.

Conditions of exchange

Facilities

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