The Bull's Head

With something called the 1066 Country Walk running past the site, it’s not a huge stretch to guess that this is battlefield country… The 1066 Battle Abbey and Battlefield site is nearby to relive that all-important day in English history when King Harold (allegedly) got something in his eye, while there are other battle-y relics in neighbouring Hastings which also has Europe's biggest beachside fishing fleet and smuggling adventures at St Clements Caves. The 1066 route is just one of the many scenic walks in the surrounding countryside, or for day trips, Herstmonceux is recommended with its castle and the rural Herstmonceux Observatory Science Centre. As well as walking, Sussex sightseers can take the Kent and East Sussex Railway to puff along from Tenterden through the countryside of the Rother Valley to Bodiam with its National Trust castle, or stay closer to home with a trip up (or down) Hastings’s cliff railway which has the UK's steepest funicular railway. Hang on tight… For less adrenaline-fuelled sightseeing, options include a stroll along the nearby beaches – the seaside is just a short drive away – or a dander around Darwell Reservoir, surrounded by ancient woodland and the chance to spot woodpeckers and tawny owls. Meanwhile, mini battlers will be more than happy with the abundance of attractions in the area aimed at the little people, from the Blue Reef Aquarium at Hastings to getting bug-eyed at the birds of prey at Hailsham’s Knockhatch Adventure Park.