Why Your Next Adventure Should Be a Suffolk Staycation

In recent years, I’ve found the concept of the staycation to be more and more appealing. Often when I travel abroad for only a few days, I find myself drained from the stress and energy of the travel and end up feeling like I need another holiday to recover! As an alternative, I recently decided to take staycation holiday in Suffolk, just across the border from my home county of Norfolk. Although I was only a 40-minute drive from home, this was a relaxing escape with plenty of new places to explore!

Accommodation – Hill Farm Retreat

As we were looking for a relaxing break, we decided to stay in a lodge with a hot tub. We ended up finding a lodge at Hill Farm Retreat via Hoseasons but it’s also available on booking.com The retreat in Wangford consisted of just two lodges. Each lodge came with a private sheltered hot tub. On-site was a fire pit/pizza oven, a barbecue, and several picnic benches. The farm itself was private and quiet, set in the village. Our lodge, ‘The Bee’, had a comfortable king-sized bed, a kitchenette with everything needed to make a basic meal, and a flat-screen TV in both the living area and the bedroom.

On arrival, we were delighted to find that the hosts had kindly left us a welcome hamper containing a lovely loaf of sourdough bread, tea, coffee, milk, and biscuits. There was also a chilled bottle of prosecco waiting for us in the fridge!

The living and kitchen area had everything we needed for our three-night stay. It had a comfortable sofa, a small dining table, and the kitchen was equipped with everything needed to cook a basic meal. We were also provided with takeaway menus for several local takeaways. There was an excellent speaker system throughout the lodge that we were able to connect to via Bluetooth to listen to our choice of music and I was also pleased to find that we could log in to Netflix on the smart TV.

We were pleased to find that the large hot tub had been fully heated to the perfect temperature prior to our arrival. The area was fully enclosed and private meaning we could unwind without distraction. We thoroughly enjoyed relaxing here on each evening of our stay!

Things To Do Nearby!

Southwold

The town of Southwold was just a 10-minute drive from our accommodation. Southwold is a charming coastal town located on the Suffolk coast. It’s renowned for its quintessential British seaside charm, with colorful beach huts lining the shore, a picturesque pier jutting out into the North Sea, and a quaint town center dotted with traditional pubs, boutique shops, and art galleries.

The town is also famous for its brewery, Adnams, which has been producing high-quality beers, spirits, and wines since 1872. Tours of the brewery are available if you are interested in learning more about the brewing process and sampling some local brews.

We visited Southwold on one day of our trip. We took a walk at the beach, had a look around the shops, and then stopped for lunch at a quaint cafe. Of course, afterward, we visited the Adnams store to pick up some prosecco to enjoy in the hot tub!

Dunwich Heath

Dunwich Heath is a stunning area of coastal heathland located on the Suffolk coast, near the village of Dunwich. This beautiful stretch of heathland is a National Trust Site renowned for its rich biodiversity, dramatic coastal views, and unique landscape. We visited on one day of our trip, and I couldn’t believe I hadn’t been before with it being less than an hour away from home. We had a lovely walk on one of the trails. There was a visitor’s information center, tea room, and visitor’s center by the car park. In late summer, the heath bursts into pink and purple color as the heather blooms; however, as we went in January, we unfortunately didn’t get to experience this!

Framlingham Castle

Framlingham Castle is an English Heritage Site. The Castle is surrounded by parkland and a picturesque lake and was once the stronghold of the powerful earls and dukes of Norfolk. There is a spectacular wall walk to admire stunning views over the town and countryside and uncover stories of ambitious barons, a Tudor queen, and Georgian poorhouse children as you explore centuries of history in the interactive exhibition. Ticket prices are as below.

• Member: Free
• Adult: £12.50 / £11.30
• Child (5-17 years): £7.50 / £6.80
• Concession: £11.00 / £10.00
• Family (2 adults, up to 3 children): £32.50 / £29.40
• Family (1 adult, up to 3 children): £20.00 / £18.10

Explore Suffolks Heritage

Exploring Suffolk, you can immerse yourself in its rich history by visiting its historic landmarks and heritage sites such as the medieval streets of Bury St Edmunds, the impressive abbey ruins at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, and the Anglo-Saxon treasures at the Sutton Hoo burial site.

Overall, a staycation holiday in Suffolk offers an unparalleled opportunity to discover the charm, beauty, and history of this beautiful county. Suffolk has something to offer everyone. So why not make your next trip a Suffolk staycation and embark on a journey of discovery right on your doorstep?