Belle Tout Lighthouse

Remote on a cliff-top between the English Channel and the rolling downs, this decommissioned 19th-century lighthouse found new purpose in 2010 as a unique B&B. Only one bedroom, the circular Keeper’s Loft, is in the lighthouse proper. It has a fireplace, a view over the red-and-white usurper, Beachy Head Lighthouse, and a ladder to a small double bed. There is more conventional, New England-style accommodation in the adjacent house. The nautical-themed Captain’s Cabin has a fireplace, a feature brick wall and an en suite shower room. Old England has countryside views and a shower over a bath. Dual-aspect Shiraz looks towards the famous Seven Sisters chalk cliffs. ‘Having looked at nearly all the rooms, we thought Shiraz was the best.’ At 5 pm guests are invited to gather for drinks in a comfy sitting room, ‘which was great fun’. You can bring a picnic supper, perhaps from the excellent deli in East Dean village, or drive there to dine at the 15th-century Tiger Inn. Afterwards, ascend to the lantern to be dazzled by the night sky. In the morning, breakfast is a feast, with ‘good fresh coffee in a cafetière’.