If you need further encouragement to head south and hit the downs, which finish, rather conveniently for the Guesthouse East, just down the road at Beachy Head and Eastbourne – The Sunday Times travel section had a centre spread this weekend highlighting that Britain’s newest national park has majestic monuments, stirring scenery and terriffic pubs (you’ll need to quench your thirst after a satisfying walk).

Book yourself a suite here (preferably with a bath to relieve those weary limbs) and reward yourself a stay at this award-winning boutique accommodation – self catering and B&B available.

With scenery from chalk grassland to rolling wooded hills, coastal plains and magnificent cliffs such as Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters, the South Downs has just appeared in The Times ‘Top 20 places to cycle’.

And the marketing team at Eastbourne Tourism must be enjoying their Sussex breakfasts this morning with another top recommendation (again in The Times Saturday supplement) with ‘Top spots for rockpooling’ - ’Seven Sisters Country Park’, it highlights, ‘has acres of rockpools beneath white cliffs. Park at Friston Forest, walk half a mile to the sea, then head west along the pebbles’.

Apparently Britain can expect its lowest tides for yonks at the end of this month so if you fancy unearthing some coastal creatures dig out an old pair of trainers and get ready for some slithering over seaweed. Let me know you’re heading down there and I might well cycle down.

I’m constantly being amazed at the beauty and opportunities within a stone’s throw of here at The Guesthouse East in Eastbourne.

We took advantage of a rare spare afternoon this weekend to head to the Seven Sisters National Park, just ten minutes down the road. There are 280 hectares of chalk cliffs, a meandering river to potter along (complete with a concrete path for buggies and easy-access), enough walking trails for even the most determined, Berghaus-clad enthusiast and birdlife to keep the twitchers happy for eternity. And that’s without mentioning the canoeing on offer – for hire and with instruction if you fancy it.

 I must be so transparent. Within 3.5 minutes the wife has seen through this apparently genuine quest for family-friendly fun in the great outdoors. Sure, this area truly is beautiful, invigorating and life-enhancing. It also plays home to Friston Forest which, as well as gentle trails for cycling, also plays host to death-defying , fear-inducing single-track mountain biking. Joyous!

Some of the country’s finest professional riders live in the area which says everything about the potential here. And even the fella in the cycle hire shop there hasn’t worked his way around all the trails. Ahh, heaven….

So, bring your bikes (they accept them on Southern Trains) and your kit, and get ready for some action. Your bikes are more than safe here as well - with secure storage and even a drying room.  

River plain