Coghurst Hall Holiday Park

Hither thee firstly to Hastings: the nearby town can keep you busy for days with its guided walks, geocaching, watersports and Europe’s biggest beachside fishing fleet to gawp enviously at. But most folk hither here as it’s part of battle country and tells the story of the unfortunate Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. There are two main battle-filled attractions to amble around: 1066 Battle Abbey and Battlefield, and Hastings Castle and the 1066 Story, with a 1066 walking route to follow through the area too. If smugglers are also your historical thing, you can get a ticket combining admission to A Smuggler’s Adventure at St Clements Caves with Hastings Castle and the 1066 Story; there are several smuggly sojourns along this part of Sussex coast, including the medieval town and Cinque Port of Rye which was once the home of the notorious Hawkhurst Gang. Rye’s also the spot if you want to go fishing outside Coghurst Hall, with carp and deep-sea fishing available at the several local fisheries as well as the ten fishing lakes at Battle’s Wylands Angling Centre, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Or you could decide that your fishy adventure should involve sampling the local produce instead – there are plenty of fish and seafood scoffing opportunities in and around Rye and the nearby seaside town of St Leonards-on-Sea. Want to tee off rather than cast off? There’s a championship course at Beauport Park Golf Course nearby, a golf school at Rother and crazy golf at the Hastings Adventure Golf Course. There’s also a course in nearby Battle; stay in the area afterwards for a browse around the history attraction Yesterday’s World, with thousands of artefacts over five floors and a play area for the kids. Small peers will find the area around Coghurst teeming with things to do and critters to see: Drusillas Zoo, the Port Lympe Wild Animal Safari Park and Paradise Park are all options for mini naturalists, or there’s letting the little monkeys swing from the trees at Go Ape!, getting eagle-eyed with the birds of prey at Knockhatch Adventure Park or tiptoeing through the underwater tunnel at the Blue Reef Aquarium in Hastings. Grown-ups can fan and fortify themselves after a kids’ day out at Carr Taylor in Hastings, one of several local vineyards, or taking the kids educationally to one of East Sussex’s many historical attractions including castles and gardens galore, National Trust houses and more – finish the history tour off with a trip to the twelfth century Hawkhurst Gang haunt The Mermaid Inn to have a slap-up meal at its award-winning restaurant.