Log Cabin Holidays – What to do when you get here?

While enjoying a log cabin holiday in the heart of Suffolk UK, there are many things you can do. Walking, bird watching, fishing, cycling, sight seeing, shopping and relaxing, are just some of the things on offer here at Windmill Lodges – an exclusive development of luxury 4 and 5 star holiday log cabins, all carefully arranged around a delightfully peaceful, private catch and release fishing lake.

About our luxurious log cabin holiday accommodation

Each of our log cabins is very well appointed, featuring all you would expect, to make your stay as relaxing and enjoyable as possible. Similar to staying in a Suffolk holiday cottage, but with the benefit of being closer to nature, each cabin is very well furnished with quality pieces including dining tables and sofas. The bedrooms have been made as comfortable as possible too, many of them featuring a delightful four-poster bed with matching quality linens.

The kitchens in our log cabin holiday accommodation include all mod cons and all the utensils you’ll need for serving up a meal either in your lodge around the dinner table, or from the barbecue outside and the bathrooms come complete with their own towels and bathrobes.

Our holiday log cabins are prepared and presented with an eye to affording the highest in luxurious accommodation. Each log cabin comes with its own private hot tub for relaxing in at the end of a busy day. On site there is also a heated swimming pool (open Easter to October).

Outside of the lodges in the beautiful Suffolk and East Anglian countryside there is a huge amount to do for all of the family. Whether you are here for a romantic short break as a couple, or on a family holiday in Suffolk, read on for our guide to things to do on your log cabin holiday.

Walking

The picturesque Suffolk countryside is on the whole, quite flat. Sure, it undulates in places but never to the point where walking becomes anything other than a pleasure. There is a great deal of quite lovely countryside on your doorstep at Windmill Lodges. Red House Farm, where the lodges are situated is located in the village of Saxtead, which is noted for the windmill after which the site is named. The unusual thing about the Saxtead Green Post Mill is that its whole body revolves on its base. It is one of many such mills that were built in this region around the late 13th century.

Further afield the countryside opens up some more, chocolate box villages and quaint little towns give way to fields of crops and wooded areas. Delightful country pubs serve up lovely home cooked meals with a good choice of real ales and a decent wine list. Why not reward yourself after your exertion with some well-earned and hearty sustenance after you've worked up a healthy appetite?

Bird Watching

Suffolk is THE county in which to indulge your love of bird watching. All kinds of birds can be seen here because the landscape is so diverse. The woodlands, marshes, heathlands, and beaches that go to make up this arena, deliver perfect breeding and resting grounds for a myriad of birds both indigenous and migratory.

Among those to be spotted on our shores and in our woodlands are; avocets, barn owls, bearded tits, bitterns, black necked grebes, black redstarts, black tailed godwits, black terns, buzzards, golden orioles, great crested grebes, gulls, hen harriers, hobbies, kestrels, kingfishers, linnets, little egrets, little terns, marsh harriers, meadow pipits, nightingales, nightjars, ospreys, oystercatchers, redshanks, sand martins, short eared owls, shovelers, snipes, sparrow hawks, stonechats, swallows, tree pipits, warblers, .wheatears, widgeons, woodcocks and woodlarks.

Fishing

Another pastime that you can really throw yourself into at Windmill Lodges is fishing and here on site, we have our own catch and release fishing lake to enable you to do just that. The 40m x 60m lake is kept well stocked with a variety of fresh water fish including carp and tench to make fishing the lake as rewarding as possible for all the family, regardless of age or fishing prowess.

At the reception desk on the development you will be able to purchase or hire all you’ll need for a good days fishing including bait, hooks, floats, landing nets and fishing rods. There is even a “how to” book available to buy if you get really stuck. Fishing at Windmill Lodges is excellent fun for the whole family and you don’t have to be a keen angler to really enjoy the day either. Some of our fish just never learn and seem to even enjoy the whole catch and release process!

Cycling

Many of our guests bring their own bikes, strapped to the back of their cars and we have even had those who have visited us by bike, using public transport to get here. This is actually quite easy since Woodbridge railway station is only 14.8 miles away and can be directly accessed via Harwich International, Ipswich, Westerfield, Melton, Wickham Market, Saxmundham, Darsham, Halesworth, Brampton, Beccles, Oulton Broad South and Lowestoft as well as from any connecting station further afield. Or if you would rather hire bikes once you’re here, there are a number of quite local cycle hire shops.

Once saddled up the Suffolk countryside is your oyster. You can pedal away to your hearts content, enjoying expansive vistas and great swathes of unspoilt countryside and since you wont be free wheelin down too many big hills, you won’t have to struggle to get back up them again.

Sight Seeing

Whether travelling by bike or on foot, opportunities for sight seeing and taking photos exist at every turn. In the nearby market town of Woodbridge, you can visit the Woodbridge Tide Mill. The symbol of Woodbridge, if you buy postcards in the town, it is bound to be featured somewhere. It is one of the earliest tide mills still in existence.

Sutton Hoo is another must see visitor favourite. This Anglo Saxon ship burial site is demarcated by a group of low grassy mounds, overlooking Woodbridge from the banks of the Deben. This is the final resting place of Redwald, King of East Anglia. He was buried here with his ship and all his treasure, as was the custom in his day. The burial ground was uncovered in 1939 and is now under the charge of National Trust.

Another great place to visit whilst you’re here is the magnificent 12th century curtain walled castle at Framlingham. This impressive fortress stands guard over the town and is a constant source of education and attraction to visitors. An exhibition within its walls tells the story of its transformation from powerhouse to poorhouse. Throughout the summer, there are regular events staged at the castle including falconry exhibitions and shows for your young knights and little princesses.

Other buildings of historical interest in the area include; Christchurch Mansion, Euston Hall, Eye Castle, Glemham Hall, Hadleigh Guildhall, Holton Saint Peter Postmill, Kentwell Hall, Lavenham Guildhall, Leiston Abbey, Melford Hall, The Malthouse Project, Orford Castle, Snape Maltings, St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Saxtead Green Post Mill, Somerleyton Hall & Gardens, Southwold Lighthouse, Thorpeness Windmill and West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, many of which are within fairly easy striking distance of Windmill Lodges.

Shopping

Shopping, whether for essential supplies like fresh bread and meat for the barbeque or for souvenirs of your trip, is amply catered for by the nearby towns of Woodbridge and Framlingham. These come to you with the added bonus of both being really quite charming places to visit.
During your stay, why not take a trip out to the seaside towns of Walberswick, Southwold and Aldeburgh or further inland, but still beautiful, the famous medieval town of Lavenham. Each of these towns is oozes charm and individuality and they attract all sorts of arty types who set up shop selling their wares. You are bound to find a picture you’ll fall in love with or some memento of your visit that you simply cannot be without and don’t forget your camera, you’ll need that too.

Relaxing

If your ideal short break involves doing nothing more than simply chilling out and relaxing, then a short break in a log cabin might be just what the doctor ordered. You can use the time to relax and fully recharge your batteries. There are televisions and stereos in the cabins, and good ones too, but you don’t have to switch them on. You could take the time to immerse yourself in a good book instead, or to touch base again with your partner.

All too often work and family commitments get in the way of relationships and cause us to lose focus on what is really important. A long relaxing weekend away provides the perfect opportunity for you to rekindle your relationship, especially when we tell you that our log cabins feature their very own, private hot tubs. What better way to relax than have the warm water and air bubbles go to work on your tired muscles whilst you lie back and relax, and how romantic, to gaze up at the stars with a glass of wine in hand, no phones, no email, no blackberry – just you.

Click here to view our luxury log cabin holiday accommodation for the ideal short country break in Suffolk, East Anglia

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Hot Tub Holidays - Get the best from your hot tub

Each of Windmill Lodges' log cabins have their own private hot tub, ideal for a relaxing hot tub holiday! Our holiday lodges are beautifully presented and furnished to very high standards and all have been given either a 4 or 5 star award from the English Tourist Council.

Start your day right

There is nothing better than starting the day on holiday with a dip in the hot tub. Whether you are staying at Windmill lodges for a short romantic break with your partner, or are enjoying a luxury log cabin holiday with the whole family in tow, a relaxing soak before breakfast is just what the doctor ordered!

Once you have finished your early morning pampering, our  holiday accommodation has everything you need to enjoy a hearty breakfast. Our holiday lodges are kitted out with fridges, cookers and plenty of cutlery as well as a dining table and chairs inside and patio furniture on the veranda outside, providing everything you will need for a comfortable self-catering break. In fact our log cabins are so well equipped, they are at least as luxurious as a Suffolk holiday cottage but with all the added benefits.

Ease those aching limbs

On holiday in a Windmill Lodges log cabin, you can enjoy the lovely Suffolk scenery that inspired so many artists and poets. You can go for long walks in the countryside or take yourselves off to the coast if you wish. You can go sightseeing to the ancient market towns of Woodbridge or Framlingham and enjoy working up an appetite. You can either stop off at a local pub or return to your lodge to cook up a feast of your own. At Windmill Lodges, when you return, you have the option of  a dip in a warm, relaxing, gently massaging hot tub. A lovely way to round off a long and healthy walk as you lie there imagining shapes in the fluffy white clouds.

A splash around after tea

You may prefer to leave your hot tub treat until after dinner. The Suffolk countryside is a haven for wild life and its fertile soils provide a wealth of locally produced foods including meat and fish as well as fruits, vegetables and bread. The farmers markets which are held in nearby Woodbridge and Framlingham are the places to head for when seeking supplies, either for your dinner table or for the barbecue and you can be sure of a very tasty and healthy meal since most of the produce is organic. Having had your fill and rested a while, what better way to relax and unwind, than to climb into a lovely warm bubbling hot tub, for a splash around after tea?

Romance under the stars

There is something undeniably romantic about lying together in a steaming, bubbling hot tub, gazing up at the stars while enjoying a glass of chilled Champagne. In the spring and summer months, the night sky in this part of the world is generally clear and there are lots of constellations to see. You might spot Orion, Ursa Major or Minor, Draco, Cepheus or even Cassiopeia, you may even catch a sparkle in your partner’s eye as your romance is rekindled.

Click here to book your holiday let accommodation with a hot tub in Suffolk, UK with Windmill Lodges

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Holidays in East Anglia

Windmill Lodges are a log cabin holiday company who offer holidays in East Anglia.
Located in Suffolk, our luxurious and award winning 4 and 5 star holiday log cabins, can be rented for week-long breaks, mid week breaks and weekend breaks. This rental term flexibility allows you book a short relaxing holiday of a length to suit you and we welcome families, couples and groups of friends.

So, whether you would like to get away from the office for a few days during the week or enjoy a romantic weekend break, Windmill Lodges for a holiday in East Anglia, is on hand to provide that perfect, get away tonic, to refresh and recharge your batteries.

Where is East Anglia?

The region known as East Anglia can be found to the East, South East of the country. It is made up of the following counties; Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk but is most easily recognised as being that part of the UK, that bulges out on the right hand side as you look at a map, between The Wash to the North and Southend-on-Sea, to the South. As a region, it is among the most fertile in the country and is a famous producer of fresh fruit and veg, cereals, all kinds of meats and fish, tasty preserves and honey and of course, wines and beers.

At just under an hour away from London, Windmill Lodges offer holidays in East Anglia, which are the ideal getaway for the stressed executive couple or the busy family who just fancy a change of scenery.

What is there to do here?

A holiday in Suffolk East Anglia may offer a slower pace of life, but that does not mean there’s nothing to do here, far from it. Suffolk allows you to escape the crowded trains and traffic jams and spend time feeding the soul instead. Getting out into the fresh air, visiting the Suffolk coast, enjoying sunsets and dawn choruses! These are all waiting for you at our peaceful countryside location.

Natural wonders aside, there is sailing off the coast, mountain biking on the heaths and long walks that take in some quite beautiful, chocolate box type market towns and villages and there is history at every turn. This part of the world is home to many an ancient castle and to the unusual Martello Towers. The Martello Towers were the result of an early nineteenth century construction project, designed to shore up our land defences and protect mainland Britain from an attack from the French or any other nation that dared try their luck. They were constructed all along the Suffolk, Essex and Sussex coast to act as look out towers and defences just in case our ships failed to halt an attack.

These towers, in their various states of repair and the many, far older castles in the area make for interesting and memorable excursions and great photo opportunities. Check out the curtain walled, 12th century castle at Framlingham or the remarkably well-preserved castle keep from the same era at Orford. From there, it’s not far to Orford Ness. A short boat trip brings you to this wild and remote shingle spit, the largest of its kind in Europe. Here, you can follow trails through picturesque landscapes and discover a history, both natural and man-made, that will delight and intrigue you, whatever your age..

There is also bird watching at Minsmere, crabbing (which the kids will love) at Walberswick and art galleries and boutique shops to browse at Aldeburgh. Whatever your interests, be it pottering around old towns or walking in nature, the stunning county of Suffolk with its quaint character and friendly laid back locals has plenty to do for all ages.

How to get here
By road, the area in well served by the A12 and the A14. If you are coming from London by car you will almost certainly use the A12. Running from London to Great Yarmouth in Norfolk it passes through Bow and Hackney Wick before heading North East and passing through Leytonstone, Redbridge and Romford. Once in Essex it runs by Brentwood, Chelmsford and Colchester before entering the county of Suffolk whereupon it passes Ipswich and Woodbridge. Windmill Lodges is approximately 13 miles from Woodbridge.
A similar route is followed by rail with the Great Eastern Main Line railway serving London Liverpool St, Chelmsford, Colchester and Ipswich. You should change at Ipswich and take the East Suffolk Line to Woodbridge. Take a taxi from there and within a short time you’ll be checking in.
Coming to us from the Midlands and the North, you will doubtless use the A14. This links the Port of Felixstowe to Newmarket and Cambridge where it meets the M11 and from there it goes on to pick up the A1 and M1 for connections further North and to the North West.

Click here to view our log cabin accommodation with hot tub for relaxing holidays in East Anglia

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Log Cabin Holidays - Bring the family to Suffolk this summer for a luxury log cabin break

Bring the family to Suffolk this summer for a luxury log cabin break

Windmill Lodges offer log cabin holidays in Suffolk UK. The luxury log cabin holidays on offer here are ideal for families looking for that week-long break in the summer holidays with the kids or for couples seeking to grab a shorter mid week or weekend break just to give the two of you, a well earned break from work.

Why stay in a log cabin?

Staying in one of our luxury log cabins is similar in many ways, to staying in a country cottage in that they are fully equipped with comfortable bedrooms, heating, TV and music and great cooking facilities. But they also have some additional benefits to the standard holiday cottage.

Our beautifully appointed and well-equipped log cabins all come with their own private hot tubs where you can sit and relax for hours. We also have on site, a heated, indoor swimming pool which is available for use from Easter – October and a private, catch and release fishing lake which is kept well stocked with fish. Some of these are daft and keep getting caught, but there are others that are getting a bit canny these days, making for an interesting and challenging afternoon’s fishing!

Why stay at Windmill Lodges?

Exterior attractions aside, our log cabins are extremely comfortable, keeping you warm in the winter, through coal effect fires and underfloor heating and cool in the summer, by virtue of their energy efficient design. They are also very well decorated and furnished to a high standard, they had to be to qualify for our 4 and 5 star awards from The English Tourism Council!

Windmill Lodges is a small and friendly site with just 7, luxuriously appointed log cabins, all of which have been thoughtfully arranged to provide the best views over the fishing lake and the surrounding countryside. Each log cabin has been given a generous plot so you’ll never feel that your privacy is being invaded or, that you are invading anybody else’s.

Your time is your own at Windmill Lodges; there’s only an alarm, if you choose to bring one. There’s no set time for anything, you can eat when you want to and sleep in for as long as you like! You can enjoy alfresco lunches or barbecues on the veranda and if you tire of cooking for yourselves, you can always pop into the local village, it’s a stones throw away and features a lovely old pub called The Old Mill House which has made it into the Good Pub Guide.

This spacious dining pub located just across the green from the windmill that gave our site its name, boasts a beamed and carpeted bar area with a flag stoned restaurant extension, wooden tables and chairs, a wide choice of good value fresh food with generous portion sizes. There is a daily carvery and the service is excellent, as is the beer. Children are very welcome and there’s an attractive and sizeable garden with a terrace and a good-sized play area too.

Why holiday in Suffolk?

Of all the places you could go, why come to Suffolk?

Suffolk is a lot more local than you’d think. At just over the hour from London, many people commute into town from here and many more make the short journey up the A12 or along the Great Eastern Railway line from London Liverpool St to spend a relaxing weekend break in the country.

Much of the area is protected and officially registered as either, an area of outstanding natural beauty or a site of special scientific interest and on that basis, it cannot and will not be built on. The villages and old market towns of Suffolk are a pleasure to wander around. Within the immediate vicinity are the ancient market towns of Framlingham and Woodbridge, both with fascinating histories that are crying out to be discovered and slightly further afield, but still within easy reach of your lodge, are the towns of Lavenham and Aldeburgh. These, among many other chocolate box towns and villages are photo opportunities not be missed.

The pace of life in Suffolk lends itself ideally, to lovely long, leisurely walks in the countryside and to cycle rides. Suffolk is quite flat, with gentle undulations, making it ideal for the part time cyclist. With a cycle hire shop just half an hour or so from your lodge, you can enjoy all the pleasures of countryside touring without even having to bring your own bikes.

Suffolk is also known for its abundance of locally grown produce. Farmers' markets abound in this part of the country and every weekend you’ll find markets selling fresh, locally produced foods ranging from fruit and vegetables to locally reared meats and freshly caught fish. Suffolk’s big on bread and honey too with locally produced and organic preserves on sale everywhere, as well as beers and wines. All of this is great for eating well while you are here and then filling up the car for going home!

Click here to view our family friendly holiday letting accommodation in Suffolk for UK holidays in East Anglia

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Log cabin holidays - All the benefits of a country cottage with loads of extras

Log cabin holidays – All the benefits of a country cottage with loads of extras.

Windmill lodges are a select group of seven, purpose built log cabin holiday lodges, located in the glorious Suffolk countryside, just outside the old market towns of Woodbridge and Framlingham. The 4 and 5 star luxury log cabins are arranged around a private catch and release fishing lake, and just like country cottages, come fully furnished to a very high standard. They are built with modern bathroom suites and fitted kitchens which are stocked with all the utensils you’ll need to fully enjoy your break. Under floor heating and gas log effect fires make them extremely snug ensuring that they will appeal to everyone from couples looking for romantic weekend getaways, to larger families looking for longer stays of a week or more. Windmill Lodges log cabin holidays offer all the benefits of Suffolk cottage holidays with loads of extras.

Enjoy a log cabin holiday break in the UK with Windmill Lodges - click here to find out more

Country cottages or log cabins set deep in the heart of Suffolk’s beautiful and rural countryside, offer the chance to escape the busy working week and relax properly, knowing that there are no deadlines to meet and no phones to answer or emails to read. In a Suffolk country cottage or log cabin, your time is your own, to do with what you will. There is no set time for breakfast so you can lie in for as long as you wish, there’s no menu for lunch or dinner, so you can choose exactly what you want to eat and when to eat it. Best of all, there’s no itinerary for the day, so you can do as you please and go wherever you want.


You may wish to go for long romantic walks in the Suffolk countryside. You could go early in the morning as the mist and dew are clearing from the heaths and woodlands or during the day as the temperatures rise and the air fills with the sweet scent of flowers and birdsong. There can be nothing nicer or more romantic than meandering along one of the county’s gently winding roads or taking a walk along one of its many bridle paths, enjoying the peace and quiet of some truly idyllic surroundings and all the time knowing, you’ve nothing to rush back for. Before long you’ll find your natural walking pace has slowed to a gentle stroll and you’ll be taking the time to notice even the smallest detail. You’ll wish you had a camera, holidays like these are the reason many people get hooked on photography.

The kids will enjoy their walks in the country too; there is so much for them to see, particularly at this time of year. Spring is sprung and the birds and animals are looking to find mates and build nests together. This is the time when nature is at its busiest so there’s a lot to see, if you know where to look. Challenge them to see how many different types of bird they can spot or take photos of the wild flowers so you can have fun naming them later. Don’t pick them though; many wild flowers are protected under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act so you run the risk of getting in trouble if you do.

Whilst out on your travels you may happen upon one of Suffolk’s old country inns. You’ll find them dotted all over the place, serving a fine selection of bitters and real ales, many of which will be locally produced. The Adnams Brewery Company supplies many a Suffolk tavern as does Greene King but there are many other, much smaller local brewers besides, each producing their own peculiar tastes. The quality of the food on offer at many of these establishments is very good and the menus are often filled with local organic produce, why not stop for a while for a bite to eat and quench your thirst.

If you prefer to cook for yourselves, you can always pick the ingredients up en-route and take them back to your holiday cottage for a barbecue. Once back at your log cabin, you can fire up the barbecue and set the table for an al-fresco meal while the kids go for a swim or play around by the lake. They may even want to jump straight in to the hot tub before dinner. Each of our 7 log cabin lodges comes complete, with its own private high spec hot tub. These are great fun for the kids to splash around in and after the kids have gone to bed, they’re great fun for the adults too. Is there anything more romantic than relaxing alone together in your own, private hot tub whilst sipping on a glass of sparkles? If you left it till a bit later, perhaps until nightfall after the kids have gone to bed, you could enjoy the hot tub and wine experience while looking out for constellations in the night’s sky. Now that’s romantic!

Our log cabins are as well equipped, warm and luxurious as some of the best country cottage accommodation. While staying at Windmill Lodges, you also get the benefit of your own private hot tub, our indoor heated swimming pool (Easter – October only) and a private catch and release fishing lake on site. If you want to find out more, click here to view details of our luxury log cabin accommodation

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Luxury Log Cabin Holiday Accommodation Close to Framlingham in Suffolk

While you are here, spend the day at one of Suffolk’s local seaside gems

Windmill Lodges is an award winning, exclusive development of 7 luxurious log cabins which are available to rent for log cabin holidays. Erected in a wide arc around a private catch and release fishing lake to which every resident has access, each of our log cabins looks out over the lake presenting a quite beautiful view both in the mornings as dawn breaks and in the evenings as dusk falls. The log cabins are heated via under floor heating and by a gas log effect fire and come equipped with modern bathroom suites and fitted kitchens which are well stocked with all the utensils you will need for an enjoyable log cabin holiday. Each holiday lodge also comes with its own BBQ facilities and a veranda for relaxed al-fresco dining as well as its own, private, outdoor, high spec hot tub. There is also a heated pool for residents use only which is open from Easter through to October.

Windmill Lodges is situated in the heart of the Suffolk countryside, amid beautifully unspoilt surroundings, close to the old market towns of Framlingham and Woodbridge. The development is also within a short drive of Suffolk’s heritage coast and some of the most charming resort locations the south-eastern corner of the British Isles has to offer. From here you can easily access such seaside gems as Southwold and Walberswick, Thorpeness, Aldeburgh and Orford. Read on for ideas on places to visit whilst staying at Windmill Lodges in our luxury log cabin accommodation
.
A day in Southwold

From your lodge, head east on the B1119, then turn left onto the A1120 which will take you to the A12. Stay on this road until you see the signs for the A1095 and Southwold. Once in Southwold, find somewhere to park the car, as you won’t need it for the rest of the day. Any trip to Southwold would be wasted if it did not involve at least a cursory visit to the Adnams Brewery Co and associated shop. Informative trips around the brewery are scheduled on a regular basis and generally start at 1030 and 1300hrs. At £10.00 per head they offer a fascinating insight into the art of brewing as practised in days gone by and a look at how times and brewing techniques have changed over the years.

After the tour why not take time to wander the streets of this beautiful resort town and peruse the local shops?  Unlike other tourist resorts, you’ll not find too many brightly coloured plastic brick-a-brac stores, instead you’ll find lovely little boutiques,  antique shops and art galleries, as well as delightful café's serving up delicious home-made and mainly organic, local foods. Check out the lighthouse and the colourful beach huts, the award-winning pier and busy harbour. Several cannons line the cliff top pointing directly out to sea to ward off any potential invaders.

A day in Walberswick

From your log cabin head east on the B1119, turn left onto the A1120 which will take you to the A12. Stay on this road until you see the signs for the B1387 and Walberswick. The village is a walker’s delight. There is a well trodden path that takes you on a looping route around Southwold harbour and into the marshlands which are designated an area of outstanding natural beauty.

A walk like that in the bracing sea air and you are bound to work up a healthy appetite. No diets here, it’s time for some hearty pub grub. There are two to choose from; The Anchor and The Bell, and they both serve up just the kind of food you could do with after a brisk walk. After your meal you could wander round the town perusing the shops. You’ll find an art gallery and a number of original craft and gift shops.

Walberswick is also well known for crabbing. Children (and adults) can fish for crabs using string with hooks and bits of bacon from a bridge. Most years (although not in 2011) there is an annual crabbing competition here where people see how many of these delightful crustaceans they can catch before throwing them back in the water!

A day in Thorpeness

From your lodge head east on the B1119, following the signs to Framlingham, to Saxmundham and Leiston. At Leiston turn right onto the B1122, then left onto the B1353 and follow the signs to Thorpeness. You’ll know you’ve reached Thorpeness because all of a sudden, the architecture changes.

Driving into Thorpeness is rather like driving into a fairytale. The houses are, for the most part identical but very different to anything else you will have seen elsewhere. A mix of mock Tudor and Jacobean architecture, they really are “fantastic” in the true sense of the word. The fantasy doesn’t end there either; the water tower has been converted and now stands as a house on stilts. Known as the “house in the clouds” it is a truly remarkable sight, as is the Thorpeness’ Windmill. This Grade II listed building has no actual use, it is no longer a working mill, nor is it officially classed as a residential property, it is simply a landmark.

The “meare” at Thorpeness is a large man-made lake and the ideal spot for a leisurely picnic to round off your day. At just 1 metre deep but covering 64 acres, it has a number of islands that you can visit by boats which are available to hire.

A day in Aldeburgh

From your log cabin head east on the B1119, following the signs to Framlingham, Saxmundham and Leiston. At Leiston turn right onto the B1122, then left onto the A1094 and follow this into Aldeburgh. Upon arrival in Aldeburgh, find somewhere to park because you won’t need the car until much later on. Aldeburgh has a truly fascinating history, it was once one of the largest ports on the east coast and famed for its boat building. Sir Francis Drake captained two vessels that were built in the area and many local men sailed with him on his voyages.

The town of Aldeburgh is synonymous with the Aldeburgh music festival at Snape Maltings. Started by the composer Benjamin Britten in 1948, it was set up to support young artists of every musical persuasion. His legacy continues to thrive today and Aldeburgh Music now has a worldwide reputation as an outstanding year-round performance centre. The June festival attracts performers from all over the world and from all musical backgrounds.

Aldeburgh is a lovely seaside town with a boating lake for model yachts and an impressive 16th Century Moot Hall which is the principal landmark and serves as a local museum. Plenty of quaint independent shops sell arty and crafty things as well as the everyday essentials and there’s always somewhere to go for ice-cream.

A day in Orford

From your lodge head east on the B1119, at Framlingham take the B1116 signed to Parham. At the junction with the A12, take the B1078 and follow this onto the B1064 which will lead you into Orford. Once in Orford find a nice spot to park the car since you won’t need it for the rest of the day.

Orford is one of the prettiest villages on the Suffolk coast. Once a thriving sea port, the waters have since silted up leaving it quiet with a relaxed feel. The rivers Alde and Ore flow gently passed the village and many local fishermen still moor their boats there.

Across the water, Orford Ness is the largest vegetated shingle spit in Europe and nearby Havergate Island is a favourite haunt of the avocet with its distinctive colouring and curved beak.

Orford Castle, Orford Museum and Orford Ness are must sees during any trip to Orford. The 12th Century castle keep which is all that remains of the castle is under the care of English Heritage and there is a fascinating museum on site which is popular with visitors.

Orford Ness is a nature reserve managed by the National Trust and nearby Havergate Island is a bird sanctuary in the care of the RSPB

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Short breaks in log cabins - relax with a weekend or mid week log cabin holiday

Luxury Log Cabin Holiday Accommodation Close to Framlingham in Suffolk

Windmill Lodges is the ideal location for a relaxing holiday in Suffolk. If you want to get away for it all for a long weekend, mid week break or longer holiday and like self catering holiday accommodation, you will love Windmill Lodges! As luxurious as a Suffolk holiday cottage (maybe more so) and close to nature, or log cabins with private hot tubs are just the tonic to unwind, relax and restore.


Spotlight on Framlingham and the surrounding area

Just 2 miles from Windmill Lodges, Framlingham is a wonderfully picturesque and historic market town which boasts a stunning 12th Century curtain walled castle as well as lots of quaint little shops and it has an olde worlde charm that will have you buying postcards, not just for your friends but to keep as pictorial reminders of your visit.

As chocolate box as it is, Framlingham still has all the local amenities you would expect from a thriving and busy little town. There is a supermarket, a chemist, a newsagent and bakery, as well as a post office and a petrol station. On Tuesdays and Saturdays every week, a small market is held in the town square and it is to the town square that the locals come, to frequent the pubs, cafes and restaurants.

Here are some suggestions on things you might like to do whilst staying at Windmill Lodges near Framlingham.

Entertainments for children

Just try to keep the kids away from Framlingham Castle! It’s incredible, even to adults and to children, it is simply magical. It is stories of princesses locked in towers, of gallant knights who fought courageous battles against huge armies and fire breathing dragons. It is King Arthur and Robin Hood; it is Queen Guinevere and Maid Marion. To children Framlingham Castle is all these things and much more, it’s a history lesson and a lesson in culture but above all else, it’s a great day out.

Not far from Framlingham and walking distance from our log cabins is Saxtead Green Post Mill. It was a corn mill and dates back to the late 13th Century but the really cool thing about it is that its whole body revolves on its base. Although it doesn’t mill anything anymore; (milling stopped in 1947), it is still in working order. You can climb the stairs to a number of floors that are filled with fascinating mill machinery and an audio tour will tell you all about it.

Entertainment for the whole family

If you’d like to go out for a meal together one evening, you could pop along to The Crown in Framlingham. They serve up lovely lunches and dinners in stylish surroundings and have a good range of beers and locally produced wines to accompany your meal. The Shawsgate and Oak Hill vineyards are close proximity and both have recently won prestigious awards for their wines. You could even go for a tour around the vineyards and wine tasting.

Another great eatery in Framlingham is The Station pub/restaurant. Here you are assured a most enjoyable night out. The consistently high quality of the food here has given them a great reputation that has endured and increased over the years. The key to their success is simple, high quality, locally sourced fresh produce prepared by accomplished professional chefs and with Aspall’s Cyder orchards just seven miles from the hotel, there’s something nice to wash it all down with. Trips to the orchards and Cyder House can also be arranged if required.

Foodies are spoiled for choice in Framlingham with everything from fine dining to European style cafe. Check out The Lemon Tree Bistro and Kitty’s, The Dancing Goat. If you’d rather a home cooked meal, Framlingham hosts a market every Tuesday and Saturday morning, where you can buy from local producers to cook up a feast back at your lodge. Whilst visiting the market, stop off at the tiny Over the Moon outdoor café where the waffles and crepes come highly recommended.

Click here to book your luxury log cabin holiday stay near Framlingham in Suffolk.

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