Elsie's Hut Blackstone

Elsie's Hut is a proper shepherd's hut. It's on our smallholding near Blackstone, in West Sussex. The view from the door is over our fields. It's very quiet.

It's made by Plankbridge, so it's solid and well put together. It sleeps two, with one double bed and a good shower room inside. There's a little wood burner for heat. It runs on solar power, so there's lighting and a couple of USB plugs for phones, and there's wifi too.

Outside, there's a covered area with a camping stove and a sink for cooking. There's a barbecue and a fire pit. You get your own garden bit with a table and chairs.

The animals might come and say hello. We've got Kitty the goat, Pepe the alpaca, and some sheep like Alan and Malcolm. They're friendly.

You can walk straight out from here onto paths. The South Downs National Park boundary is right there. The nearest pub is about a mile away. There's a bar and restaurant about three quarters of a mile down the lane.

Brighton is about twenty minutes' drive, over Devil's Dyke. The sea at Shoreham is roughly eight or nine miles. We're about half an hour from Arundel and its castle, and not much more to Chichester if you like that sort of thing.

Everything you need for cooking and eating is here. Bedding and towels are included. You can park right next to it. It's all on one level and the entrance has no steps, so it's wheelchair accessible. No pets, I'm afraid.

If you're planning walks, the South Downs National Park website is useful. For days out further afield, National Trust South East has good information.