Eastbourne is a delightful town on the South Coast we have not visited before. There are a great many hotels that were built some considerable time ago and which now are looking rather tired. Thanks to the assistance of the T.I.C. I found a very modest looking one but one where I hope you will feel ‘at home’ and be comfortable. For our first day there I’ve arranged a local Blue Badge Guide who will come on the coach with us and show us around; after which we will have a walking tour including the Pier. After lunch we will take a drive with our guide, up over the hills to see Beachy Head and The Seven Sisters among other things.

During the drive to Sussex, we will make a stop at the Weald and Downland Living Museum which is where they film The Repair Shop. I’m hoping you will be able to visit it. I have booked the same driver in a Dunwoods Coaches, you all seemed to like both him and his coach!

It was not so many years ago that we had a holiday in Sussex where we visited just about every N.T. property in the county. It has been quite challenging finding different places we have not visited recently but I hope I’ve managed to find sufficient for you.

The programme is not quite finalised but I’m planning to include visits to Battle (1066 and all that) as we are very much in the area. To the famous gardens at Great Dixter where we will also be able to see the house. Herstmonceux Castle is a magnificent building at the centre of a 3,000 acre estate, with history going back many hundreds of years. The gardens surrounding the castle are wonderfully looked after and should be looking at their very best in June.

There will of course be a surprise or two along the way!

Woolbeding N.T. is technically still in Sussex, quite close to the border with Hampshire. A masterpiece of colour and design, the formal garden rooms have been planned to perfection by landscape architect Lanning Roper. There have been some major changes since our last visit which I think you will enjoy seeing.