A cosy Farmhouse in wild Sussex countryside, yet close to Tunbridge Wells and Sussex/Kent border

Welcome to Bartley Mill Farmhouse. There has been a Mill here since the 13th Century. This Farmhouse is the old Miller’s house, with its attached washhouse. Various parts of the building have been built over different centuries. Bartley Mill Farmhouse is a traditional Wealden farmhouse which used to be the Miller's house (next door is Bartley Mill - a water mill from the 13th century). It has been recently modernised and set up for family holidays and entertaining with a modern aesthetic. The Farmhouse is situated in quiet countryside on an organic farm, but is close to amenities and five minutes from centre of Tunbridge Wells.

Please note, depending on sleeping/bed arrangements, there may be extra charges to be paid - please read our details carefully. We assume two people share one bedroom, unless notified in advance. Single occupancy is charged as an extra.

Guests have full exclusive access to the 4 bedroom farmhouse (depending on number of guests, bedrooms rented and sleeping arrangements) when renting Bartley Mill Farmhouse which has three double bedrooms, one twin room, one family bathroom, one ensuite bathroom to the main bedroom on the first floor. There's a family sitting room, large kitchen/dining room and a cloakroom on the ground floor. When rented together with the annexe, The Lavendrye, the Farmhouse can sleep up to 10 + 2 small children (in a cot and a separate camp bed). See accommodation layout for the Lavendrye in our other listing.

Alternatively, stay in the Farmhouse from minimum 2 people for 2 nights, and have the whole of the Farmhouse facilities plus a large bedroom with its own ensuite shower room to yourselves. The other bedrooms will not be available (but can be rented from a per person rate per night as extra, so you can sleep between 2 - 10+ guests in total if you wish to travel with more than 2 people). Depending on your group numbers, there may be someone staying in the Lavendrye annexe next door, in which case the rear garden will not be for your own use exclusively, but shared with these other guests. However, you will still have all your own private facilities within the main farmhouse.

Working from home: although we offer Wi-Fi and fibre broadband, this is a residential address, so facilities for “working from home” are not guaranteed. Our Wi-Fi is supplied by a third-party and we do not always have 100% control over its functioning. If you need guaranteed Wi-Fi access and have lots of Zoom calls and meetings during your stay, you should ensure that you make arrangements for alternative office rental during the day. The Farmhouse is designed to be a holiday accommodation, not an office.

CHECK-IN: As we operate a no-contact check-in we need to take some additional details from you. We'll send a separate booking form to verify your identity for our records. This information also helps us to get the property ready for any special requirements you may have. Please ensure you give us your estimated time of arrival. This will help us to be on "standby" for any unforeseen eventualities.

Also, this platform only acts as our Agent in this booking but your Contract is with us. Therefore you must read and agree to our Terms and Conditions before we can accept your booking through our Agent. (A copy of our terms and conditions can also be requested by messaging us on this platform.)

SELF-VERIFICATION AND DAMAGES: You have 2 options: either - you can self-verify through our preferred insurance partner Superhog, who is our third-party risk management provider; or - you can supply us with your ID (passport or driver's licence) and pay a Refundable Damages Deposit (RDD) upfront. (We will require your card details for this option)


Layout

Hallway leading to dining room and kitchen at rear. Off hallway to the right is the downstairs cloakroom, with WC, basin and Washing machine plus tumble dryer. Off hallway to the left is the sitting room, with fireplace (log burner) and then leading on to the study/games room/kids library. Stairs from hallway lead upstairs to the 4 bedrooms, one family bathroom and the ensuite shower room to the main bedroom.


Sleeping Arrangements

3 King sized beds (sleeps 6 adults)
2 twin beds (sleeps 2 kids up to 17)
1 cot (sleeps baby up to 2 years old)
PLEASE NOTE: The Lavendrye can also be rented with the Farmhouse, which sleeps 2 adults + sofa bed + camp bed - please see our other listing


Exterior

18th Century or older Farmhouse which used to be the Miller's house - attached to Bartley Mill. The exterior is lime washed in off-white, with typical Georgian casement windows and roses and wisteria growing over the front door. The front garden is for sole use of the Farmhouse guests, and includes a herb and fruit section (for use by guests). There is parking to the side for up to 3 - 4 cars. At the side and rear is the Annexe to the Farmhouse, The Lavendrye, which can be rented together with the Farmhouse and sleeps up to an additional 4 people. The rear garden is shared space with the Lavendrye, and looks over the Mill pond to the Mill (fenced). The rear garden is fenced. There is a patio area at the rear of the two properties with outdoor seating for 12 (barbecue on request). The Farmhouse is situated on Bartley Mill Farm, with 30 acres of re-wilded grassland and woodland behind, with a public footpath leading to the river and beyond. Fishing is available as an extra on request, from our ponds (trout and coarse).

The Farmhouse is located on a farm and footpath with lots of lovely (shared) outdoor space so bring your walking boots and wellies.

Well-behaved pets are allowed, up to 1 large or 2 small dogs or cats only, but please note garden is not completely fenced so dogs will have to be supervised at all times whilst outside.

Please note, nearby millpond is dangerous for kids so please supervise your kids at all times when they are outside and do not leave them to roam unattended. This is a working farm and so all sensible precautions should be taken including staying on the footpath and not straying.


Local Area

The Farmhouse is located within 2 minutes' walk of a network of local footpaths and bridleways in the lovely Wealden countryside. There is farmland and woodland all around. We have a couple of vineyards nearby which can be visited by appointment. There are great local pubs - the Brecknock at Bells Yew Green, the Elephant's Head at Hook Green, the Vine in Cousley Wood, to name a few. Scotney Castle and Bayham Abbey ruins are the nearest National Trust and heritage properties but there are lots of other places to visit - Penshurst, Hever to name a few as well as Glyndebourne and Bayham (for opera), Trinity Theatre, and the gardens at Sissinghurst and Great Dixter. Schools nearby include Vinehall, Marlborough House, St Ronan's, Homewood House.

Bartley Mill Farmhouse is situated in a small hamlet, close to the centres of three small villages, and about eight minutes drive to the centre of Tunbridge Wells, yet in deep, quiet countryside. It is situated in the base of the valley through which the River Teise runs, on a 'beyond organic' re-wilded farm.


Getting there

Because of our rural nature, the car is still the best way to get here.

Directions to Bartley Mill Farmhouse:

Either drive from the direction of Lamberhurst from the A21 on the Bayham Abbey B2169 road in the direction of Bells Yew Green village. Once past Little Bayham village with the Forge Garage on your left, after about another 150 yards you will see a turning to the left down into the valley signposted to Cousley Wood. Turn left here - this is Bartley Mill Lane, leading to B M Road. At the bottom of the hill turn left again at the signpost for another 200 yards for Bartley Mill and the Farmhouse. Then see below.....

Alternatively, and probably quicker, is to come from Tunbridge Wells on the Bayhall Road to the B2169, direction Bells Yew Green. Going straight through the village of BYG with first the Frant train station and then the Brecknock pub on your right, you continue out towards Lamberhurst for about 1.25 miles. You will then see the turning marked Bartley Mill Road on your right. Take that road down into the valley and then:

The Farmhouse is the second driveway on the right after the small stone river bridge on Bartley Mill Road. You will pass a little white cottage, the Farmhouse is then on the right with a medium sized Beech tree in the front garden. Drive in through the automatic gate just before the beech tree, and park on the right towards the back, in front of the Lavendrye which is the first part of the building opposite the garage. The key code box is to the right of the oak front door into the Lavendrye. Please see our other listing for the Farmhouse which we also let, which is the front door by the knot garden, and is located further around towards the next door property.

If you start going up the hill the other side of the valley, you've gone too far.

Alternatively, a bus service - 256- travels along the Bayham Abbey Road, the B2169, between Bells Yew Green, and Frant train station, towards Lamberhurst.

Our closest train station 1.5 miles away is Frant, on a direct line from Charing Cross, Waterloo, London Bridge and Cannon Street in London.

The property is 2 minutes' drive from Frant train station, 8 minutes' drive from central Tunbridge Wells or from the A21. Trains are approximately 50 minutes to London Bridge, Cannon Street or London Charing Cross. There is also a bus service (the 256) which runs along the nearby B2169. We are located 40 minutes' drive from London Gatwick Airport.


Accessibility

The Farmhouse is not suitable for those in wheelchairs or with limited mobility, as there are stairs up to each bedroom and being the original Victorian stairs, these are more narrow and steep than modern stairs. Furthermore, all doorways are relatively narrow compared to those in modern buildings.