The Milkhouse

Ashurst, Sussex
Self-catering
+44 (0)1903 810410
Visit owner's website

From
£118 - £146
per night
From
£855 - £1025
per week

A red-brick cottage and Shepherd’s hut in a magical garden with a cookery school and views over the South Downs

Bed

2 beds

Bedroom

2 bedrooms

Sleeps

Sleeps 4

Children welcome
Babies welcome

£118 - £146 per night

£855 - £1025 per week

The Experience

Owners Les and Louise, passionate foodies, run an award-winning bread-making school where you can perfect your baking skills. They also host pop-up supper clubs and seasonal events, run Indian cookery and chocolate-making classes.

Home-laid eggs, home-buzzed honey and a freshly baked loaf are waiting to help you settle into your charming, beamed cottage – the Shepherd’s hut for overflow is in the garden. Find a huge fireplace, pretty bedrooms, a dinky country kitchen and colourful garden views. Spot many birds, squirrels, rabbits and wild deer, snooze in the sunny conservatory.

The market town of Steyning is a five-minute drive for shops and plenty of places to eat, or you can walk less than a mile to a good pub with big gardens, The Fountain at Ashurst. There are many thriving vineyards nearby for tastings.

The Milkhouse - Gallery

We think you'll love

  • The superb and varied walking through scenic countryside, the salty coast and the rippling South Downs
  • Visiting all the vineyards in the area for tasting tours and buying wine to take home
  • Joining one of the courses or attending a pop-up event
The Milkhouse - Gallery

You should know

  • The second bedroom is accessed via the main bedroom and lacks cupboard space
  • The kitchen is more like a kitchenette, best suited to light meal preparation
  • Mind your bonce on low beams downstairs

Essentials

  • EV charger
  • Self check-in
  • Swimming pool
  • Hot tub
  • Garden
  • Open fire / woodburner
  • Breakfast included
  • Breakfast available
  • Meals available
  • Vegetarian meals
  • Oven
  • Parking on premises
  • Free parking nearby
  • Accessible by public transport
  • WiFi
  • Television
  • Central heating
  • Limited mobility
  • Wheelchair access
  • Mobile reception
  • Hob
  • Barbecue
  • Paid parking nearby
  • Air conditioning
  • Relaxation areas
  • Washing machine
  • Tennis court
  • Microwave oven
  • No smoking
  • Credit cards
  • Working farm
  • Owner has pets
  • Electricity included
  • Dishwasher
  • Pets welcome

Family friendly

  • Baby monitor
  • Books and toys
  • Children welcome
  • Babies welcome
  • Stair gates
  • High chair
  • Fire guard
  • Cot available

Nearby

  • Pub/bar within 3 miles
  • Restaurant within 3 miles
  • Shop within 3 miles

Activities

  • Bikes available
  • Food courses
  • Kayaking
  • Other courses
  • Sailing
  • Surfing
  • Wild swimming

Pricing

Nightly price
from £118
Weekly price
from £855
Damage deposit
£150
1 Cottage for 4
From £1182 beds2 bedrooms

Information

Booking information

Check in
4pm
Check out
10am
Closed
Rarely.
No smoking
Smoking not permitted anywhere in the property.
Meals
Pubs/restaurants 2 miles.

Reviews

I would enjoy spending a quiet weekend in either the Shepherd's Hut or the Milkhouse – which both offer all the comforts with style and simplicity as well as the option to learn the art of baking with a world-renowned teacher. I would also enjoy relaxing on the lawn while watching deer grazing.

Fiona, Sawday's Inspector

I stayed in the Shepherds Hut for 3 nights for visiting Knepp, Arundel and West Wittering. Very comfortable and cosy, beautifully decorated. Birdsong galore. Amazing treats from bakery to greet me - warm crusty bread, cookies, granola,fruit, milk,butter,eggs etc. Great eateries just a few mins drive in all directions. Just watch your shins when getting into the bed - super comfy otherwise.

Ann, Scarborough

The Milkhouse is a wonderful cottage to stay in. A perfect rural and quiet location with a lovely garden and woodland setting. We had everything we needed for a warm and cosy stay. The conservatory was great to host a family gathering and the garden was excellent for an Easter Egg Hunt. Our friendly Hosts were brilliant with great communication and useful advice. They provided some lovely bakehouse treats for our stay and baked a superb birthday cake which was very much enjoyed by all. We would recommend a stay here at any time of the year.

Anthony, Kennilworth Warickshire

We had a family holiday here, everyone from age 4-74 had the very best time. The cottages are beautifully finished & all the great things about country living are here: Old oak beams an AGA huge fireplaces Beehives & old oak trees. The Bakers Hut is perfect for a couple with wood burner & luxury hamper, it is just too beautiful. We took our children ages 4-6 and they all had a great time: Swimming in the pool, bouncing on the trampoline, swinging on the swings & seeing what wildlife they could find in the surrounding trees. Les & Louise left us fresh bread & eggs from their hens, Highly recommend.

Sam, London

Fantastic weekend away staying in the Baker’s Hut. The owners made us feel so welcome, there’s the endless Sussex countryside to explore, and the hut has everything a couple needs for a getaway. Would highly recommend a visit.

Dan, London

Stayed in the gorgeous Shepherd’s Hut in ‘21. Perfect summer break, (sort of) camping, comfort and wildlife all in one. Meals outside, swimming, deer, badgers and a family of barn owls. Heaven. This year, The Brewhouse. Again perfect. Somewhere to come back to each day to relax and recharge. The cottage is beautifully quirky and yet so warm and comfortable. Les and Louise are really kind hearted hosts who made us welcome and who provide the best eats ever in a welcome basket. Popped next door for some baking, short stroll home at the end of the day armed with goodies. Simply delightful.

Rhona, Stoneykirk

Artisan Bakehouse is a dream. We rented both cottages and the Shepherds Hut for our wedding. The accommodation is beautiful; super clean, pretty, spacious and very comfortable. Every little detail has been thought of. The Shepherds Hut is so lovely, everything you want & more. All of our guests commented on the magical venue, food and service. There is not one thing I would change about our wedding day and I just wish I could do it all again there. Les, Louise and the team are the loveliest of people and I would highly recommend everything about Artisan Bakehouse. Stay you will not regret it!

Genevieve, Shoreham

Shepherd Hut delight! - My partner and I stayed for a few nights in late August, we were quite taken back at how spotlessly clean and well-kept the shepherds hut was. We absolutely loved going for a swim in the swimming pool and then sitting out in front of the open fire all evening. Great value for money with the breakfast included. Will definitely be returning soon.

Chelsea, Henfield

Perfect ! - We booked both cottages and the Shepherd's Hut over the weekend of our Civil Partnership for ourselves and some guests and we also had our wedding reception at the Bakehouse. Everything was perfect! - All the accommodation is clean and comfortable; the meal was delicious and relaxed; Louise and Les at the Bakehouse are kind, lovely, and very helpful! We couldn't have asked for more! I recommend wholeheartedly!

Alison, Horsham

Oh my goodness what an incredible couple of days spent in the Bakers Hut for our minimoon. The Artisan Bakehouse is a very special place for a relaxing getaway. Les and Louise are truly lovely people who go above and beyond to make you feel welcomed and looked after. We are going back next march to have our belated wedding reception and can't wait. Highly highly recommended....amazing place.

Debrorah, Goring by Sea

We had such a lovely, relaxing stay in the Bakers Hut. Louise and Les made us feel so welcome and at home providing delicious home made bread each day, homemade jam, fresh eggs and cookies. We just chilled, swam in the heated pool, sat outside with The fire pit burning, went foraging for blackberries, damsons and apples which we stewed and had with ice cream bought from local village Steyning. For a city couple this was all such a treat, fresh air and local produce. The Shepard hut is very well appointed and comfortable. We didn’t want to leave and will definitely will be back sometime.

Danielle, Ashurst

This was our second summer holiday at the Artisan Bakehouse and we are so glad we returned as we had another wonderful week there. The warm pool, cosy cottages and the friendly hospitality of Louise and Les drew us back. Such a beautiful setting and so close to lots of attractions and the South Downs. Our children love having the freedom to play in the gardens and were treated to chicken egg collecting (delicious eggs!). We have really fallen for the local landscape and the welcoming towns and villages :-)

Rebecca, London

What a delightful location, a real secret hideaway. The cottage was so pretty, cosy and comfortable. The welcome of fresh flowers, chocolate on our bed and fresh bread, cookies, homemade plum jam & local apple juice was real treat too! The heated pool was heaven and the garden and grounds just beautiful. Even with the current Covid restrictions, Les & Louise were welcoming and helpful and we left feeling rested and renewed! Just Perfect!

Patricia, Fareham

We have just returned from a wonderful week at the Artisan Bakehouse. We stayed in the Brewhouse which is a beautiful cottage surrounded by flowers pretty gardens and amazing wildlife. The heated swimming pool was a real highlight and we swam everyday, it was bliss. The kids also loved the swings, the trampoline and the chickens! Thank you to Louise and Les for making our stay so enjoyable and safe in the current climate. The cottage is very private but they were always there if we needed them (and the bread and buns were delicious!). We were so sad to leave and can't wait to return.

Rosie, London

Read more reviews

Location

The neighbourhood

The Milkhouse is on the fringe of the South Downs National Park – walkers, cyclists and horse riders will all love exploring the network of public footpaths. The south coast beaches are a 10-minute drive and the Knepp Estate is 10 mins down the road. Medieval Arundel and its imposing castle are about the same.

Local points of interest from Les & Louise Nicholson

  • The ancient &historic village of Steyning just 5 mins away.It has a welcoming atmosphere & there are plenty of individual & eclectic shops, cafes & great tearooms. A bustling farmers market is also held first Sat of the month so you can enjoy local produce
  • Surrounded by miles of unspoilt countryside, on the edge of the South Downs national park, a haven for walkers, cyclists & nature lovers.
  • A choice of south coast beaches are within 10-40 mins drive. Choose from stretches of sand for lazy walks, the promenade at Brighton to run or stroll, pebbles to throw and the spectacular white cliffs at Seven Sisters national park are just breathtaking
  • We offer artisan bread making workshops on site where you can learn to make bread & cook it in our traditional wood oven. We also host other food demonstrations/events from time to time. Join in during your stay or just enjoy some freshly baked bread!
  • There are lots of amazing vineyards with tours and tastings on our doorstep: Wiston wine estate, Kingsbrook, Nutbourne, Nyetimber, to name just a few!
  • We have some wonderful therapists who can visit to provide massage treatments, reflexology, facials & other lovely pampering treatments to leave you feel relaxed & renewed. From time to time we host retreat days focusing on pilates, yoga, nutrition.

Introducing

Les & Louise Nicholson

Les and Louise, just next door, were Sawday's owners in France for over 10 years before moving to their lovely house in Sussex in 2012. They are passionate about their award-winning bakery training, supper clubs and food demos – it's worth joining one if you can.