Dairy Byre

Why you'll love staying here

Dairy Byre is a former Elizabethan milking parlour that has been lovingly restored to create comfortable holiday accommodation, ideal for a couple or a small family. Set on a working beef farm on the edge of the South Downs, it is perfectly positioned for exploring the countryside, beaches, and towns and villages of England’s south coast.

Inside, the barn retains a wealth of original features, including vaulted ceilings, timber roof trusses, and exposed brick and stonework throughout. Owing to the building’s age, very little is perfectly straight, a quirk that only adds to its character and sense of history. These traditional elements are beautifully balanced with contemporary touches, such as modern kitchen appliances, which sit happily alongside features like a vintage collection of china displayed on a handsome old dresser. The sitting area offers plenty of comfortable seating, cosy rugs, and thoughtfully designed lighting, creating a warm and inviting space to unwind after a day of exploring. The owners have also provided a selection of toys, books, puzzles, and games, ensuring entertainment for guests of all ages.

Both bedrooms have been designed with comfort in mind, with calming neutral décor, wooden accents, and crisp bedding. Each bedroom has doors that open directly onto the outdoors, a delightful way to start the day by throwing them open to the morning light, birdsong, and the gentle lowing of cattle in the fields.

Outside, there is a charming courtyard with outdoor furniture and a barbecue, perfect for relaxed meals while soaking up panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Guests are also welcome to explore the network of footpaths and bridleways that wind through the farm’s fields, as well as a beautiful bluebell wood.

The area surrounding Dairy Byre is renowned for its historic houses and gardens. Nearby highlights include Petworth House, a magnificent 17th-century mansion displaying one of the National Trust’s finest art collections and set within 18th-century Capability Brown–designed pleasure grounds; Parham House, one of England’s most magnificent Elizabethan houses, famed for its important collections of needlework, paintings, and furniture, as well as its award-winning walled garden; the Grade I listed Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens, with woodland walks, lakes, a sculpture park, doll’s house museum, resident wallabies, and a Michelin-starred restaurant; and Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden and home to the Millennium Seed Bank, where diverse plant collections from around the world flourish.

On the other side of the Downs lies Arundel, around half an hour’s drive away and well worth exploring. Discover over a thousand years of history at the medieval castle, with tours of the opulent state rooms and beautifully landscaped gardens, which in summer host medieval jousting and Shakespearean productions. Nearby, the WWT Arundel Wetland Centre supports a wide range of native and captive wildfowl, including pelicans, nesting kingfishers, and wintering marsh harriers. A leisurely boat safari through water meadows and reed beds offers a wonderful opportunity to see the wildlife up close. Just outside Arundel, Amberley Museum showcases industrial heritage with a narrow-gauge railway, vintage vehicle demonstrations, and historic buildings set within a former chalk quarry.

Beach lovers will be spoilt for choice along the south coast. Water sports enthusiasts should head to Shoreham Beach, a wide shingle beach with a historic harbour and a popular spot for windsurfing, kitesurfing, and sailing. Saltdean Beach, backed by white chalk cliffs, reveals rock pools at low tide, perfect for discovering marine life, and is home to an iconic Art Deco lido with heated outdoor pools, a café, and a restaurant overlooking the sea. For a classic seaside experience, visit Brighton with its famous pebbly beach, striped deckchairs, Victorian pier, fairground rides, amusement arcades, and traditional fish and chip shops. The seafront is also home to Sea Life Brighton, said to be the oldest operating aquarium in the world, housing more than 5,000 creatures including sharks, rays, seahorses, and octopus.