East Sussex holds a special place in my heart and has done ever since my first visit. I love the roll of the downs, the big skies, picturesque seaside, lovely villages plus the incredibly artistic vibe. When I’m there, one of my favourite things to do is walk from the village of Firle, up along the ridge of the downs, rambling downhill to Charleston House and then walking back to the village via the old coach trail.

You start out at the church in Firle, take a break at Charleston and then finish with a late lunch at The Ram Inn back in Firle. This walk has everything. A John Piper window in a very pretty church, magnificent and diverse scenery along the downs, the chance to catch a tour of Charleston and, finally, a delicious lunch in a fantastic pub. Make sure you book for lunch though as it gets packed and, if you can, why not treat yourself to a night in one of the four lovely, freshly renovated rooms, just to top off an altogether perfect day?

TiYK Top Tip! The Sussex downs have miles and miles of walking trails, so in the unlikelihood of getting lost there will always be someone to point you in the right direction. Also, if you walk on a Sunday, you can wander through Charleston without a guide and linger where you want to.

Image courtesty of UGArdener on Flickr