Enjoy a weekend without the car in Suffolk

More fresh air, less messing about. Welcome to another episode of You Ask, We Answer, where we tackle the most common questions about staying at Woodfarm Barns & Barges. Today, we’re looking at whether you can enjoy a proper break without using your car. Spoiler alert: yes, you absolutely can! Let’s dive into how you can relax, explore, and make the most of your stay—all on foot.

A proper break shouldn’t involve battling for a parking space or sitting in traffic. Sure, you’ll need to get here somehow (unless you’ve mastered teleportation or fancy trotting in on a horse), but once you’ve arrived, the car can take a well-earned rest.

Our Barns
Tucked away in the Suffolk countryside, our Barns mean you can step straight outside and start walking. No traffic, no parking meters—just footpaths, fields, and fresh air. If you’ve got a dog, expect them to act like they’ve won the lottery. Not in the mood to ramble? No problem. Put the kettle on, grab a book, and enjoy the fact that your car keys won’t be needed all weekend. You can walk to a couple of cafe’s, but in the main you’ll need to be doing your own cooking.

Our Barges
If a riverside break is more your thing, our Barges are ideal. Mornings start with the gentle sway of the water, coffee in hand, and a few boats drifting past. You can wander to a local café or pub without needing to start the engine, as there are loads to choose form! And a stroll along the river is always a winner—good for the legs, great for the soul, and guaranteed to impress the dog.

Leaving the car behind isn’t just easy—it makes the whole trip feel more like a real escape. No rushing, no sat-nav arguments, just simple, slow living.

Keeping Things Green Without the Fuss
You don’t need to live in a treehouse to do your bit for the planet.

Our Barns have electric underfloor heating—though let’s be honest, keeping warm these days seems to cost as much as a small yacht. That’s why we love our wood burners. They get the place toasty, set the mood, and don’t come with a terrifying bill at the end. We stock them with locally sourced logs, so you’re not burning through the planet’s resources either. Both of our Cottages, Woodfarm House and Meadow View Cottage have big open fires for that extra touch of luxury.

A few simple swaps can make a difference—turning the heating down a smidge instead of roasting yourself, throwing on an extra jumper instead of cranking the thermostat, and making good use of that log burner. All good for the planet, all good for keeping things cosy.

If you want to go the extra mile, why not swap car journeys for a walk or a bike ride? Suffolk is best explored on foot, with countryside trails right on your doorstep. No exhaust fumes, no queues, just wide open spaces and a proper change of pace. And we have a handful of bikes available free of charge.

And if you’re feeling particularly planet-friendly, you can even offset your trip—planting a tree, donating to an environmental project, or just making small choices that add up. Won’t save the world overnight, but every little helps. If you ant to plant a tree at Woodfarm HQ, then just let us know, we’ll provide the shovel for you!

So, what do you reckon? Give the car a rest, stretch your legs, and enjoy a break where the only thing blocking your path is a couple of ducks crossing the road.

We even did a video on this…

This is my transcript…

Imagine a Weekend Without Using Your Car

If you’re staying at our Barns, it’s all about more of this and less of this.

A proper break shouldn’t be about looking for parking spaces—it should be about letting your shoulders drop and just relaxing.

As far as supplies are concerned at the Barns, there are a couple of cafés nearby that you can walk to, but there isn’t a pub within walking distance. A short drive will get you to one, but that’s not the idea of this video. So, make sure you bring plenty of supplies with you. You’ve got a fully fitted kitchen anyway, so you can enjoy some home cooking and just chill.

All you need is a kettle and a good book. If it’s past kettle hour and more like corkscrew hour, we’ve got those too!

When it comes to going out and about, just step outside the Barns, walk down the lane, and enjoy miles of public footpaths. It’s a beautiful country lane—perfect for a walk with or without the dog. Just soak up the atmosphere, take in the views, and breathe in the fresh country air. And when we say zero light pollution, we mean zero.

If you really want to get away from it all, how about some of this instead of more of this?

With a choice of two Barges, you can enjoy mornings with a coffee, admiring the river, listening to the seabirds, and soaking in the incredible scenery. If you’re staying aboard Twee Gebroeders in Woodbridge, it’s just a five-minute walk into town, with restaurants and coffee shops even closer than the centre. If you’re aboard Onderneming in Snape Maltings, there’s a fantastic pub right on your doorstep, plus a choice of coffee shops. Both Barges offer stunning river walks and some of the most beautiful scenery around.

Whichever you choose, there’s no need to get in the car once you’ve arrived. Just settle in, relax, and pick up the car again on Monday.

Keeping It Green

At the Barns, we have underfloor heating, powered by the electricity gods. Energy is getting more expensive, but you can always turn it down a little if you want to be greener. We also provide wood burners and open fires in all of our accommodation—except Twee Gebroeders, as there simply isn’t space for one. All the wood we use is locally and responsibly sourced, keeping the carbon footprint low. If it gets chilly, there are plenty of throws and blankets to keep things cosy. Get all hygge, as the Danes say—hot chocolate, blanket, fire on, job done! (Not an actual Danish phrase, by the way.)

If you’re staying at Woodfarm and want to go the extra mile, why not plant a tree? We’ve got space for it! Just let us know ahead of your stay, and we’ll have a shovel ready for you.

So, if you fancy a weekend in Suffolk without using the car, Woodfarm Barns & Barges is a great choice. Other options are available—but they’re bad and wrong!

Hopefully, this has given you some food for thought. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel if you haven’t already, check out our other videos, and leave a comment. Also, subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of our website homepage to stay updated on competitions, cancellations, and last-minute availability.

Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you in the next video. Cheers!

If you’re after a quick countryside break, we might have just the thing. Our last-minute availability page is where we list any unexpected openings—often at a discounted price. Check it out and see if there’s a deal that suits you!