Ashdown Park Hotel and Country Club is a luxurious Grade II listed mansion house in East Sussex. Located in the heart of Ashdown Forest, it boasts a spa, 18 hole golf course and fine dining restaurant. There’s also lots to see in the area, including the historic Bluebell Railway steam train and the Llama Park right next to the hotel.
Ashdown Park Hotel Review
The rooms are very generously sized and our suite had a separate lounge and stunning view over the gardens and parkland to the lake. The bathroom was well stocked with Molton Brown toiletries and fluffy towels, whilst we had two flat screen TVs for his and hers viewing, very handy!
We took a stroll around the grounds before dinner, there’s a secret garden, a woodland section and even a helipad.
Anderida Restaurant
Taking our seats in the cosy Anderida restaurant, we had a perfect view over the surrounding gardens. The name Anderida comes from the Roman word hunting ground, a reflection of the history of Ashdown Forest.
Today, the restaurant has two AA Rosettes, and head chef Andrew Wilson has worked at The Capital in London during the time it had two Michelin stars. We feasted on beetroot cured salmon, fresh asparagus with ballotine of crab, crispy roast duck with fennel and a red wine jus and aged fillet of beef Wellington with wild Mushrooms, caramelised shallot and dauphinoise potato.
The room is lit with candles in the evening, adding to the ambience. We were impressed by the extensive wine list, and chose a rich Cabernet Sauvignon to accompany our meal. We shared a selection of seasonal British cheeses and a moreish Millionaire’s Chocolate dessert with salted caramel, compressed pear and pear sorbet.
Weddings at Ashdown Park
Whilst we were there, a couple were getting married and it certainly is a lovely wedding venue – The Richard Towneley Suite is a converted chapel with a vaulted hammer beam ceiling.
Light comes flooding through the stained glass windows and there’s a dance floor to get the party started. The main picture below is of the hotel foyer where the bride and groom were being photographed before the ceremony.
We woke up bright and breezy the next day and explored the rest of the grounds. All in all, we had a wonderful night’s stay at Ashdown Park, and we’d certainly return to enjoy the spa and tennis courts!
Ashdown Llama Park
Guests staying at the hotel have complimentary access to the nearby Llama Park, which you can access directly from the hotel grounds. These gorgeous creatures are very intelligent and social animals who live with other llamas as a herd.
Originally from South America, they have a fine undercoat which can be made into a very soft wool. It is actually better quality than much mass-produced cashmere.
They’re very friendly animals and will easily approach if they think you have special food from the shop for them! It’s actually very rare for llamas to spit at humans, although they may occasionally spit at each other to discipline lower ranked llamas.
This one had very unusual eyes and was a bit cross-eyed, it’s not actually angry.
You can take a llama for a walk if you book in advance and pay a supplement – either a full walk into the forest or a shorter version aimed at families where you stay within the grounds of the Llama Park. We’d have loved to do it if we’d had more time.
Aside from the llamas, there’s a wide variety of animals including alpacas, reindeer, horses, donkeys, sheep, pigs, hens, a billy goat, peacocks and ducks.
There’s also a shop selling alpaca knitwear, pima cotton and toys and gifts, plus a tea room and coffee shop. It’s a really fun visit for young or old and I’d definitely recommend it.
Llama Park, Wych Cross, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5JN
Ashdown Park, Wych Cross, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5JR
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What a beautiful place! The food looks so tasty! The llamas are so cute! Great photos!
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It was a great weekend with everything so close to hand. Nice not to have to travel far to visit places!
So beautiful! I would love to visit Sussex sometime!
Sending you much love & I hope your Monday is as
marvelous like you!!!
xoxo, Vanessa
www.WhatWouldVWear.net
Thanks so much Vanessa, I want to go back to Sussex and blog about Brighton, such a cool place! Have an amazing week
I love your blog & bubbly posts!
xo.
FROM HATS TO HEELS
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Oh thank you Larissa, that’s so sweet – I love your style inspiration
Wow! I’d love to go there. You take such stunning photographs!
Great post, love the llamas 🙂
www.girlcandress.com
That’s very kind Nomaqhawe, the llamas and the hotel were both so photogenic!
Wow this place looks amazing! I can’t get over how cute the llamas are. Great post, thanks for sharing!
Happy travels 🙂
Both the hotel and the llama park were a lot of fun, glad you liked it Lauren
Awww, the llamas are too cute, definitely worth a visit as a family or a couple! The menu looks spectacular! Head over heels about the desserts! 😉
Ira / JOURNAL OF STYLE / BLOGLOVIN
The dessert was really tasty and I loved the cheese too. The llama park was at the top of the hill so was good for walking off the desserts the next day!
Haha! I would do the same after enjoying too much of tasty food. Thank you for the reply, Suze!
The last time I saw real llamas was in Peru. Guess, one doesn’t have to travel that far to enjoy their company. Would love to stay in this beautiful place!
www.LUXESSED.com
Oh how amazing to see them in their own country – they’re such funny but elegant animals
I love me a good llama. Also what a stunning place to get married. Lucky couple!
Corinne x
www.skinnedcartree.com
They had a British Racing Green Aston Martin as their wheels, way to go!
Llamas!! I really love them! This is such an amazing venue, very jealous you got to stay there!
The llamas were such great animals and it was lovely that they were within walking distance of the hotel
Gorgeous property and the food looks fantastic. My kids would of loved to have seen the llamas nearby. I’ll have to book a night or two here next time we are in the UK.
The property and grounds are stunning and it was great to have the llama park so close by, am sure your kids would love it!
What a wonderful experience to stay there! The place is beautiful, and the food looks exquisite! So many things to do! From staring at this breathtaking view, to enjoying time with such cute animals
Natalia
www.lindifique.com
You’re right Natalia, it was a fantastic experience and very relaxing
This place is so luxurious.
Lovin’ that you had a great view in Andreda Restaurant.
The food looks delicious too.
And that llama park– that’s so cool.
I would love to come there and see them
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We really liked the restaurant, classy but relaxed and the llama park was an added bonus!
Ashdown Forest is beautiful but I haven’t been there since I was a child, I definitely need to revisit. The hotel and food looks lovely and a great bolt holt from London Lucy x
It was very quick to get there and I’d love to go back too, we didn’t get time to visit Sheffield Park which was really close by
Wonderful place, so luxurious!!!! Lovely animals!!!!
xo Paola
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The hotel is very luxurious and it was great to visit the animals too! We don’t see enough in London
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Looks a fabulous place to stay. I encountered a herd of llamas in Hertfordshire this weekend – very friendly and lovable creatures.
Oh how lovely, Linzi! They’re certainly becoming more common here and I can see why as their wool is so soft
Oh a secret garden AND adorable llamas! I would love this place!:-)
You would definitely love it Jess, and so would your future baby!
I realize again that I need travel and discover places like this!! I hope you enjoy this!!! The photos look amazing!
xx
www.onlybmh.com
It was lovely, Belen – both the hotel and the llama park. Thanks for stopping by!
They have llamas?! I’m sold.
C x | Lux Life
Well they’re not owned by the hotel but they’re right next door!
Ahh that spotted llama is so coool! What a nice looking hotel!
He (or she!) is a character! In fact all the llamas were so distinctive and the hotel was a lovely haven of calm
Loving all the animal shots! So cute!
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
They were so cute, I’d have loved to see a baby llama but it mustn’t be the season!
The food looks absolutely delicious!!
http://www.raydantblog.com
The food was gorgeous, we had a fantastic dinner
Beautiful hotel, and the llamas look so cute! Gorgeous photos!
Thanks very much Valerie, both the hotel and the llamas were very photogenic
How lovely! The dinner looks exquisite as does the wedding venue. However, what really caught my heart were these dear llamas. I am so partial to goat/lamb type animals I think I am part one or something 😉 Their personalities and all those different kinds of fur SO FUN. I could spend a long time there!
XOXO
www.kellmenow.com
It’s a great place for a wedding and kids or kids at heart like me will love the llamas next door. We had to tear ourselves away
looks awesome and food looks delish!
www.sofiaclara.com
The food was really lovely, highly recommend it!
What a lovely place and I love the llamas.
Aren’t those llamas sweet! Looks like you enjoyed a delightful British mansion getaway :-).
The llamas are so cute!
Lots of love,
Angie
SilverSpoon London
Great place for cool and peaceful time and period.
Is this Llama for real?! First photo is simply amazing!
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Great to see Ashdown Park on your blog a year ago! Those Llamas are too funny and I cannot believe I didn’t know they were there during our visit, next time for sure!
Laura xx