Family-owned and run by parents Pam and Mark, and their daughters Katie and Laura. They have owned this land for almost thirty years, and spent the last fifteen re-wilding and landscaping it. After retiring from the fruit industry, Pam and Mark soon decided they needed a new challenge and spent 2 years planning and overseeing the building of the lodges and Igluhuts, helped by various family members. Since 2008 they have planted over 2,500 trees and hedges, seeded wildflower meadows and created a tranquil, restful getaway in the heart of the Suffolk countryside. They still continue to maintain the land themselves, while daughter Katie runs the business side of things.
She loves
“Sitting on the terrace, early in the morning. It’s utterly peaceful until the sun begins to rise, and then the birds begin their dawn chorus and it is magical.”
We love
The fabulous honesty shop, stocked with everything from local butter (we brought home 3 packs!) to handmade pizzas, yogurts, orange juice, granola, firewood, and all you need for a firepit evening or BBQ (Weber grills are provided).
You may not love
No kids or dogs, it’s all about the peace. No WiFi except at reception. Beds can’t be twinned. The accommodation isn’t totally secluded; the 12 units (of which we list 2 Lodges and 2 IgluHuts) are clustered within 8 acres.
Sustainability.
The lodges were built with sustainable materials (predominantly wood), and are powered with renewable energy. Full recycling and on-site composting.
Surrounds.
- Wander to local pubs. The Royal Oak and The Kings Head; the latter is one of the oldest pubs in the country.
- It’s easy to eat like a king in this region: visit Leo’s Deli for gorgeous ingredients from all around the world to cook with (the French pate is sublime).
- Hire bikes and explore the beautiful Suffolk countryside, villages and pubs at a slower pace, or visit nearby Flint vineyard for a tour, wine tasting and delicious lunch of local flavours.
- Iken is a charming fishing village on the Alde Estuary (25 mins’ drive). Hire paddleboards or kayaks and if you’re lucky you’ll see wild seals.
- Take the circular walk from Walberswick to Dunwich, passing marshland, ruins, a sunken city, and a gorgeous untamed beach. Stop for pub grub at The Ship; the beer-battered fish is the best.
- For more delicious fish, set your sat nav to trendy Aldeburgh or Blackshore at Southwold and sample the daily catch from smoke shacks and fisherman huts.
- Sutton Hoo, the Anglo-Saxon burial site and setting of The Dig, is only 40 minutes away by car. Visit in good weather; 1930s-inspired outfits optional.
- Spot bitterns, butterflies and nightingales at RSPB Minsmere, a beautiful coastal reserve. Pack a picnic and your swimmers, in case it’s warm enough for a dip.
- Spend a day at Orford. Grab coffee and a pastry from the famous Pump St Bakery, explore the castle and take the boat over to Orford Ness to find the secret bunkers. Don’t leave without tasting some of Suffolk’s best seafood at the Butley Orford Oysterage. Great wine list, too.
Details.
- Lodges on a 10-acre countryside site. Each has
- Two kingsize bedrooms
- Two ensuite shower bathrooms with Norfolk Natural Living toiletries; heated floors in the cooler months
- Living area with sofa and armchairs
- Board games, cards and books
- Full kitchen with oven, induction hob and basic ingredients
- Pre order breakfast hampers
- Terrace with dining furniture, firepit and blankets
- Parking spaces
- Honesty shop with home-cooked style ready meals and local produce
- Visiting bread van 2x a week!
- Massages and beauty treatments available to pre-book to have in the comfort of your lodge
- On-site saunas and yoga classes; book a slot
- An on-site office, with a WiFi hotspot
- Walk to pubs and a village shop; drive to farm shops and restaurants
- Sorry, no dogs allowed
- Booking conditions: choose from a 2-night stay minimum over weekends (excluding bank holidays/ Xmas/ NY) and 4 nights midweek. Closed early Jan-Feb.
- Remember to pack: swimmers for the sauna, beach towels for days at the coast, bikes if you can, a tablet/laptop with downloaded movies if you can’t be parted from a screen!
30% deposit on booking, with the balance due 12 weeks prior to stay.
Cancellations permitted 12+ weeks prior to stay, with deposit refunded minus a £30 processing fee.
No refunds if booking cancelled within 12 weeks of stay.
See our full booking Ts & Cs
FAQs.
No, we are afraid that we don’t — this is an adults-only site, so no children under 18.
We currently don’t have the facilities to allow pets, even the really cute and really well-trained ones. There is plenty of wildlife around the site though!
We don’t have WiFi in the lodges or Igluhuts, but we do have a high-speed hotspot at the office/honesty shop area that you can use at the outside table and chairs. Guests have reported that their mobile phones work perfectly in all of our lodges and Igluhuts with strong enough 4G for video calls.
Yes- you have two sauna sessions included in the price of your stay for short stays (2-4 nights) and 4 sessions included for week stays. Additional sessions are available at an additional cost of £20 per hour session payable locally.
We have a simple on-site booking board so that you can put your names down to reserve your private time slot when you get here — no need to pre-book before arrival.
Saunas are open from 7am to 10pm and bookings are done in one-hour time slots. You will find all of the details in your Information Book when you arrive.
Yes, we do provide towels for sauna use, and all we ask is that people re-use them during their stay to reduce any excessive washing and environmental impact.
Absolutely! Our nearest train station is Diss (direct line from London Liverpool Street or change at Ipswich from other destinations). We are then a 20-minute taxi ride away. Once here we can help you organise bicycle hire, or if you wanted to explore the area on foot then there are loads of lovely walks to keep you busy. We are a 10-minute walk into the heart of the village where you will find two pubs and a small well-stocked shop.
No, we currently do not have a charger onsite and we do not allow charging from our regular plugs and electrical supply due to the low voltage across the site, which means the system could be tripped.
EV chargers seem to be popping up regularly now. Currently, the closest fast-charge to us is at the Co-op in Halesworth (15 mins drive). There are also large charging stations on the A12 at Martlesham, and at Friday Street Farm shop further up the A12, near the Aldeburgh turning. Our best recommendation for the most up-to-date information is to consult with your in-car app, or with google as our information may not be up to date to the minute based on the rate that charging points are being installed.
Check in – from 4pm
Check out – by 10am
Fishing and swimming are not allowed in the lake. There are plenty of nearby spots for both activities though, along with many more water-based pursuits, however the owners are prioritising the flourishing of the nature and biodiversity which is encouraged by the peace and quiet of the lake.
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