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In a secluded and private field, built on a retired hay-bale trailer, the Vacationist is a ‘modern log cabin’ designed to deliver luxury private glamping to those who want to holiday in style. It is spacious and super-stylish, warm and comfortable. Perched by the trees with a large south-facing sundeck, it overlooks your field hammock and fire-pit area. Hidden behind is the ‘Secret Woodland’ – your magical woodland fire, cooking, and chill-out hidey-hole. This cosy log cabin is a special place to spend lazy country days. Is this the best glamping cabin in Sussex? We think so Land
SLEEPS 4 – SUSSEX LOCATION – OPEN YEAR-ROUND
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24-27th May
FESTIVAL ACCESS INCLUDED WITH YOUR CABIN STAY
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This off-grid and eco-friendly cabin rental brings rare style, design and comfort to a secluded private field in beautiful Sussex. Less than an hour from London, with nearby Brighton, Lewes, Eastbourne and the South Downs National Park on the doorstep, it’s a special location for a family-friendly Sussex glamping log cabin stay with the kids, or a loved one. Offering activities on site, and nearby, or just to be your cosy bolt-hole for a few days of soaking up the bounteous natural environment. The Vacationist delivers proper retreat glamping near London, whatever your motivation. This is simply great glamping, offering an amazing and different log cabin break in nature, with 21st Century comforts.
The accommodation is spacious and surprising. A king size bedroom is at one end, facing west and looking out onto trees, with a secret hidden bunk bedroom at the other. The living room with a log burner has two cosy sofas, with a head-turning dining and kitchen area. Triple bifold doors open out onto a large sun deck and the rising wild field. All this is yours for your relaxing stay.
The trees that make such an enchanting backdrop to your cabin have their own special spell to cast. Go through the gate and follow the path to find your secret woodland hidey-hole. Stop and listen to the wind in the trees, peak back to see the cabin’s master-bedroom triangle window peeping back. Take a seat and be at one with nature, listen to the stream tinkling past, watch for wild life going about it’s business in the banks. On sunny days the sunbeams dance across this secret cabin-side woodland and at night solar lights all around, light the leaves and branches of the canopy.
Light a fire and cook up a feast on the Espegard Fire Pan tripod, or just warm yourself and keep the fire burning late. You can keep your drinks cold in the ice bucket built into the Reel Table by the beautiful hand crafted seating. You might not want to leave when the yawns come on but it’s just a few steps back to your cosy cabin. Just come back in the morning and wake up slowly with a cup of tea or coffee, with the rest of the Secret Woodland.
We’re lucky to have a large secluded field all to ourselves at The Vacationist. After all, if you’re going to stay in a log cabin in the country, you want a great private location to relax in. Just south of Uckfield, with Lewes, Brighton, the South Downs National Park and many other great Sussex day trips easily accessible, the cabin makes a great base from which to explore.
Under an hour from the M25, we’re very easy to reach from London. Come and recharge, relax, turn off and tune in to the delights of eco-friendly log cabin living amongst Sussex’s countryside and charming towns and villages.
We were so pleased to get 4 pages in the November 2023 edition of Homes and Interiors Magazine Scotland. With the tiny home movement clearly in mind, they dubbed us ‘Small but Mighty’, a tag we’ll wear with pride. They said:
“Inside there are intriguing design elements at every turn. Using repurposed and sustainable elements was of the utmost importance to Ruth and Guy, so each area was lovingly hand-built using a mixture of new FSC wood and reclaimed oak and larch.
Our focus on design, particularly using sustainable and innovative product partners such as Havwoods and Showerwall really elevates the log cabin’s interior. Read about our design journey here.
Our first glamping experience is going strong in beautiful West Sussex. This beloved converted American school bus, Skoolie Stays, launched in June 2021. It was inspired by a family gap-year travelling 14,000 miles across America. Living off-grid, getting closer to nature and each other, was an incredible experience and so positive for our physical and mental health. When we returned to the UK, we shipped a bus over to convert ourselves so that others could enjoy it too.
“Absolutely breathtaking!! Guy and Ruth have really created something special with the authentic Skoolie. Upon arriving we were blown away by the natural beauty of the surroundings. The bus is set within a beautiful private meadow with stunning trees! It has been lovingly created into a unique glamping experience, like no other. There is so much character and craftsmanship within the detail.
It has everything you need on board to have a warm, comfortable and fun experience. We loved lighting the log burner, playing board games and cooking tasty dishes with all the equipment we needed provided. The bus features a large couch, seating area and bedroom along with a bathroom. The bed was comfortable with plenty of room for the two of us, the bathroom had a great shower and we were so impressed to see a compost toilet! In-line with the eco friendly and sustainable vision Guy and Ruth encompass.” – Google review, Oct ’23
Tash RalphsApril 14, 2023We’ve just had a wonderful couple of days at Skoolie Stays and what a treat it was. Everything about the bus is just perfect, from the comfy beds and hot shower to the whistling kettle, the worktop and bus seats to sit on to eat. All the little details and touches were so well thought out, things like the little curtain to go up around the bunk beds (so we could hide from our kids as they fell asleep!) the shelves above the bed and the bits of wood to pop your hot pans on as well as the swings tied to the trees. You can tell that so much thought, love and care has been put into it. We absolutely loved it, the highlight being waking up to sunshine and the kids running about on the grass in their PJs with no one else around - having our own private field was just magic. Thank you Guy and Ruth, you’ve chosen such a wonderful location and we loved reading all about your road trip and all the work you put your Skoolie. You’re an inspiration! We’ll definitely be back :) xxx
Chantal WorsdellApril 2, 2023Fantastic, quirky couple of nights away. The bus was spotlessly clean, beautifully designed and super cosy. We loved every minute and would definitely return and recommend. White Lion Inn 10/10 too! You WILL need wellies! Well done Skoolie Stays team!
Jo-Ann StaffordMarch 21, 2023Enjoyable stay which was very relaxing and comfortable; loved the log burner and fire pit. Great to have info on where to visit locally. Would highly recommend. Thanks Guy and Ruth, you've done a great job converting the bus, lots of quirky features, homely feel and idyllic location x
Mark BeaumontJanuary 17, 2023What a fabulous restful and fun place for the family or a couple to take a break from it all. The creature comforts and quality of everything in the bus is just fantastic. The owners really have gone the extra mile. And the location is great for walks in the woods and even a 30 min evening walk to a bistro pub should you not want to cook. Log burner evenings , sunny breakfast on the old school brekkie table and a swing on the rope swing in the meadow is all that’s needed. It is lovely and I’d while heartedly recommend it. Especially loved reading the books Guy and Ruth wrote about their own trip around the US and Canada for a year in a bus just like it before they converted this one for us to stay in. Myself, my wife and kids loved it. Will do it again for sure. Thanks Skoolie stays. :)
Rob TauscherJanuary 9, 2023Stayed on the funky bus for 3 days last week. Was magic. Super comfy, amazing location. Felt like I properly escaped. Host was very helpful too.
Sophie AdamsDecember 24, 2022We had such a fantastic stay on the Skoolie. The location is absolutely beautiful and so peaceful. The kids loved the bunk beds and having a field to themselves! The beds were really comfortable. The space has been used so cleverly- the bus has everything you could need for a winter or summer stay, all amazingly presented and clean. We all loved our stay, thank you Ruth and Guy!
Asher SimpsonDecember 4, 2022Our weekend stay was AMAZING. The comfiest bed, most beautiful surroundings, an exquisite transformation with such attention to detail that kept us enticed as we found more of them throughout our stay, and the wood burner was to die for. Guy and Ruth were most communicative and although we had no problems, they were still most hospitable and readily available. Take your wellies and enjoy!
Samantha HowardOctober 30, 2022I can’t recommend this Skool bus enough (wherever it may be placed). This was the first ever break with just me and my two children (10 and 5) since becoming a trio and I wanted something different for us to stay in. We love camping and being in the isle of no where but for an October break I wanted some comfort. The children didn’t know where we were staying and both were speechless on arrival not knowing how you would sleep on a bus, my 5 year old kept on saying “I can’t believe we’re sleeping/eating/living on a bus” at various points of the trip. It was beautifully decorated and I love reading the history of the bus and the various touches within both to its history and the owners own ethics towards the environment and the impact. It had everything and more that we needed for the trip and great little touches (I need a bed side mug shelf) Location was amazing to explore the South Downs way. We will be coming back, wherever it shall be.
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