YOUR LOCATION
Welcome to Benchwood House in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
A former stable block, Benchwood House is now a rural woodland retreat, perfect for nature and wildlife enthusiasts, with easy access to seaside and local tourist destinations.
It is tucked away in an ancient woodland clearing, with panoramic unspoilt countryside views, adjacent to an 18th century pond, used historically for iron ore mining.
Benchwood House is in the village of Guestling (referred to in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Gestelinges) in the heart of rural South East England, in the Rother District of East Sussex.
It lies between the pretty medieval town of Rye famous for its cobbled streets, smuggling stories, and nature reserve at Rye Harbour, and nearby Hastings where the Old Town has shops, cafes, restaurants, historic, and seaside attractions.
YOUR INDOOR LIVING
As you enter Benchwood House, mesmerising wide, open, panoramic countryside views await, framed within a picture window, with a bench seat to watch the movement of the sun as it rises and sets over the unspoilt landscape.
The ground floor is open plan and is a sociable space for dining, group entertainment, and individual relaxation.
To the far left, the kitchen is equipped with a 4 slice toaster, kettle, espresso machine, Hob2hood automatic cooker hood, gas hob, electric oven, dishwasher, fridge/freezer.
The kitchen/diner seats six and the tableware is stored in a cupboard near the dining table, for you to enjoy meals together in comfort.
A cloakroom is conveniently located off the kitchen and a washer/dryer is in a separate utility room with the Wi-Fi hub.
To the far right, the boating pond is captured within another picture window in the cosy lounge area with comfortable sofas, a Smart TV, and DVD player.
The wood burner creates restful warmth and complements the underfloor heating for cooler months.
A spiral staircase leads you up to the first floor where there is a hallway, two bedrooms - a super king size master bedroom, and a king size bedroom - both with zip-and-link beds and the master bathroom.
Each bedroom accommodates two people, and both bedrooms have dual aspect windows with uninterrupted southern views over the panoramic landscape.
Each bed has a silk pillow top, 1000 pocket spring, 10 inch mattress with cotton bed linen.
The iron and wall mounted ironing board are in the master bedroom.
There is ample storage space, bedside tables with USB charging sockets, push style wall-mounted, adjustible reading lights, comfortable seating with ambient lighting, dressing tables with hairdryers and luggage racks.
The master bedroom also has a convertible sofa bed, tucked away in a cosy alcove, which is ideal for reading or relaxation.
Both bedrooms share the Jack and Jill en-suite bathroom with a WC, a double basin vanity unit, heated towel rails, a chest of drawers with bathroom linens and essentials.
The LED hands-free sensor mirror has a razor socket and pipes music via Bluetooth while you relax in the Whirlpool spa bath or enjoy a rainfall shower.
YOUR OUTDOOR LIVING
The private garden provides multiple areas for your enjoyment, relaxation, and entertainment, with abundant wildlife, water, and panoramic countryside views.
The patio area has a rustic table with benches, a parasol, rollling cooler cart, charcoal BBQ station, and a fire pit.
A sun-bathing deck, with sun loungers and cushions, is the perfect spot for soaking up the sunshine, with a parasol for shade from intense heat.
There is a tree deck nestled around an ancient oak tree, ideal for socialising and wildlife watching, and cyclists can store their bikes on a rack located below the deck.
A swing seat provides an opportunity to relax under the shade of another ancient oak tree.
And a secluded arbour welcomes you at the end of the ancient woodland shaw (access track), used historically for hauling out iron ore.
There is an ancient wood adjacent to the shaw, which bursts into bloom in spring with a sea of bluebells and wood anemone.
As the evening draws in, the seating around the fire pit on the circular patio, is ideal for hanging out under the clear night sky.
And as the embers die out and the lights are off, the night comes alive for astrophiles because the High Weald has some of the darkest skies in the South East.
The area was identified as worthy of conservation by the International Dark Sky Association (IDSA).
There is a cosy, fully kitted out, woodland cabin, the perfect snug for music, drinks, and laughter.
It is heated with an infrared mirror during winter and spring, and cooled for summer and autumn, and is also an ideal space to catch up on work during your stay.
A cycle shelter is attached to the woodland cabin, and a maximum of four bikes can be parked on the floor rack stand.
For a truly unique experience, enjoy a ride around the pond on the Aqua Cycle pontoon pedal boat, for a fun and entertaining way to exercise.
And we will be more than happy to show you how to operate the boat to get you started, if you have never used one.
You may spot birds nesting in the tree canopies, our moorhens and chicks hidden on banks around the pond, and see ducks sleeping on branches.