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Swallowtail Hill

Swallowtail Hill Farm, Hobb Lane, Beckley, Nr Rye, TN31 6TT

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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 220 reviews220 reviews
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The Roundhouse at Swallowtail Hill glamping near Rye, East Sussex

About

Swallowtail Hill is a landscape like no other with six special places to stay. The farm’s 40 acres of wildflower meadow and woodland are run purely for conservation and offer guests a complete getaway from the pace of modern life. In a world increasingly full of ‘content’, Swallowtail Hill is about finding contentment and connection – the things that really matter. Their portfolio of places includes a completely off-grid cottage for those looking for absolute peace, a matching pair of cabins perfect for families wanting space, a woodland retreat, and two new luxury spaces complete with wood-fired hot tubs.

Meadow Keeper’s Cottage is a hand-built one of a kind! It sleeps a family of four and sits in pond-side seclusion between two wildflower meadows. There’s a small kitchen with gas hob and wood burning stove for chilly evenings and the cottage is completely off-grid so rechargeable lanterns are provided for lighting. There’s an outdoor wood fired shower and a compost loo.

Twin cosy timber cabins – Wood and Penfold – are each perfect for up to four people. The cabins are a wonderful choice for two families holidaying together. The cabins are off grid, and very comfortable inside. There’s a wood burner to keep cosy, a kitchenette with gas hob and everything you need for a relaxing stay. Each has a compost loo and gas fired shower outside. There’s also a large shared outdoor kitchen area and dining deck.

Woodcutter’s Cottage is a woodland retreat sleeping four. It lies tucked away in a dell at the end of The Dean Wood, an eight-acre chestnut and oak coppiced woodland. Its kitchenette has hot and cold running water, gas hob and wood burning stove. There’s electric light, a small fridge and charging points. Just next door is your very own washhouse – a small cabin with gas fired shower, basin and modern compost loo. New  for 2022, there is also a hot tub.

The Long View is a gorgeous timber hut on wheels that enjoys seclusion at the end of the Eight Acre Meadow. Perfect for couples or young families it has wonderful views and offers a luxurious experience. One end of this beautiful wood cabin is fully glazed and opens out onto a wildflower meadow. The handmade kingsize bed faces the window so guests can wake up with the sun or watch the stars at bedtime. The well-equipped kitchen and dining space has a microwave, gas hob, fridge and wood burner, and the cosy seating area can convert to bunk beds for small children. There’s an ensuite loo and shower room. Outside is a dining deck and hot tub.

The Roundhouse is equally luxurious and designed with couples in mind. It has a kingsize bed facing a huge picture window framing the changing view of the woodland outside. It has a dining space and well-equipped kitchen with microwave, gas hob, fridge and wood burner. The loo and shower is ensuite. Outside is a dining deck and hot tub.

All accommodation spaces have firepits and full equipment for campfire cooking and BBQ’ing is provided.

Wood and Penfold Cabins, and Meadow Keeper’s Cottage open April-October

Woodcutter’s Cottage, The Long View and The Roundhouse open all year.

We have a strict no pets policy.

Guide Prices

Wood and Penfold Cabins — low season £250 for two nights, high season £280 for two nights.
Meadow Keeper's Cottage — low season £272 for two nights, high season £290 for two nights.
Woodcutter's Cottage — low season £310 for two nights, high season £330 for two nights plus optional £30 for hot tub hire.
Longview — low season £360 for two nights, high season £400 for two nights, plus optional £30 for hot tub hire.
Roundhouse — low season £360 for two nights, high season £400 for two nights, plus optional £30 for hot tub hire.

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating:

5 of 5 stars
    • Service
      5 of 5 stars
    • Value
      5 of 5 stars
    • Cleanliness
      5 of 5 stars
    • Location
      5 of 5 stars
    • Excellent
      212
    • Very Good
      7
    • Average
      0
    • Poor
      1
    • Terrible
      0

    Recent Reviews:

    • Nic_jupp
      Amazing experience
      5 of 5 stars
      Monday, 25th September 2023
      Amazing!!! We stayed in the woodcutter cottage and also had use of the hottub. Sarah, who looked after us, was absolutely wonderful!!! The peace and tranquilty was much needed. The cottage was... Read full review
    • L L
      Surrey
      We’ll be back! (again!!)
      5 of 5 stars
      Sunday, 29th October 2023
      We are just home from our 4th stay at Swallowtail Hill! It truly is an amazing place to stay! One of our ‘happy’ places! Sarah and the team are amazing. The communication before arrival is brilliant... Read full review
    • Global05397855579
      Crayford, United Kingdom
      Relaxing woodland retreat
      5 of 5 stars
      Tuesday, 23rd January 2024
      We had a lovely two night stay in the roundhouse. It was exactly what we were looking for. A rest from the hustle & bustle in nice woodland surroundings. Nice walks to take in the scenery. George... Read full review

    Map & Directions

    Road Directions

    From The North (M25)

    Exit M25 at junction 5 – get in lane for Sevenoaks/Tonbridge A21; Join the A21 and head for Hastings; uou will pass exits for Sevenoaks and Tonbridge, Pembury and Tunbridge Wells; Keep going straight!; You will automatically join a stretch of bypass (which avoids Lamberhurst) heading for Hastings; Keep going until you get to the Flimwell crossroads/traffic lights; Turn left – marked for Rye/Camber/Hawkhurst (A268); Keep on this road for around 10 miles; You will pass straight through the villages of Hawkhurst, Sandhurst and Newenden; When you get to Newenden you’ll pass a village cricket green to your left and then go over a hump backed bridge across the river; A little after that you’ll drive over a level crossing; You’ll then see a big restaurant on the right - Sahebs; Take the next left after the restaurant – the A268 to Rye; You are now in Whitebread Lane – it’s a very twisty, turny road; Follow this for approx 3 miles; There’s a sign on the left saying Beckley. Slow down. Take the next (sharp) left onto Hobbs Lane. (This turning is immediately before the mini roundabout -if you reach the mini roundabout you’ve gone too far!); Continue down Hobbs Lane for EXACTLY (and we mean EXACTLY!) half a mile; Swallowtail Hill Farm is on the left hand side, at the top of the hill, slightly hidden by a hedge. There is a sign just by the gate. Please pull into the little layby on the left and come and knock on the farmhouse door. We’ll show you where to park and get you checked-in.

    From The South (Rye)

    Get on the A268 leaving Rye and follow the road straight back to Beckley; You will pass through the villages of Rye Foreign and Peasmarsh; When you get to the mini roundabout, which indicates that you should turn left for Beckley village, ignore this and instead take the second exit (right); Almost immediately then take the first right which is Hobbs Lane.

    Continue down Hobbs Lane for EXACTLY (and we mean EXACTLY!) half a mile; Swallowtail Hill Farm is on the left hand side, at the top of the hill, slightly hidden by a hedge. There is a sign just by the gate; Please pull into the little layby on the left and come and knock on the farmhouse door. We’ll show you where to park and get you checked-in.

    From The West (Brighton)

    Take the A23 out of Brighton following signs for the A270 Lewes; Continue on to the A270; At Vogue Gyratory bear left; Continue forward and merge onto the A27.

    At Ashcombe Roundabout take the second exit onto the A27 signposted Eastbourne, Hastings, Newhaven, Tunbridge Wells; Follow the A27 all the way through to the Pevensey Roundabout; At the Pevensey Roundabout take the second exit onto the A259 signposted Bexhill, Hastings; Follow A259 through to St Leonards and then turn left onto Harley Shute Road – B2092; At roundabout take the second exit onto Ironlath Avenue – signposted Hollington; Continue forward onto Blackman Avenue, and then Ashbrook Road and then Harrow Road; At mini-roundabout turn left onto A21 signposted London, Sevenoaks; Turn right onto A28 signposted Ashford; At crossroads continue forward signposted Northiam.

    At Broad Oak crossroads continue forward onto the A28 signposted Tenterden; Branch right onto the B2165 signposted Beckley; At T junction turn right onto the B2088 signposted Rye; At mini roundabout turn left onto the A268; Almost immediately then take the first right which is Hobbs Lane; Continue down Hobbs Lane for EXACTLY (and we mean EXACTLY!) half a mile; Swallowtail Hill Farm is on the left hand side, at the top of the hill, slightly hidden by a hedge. There is a sign just by the gate; Please pull into the little layby on the left and come and knock on the farmhouse door. We’ll show you where to park and get you checked-in.

    Public Transport Directions

    Trains from central London run from St Pancras to Ashford International.

    From Ashford International there is one train an hour to Rye.

    From Rye we are six miles away – you can either get a taxi from the rank outside the station (journey will cost around £16 one way) or let us know well in advance which train you will be on and we’ll collect you (£10 one way). Alternatively you can get a bus from Rye in the direction of Northiam and alight at Beckley Four Oaks. Swallowtail Hill is then a half mile walk along Hobbs Lane and you’ll find us on the left hand side.

    Facilities

    Catering

    • Cooking facilities for guests use

    Parking & Transport

    • On Site Car Parking

    Provider Preferences

    • Countryside Setting

    Opening Times

    * Wood and Penfold Cabins, and Meadow Keeper’s Cottage open April-October
    Woodcutter’s Cottage, The Long View and The Roundhouse open all year.

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous -Beautiful South Awards Winners 2019/20 - Silver Beautiful South Awards Winners 2019/20 - Silver 2019
    • Regional and Miscellaneous -WTTC Safe Travels WTTC Safe Travels 2021

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