The Old Thorns Manor Hotel

Old Thorns Manor Hotel is in the South Downs National Park, so take a trail map and stride off into the scenery. The National Trust-managed Hindhead Commons and the Devil's Punch Bowl are about five miles away from your posh pod, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Site of Special Scientific Interest blazing with floral colour in spring and summer. There are plenty of paths of woodland and heathland to potter around, too wild ponies to see and – importantly – plenty of places for picnics: climb Gibbet Hill, Surrey's second highest hill, for smashing views across the Weald. Within 12 or so miles of base, twitchers can visit Bird World, Britain's biggest bird park with 26 acres of aviaries; the art collection and country house at Petworth Park; Chichester Cathedral, and Jane Austen’s House Museum. Chessington World of Adventures and Thorpe Park are about an hour's drive away for thrillseekers and animal aficionados.