Holidays in Suffolk

Luxury Holidays in the beautiful rural Suffolk Countryside in our self-catering cottages. We have now developed a specific website, called Where Do We?… for this as there’s lots to do when you holiday around the area but have a scroll through here for just a few ideas. 

Walking, Nature reserves & Bird Spotting – we have a separate page for all this.

Cycling

Golf

Equestrian activities/ Horse riding

Art- Local Galleries, local exhibitions and craft shops

Theatres

Kids activities

Ski-ing & Snowboarding

Gliding

Sailing

CYCLING

We have a selection of bicycles here, free to use for all of our guests. We have ladies and gents mountain bikes, as well as a couple of racers and a couple of kids bikes too. We also have a fabulous tandem too, called Daisy! She is sure to make your holiday memorable! Some of the bikes in our shed, along with hundreds of DVD’s, books, CD’s and Tourist Information

You can cycle straight down the lane to Coddenham as mentioned above and there are some great circular routes around the nearby villages of Helmingham, Ashbocking, Framsden and Pettaugh

We have local OS maps available to you and there is one up in the shed on the wall with some of the local routes marked out

There’s a 15m cycle route either turning left or right out of here, known as the Gosbeck route. You can view the route on www.cycle-route.com

If you click on Suffolk you can see the nearest ones to here;

They are The Stowmarket County Tour (18m), the aforementioned Gosbeck Route and the Ipswich Loop South Route (18m) – There’s also one in Southwold on there (43m!)

GOLF

There are a number of golf courses and driving ranges around us;

Stonham Barns Golf Centre

Literally 2 minutes round the corner from Woodfarm, a 9-hole golf course, 28-bay floodlit driving range, mini-golf putting, Golf Direct UK golf store and PGA professional golf tuition – 01449 711545

Stowmarket Golf Course

A mature course, with a wide variety of trees that provides a wonderful spectrum of colour throughout the changing seasons. A course set amongst trees with an array of wildlife that makes one feel part of nature. At 6107 yards, Stowmarket is a par 69 that is rarely beaten, even by the most accomplished of players.

It is challenging enough for the English Golf Union to designate it as a “Centre of Excellence” to use on a regular basis to develop and train the county’s best Junior Golfers

You do need to be a member of another course to prove you are ‘serious’ enough to play – 01449 736473

HORSE RIDING/ EQUESTRIAN ACTIVITIES

There are lots of riding schools and liveries nearby. The following is a list of those within 10-15 minutes of Woodfarm House;

Topthorn

Grove Farm, Debenham Road, Stonham Aspal, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 6BX

Tel: 01449 711962

Contact: Mr Nigel Foulger

Clint Farm Livery

Clint Rd, Eye, Suffolk, IP23 7JE

Tel: 01379 870659

Contact: Mr R Owen

Copdock Riding Centre

Mace Green Stud Farm, Wenham Rd, Copdock, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3EY

Tel: 01473 730678

Contact: Mrs A Withy

Haag R

Birds Lane, Framsden, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 6HR

Tel: 01728 685717

Contact: Mr R Haag

Hawkins Farm Riding Stables

Hawkins Farm, Mendlesham Green, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 5RB

Tel: 01449 766264

Contact: Mrs F Harrison

Henley

Ashbocking Rd, Henley, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP6 0SA

Tel: 01473 785055

Contact: Ms Sarah Cole

High House Riding Centre

High House Farm, Mendlesham Green, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 5RQ

Tel: 01449 766716

Contact: Mr D Nunn

ART – Local Galleries, local exhibitions and craft shops

The Grainger Gallery – Round the corner from Woodfarm on the A140/ A1120 crossroads

Pete Grainger was born and grew up in Nottingham but now lives in Suffolk. Pete has always had an interest in drawing, which led him to study an art foundation course in Ipswich. The following year he enrolled at Norwich School of Art where he studied for a degree in Fine Art. He found that he could not get enough of learning and believes he did 5 years in 3 as he would invariably arrive at university first thing in the morning and would be last to leave in the evening, with the caretakers locking up behind him!

Pete appreciates all art and is never short of ideas, he makes a mental note of anything that catches his eye, from chickens and pigs to a Suffolk cottage in the moonlight, and then sketches them down to work on later. His love of art stems particularly from his liking of people whether it is a group of people laughing in a restaurant or someone stood looking in a shop window. He is extremely inventive and enjoys trying new ideas and techniques. For the last couple of years he has been experimenting with plaster, which he calls his modern day version of frescos. Pete feels quite excited and positive because when they work they are quite beautiful.

Pete is approachable, friendly and enjoys chatting. He loves to get feedback from people who come into the Gallery where there is always a cup of tea on the go!

Open Sat & Sun 10 – 5 (Closed Jan & Feb)

Tel: 01449 711813

The Crooked House is in the heart of Lavenham – a Suffolk village famous for its preserved medieval timbered buildings built by wealthy cloth merchants in the 15th century.

The Gallery is in the medieval building of the Crooked House, one of England’s most vertically challenged structures! Originally built by a wealthy cloth merchant around 1395, The Crooked House is the service wing of his grand hall house: one of many historic homes in Lavenham, Suffolk.

The Gallery is run by Clare Calder-Marshall and artist/writer Alison Englefield. It is a treasure trove of original and inspiring artworks – many of which are by East Anglian artists and can be purchased by mail order

Opening hours: 10 – 5.0 daily except Wednesdays

(Summer holidays they stay open to 5.30 – 6pm)

01787 247 865 – Have a look at their website.

CRAFTS

Some crafts & gifts are available at The Alder Carr Farm, The Chilli Company and the Deben Rose in Debenham – all within 10 minutes of Woodfarm Barns. There are also craft items available within the Stonham barns complex just round the corner on the A1120.

Other outlets nearby include;

Brook Farm, Buxhall, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 3DH

01449 736 363

C and S Crafts

20-22 Bury Street, Stowmarket IP14 1HH

01449 675 918

They make their products at home and sell them throughout East Anglia at craft fairs, via their website and also an e-bay shop

E-mail – info@candscrafts.co.uk – 01449 616838 or 07936 683239

Bridge Farm Barns – A great complex South of Needham Market – Well worth a visit

01449 740456

Monks Eleigh, Suffolk IP7 7AY

Bridge Farm Barns incorporates Corn Craft (01449 740456), Black Barn Toys & Games (01449 740456) and Bridge Farm Plants (01449 740502)

Have a look at Bridge Farm Barns website.

THEATRES

Corn Hall, Diss, IP22 4LB – Half an hour away to the North on the A140

The Corn Hall is a fine example of a 19th Century corn exchange, located in the heart of the historic market town of Diss, half an hour up the A140 from here.

It is managed by local volunteers, ‘The friends of Diss Corn Hall’ and stages a wide variety of theatre, music, dance, cinema and comedy.

The box office can be contacted on 01379 652241

or by email; boxoffice@disscornhall.co.uk Monday – Saturday 11 til 4

For the latest activities, productions and events, check the Diss Corn Hall website.

Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1QR – ½ an hour away, A14 (West)

Now that the theatre is fully restored to its original 1819 glory, their Revisit programme will offer our visitors a unique theatrical and heritage experience.

As the sole surviving example of a Regency playhouse in this country, the Theatre Royal has a fascinating story to tell. A story not just about its own eventful past, but also about a previously missing link in the history of English theatre.

Under the banner of their restoring the Repertoire series, they’re going to be rediscovering much of the undeservedly forgotten theatrical repertoire of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries

You can also take a guided tour of the Theatre or take a more leisurely look during one of the regular Open Doors sessions. They plan to establish a programme of lectures and workshops, as well as a comprehensive library archive

Theatre Royal website.

01284 755127

Box Office (for all ticket bookings and enquiries

01284 769505

New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich – ½ an hour away

Spine tingling plays, critically acclaimed aerial and music theatre, comedy confections with some of the finest comics from around the world; there’s always something for everyone

Call the Box Office on 01473 295 900 or visit their website.

KIDS ACTIVITIES

Debenham Leisure Centre

Leisure centre and community hall, facilities include a multi-use sports hall, squash courts, dance and fitness studios, sauna, bowls green, football pitches, astroturf tennis courts, and a lounge bar with satellite television. The centre also offers a range of regular sports and fitness, and cultural and social activities.

Gracechurch Street, Debenham, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 6BL

Tel: (01728) 861101

Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre

Leisure centre with swimming pool, spa bath and sauna, well-equipped fitness studio, climbing wall, squash courts, indoor bowls and a selection of exercise classes. Centre facilities also include registered creche, cafe, licenced bar.

‘Ocean Adventure’ indoor play centre for children

Gainsborough Road, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 1LH

Tel: (01449) 674980

Ten-pin Bowling – Solar Bowl – Sproughton Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 5AQ

01473 241242

Colchester Zoo – 35 mins away – CO3 0SL

A brilliant day out for all the family. The zoo has had millions spent on it over the years and a great deal of emphasis has been placed on animal welfare.

Tel; 01206 331292 – Colchester Zoo Website

Banham Zoo – Kenninghall Road, Banham, Norfolk NR16 2HE (45 mins away)

Tel: 01953 887445 – Banham Zoo Website

Crazy Golf @ Stonham Barns round the corner – Check out their website.

Suffolk Ski Centre, Bourne Hill, Wherstead, Ipswich, IP2 8NQ

The focus for Ski & Snowboard Activity in Suffolk, South Norfolk and North Essex with their main slope at 180 metres long incorporating a contoured ‘red’ run, a softer ‘blue’ run; and a new 40m junior slope they can accommodate beginner’s improvers and experienced skiers & boarders The main slope is serviced by 2 lifts, and all slopes are fully floodlit…..

Toboggan Fun!

If you want the chance to try something fun, fast and fabulous then tobogganing has to be it. Their plastic toboggans are great fun especially for kids, and are used on a safe carpeted slope away from the ski slopes, close to the ski lodge.

Learn to Ski & Snowboard

Whether you want to learn or improve your skiing or snowboarding they have a course to meet your needs, availability and skill levels, all provided by a first-class team of qualified and certified instructors.

Closed on bank holidays.

Telephone 01473 602347 – Suffolk Ski Centre Website

Easton Farm Park, Grundisburgh, IP13 0EQ – East along the A1120 (25 minutes)

There are lots of animals to see: kid goats, bunnies, guinea pigs, little piglets and two new Suffolk Punch foals to meet. Activities take place every half hour and are included in the entry price, including pony rides, cart rides, hug a bunny, hold a chick, pig fun, barrel bug ride and the family train.

Easton Farm Park is open every day from 10:30am to 6pm – 01728 746475

Carters Teapot Pottery, Stonham Barns (2 minutes away)

Enjoy Painting at the Teapot Pottery and relax in a friendly atmosphere and create your own design. They will glaze and fire it for you, simply return in a few days and collect your creation. The Studio Fee is around £5 per person and the pots range from £3.00 – £50.00. Booking is not normally essential but preferable!

01728 860475 – Have a look at their website.

Baylam Rare Breeds – A wonderful day out with all the family. Spend a day in the country by a lovely river and a lake and enjoy feeding their friendly animals. Have a light lunch or bring a picnic and why not indulge yourselves with a Suffolk clotted cream tea or homemade cakes. You can meet breeds that were well known 80 years ago, White Park, Old Gloucester, Shetland, Berkshire, Middle White, Large Black, Norfolk Horn, Greyface Dartmoor, Balwen, Llanwenog, Herdwick, Ixworth, Scots Dumpy, Scots Grey. Meet the foreigners; the Kune pigs and the Ouessant sheep and let the children spend their pocket money in the Visitors Centre.

GLIDING

We’ve teamed up with Rattlesden Gliding Club to offer our guests an exclusive short-term membership! For breathtaking views of Suffolk as experienced only by the birds, why not combine a break here at Woodfarm Barns with the tranquility and silence of a glider flight?

See our Blog Post on the exclusive offer from Rattlesden Gliding Club.

SAILING

We’ve also teamed up with Suffolk Coast Sailing for those guests wishing to enjoy a sailing adventure on board a modern Beneteau yacht. The skipper is RYA Yachtmaster Simon Read, based just down the road from Woodfarm Barns on the River Orwell (so good we named a barn after it!) at Woolverstone Marina between Pin Mill (great Pub there – The Butt & Oyster) and Ipswich

Have a look at the Blog Post we did on Suffolk Coast Sailing.

We have only covered a handful of things on this page but suffice it to say that there are lots of things to do while on dog friendly holidays at Woodfarm Barns and Suffolk in general. For lots more ideas have a look on Where Do We?…