Escape the hustle and bustle with a nature-filled getaway to Lewes, East Sussex. At The Grain Store, Lewes, we are lucky enough to call this magical part of the world home and so we thought we would share the love in the form of our favourite nature spots in Lewes and the surrounding area.

The benefits of spending time in nature

We all know there are an array of benefits to spending time in the great outdoors. The most researched and known benefits of spending time in nature include reducing stress, boosting the immune system, improving mood and cognitive function and helping with physical and mental well-being. But if you are here reading, you likely don’t need convincing, so on with some of our favourite ways to enjoy nature.

Fun nature activities

There are plenty of ways to grow our children’s love for nature from an early age. Simply spending time outdoors and letting them explore their natural surroundings is a great place to start. Take them on an adventure trail along the River Ouse which leads from Lewes to Newhaven, to explore the bumbling river and local wildlife. Ashdown Forest is also a great place to go with an ancient forest and is home to badgers, foxes and deer bringing those timeless childhood stories to life. And if that wasn’t enough, the Hundred Acre Wood was real-life inspiration for the Winnie-the-Pooh stories by A.A. Milne. Explore in the footsteps of Winnie-the-Pooh and friends discovering Pooh Corner, the Heffalump Trap, and Galleon's Lap to let nature’s playground work its magic on your little ones.

The Railways Land Wildlife Reserve in the centre of Lewes

Couples getaway

Beautiful Stanmer Park is just a six-minute drive from The Grain Store, Lewes and includes historic orchards, walking trails, breathtaking views and eateries selling local produce. There is also the Railway Land Wildlife Reserve in the centre of Lewes, a lovely spot to take a post-lunch walk in nature. Looking for a little romance? There are plenty of beautiful places to have a picnic or soak in the sunset. Top picnic spots include Southover Grange Gardens, with an eclectic range of plant life, and Lewes Priory Park set amongst ancient ruins and majestic views.

Travelling solo

Spending time alone in nature is truly a rewarding experience. It allows us to reflect and simply be with our thoughts. The South Downs National Park is home to rolling hills, wild meadows and ancient woodlands. There are plenty of opportunities for biking, horse riding and walking on the South Downs.

Anni Townend, Co-creator and Collaborator of The Grain Store, Lewes, in collaboration with Lucy Kidd and Natalie Shering founded Walking Partnerships™ for executive leaders, which blossomed from a shared love of nature - specifically walking and talking in nature. Anni is a huge advocate for walking and spending time in nature and runs Walking Partnerships™ to support her work as an Executive Leadership Partner. Interested to find out more? Head on over to her website.

The South Downs are a nature lovers paradise

Nature on your doorstep

When staying at The Grain Store, Lewes you don’t need to venture far to explore nature. Nestled in a beautiful flourishing private garden and the rolling hills of the South Downs, The Grain Store, Lewes is every nature lover’s dream. Feeling at one with nature and the surrounding environment is engrained in the ethos of everything we do. From humble beginnings as a literal grain store to the conscious, sustainable and luxurious holiday home, creative shoot location and unique meeting space that it is today.

The Grain Store, Lewes was the perfect base

“Our recent stay with you was wonderful! The accommodation is absolutely beautiful and the view from it is just stunning. We’re (fairly) local but love spending weekends in Sussex with our young children and The Grain Store, Lewes was the perfect base. I’ve no doubt we will return. Thank you again!”

– Beth & family

Wildlife

The South Downs National Park is home to a bunch of rare wildlife species including burnt-orchard, round-headed rampion, otter, skylark, barn owl and brown trout. Keen wildlife enthusiasts might even be lucky enough to spy the barbastelle bat, chalk carpet moth and sundew, a rare carnivorous plant. The flora and fauna are bountiful and deliver mesmerising surprises liske King Alfred Cake (Daldinia Concentrica) spotted in Newmarket Copse close to The Grain Store, Lewes.

Need a base while exploring the beautiful nature that Lewes has to offer, check out our booking availability to stay at The Grain Store, Lewes. We would love to welcome you and can even help plan your nature getaway or South Downs rural retreat in the countryside.