The Sussex hotel with wood-fired saunas, a shimmering lake and food grown in the garden

A small patch of heaven in East Sussex (Picture: Sophie-May Williams)

I’m floating on a paddleboard on a shimmering lake, surrounded by ancient woodland. The sun sparkles on the water, its soft ripples sending lily pads gliding past. This, I think, is heaven.

I’m spending the weekend at Crafted at Powdermills, a boutique country hotel in Battle, East Sussex.

A stone’s throw from the ruined abbey that is the site of the legendary Battle of Hastings, this four-star ‘life-friendly’ retreat offers ev...