Discover the secret spots of Sussex with travel writer Ellie Seymour

13 Oct

Step off the tourist trail and discover the hidden gems and secret spots of Sussex with local travel writer Ellie Seymour

Sussex is an ever-popular tourist destination, attracting thousands of visitors each year who come for the history, nature, culture and sunshine (mostly).

From the expansive South Downs National Park to the vibrant rural English towns like Hastings, Ditchling and Rottingdean, Sussex has it all. But beyond the tourist trail and well-known attractions, Sussex plays host to a few lesser-known hidden gems - from secluded beaches to quirky cafes. To help unearth some of the secret places and things to do in Sussex, we interview Brighton-based author and travel blogger Ellie Seymour.

Inspired by her love of Sussex, Ellie created the travel blog Ellie & Co, a home for travel inspiration and other musings. She has also written two travel books Secret Sussex and Secret Brighton, from which she shares a few of her Sussex travel secrets in our interview. Enjoy!

What brought you to Brighton and Sussex?

I was born in Scotland, raised a London girl and moved to Brighton on a whim after visiting my sister who was at university in the city. I fell in love with it. Sussex has a little bit of everything: incredible countryside, chocolate-box villages, a magical coastline. But also museums, world-class art galleries, theatres, and hedonism if you want it – all within easy access to London.

Tell us about the inspiration behind your books Secret Sussex and Secret Brighton.

The opportunity to write my first guidebook, Secret Brighton, came as a surprise only a few months after I started the Ellie & Co blog. I think I’d published about 10 posts on secret Brighton at the time when the owner of the publishing company emailed me asking if I’d like to write it. A year after its release, despite saying I needed a break, I couldn’t resist pitching the idea of Secret Sussex, thinking he’d probably say no, but he agreed!

How did you choose where to feature in the books? What is your process for unearthing secret places?

I wanted to make sure 50% of places in the book would be a surprise to long-time locals. I started with internet research, then went out exploring, always looking for details beyond the surface of a place. People I told of the project, friends and family, were quick to share their own local secrets with me. My list snowballed quickly. The more I got into it, the more I found. So really my job was easy!

Without revealing all your secrets, can you share some interesting places?

There’s a beautiful old shop in Hastings that is home to a company that creates fake flowers and foliage for film and theatre productions and other events. In the basement is a museum that tells the story of the business and how they make the flowers. It’s tiny but you can lose yourself for ages. I also love visiting Farley Farmhouse, the former home of Vogue photographer, Lee Miller, who led an extraordinary life, and the beach boardwalk in Shoreham most people don’t know is there, which feels like you could be in California.

What are your absolute must see places in Sussex?

Climping Beach near Littlehampton is one of my favourite beaches in Sussex for a walk at any time of year. It’s one of the few beaches along the Sussex coast that remains unspoilt and is always so quiet. It’s also an excuse to go for lunch at the East Beach Café which looks like a Hobbit House. The Sussex countryside is scattered with vineyards, so it’s fun to take a trip out and go wine tasting, which I love tying in with a walk to discover one of the sights in the book.

What do you have planned next?

I’m always on the lookout for hidden places to discover and write about on my blog and plan to update Secret Brighton very soon. Stay tuned!

Discover more and connect with Ellie

For more travel inspiration and to purchase a copy of Secret Sussex and Secret Brighton, visit the blog ellieandco.co.uk

You can also keep up-to-date with Ellie’s latest adventures on her Instagram page @ellieandco.inc

For any other enquiries, email hello@ellieandco.co.uk

Discover Sussex and Brighton from The Grain Store Lewes

Positioned near Lewes, in the South Downs National Park, The Grain Store is the ideal base to explore Sussex and Brighton.

We have plenty of information to help plan your trip, including hiking itineraries, things to do, and places to eat and drink. For more information visit the Things to do page or discover more inspiration on the blog.