Still Water: Finding Calm at The Reeds, South Lodge

There is a particular kind of stillness that only nature can teach. The kind that quiets the noise within you as much as the noise around you. I found it at South Lodge, just outside Horsham in West Sussex, where the newly opened lakeside lodges — The Reeds — are redefining what it means to escape.

An hour from London, and yet it feels another world away. Here, life slows to the rhythm of rippling water, whispering reeds and the soft flicker of sunlight through trees. Eight beautifully designed eco-lodges curve gently around a private lake, each one positioned for absolute privacy. With floor-to-ceiling windows, hand-crafted natural interiors and deep copper baths on the deck, they embody the kind of effortless luxury that encourages you to exhale — to let go.

Immersed in Nature

I arrived early, just as the afternoon light began to dance across the water, and was greeted by Richard from the spa team as I joined the afternoon wild-swimming session. Slipping into the lake — cool, clean, and edged with lily pads — was like heaven. There’s something profoundly restorative about wild swimming; the moment the water meets the skin, the mind drops its chatter and returns to presence. For thirty blissful minutes I was the only one in the lake, drifting beside the ducks and feeling completely alive.

Later, I was driven through South Lodge’s own vineyards to my lodge — a modern hideaway of wood, glass and light. A fire glowed softly in the hearth. My host mixed a cocktail and showed me the controls and lighting system before leaving me to the quiet. On the deck, I slipped into the copper bath, steam curling into the cool night air, and thought how rare it is to find such perfect solitude within reach of the city.

Dinner Among Botanicals

That evening, I dined at Botanica, one of the hotel’s three restaurants and a showcase of South Lodge’s sustainable philosophy. The room hums with gentle conversation; a place for nourishment rather than noise. My South Downs lamb — served with courgette, grilled broccoli, and a vivid watercress pesto — was a reminder that flavour can be both indulgent and light. Even the crème brûlée tasted somehow purer here.

As darkness fell, a buggy took me back through the unlit pathways — no artificial light here, to protect the nocturnal wildlife. I made a herbal tea, curled up on the sofa, and listened to the silence. Beyond the glass, moonlight pooled across the water.

Morning Light

At dawn, I opened the blackout curtains with the press of a button and watched mist rise like breath from the lake. A message pinged: my breakfast hamper had been delivered. Through a small service hatch sat a wicker basket filled with local treasures — still-warm bread, golden butter, Sussex cheese, eggs, yoghurt, and fresh juice. I carried it out onto the deck, where the air was crisp and sweet, and breakfasted barefoot as the sun warmed the water.

A Spa in Sync with the Earth

After breakfast, I wandered down to the spa, a vast and beautifully understated space that blends seamlessly with the landscape. Built using local materials and sustainable energy systems, its design is a masterclass in eco-architecture — low-impact yet utterly luxurious.

Inside, the 22-metre infinity pool seems to spill into the horizon, while the outdoor vitality pool offers a bubbling view of the downs. For those drawn to more elemental experiences, there’s even an 18-metre natural swimming pond, kept at a bracing fourteen degrees — a gentler version of wild swimming for those not ready for the lake.

Between swims, I explored the thermal suite, lingered in the panoramic sauna, and discovered the spa’s new partnership with Margaret Dabbs London, whose treatments transform hands. I even indulged in my first set of gel nails — a small luxury, but the perfect finishing touch to a day of quiet self-care.

Luxury with a Conscience

South Lodge’s philosophy is as refreshing as its air. Once a private country home, it now stands as a Certified B Corp, proof that luxury and sustainability can coexist gracefully. From its zero-waste restaurant and wildlife-friendly gardens to its locally sourced menus and energy-efficient spa, the estate runs on respect — for people, place, and planet.

It’s a kind of modern stewardship, where caring for the earth is seen not as a trend, but as the truest expression of wellbeing.

The Spirit of South Lodge

By the time I left that afternoon, I felt something inside me had softened. My shoulders, my breath, my thoughts — all loosened by the simple medicine of nature and stillness. South Lodge may be close to Gatwick, but it feels worlds away from departure gates and deadlines.

Whether you come to swim, to soak, or simply to stop, The Reeds at South Lodge remind you of something we all forget: that calm is not found, but remembered. And sometimes, all it takes is a lake, a little silence, and the courage to just be.

DISCOVER: exclusive.co.uk/south-lodge