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Exploring | Hove Holiday Homes | Simple Getaway

As you may or may not have heard, the UK government recently launched a new short term let consultation, seeking feedback on potential changes to the regulations that currently apply to home owners and property managers who offer short-term rentals.

So, what does this new consultation mean for you as a home owner and us here at Simple Getaway? Here’s what you need to know:

Potential Changes to Regulations

The consultation is exploring a range of potential changes to the regulations that apply to short-term rentals in the UK which can be broken down to two possible schemes:

Introducing a registration or licensing scheme: This would require hosts to register their property with their local authority or obtain a license to operate. This could include requirements around safety and quality standards, and hosts may be subject to inspections and fees.
Planning permission: The consultation is seeking feedback on whether short-term rentals should require planning permission, particularly in areas where there are concerns about the impact on local communities.

During the Short Stay Summit this past Thursday we were invited to a round table discussion and had the opportunity to speak with Charlie Reith (UK & Ireland Gov’t Affairs), Shomik Panda (Director General STAA & CEO Inline Policy), Carl Thomson (Public Policy Manager Airbnb), and Andy Fenner (CEO STAA). From our conversation, it appears that the government recognises the value the short term stay industry brings to local economies, and their preference is to have a “light touch”, which is in reference to the registration and licensing Scheme.

In keeping with a light touch approach, the plan is for the registration scheme to be digital and upon completion to immediately be given confirmation/license number, ensuring no delays in the application process. However, there is a debate currently as to whether or not the registration scheme would be implemented equally across all of England, or allow for local authorities to determine if they wish to opt into the scheme or not. It appears that for simplicity and ease of implementation, the UK government preference is to make it national.

When asked, what is the driving force behind the implementation of these regulations, it was made very apparent that the main issue lies with the current housing market crisis. Local governments have made the short term industry as the scapegoat for why locals are being priced out of the market. By being able to register all short term stays under this scheme, proper data could be collected and hopefully give national and local authorities substantiated data and show that the impact is not as great as it is currently made out to be.

Our Thoughts

As far as the position of Simple Getaway on the matter, we have always believed that there was a need for stronger regulations here in the UK, although our reasoning is different from that of the UK government. In our experience, there is a severe lack of responsibility of property managers in their duty to guest and home owners alike in ensuring a certain level of professionalism. By bringing in new regulations, we would hope that the overall standard of our industry would be raised resulting in the elimination of any bad actors which may give our industry a bad name.

It is our expectation that the consultation period will take some time, and we will assuredly keep you up to date about any changes to the regulations and requirements as they come in . This includes monitoring the progress of the Short Term Let consultation, as well as keeping up to date with any changes to local regulations and licensing requirements

By staying informed and adapting to any changes in the regulatory landscape, we can ensure that we will be able to continue to operate in compliance with the law, while providing a high-quality and safe experience for our guests.

East Preston, situated roughly halfway between Worthing and Littlehampton, is a village and civil parish in the Arun district of West Sussex. East Preston is home to some beautiful properties and beaches and really has that cosy and quaint small village feel. Here’s our Simple Guide to it.

History

East Preston has a population of around 6000, it was once a very small town, however after the second world war the population grew.

The original Saxon settlers farmed the area and the sea was a great source for farming salt, which was needed for preserving food.

In the 19th century Reginald Augustus Warren began purchasing farms, buildings and land in East Preston, ultimately becoming squire. After his death in 1911 his estate was broken into smaller areas, some parts sold and some left to the village.

In 1991 a war memorial was built in the foreground of the library to commemorate those who gave their lives in the wars. Many commonwealth troops were stationed in the village and surrounding areas during 1939 to 1945.

Things to do

Watersports

The Beach, Littlehampton is a watersports centre which is a great hub for all things watersports. Whether you’re looking to rent equipment, receive lessons or grab a bite to eat in the cafe, The Beach will have something for everyone.

Kingston Gorse

Kingston Gorse is a private residential estate in East Preston with a private seaside and green. Kingston Gorse is home to some of the most luxury and lavish properties in Sussex and is the perfect spot if you want to partake in some scenic dog-walking or just to appreciate some of the amazing architecture on these showstopping homes. This estate is open to the public, so long as you respect the rules stated at the entrance.

Norfolk Gardens mini golf

Norfolk Gardens not only has mini golf which consists of loads of fun, challenging courses but it also has a huge play area for children, a mini railway which runs to Mewsbrooke Park, tennis courts, a bowling green and exotic inspired gardens! This option really has something for the whole family.

Mewsbrooke Park

Mewsbrooke Park is a great little day out with plenty in the park to keep you occupied for the day. If you are visiting in the Summer there are outdoor picnic areas, public toilets, football pitches and lots of greenery to play any bat and ball games. Additionally, weather depending, you can also hire a pedal boat or if the weather is not on your side, Littlehampton sports and swimming center is located in the park. There is also a conservation area called Ruby Gardens which is gorgeous no matter the weather!

Littlehampton Museum

Just over 2 miles away from East Preston is Littlehampton Museum. This museum is home to Roman treasures, Seaside souvenirs and in the school holidays hosts all different kinds of historical events and workshops and entry is also free!

Food & Drink

The Seaview

This newly renovated hotel dates back to the 1820’s but is the perfect modern setting serving modern cuisine and exquisite drinks.

Grub & Gumption

This cafe is the perfect mix of cosy and quirky. This eclectic cafe’s interior is made up of mismatched, rustic furniture and its food matches its aesthetic, serving hearty, tasty brunch options. It also has really great Coffee!

The Clockhouse Bar

This bar/pub receives a whopping 5/5 stars on tripadvisor. It’s the perfect place for relaxing and socialsing, hosting entertainment during the week such as open mic nights and quiz nights. As well as great traditional English ‘pub food’ it also has a great selection of Wines and Beers.

Fig Cafe and Tapas

If you want a little taste of Spain, this is the place for you. This is also a really great evening option for a date night or to enjoy with friends as they have some great Tapas options and a really great Wine selection. They are also praised for their great service!

Where to stay

Looking for accommodation and places to stay in East Preston? Book direct with Simple Getaway and save unnecessary fees on Airbnb and VRBO, we offer the cheapest rate every time, guaranteed! Give us a call today!

Planning on visiting the quaint village of Arundel in Sussex? We’ve put together our top recommended landmarks and a bit of their history:

Arundel Castle

Arundel Castle is a true masterpiece.

Originally built in 1068 by Roger de Montogomery, the Earle of Arundel, the Castle has been restored over the years to maintain its position as one of the most iconic buildings on the South Coast and one of the most well-kept castles in the country.

The castle sits on 40 acres of land, consisting of the castle itself and the stunning castle gardens, both of which can be accessed on a tour (usually open between March and October). On a castle tour, you are able to wander inside and explore The Keep, the Fitzalan Chapel and the Castle Rooms, all with their own splendour. The castle gardens plant an extraordinary annual tulip display, the largest tulip display in Britain with some 60,000 tulips along with many other spring flowers which are in full bloom from March onwards.

What is fascinating, is that unlike many historical landmarks, the castle is actually lived in by the current Duke of Norfolk and his family. Many of the internal rooms are fully functional and viewable to the public for half of the year. A tour will give you the opportunity to view inside the dining room, ballroom, library, bedrooms, and even see the bedroom specially commissioned to be built for the use of Queen Victoria’s visit to Arundel Castle back in 1846!

Arundel Village Centre

Outside of the castle walls is the quaint and charming village of Arundel. Picturesque from the moment you drive over the bridge and into the village, it is impossible for Arundel to disappoint. There is not a chain in sight, and instead a multitude of restaurants, cafes, boutique stores and antique shops await.

Enjoy a spot of afternoon tea amongst a day of antiquing or an early evening pint in one of the local village pubs followed by a spectacular meal in one of Arundel’s excellent restaurants (or both!). The food and drink scene in Arundel is outstanding and is one of the many reasons the locals are so fond of this charming village.

Arundel Cathedral

Further up the hill from the village centre, you will come across Arundel Cathedral. Originally built in 1869 by the 15th Duke of Norfolk, the Cathedral has been a focal point for Arundel ever since. The Cathedral has regular services and concerts and is host to a number of events in Arundel throughout the calendar year. The Cathedral is open daily to the public from 9am – 6pm so pop in and have a look around this majestic building.

Arundel Festivals and Events

Arundel attracts visitors year-round not only due to its historical landmarks, but also its festivals.

Every year during the summer months, Arundel hosts the Arundel festival, one of the largest multi-art festivals in the South with entertainment ranging from music to art to theatre.

In December, Arundel by Candlelight lights up the streets to host its Christmas market. Elegantly lit Christmas trees adorn the buildings in the village alongside a beautifully decorated tree donated to the village by the Duke of Norfolk which creates the centrepiece for this popular event. Visitors to Arundel by Candlelight can enjoy roasted chestnuts, mulled wine and hog roasts as they meander their way around the village streets.

Year-round, on the third Saturday of each month, there is a local farmers’ market hosted in the village centre with vendors selling a wide array of high-quality local produce for visitors and locals to enjoy.

Need a place to stay in Arundel? View our list of holiday rentals in Arundel today.

scones and french press on bed - simple getaway

People may have a holiday let to use as a second home or as a property to utilise as a financial investment renting to guests. Either way, you may use a property management company. Property management companies can do anything from just checking in once a month to full service management, taking care of bookings, cleaning and guest communications. Whatever you hire your property manager for, it is important to have one that provides you with the best possible service for your needs.

For those with full service management, there are a number of reasons that homeowners may switch from one management company to another. Here are the most commons reasons we have come across:

Paying too much commission for poor service

Property management companies vary on their rates considerably. Annual lease arrangements may charge a management fee as low as 6% whilst on the other end, we have seen rates up to 40% for full service management. It is ok to pay either of these or anything in between, but if the service you are given does not match up to the fee you pay, it can be frustrating.

2. Bad Reviews

Reviews are crucial in this business and bad ones can have a devastating impact. Usually, bad reviews tend to include poor cleanliness, insufficient maintenance or a clumsy check in procedure. Many years ago, property managers and owners used to be able to pay to get their listing to rank higher on the page but those days are long gone. Now, Airbnb and VRBO use specific algorithms that assess reviews, response times, listing quality and other metrics to decide who gets to the top. At Simple Getaway we consistently receive 5* reviews from our guests meaning that we rank highly on holiday let listing sites such as Airbnb and VRBO.

3. Lazy Booking Procedures

Many property managers will only list on certain sites. In the UK, Airbnb is the most popular booking site, but it doesn’t mean that bookings don’t come from elsewhere – they absolutely do!

In Arun, West Sussex, 84% of holiday lets are listed on Airbnb, 10% on VRBO and 6% on both. In Chichester, West Sussex, 77% are listed on Airbnb , 11% on VRBO and 12% on both. In Brighton, East Sussex, 82% are listed on Airbnb, 8% on VRBO and 10% on both. At Simple Getaway we are part of that 6, 12 and 10% that list on both in each of these areas.

What’s more? We list your property on our own website which is a win-win for you and your guests – it is the cheapest option for guests which generates the greatest revenue for you! The more sites you list on, the higher your occupancy rate and ultimately the greater the revenue you receive – make sure you check where your property management company is listing your home to make the most of your investment.

4. Stagnant Marketing

Are your property management company keeping an eye on the market and marketing your property effectively? Travel trends are constantly changing, as evidenced in the recent 2020 pandemic. It is no longer appropriate to list your property for the same rate for every day of the year. Prices should be fluctuated throughout the year to balance revenue and occupancy effectively. At Simple Getaway we track the data to make sure you remain competitive in the market and you don’t slip behind the competition. In fact, during 2020, we utilised this strategy and have managed to get some of our homes in the top 10 performing homes in their area, despite only operating for 6 months of the year!

We are always adapting to make sure our service offering improves and we are giving our owners the best possible for the rates we charge. Find out today what we can offer in comparison to other property management companies!

Holiday Home Management | Kitchen | The Bakery | Arundel Holiday Homes | Simple Getaway

Managing a holiday let can be a very time consuming process. Sometimes people buy a holiday let and immediately put the management in the hands of a holiday letting company. Other times, people manage their own holiday let and then switch to holiday letting company to take on the work after experiencing the strain of the work involved.

Either way, when searching for a holiday letting company it is important to do your research and make sure you are asking the right questions. We’ve put together a list of the questions we get asked the most.

What Do Airbnb Property Managers Charge?

Well, that depends. There is a difference between a booking agent, and a full management service. At Simple Getaway, we are a full management service, meaning that when you list your home with us, we take care of everything else, from guest communication, to cleaning, to maintenance etc. Market rates vary between 12%-30% depending on the type of service, and more importantly, the type of holiday letting management. Be careful in signing on for too much or too little, you want to make sure you are getting the right level of service for the amount you are paying.

Where Do You Advertise My Holiday Home?

If the answer is Airbnb then that is great, however, there are various other websites where your property can be listed in order to gain maximum exposure; VRBO, Booking.com and Tripadvisor being the most well known, but smaller niche sites can be popular depending on the type and location of your property. At Simple Getaway, we were selected to appear on ‘The Plum Guide’, a network of some of the best holiday lets in the world. Only the top 3% of homes are selected and our holiday lets made the cut! Contact us and see if we can list you too!

Do You Advertise My Holiday Let on Your Website?

Whilst most companies can’t compete with the big online travel agencies (Airbnb, Booking.com etc), that doesn’t mean that having an online presence is pointless. In fact, when guests book directly, it saves both them and you money as additional fees charged on the big sites are avoided. Direct bookings usually come as a result of repeat guests and recommendations so making sure your holiday let management has a website is a good idea.

What Makes You the Best Holiday Letting Company?

A holiday letting company should know their unique selling point, and why you should choose them to manage your holiday let. At Simple Getaway, we have a few tricks up our sleeve – find out more about us by giving us a call.

How Much Does it Cost to Clean a Holiday Let?

Obviously this varies from house to house depending on size and bedroom count. It also depends upon the model that holiday letting company uses. We handle all our cleaning with various cleaning crews and take care of all of the linens to ensure they are clean and crisp for every arrival. Some cleaning companies may not handle the linens so you need to check. Some property managers may charge the guest for the cleaning whereas others may charge the homeowner, some may charge neither! Either way is fine, but it is something you should know before signing on with a holiday letting company.

Is Holiday Letting Profitable?

Are you renting the property out full time, what are your utility bills and maintenance costs, is your home well looked after? Only you will know if your holiday let will be profitable depending upon the bills you pay. However, the best holiday letting companies will be able to give you some advice about how much you are likely to receive in terms of rental income if you rent your home out. At Simple Getaway, we go beyond, and give you real data insights that can show you exactly what your holiday let rental potential could be. Contact us to find out more.

Does Airbnb Offer Property Management Services?

The short answer is no. Airbnb does not have their own property management service, they simply exist as a platform, whereby you can list your own property for rent, or someone else can list it on your behalf. Most property managers would hold a contract with you directly and would then list your property on Airbnb, and/or various other platforms.

What Should I Provide for My Holiday Let and How Do I Furnish My Holiday Rental?

The best property management companies will be able to give you plenty of guidance on what to provide, and how best to furnish your holiday let. We previously wrote a blog on the items you should provide – read the blog here for some ideas:

What to provide in your holiday let

When it comes to furnishing your home, there are definitely some things to consider. The best first step is to consider the use of the property, who your potential guests are likely to be, young couples, business groups, families with young children, pets, elderly visitors. Each of these groups may be geared towards slightly different functionality so it is important to think about. What would you look for in renting a holiday let? Make sure you keep your interiors clean, whilst ensuring that they stand out in a listing. Our team at Simple Getaway is qualified in interior design. We would be happy to give some guidance to our holiday let homeowners and share our past projects portfolio.

Which is the Best Holiday Letting Company?

Simple Getaway! We manage homes in East and West Sussex and would be delighted to hear from you regarding your holiday let. Whatever service you are looking for, please give us a call or send us an email and we would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Kitchen | No.42 | Arundel Holiday Homes | Simple Getaway

We are asked many questions by our property owners before listing their property with us. As expected, many questions revolve around the financial aspect and, ‘what do Airbnb managers charge?’. It is an important question and may be the pivoting point between whether or not to choose a property management company for your holiday home. At Simple Getaway, we will be honest about the cost of our services, but we want our owners to understand the benefits of using a holiday let management company, and why we charge what we do.

Holiday Let Management Costs

Hiring a holiday let management company can reduce the time and cost of running the property. From promoting the home, providing customer service for the guests, to cleaning and maintaining the holiday home throughout the year.

We endeavour to make owners and guests happy with their holiday let property but in order to do so, there are lots of things to handle along the way. Below are just some of the things that property management companies do, and why you benefit from hiring one to manage your holiday home.

Handling Guest Enquiries

Guests are extremely important, and without them, you do not reap the financial benefits of listing a holiday let for rent. So, it is important to engage them and then keep them happy during the booking process and beyond.

It is vital for a property manager to respond to guest enquiries as quickly as possible. Often, a guest will target multiple properties they are interested in and if you are the first to respond it is highly likely that they will end up booking your home. We aim to respond to all enquiries immediately and on average, our statistics show that we respond within an hour – pretty good considering some of these come in the middle of the night!

A property management company is dedicated to responding as quickly as possible but without one you may not be able to respond quite so fast. You are probably busy, in a business meeting, doing the school run, enjoying time in a remote holiday destination. All of these things would impact your ability to respond in a timely manner and you run the risk of losing that consumer engagement.

Living Room | The Preston | Brighton Holiday Home | Simple Getaway

Holiday Let Cleaning Management

A good property management company usually has a standardised cleaning schedule for each of their homes, and typically would have more than one cleaning company or staff. If you manage your home yourself, you may clean it yourself, or you may have a cleaner. But what about those instances where the cleaner doesn’t show up, or is unwell?

If this happens with us, we can typically rely on one of our other teams to jump in last minute and help out making sure that a guest turns up to a clean house every time. If you hire a property management company, you can rest assured that each time a guest checks out, your home is being cleaned to a professional standard.

Holiday Let Maintenance

It is inevitable that things will break from time to time and most of the time your guests will understand that. However, it is important that any issue is attended to timely, particularly if there are guests in your home and it is impacting their stay.

As a property management company, we have our own maintenance teams, dedicated to ensuring that your property and all its parts, work as they are meant to. For smaller maintenance items, we are quickly able to have our team on site to assist and will even carry out routine maintenance checks to locate problems ahead of time. Preventative maintenance is key, and we aim to keep potential problems at bay for each of our homes.

Kitchen | Bristol Gardens | Brighton Holiday Homes | Simple Getaway

For more specific work, we have good relationships with a number of professional contractors and can usually get issues attended to quicker than you would as a new customer. These relationships can be crucial particularly when dealing with fundamental issues such as a broken boiler, which must be dealt with very quickly!

Useful Data Insights

We use software that enables us to understand the pricing in the area at any given moment in time. That means we get the most competitive pricing for your property and make sure that you maximise bookings and returns on your holiday let. As well as this, we use a software system that updates these prices across all travel agency platforms every single day ensuring that you are continually optimised at all times.

Oversight

Unlike large national companies, we are local and make sure that we keep an eye on your property throughout the year. From regular check-ins, routine maintenance, high-standard cleaning and top-class technology, we make sure that your property is being looked after. When you list your property with us, you can rest assured that we will make sure your home is kept clean, maintained and booked!

There are many reasons why choosing a property management company can be beneficial for your holiday let. If you have a holiday let and are considering using a property manager, contact us today and we can walk you through the process.

Rooftop Deck | New Park Terrace | Chichester Holiday Home | Simple Getaway

Sussex is home to many historical sites and natural beauty. From the Roman Palace and Gardens in Fishbourne, to the medieval castle in Lewes, to the long stretch of the wildlife of the South Downs, there is plenty to talk about when immersing yourself in Sussex history. Less widely known, are the stories of some of Sussex’s local products which have their own rich histories and traditions.

History of The Sussex Trug

The Sussex Trug is one of those products which has been a part of Sussex history for almost two centuries. The Trug was developed from a design of a ‘trog’ meaning ‘boat-shaped vessel’ and was used by the Anglo Saxons as far back as the 1600s. The trog was originally used in multiple different sizes as a measuring tool to weigh grains and liquids, but their uses were prohibited due to their weight.

Thomas Smith’s Trug

These original trogs were redeveloped in the 1800s by Thomas Smith who determined that the same style of basket could be used, but in a lightweight material to make them highly functional for use in farms and gardens. There are claims that these trugs were made by other families in Sussex prior to Thomas Smith but this remains unproven due to a lack of a written record. The story of Thomas Smith is one that has passed down through the ages and remains the best account we have to date.

Thomas Smith, who hailed from Herstmonceux in Sussex originally, made the newly invented Trug out of sweet chestnut wood and cricket bat willow wood. Both kinds of wood had attributes that made them perfect for use in creating a lightweight basket. Sweet chestnut is a hardwood, resistant to rot and solid in its properties, making it a good material for use as a frame for the basket. Cricket bat willow is a lighter wood which is malleable, making it the ideal complement to the hardwood frame, resulting in an overall lightweight basket.

Trug Uses in the 1800s

These baskets were seen all over Sussex in the early to mid-1800s. They were used in fields, farms and gardens to collect and carry crops. Their lightweight features and durability made them an excellent choice for harvesting and weighing produce for farmers for many years and their production continued successfully throughout that time.

Royal Sussex Trug

It was in 1851 when Thomas Smith and his Sussex Trug became world-famous. In an exhibition in London, his trugs caught the eye of Queen Victoria who reigned from 1837 to 1901. She put in an order for the trugs for members of the royal family and later, Thomas Smith was awarded a Royal Warrant meaning that the Sussex Trug was now officially coined the Royal Sussex Trug. After the late Queen gave her seal of approval, the Royal Sussex Trug found its way onto the global marketplace to be used in many locations far beyond the realms of Sussex.

Sussex Trugs Today

To this day, Sussex Trugs are still being produced locally, albeit in a different manner. Top-quality birch is now used as the primary wood for the basket which is softened in boiling water and then bent and manipulated into position. They are almost completely hand made as they always were and are now exported all over the world. Though their uses in agriculture are far less than they once were, the Sussex Trug is still a useful item for gardeners, and a beautifully handcrafted piece of tradition to have as a talking point.

At Simple Getaway, we aim to keep this local Sussex tradition alive. For each home that we manage, we supply our property owners with their own Sussex Trug to display in their holiday let. Just a small appreciation for our property owners, guests and the beautiful historic county in which we live and work!

Want to see Sussex Trug production in action? Just stop by the Cuckmere Trug Company, Thomas Smith’s Trug Shop located in Herstmonceux, East Sussex.

From 1989 to 2020 – Growing up in West Sussex

Sneaking out was our best-kept secret as kids. Back then I lived in a 300-year-old converted barn, set beside the River Rife, West Sussex, made of flint and mortar with vertical vent slots set into the stone from which, I always imagined, Archers shot their arrows at invaders. I remember the day my father took me to see our new home, before its conversion, when it housed a few hundred pigeons in its sagging roof and a century of their droppings on the ground. ‘We’re going to live here?’ Knee deep in bird mess, I was mortified. ‘Yes, Son’, he marvelled, with visionary confidence I had yet to grasp… And so we did. With it, dawned a world of adventure from the house walls and beyond.

Luckily, my new bedroom was tucked into the roof of the offset adjoining garage. A small window beneath the rafters opened above a head-height flint wall below. Out of earshot of the parents, whose bedroom was on the far side of the barn, it was the perfect escape. A few friends and I would meet at the house for a ‘sleepover’ at the weekends. We’d wait, in anticipation, all evening, for darkness to roll in and the parents to head to bed. As soon as we clocked their bedroom light go off, the count down was on. Half an hour was the minimum we’d wait, sometimes more, never less. They had to be deep asleep so that the security light that flickered on when we hot-footed across the driveway wouldn’t wake them. When it was time, we made our escape. We crew of bunny eyed kids ran into the night, giddy with the enormity of our perilous new freedom.

Which is a little hard to stomach from a parent’s standpoint, I know. But the thought is often worse than the reality.

You see, in West Sussex, you can get away with it. It is invitingly open, quiet, authentic. Wholesome for the young adventurer. In the late summer night, we would mission into the cornfields, beneath the downs, rolling the giant cylinder hay bails together and build giant forts, to the bewilderment of the next day’s farmer.

It is worn, rural, quirky. It breathes life into the imagination. If we had enough bikes we would pedal to the top of Highdown Hill and stand atop the ancient Saxon settlement, looking mightily upon the satellite villages, lit up in patches, along the dark coast, for miles.

Its diversity of terrain is endless. Chalky hills, wide meadows, grass banked rivers, stunning pebbled coastline, Oakland, wooded parks are all to be explored in wide-eyed wonder. On a stormy night, we would head to the beach to see the thunder and lightning in its panoramic glory. In ecstatic defiance, we would dare each other to stand upon the highest pillar of the wooden breakwaters, tempting that Gods fry us with a bolt of white light. We would test the sea, running as far out down the shingle as we could between crashing waves.

The architecture, old and new, is built with a level of respect. The affluent estates on the coast attract the wealthy who build big, solid mansions able to withstand centuries of battering from winter gales. The construction sites made perfect mission bases. We bellied under the fence and ran riot around the huge houses to be. Fireman poling the scaffolding and scaling ladders like James Bond, we’d recce every room. A friend once accidentally knocked a steel girder off the third floor, the bang must have woken half the county.

And how different my life would have been had we not had our greatest base of all, our treehouse. Built-in the farmers copse beside a field. For years we worked on it, extended it, improved it. In the end, we had it insulated, carpeted, waterproofed, with electricity buried right through the woods to my friend’s house. We even built a tiled fireplace, until the day we inevitably burned the whole lot down. The nights in the treehouse were the best of all.

On and on went our adventures in Sussex. Now, as an adult, I’m a little less ‘bunny eyed’ but a lot more appreciative of Sussex for its beauty, its grandeur. Even a few of its locals.

Arundel castle bears rightful claim the grandest of castles upon the hills. It stands above the Arundel plains and Arun river in profound dominance. Fantasy-like. It’s gardens, edible and not, are a cherished secret of Sussex. The interior, fully habitable and furnished as original, is a window to another life. Arundel village reflects the authenticity of the old and humble. Bakeries, pubs, butchery, antique shops, tiny steep cobbled streets, immovable medieval architecture, leaning houses and class eateries are as quality as it gets.

Pubs litter the sides of every potholed country lane. No elaboration needed, think of a hearty pub and that’s what you’ll find. Pub crawls attract any wanderer looking to lubricate the imagination and are a past-time to be sorely forgotten. They’ll accept most muddy cyclists, wet kids, dogs or well-oiled travellers.

Although why not crawl somewhere else? Take the back roads and Cafe crawl your way from village to village. Manor House and quaint village hop from Pulborough to Amberly to Houghton to Bury. If you can handle anymore history, then castle hops from Guildford to Cowdray to Amberly to Knepp. Load up with wine on the route from the stunning microclimate haven of Nutbourne vineyards and it’s over-seeing windmill.

Cycle the South Downs way, yawing up and down with ever-changing scenery and a consistently good view.

Spend the day crabbing from Littlehampton or head out to sea with the local fisherman moored beneath the promenade. Hire a yacht and sail to beloved Brighton for the day.

Dare I say it, go shopping.

To this day I explore. I love it, it’s endless. I’m a product of my environment. The open pastures, silent nights, charming seaside and wild diversity of Sussex gave me the gift of imagination and the opportunity to tell stories in fond memory. Adventure comes from ‘Aventure’ meaning, ‘that which happens by chance’. We snuck out as kids, we had our adventures and, by chance, found a passion for life.

Short Term Let Regulations Coming to Sussex and Rest of the UK