A Weekend in Sussex: The Best of East Sussex from a Shacks Cabin

Looking for a weekend in Sussex that gives you a little bit of everything, without trying to cram every minute of your trip? From the chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters and the historic streets of Lewes to award-winning Sussex wine, Brighton’s independent spirit and an evening at the opera, East Sussex makes it remarkably easy to fill three days with beautiful things to see and do. The trick is knowing when to stop – and that’s where your Shacks cabin comes in.

Our brand-new Hawthorn and Blackthorn cabins make the perfect base for a slow Sussex escape. Spend your days exploring, then come back to your own little corner of the countryside for a wood-fired evening, a glass of something local and absolutely nowhere else to be.

Here’s how we’d spend three days in East Sussex.

Day One: Seven Sisters, Lewes & a Slow Evening

Start with the Seven Sisters

Begin your Sussex weekend with one of the county’s most spectacular landscapes: the Seven Sisters.

The famous chalk cliffs rise dramatically above the English Channel, with rolling green downland on one side and sea stretching out on the other. It’s the kind of landscape that makes you want to walk a little further than planned.

You don’t need to conquer an epic hike to enjoy it. Give yourself time to wander, take in the views and stop for photographs – and remember that the weather can change quickly along the coast, so sensible shoes and layers are always a good idea.

After a morning beside the sea, head inland towards Lewes.

Coffee and wandering in Lewes

Historic, independent and just the right size for an afternoon of exploring, Lewes is one of those places where the best way to see it is simply to wander.

Explore the old streets, browse independent shops and bookshops, peek into antique stores and find somewhere lovely for coffee and cake.

Make time for an independent café such as Flint Owl Bakery, where you can settle in for something freshly baked before continuing your wander.

Don’t make too much of a plan. Part of Lewes’s charm is turning down a street because you like the look of it and seeing where you end up.

Back to the shack

Then, importantly, don’t schedule anything else.

Head back to Hawthorn or Blackthorn, put the kettle on and let the pace of the day drop.

There’s something particularly satisfying about coming back to a cabin after a day outside. Kick off your walking boots, make dinner, settle into the armchair or head outside with a drink as the light starts to fade.

The evening doesn’t need an itinerary.

Day Two: Sussex Wine & The South Downs

Day two begins exactly as a cabin morning should.

Sleep in. Make coffee. Have breakfast outside if the weather allows. Read a few more pages than you normally would. Watch the countryside wake up.

One of the pleasures of staying somewhere like Hawthorn or Blackthorn is that you don’t have to rush out first thing. Your Sussex adventure will still be there when you’re ready.

Discover Sussex wine

By late morning, head into the surrounding countryside and discover one of the region’s vineyards.

Sussex has become one of England’s most exciting wine regions, helped by its chalky soils and a climate that can be surprisingly well suited to growing grapes. A vineyard visit is a chance to see a completely different side of the landscape you’ve been travelling through – and a great excuse to taste the results.

For a memorable visit, look towards Rathfinny Estate, set in the South Downs near Alfriston. The estate is particularly known for its sparkling wines and spectacular hillside setting.

Take a tour, enjoy a tasting and, if you’ve got time, linger over lunch. This isn’t an activity to rush through. Don’t forget to pick up a favourite bottle to enjoy back at the cabin later.

Take the scenic route

Afterwards, resist the temptation to tick off another attraction.

Take the scenic route back towards your Shack. The beauty of East Sussex is often in the spaces between destinations: winding country roads, village greens, sheep-filled fields and wide-open views across the South Downs.

You could stop for a short walk, find a village pub or simply pull over somewhere with a good view.

An evening at the cabin

Back at the Shack, it’s time for the sort of evening you can’t really plan into a sightseeing itinerary.

Light the fire. Cook something simple. Pour yourself a glass of the Sussex wine you discovered earlier. Then sit outside and watch the sky change.

This is the slow bit – and it’s every bit as important as the places you’ve visited.

Day Three: Brighton & An Evening at the Opera

A different side of Sussex

For your final day, swap countryside quiet for a little more energy and head to Brighton.

Brighton is wonderfully easy to explore on foot. Spend a few hours wandering through the Lanes, discovering independent shops, colourful streets, cafés and little corners you hadn’t planned to find. Try Komodo for a little coffee stop on one of the quieter lanes, Burnt Orange for sharing plates and open-fire booking. Head to Montpelier for quieter trails surrounded by regency architecture and quiet squares or Kemptown Village for independent shops, cafés and restaurants, but with a more residential, bohemian feel than central Brighton.

Make an evening of it at Glyndebourne

hen comes the grand finale: an evening at Glyndebourne.

You don’t have to be a lifelong opera fan to enjoy the experience. Part of the magic is the setting and the ritual of it all – getting dressed up, arriving in the Sussex countryside, wandering the grounds and settling in for an evening of opera.

If you’re visiting during the Festival season, make an occasion of it. Pack a picnic or book dinner, pour yourself a favourite drink and enjoy the anticipation before the performance begins.

It’s a wonderfully unexpected way to end a Sussex weekend: a little glamorous, a little theatrical and completely rooted in the countryside you’ve spent the last few days exploring.

That’s our kind of weekend in Sussex. Choose your Sussex cabin below.