Dog friendly holiday cottage, sleeps 4 - Poynings, West Sussex

Sitting at the foot of the South Downs National Park, this beautifully converted barn has been transformed into a contemporary, light and airy cottage. Sleeping four people across two bedrooms and welcoming one canine companion, it provides the perfect country getaway for a small family or group of friends in search of some peace and tranquillity. And as it's located in the grounds of a garden centre that has a wonderful farm shop, finding quality ingredients for your chef-inspired dinners is never an issue.

Start your day in the cottage's light and spacious open-plan living room/kitchen/diner space, which boasts an impressive vaulted ceiling and oak beam features. There you'll find a complimentary breakfast hamper containing a fine range of local produce. Whip up breakfast in the kitchen area and eat all together at the dining table, which boasts lovely views over the garden.

After a day exploring the incredible vistas of the South Downs National Park, stop off at the garden centre's farm shop to pick up some delicious treats for dinner. After dinner, step through the French doors into the private garden/patio and take a seat by the fire pit area. Alternatively, sink into a sofa in the living area and warm your toes by the wood burner.

At the end of the day, there are two lovely bedrooms to choose from. Treat yourself to a stroll at Devil's Dyke (2.5 miles). At almost 1 mil -long, this is the longest, deepest and widest ‘dry valley' in the UK, and local legend has it that the devil dug the chasm.

Alternatively, head into Brighton, where you can wander around the ultra-cool Lanes district (7.5 miles) – an artsy area that's jam-packed with independent cafes, galleries and vintage stores housed in pretty 16th-century buildings.