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Fawn Wood | Luxury Self-Catering Country Home | High Weald, East Sussex

Fawn Wood

Hartfield, High Weald, East Sussex, UK

A treasure trove of enchanted stories and romantic entanglements, Fawn Wood started life as a granary in the grounds of an estate believed to have been used by Henry VIII as a hunting lodge, and enjoys a sylvan setting on the edge of Winnie-the-Pooh's Ashdown Forest. Following a sensitive renovation, this unique luxury home invites families to enjoy its classical country home interiors and gardens for one fine self-catering escape in rural East Sussex.

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Introduction

Some say you never really own a house when it's as ancient and rare as this, you are more of a custodian. When the owners purchased this historic estate in 2014, they worked with Heritage England to restore the magic of the main Grade II* listed house (where they reside today) and the humble old granary found within its grounds. A history dating back to 1272 revealed tales from ghosts to royalty and costume drama filming, but these days the granary enjoys a calmer pace of life in its latest guise as a luxury self-catering holiday home. There's a professional simulator studio with Trackman for those wanting to practice their golf swing or SimWay for a range of shooting activities (both by prior arrangement), sumptuous interiors and gardens sure to ignite the imaginations of little ones.

Inside

With close-studding, brick nogging and a half-hipped tiled roof, Fawn Wood is a perfect restoration of a 17th century timber-framed dwelling. Inside its Grade II-listed bones awaits a classical symphony of old and new. Flagstone floors lay underfoot, wooden beams run overhead and quarts kitchen worktops continue the natural theme throughout. Crisp white linens are layered with soft grey and moss green throws, while pom pom cushions and oil paintings add texture. Underfloor-heating is a toasty addition to the bathrooms, and the contemporary Cocoon Aeris fire hangs from the ceiling in the sitting room, rotating 360 degrees to keep everyone around the Monopoly board cosy.

Outside

It goes without saying that wellingtons in varying sizes are provided at this luxury country house retreat. Follow the trickling stream to find glistening lakes and shady spots beneath ancient trees for teddy bear picnics of jam tarts and chilled bubbly. Walk in Pooh Bear's footsteps past wild deer roaming bluebell woods to reach the enchanted Ashdown Forest (the real 100 Acre Wood), occupying the highest ridge of the High Weald AONB. Visit Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, where 125 acres of glorious grounds invite visitors to explore the double moated castle, award-winning gardens and 100-year old yew maze.

The Facts

  • Sleeps6 (+2) guests
    From £3,295 per week, £2,495 per short break
    Day hire options are available
  • Alternative group optionUp to 4 guests
  • Bedrooms and bathroomsThere are four bedrooms, with a king bedroom on each of the ground and first floor and two zip and link/superking bedrooms on the second floor. The king bedrooms have an en-suite shower room and bathroom respectively and the second floor bedrooms share a family shower room. The ground floor WC and shower room is accessed from both the kitchen-diner and bedroom. Please note, for parties of eight guests the ground floor bedroom is available at an additional cost of £150.
    View bedrooms
  • FeaturesSmall-scale outdoor heated pool (available May - September inclusive), professional Trackman golf simulator and SimWay Hunt Pro shooting simulator (advance booking required, incurs an additional cost), Big Green Egg barbeque and outdoor pizza oven.
  • PetsTwo dogs are welcome
    Each pet is charged at £60 per week or part thereof
  • Arrivals and departuresArrival Time: 4pmDeparture Time: 10am
  • FamilyYes, children are very welcome on the basis they are supervised outside at all times. Two cots and two highchairs are available.
  • PracticalitiesThere is private parking for a maximum of three cars on the Granary driveway, separate from the parking area of the main house. The country kitchen has been equipped with all the mod cons including: a Rangemaster professional, microwave, fridge-freezer, dishwasher, washer-dryer, Nespresso coffee machine and CUBE Quooker tap which provides filtered chilled and sparkling water alongside 100°C boiling, cold and hot water, all from one tap. The simulator studio will be locked unless booked in advance, only to be used for supervised play by prior arrangement and at additional cost. Parents with young children, please note: the winding staircase from the ground to first floor and the open plan stairs from first to second floor are not designed for stair gates, though there is a solid door at the base of the ground floor stairs. The grounds open to two large lakes, requiring children and pets to be supervised outside at all times. If arriving by air, helicopters are welcome to land on the main lawn at the property.
  • Homestay includesLuxury welcome hamper of local produce, English sparkling wine, luxury linen and towels, waffle bathrobes, Temple Spa toiletries & diffusers, board games, jigsaws, books, TVs with Apple Box, Sky including Sports, Netflix, Amazon Prime etc, Roberts radios, logs and kindling for the outdoor fire bowl and log burner and charcoal for the Big Green Egg barbecue, wellingtons and, for those with dogs, a bed, towel, bowl and biscuits will be provided...House book - your property and destination guideDiscover more
  • Private cateringSeeking a celebratory dinner or fully catered escape? Our recommended caterers will work with you to create personalised menus for your stay. Details are shared through our house book on confirming your booking.
  • Eco-friendlyBorehole private water, solar with Tesla Powerwall home battery system, electric car charging point available (at an additional cost), Earthborn eco clay paint throughout.
  • Other informationProperty terms and conditionsFrequently asked questionsView floor plan

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An indulgent space, where clean line design fuses with characterful charm
Ceiling lights hang in the modern kitchen

Prices & Availability

Hartfield

Hugging the northern edge of the Ashdown Forest, a royal hunting forest in Norman times, the East Sussex village of Hartfield takes its name from the deer that once abounded the area. Today it´s better known as home of Britain´s favourite bear, Winnie-the-Pooh.

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Hartfield
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Getting there

  • On the Map This luxury home is located 1.5 miles from the small village of Hartfield within the High Weald AONB in East Sussex.
  • By Car Around an hour's drive from central London.
  • By Train Take the South East line serving Sevenoaks, Hildenborough and Tonbridge from Charing Cross, Cannon Street and London Bridge.
  • By Air All London airports are within easy reach, with taxis and car hire easily available. Helicopters are welcome to land on the grounds of Fawn Wood.

From the owner

“The estate has a fascinating history, dating as far back as 1272 when the original dwelling was first in evidence. Part of the main house dates back to 1480 and is noted as the oldest brick-built building in East Sussex.”

From the owner

Fawn Wood started life as a timber-framed granary within the grounds of the main house, and was built some 100 years later as part of what was a much larger estate at the time. It is reported that in the early 1500s Henry VIII stayed here while courting Anne Boleyn at nearby Hever Castle.

After falling into a desperate state of disrepair and left empty for a number of years, we bought the house and granary in 2014 and over several years painstakingly restored both buildings, working closely with the local council and Heritage England.

The main house you see adjacent to the granary is now our family home and we would be thrilled to welcome you as guests to enjoy Fawn Wood, whatever occasion brings you here.

The Scott-Smith Family

Owner recommendations

Live like a local, discovering the best hidden gem restaurants, walks and attractions during your holiday in Hartfield with an insider’s perspective.

The Dorset Arms, Hartfield

To Eat

The Dorset Arms, Hartfield

When it comes to home-cooked food, a short walk down the track you´ll find a treasure trove of locally sourced produce such as fruit, bread, eggs and honey at Perryhill Farmshop, but for a pub dinner head to The Dorset Arms. Its modern British menu served in the beautiful Sussex countryside makes this one a firm favourite.

Kingdom, South Park, Penshurst

To Do

Kingdom, South Park, Penshurst

Kingdom is where the young grow up and the grown-ups feel young. Set in 13 acres of woodland, this members cycling club features a drop-in yoga studio and great little cafe serving smoothies and healthy bites. On weekends, the lower floor becomes ´The Hidden Hut´, selling vintage finds for the home.

Ashdown Manna Cookery School, Blackham

To Do

Ashdown Manna Cookery School, Blackham

A small independent cookery school offering inspirational courses from a converted barn. Courses range all the way from basic bread making to fish and seafood, macaroon making, gluten-free baking, vegan, Italian, Indian, Thai, Vietnamese and Mexican cuisine.

Golf, East Sussex

To Do

Golf, East Sussex

With its own simulator studio, the house was made for golf enthusiasts. There are also a host of clubs open to non-members nearby including the championship course at Hever Castle Golf Club, the challenging 18 holes at Lingfield Park or the family-friendly Villa Golf 9-hole course in Blackham.

Guest Testimonials

Read reviews on TrustPilot and Google

The property was marvellous. We really enjoyed it and it far exceeded our expectations in terms of facilities and amenities. The owners were extremely generous with the supplies they left and various Christmas ornaments, we are very grateful indeed.

A beautifully appointed house. The best of the many I have stayed with through Unique Homestays. Attention to detail was astonishingly thoughtful. From the abundance of towels, a great range of cooking utensils, pans and crockery, dressing gowns, kitchen cleaning products, TV channels, maps, books, and games. The location was outstanding and the owners were absolutely amazing - thoughtful, charming, and lovely!

The addition of the pool makes this an amazing year-round property. The owners were brilliant and the Unique Homestays staff were great in their communication throughout the entire process. Their website is fantastic and the property house book was very helpful.

We have only stayed twice with Unique Homestays but loved it on both occasions. Fawn Wood was really at an even higher standard than we expected and we felt very much pampered by all lovely complementary things.

Fawn Wood is an exceptional property in all ways; the location, furnishings, facilities and attention to detail are second to none. The fluffy towels, room diffusers, candles and sprays added an extra level of luxury. The owner has fine taste. The cocktail mix too was a great idea and the fishing lake was an added bonus.

Unique Homestays always provide plenty of information about the property, with loads of photographs, as well as the extremely useful guide to the area, including places to visit as well as to eat. This makes the holiday so much more enjoyable and easier. We were particularly impressed with the Welcome Hamper that was left, which included sparkling wine and some gorgeous granola! Everything was provided, it was a real treat for us all and our mums both had a wonderful time.

The quality of the accommodation and its facilities were superb, in fact the best we have ever stayed in. The owner was extremely helpful and friendly. Access to local National Trust-type properties nearby was a real bonus and we loved the pubs/restaurants within a short drive as well as the lovely farm shops. We enjoyed seeing the Roe deer come down to the lake to drink, creating many special moments for us all. We could not fault the holiday - the sun even came out for the week!

We absolutely loved the property. It was a family holiday with adult children, and we travelled from Australia. The location is just exquisite. There is something so rejuvenating about waking up and being bathed in green. The property itself was so well set up and cosy and luxurious.

We have stayed at many Unique Homestays properties and this was definitely the best experience so far. Everything was in great shape and very clean and well-stocked. The owner was available and helpful but never intrusive. The house was just perfect for our group, and the recommendations for places to visit and eat were far more extensive and helpful than we are used to. Thank you!

The property was exceedingly well equipped and impeccably clean, and the owner very helpful and accommodating. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and wouldn´t hesitate to recommend it. The property guide was very helpful with suggestions for local shops and restaurants.

Press

Below are a selection of features in which Fawn Wood and Unique Homestays has appeared. If you would like to feature the property in an editorial capacity, please contact the marketing team on +44 (0)1637 882014.

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Disclaimer: These particulars, whilst believed to be accurate, are set as a guideline so should not be relied upon as a statement of fact. The photographs show aspects of the property at the time they were taken and it should not be assumed that the property remains precisely as displayed. If there are points of particular importance that need clarifying before you book, please contact us.

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