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Grand days out in Suffolk; Rendlesham Forest, The Froize & Orford

The Froize from our holiday cottages in Suffolk

My guests really seem to be enjoying the Grand days out from our holiday cottages in Suffolk that I put together, and I’m writing them as often as I can. I’ve been away to UK holiday cottages elsewhere in the past and found fairly scant info on the area, yet we want to explore! The next thing is that you like the look of two or three places but have no real concept of how far apart they are or how long you’re likely to spend there. So in this series, I’m simply pulling together some ideas for a ‘packaged’ day out. I have tons to write about still so bear with me!

This Blog is all about fresh country air, food heaven and a beautifully unspoilt little riverside village. Heading out from our holiday cottages in Suffolk, through Woodbridge on the Orford road. The first stop is just over half an hour away and all three of these places are within a very short drive of each other.

Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk, IP12 3NF

OK, the first thing to tell you about Rendlesham Forest is that in 1980 there were reported UFO sightings. I cannot confirm or deny these but from experience, all I have ever seen in the forest since I arrived on your planet is earthlings. There is a UFO ‘trail’ there but it’s only part of the woodland walk with some info on the alleged incident. Hardly anyone has since been taken away. Aside from all that, it is a wonderful natural forest with acres and acres of woodland.

Walking and cycling trails

There are also a couple of other circular walks; one little one of about a mile and a longer one of 3 miles, going through plantations, heathland and wetlands.

Rendlesham Forest is also very popular with cyclists and there are two trails, one of 6 miles and one of 10 miles. You can see details of all the trails on the Forestry Commission website

There’s parking (£3.50 all day at the time of writing) and there are play areas and picnic areas too, as well as bike hire. The Forest is open from 8am til 8pm

The Froize Inn, Chillesford, Suffolk

One of the friendliest restaurants you’ll ever find, serving hearty, locally & responsibly sourced food to die for (well, not quite but you know what I mean!)

David Grimwood has owned the Froize since the turn of the Century (this Century, not the last one!) and has built a superb reputation for quality and service, the envy of many others in his field. Not only is he the Head Chef behind the mouth-watering dishes coming out of the kitchen, but you will also usually find David serving and chatting with his clientele too. And this is how we became friends, as I’m sure he is with most of Suffolk.

The Froize is a restaurant with a difference; the main courses are all served from a hot counter but do not think carvery cos it isn’t. Nothing wrong with that of course but David’s style offers far more than that. You’ll find a superb selection of local produce, cooked with imagination and flair, often with the old boy himself on hand to tell you all about it and to suggest what to have. And it’s a real mix n match affair too so there’s a true feast of flavours to be had.

David and I also share a passion for music and I was honoured to be part of the lineup playing at ‘Davestock’ for his 60th in 2014. He now hosts regular Sunday evening live music events too so do check out details of Folk at the Froize too

They are open for lunch Tuesday to Sunday and for supper on Friday & Saturday. Go to The Froize Website to check out sample menus and get yourself in there!

Orford, Suffolk

A tiny little historic fishing village on our stunning heritage coast, full of rural charm and feeling very much like the land that time forgot. The peace, tranquility and architecture in Orford just say “quintessential England”.

Walking, cycling, sailing, art, history, food, bird watching. It’s got em all!

The first sight that’ll greet you is the beautiful old castle on your right-hand side as you approach Orford itself. Dating back to the 12th Century, the castle nowadays is just part of the original structure.  It now houses a museum and is owned and operated by English Heritage.

Orford is perhaps most well known for oysters and smokehouses and you can buy some amazing produce to take home. There’s a great butcher here, as well as a great little antiques shop and the award-winning Pump Street Bakery. They have a cafe’ and bakery and no trip to Orford is complete without taking some of their wares home. It isn’t cheap by any means but it is very good!

Wander down to the quay and you can pick up fresh fish caught by local fishermen, sold where it comes in! Orford’s economy is very much dependent on the tourist pound and you do get a sense that you are contributing to a vibrant community when you are there.

The River Ore, and the surrounding Salt Marshes are a mecca for bird watchers and you’ll see lots just standing on the quay, forgetting the clock. There’s a National Trust Site on Orford Ness, documenting many of the activities from the Cold War.

There is of course a great pub, as you would expect in Suffolk. The Jolly Sailor serves Adnams so another ‘must’ whilst you are here.

I hope you enjoy your grand day out!

To check availability and start planning your next trip with us, just click here to find a date to suit you and start getting excited!

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Dogs Welcome Award for our holiday cottages

Happy Dogs with our Pets Welcome Award

We are so pleased to have been awarded the VisitEngland Dogs Welcome accreditation as we have openly welcomed dogs since the start. All of our Suffolk holiday cottages have enclosed gardens making them very dog friendly. This page tells you more about the criteria that we have in place to conform with the guidelines for Dogs Welcome

Continue reading Dogs Welcome Award for our holiday cottages
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Happy dog owner guests at our Suffolk cottages

Dog-Friendly Extraordinary Holiday Cottages

We have hundreds of testimonials from our dog-loving guests. All of these are taken from our Guest Comments Books in our holiday cottages. Feel free to scan through and see what our previous guests have thought about our dog-friendly holiday cottages and Suffolk in general

Continue reading Happy dog owner guests at our Suffolk cottages
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Luxury Holiday Cottages in Suffolk

Dog friendly Deben holiday cottage

We have seven luxury self-catering holiday cottages in the heart of the rural Suffolk countryside.

From our stunning 500-year-old luxurious thatched farmhouse to our six holiday cottage Suffolk barns, we can accommodate anything from a romantic weekend for two, to a full on family celebration for up to 19 adults. All in sumptuous luxury, in a beautiful, rustic country setting.

Luxurious and Romantic, Self-Catering, Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages in the Heart of the Rural Suffolk Countryside Continue reading Luxury Holiday Cottages in Suffolk

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Dog Days

dog in a holiday cottage

Woodfarm House and all six of our Suffolk barn holiday cottages are dog friendly so your dog can feel at home too as he or she holidays with you. Now you can have a luxury self-catering holiday in the beautiful Suffolk Countryside without leaving your dog in kennels or faffing around getting sitters as you can bring them to our dog friendly cottages in the heart of rural Suffolk.

Meander down the lanes right from here on your morning dog walk down to the church. It’s just next door and has a public footpath round it back to the lane so your dog can have a good old root around in the hedgerows. It’s a great leg-stretcher for both humans and dogs.

Then enjoy your complimentary breakfast basket, full of lovely Suffolk goodies. It’s a self-catering holiday cottage but so many of our guests are surprised when they discover the lovely provisions we leave at the cottage. But we don’t leave the dog out as we leave a dog biscuit (Don’t cook it though). The dog may appreciate a bit of smoked bacon though!

Taking the dog out in Suffolk is easy. So many pubs welcome dogs and there are countless walks, many of which are in the books and maps we have in your self-catering holiday cottage and also highlighted on our guide to all things Suffolk Where Do We…

After a long day out exploring Suffolk with the dog, you can come back and relax in your self-catering holiday cottage in front of a lovely log fire. Woodfarm House has a gorgeous open fire and all the barn holiday cottages have great little woodburners, which dogs love curling up in front of.

As we said, at all our Suffolk holiday cottages we have OS maps and great books on “Walks in Suffolk” with loads of dog walks, pinpointing local dog walks & dog-friendly pubs. We have dog bowls at each holiday cottage too, as well as providing our four-legged friends with a dog biscuit or doggie treat as we’ve said.

Our welcome folders in the self-catering holiday cottages also have additional doggie info, including details of local vets, which of course we hope you never need! We also have a number of groomers locally that come highly recommended so your dog can be pampered too.

We normally accept two dogs in each self-catering holiday cottage though we are happy to discuss more with you. After all, they are your dogs so it’ll be up to you at the end of the day. We probably won’t accept 101 dalmations though! Woodfarm House is obviously the largest holiday cottage we have and we have happily had four dogs in there at one time. If you just have little dogs then I’m sure we could accept more! Just discuss your own dog collection with us! The barn cottages are great for two dogs. If you have another dog then do give us a call.

Each of our luxury dog-friendly self-catering holiday cottages is geared up well, with fully enclosed gardens to keep your dog safe. All the barns have oak flooring so are very practical where dogs are concerned and much of the downstairs of Woodfarm House is tiled.

We keep spare dog towels to wipe down mucky mutts after a day’s dog-walking around the picturesque Suffolk Countryside. They are in our bike shed, at the centre of all our holiday cottages, which also houses lots of tourist information on everything you could possibly wish for to guide you around Suffolk and its dog-friendly attractions. There are loads of DVD’s in there too so you and the dog can curl up in front of the log-fire in the evening!

There’s an outside tap with each of our holiday cottages to hose ’em down too!
So in summary, all our dog-friendly holiday cottages have a pet welcome pack including: a pet washing station outside, local dog walking maps, pet waste bags, dog-friendly pub info, information on local vets, info on local pet suppliers, dog bowls, dog towels and that ever welcome dog biscuit.

So many of our dog-owning guests are amazed at the luxury and high-quality of our dog-friendly self-catering holiday cottages, so rarely found in accommodation accepting dogs. So whether it’s a romantic weekend for two, accompanied by your dog, or a full on family holiday with a handful of dogs, we have the ideal self-catering holiday cottage for you.
We do respectfully ask that your dog is kept off the beds and furnishings and is not left alone. Please be mindful of other guests, with or without dogs, particularly with regards to barking etc. We hope you enjoy your stay at one of our dog friendly self-catering cottages in Suffolk.

Don’t just take our word for it, have a read through our testimonials from our previous dog-owning guests here

We’ve always been dog-friendly here as so many of our guests are dog-owners but we’ve now stepped it up a gear. One of our loyal guests works for Wood Green, The Animals Charity and we have long since offered a donation when anyone books a break, having seen us on their website.

I figured it was about time I went over to their Cambridgeshire site and it was quite an eye-opener. They do amazing work within the community, educating people on animal welfare and re-homing dogs, cats, small animals and also field animals.

Wood Green - Charity supported by our Romantic, Luxurious Self-Catering, Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages in the   Heart of the Rural Suffolk Countryside

This is me with Katja & Dawn from Wood Green, with a sign we appropriated from their vast gift shop! The top pic is us with Hamish and Haggis, two brothers currently looking for new homes.

And who could possibly resist this little fella below? This is Toby. Despite his sad look he is a very happy chappy and was all over us when we met him.

Wood Green - Charity supported by our Romantic, Luxurious Self-Catering, Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages in the   Heart of the Rural Suffolk Countryside
We now have lots of goodies to give away to our dog-owning guests, from Wood Green car stickers, lapel pins and magazines, to travel bowls.

It was a real treat having a look round and we are very proud to be working with such an amazing charity as one of the three we currently support.

Many thanks to Tony Bell Photography for the pics. Tony will soon be offering exclusive but very affordable portrait packages for our guests. With or without dogs!

Alde Barn - one of our Romantic, Luxurious Self-Catering, Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages in the   Heart of the Rural Suffolk Countryside
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Happy Birthday to us!

Birthday celebrations at our Suffolk holiday cottages

It’s almost June, which means it’s Summer here in good old Blighty! Whatever the weather, it’s still Summer so it’s time to open the Pimms and enjoy a fabulous luxurious Self-Catering break in one of our Suffolk Holiday Cottages

Summer in Suffolk with a Pimms in one of our Romantic, Luxurious Self-Catering, Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages in the   Heart of the Rural Suffolk Countryside

It also means a huge Happy Birthday to…………………… us! Yes, Woodfarm Barns is officially two years old the first week of Summer 2014! Continue reading Happy Birthday to us!

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Doing our bit for charity

Wood Green working with dog friendly Woodfarm Barns

Charity Logos

At Woodfarm Barns we are proud to be doing our little bit for three great causes. This is a small cottage (sorry!) industry but we are fortunate enough to be in a position to use the business and some personal time to be able to do some good for;

* The Willow Foundation via ‘Leestock Festival’

This came about in 2013 when I was asked to perform at Leestock Festival in Long Melford, Suffolk. I’m a singer/ songwriter in my spare time (hah!) and became involved as a sponsor through the business too as I loved what they were doing. This continued in 2014 as we were again key sponsors, financing and producing the festival programme, as well as performing again year with my band Elephant in the Room

Carl at Leestock

Have a look at some more info on Leestock & The Willow Foundation here

* Wood Green, The Animals Charity

This kinda happened by accident when Dawn & Paul, some of our most loyal guests suggested we may wish to become an ‘affiliate partner’ as Dawn works there. I have obviously been familiar with the amazing work that Wood Green do for many years. We pride ourselves in providing high quality pet-friendly accommodation and the pet market is a huge part of what we do it seemed like a great idea

Katja, Carl and Dawn with furry friends

For more info on what they do and what we are doing together click here

* Suffolk Family Carers

Again this came about through my music as a fellow musician friend’s wife works for the charity. I decided on the spur of the moment in February 2014 to hold a last minute charity auction on Facebook for a weekend away because we had a vacant barn. I figured I would rather someone enjoyed it than it sit empty and we could raise some money for this brilliant local cause. I’m delighted to say that this has snowballed as I subsequently headed up the production and release of a CD recorded at the BBC Suffolk Studios. Details of the project can be found here and if you’d like to buy a copy, just £8 for 18 original tracks, then just ask me. We raised funding from lots of Suffolk businesses, including Woodfarm Barns and sales are going well with every penny going to a great cause

BBC Sessions CD

Please have a look at the great work that Suffolk Family Carers carry out on their website

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A luxury Winter Break in Suffolk

A Winter break at our Suffolk holiday cottages

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year”. Never a truer phrase than on a winter break in Suffolk.

Have a Winter Break in Suffolk at Woodfarm BarnsThe cooler months are still a wonderful time to enjoy a winter break around here. The landscape takes on a very different but nonetheless inviting feel and of course all of our cottages have bundles of cosy charm and roaring log fires to keep you warm and add that touch of winter cosiness.

The rambling countryside that surrounds us is still appealing in the autumn and winter, with winding country lanes and loads of great public footpaths taking you off the beaten track. You won’t see many people around here whatever the time of year so this time of the year is especially great if you want to get away from it all with your loved one/s.

The beautiful heritage coast is just half an hour away and still very popular at this time. You’ll be treated to a bracing North Sea breeze to blast away the cobwebs but you’ll be fine as long as you wrap up warm.

Suffolk Coasts and Heaths are one of two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty that we have within half an hour of our cottages.

Woodbridge, Southwold and Aldeburgh are all really popular destinations with our guests all year round and you can always pick up some great local beers and wines to warm you up when you get back here.

Mouth-watering breakfast basket with your Winter breakYou’ll need to head off for a good walk anyway after tucking into your hearty breakfast from the welcome basket that we provide in all of our cottages.

Free range eggs from Mill Green Farm, bacon from Palfrey & Hall, mushrooms, jam and marmalade from Fruits of Suffolk, tomatoes, toast and butter, all provided as part of your package, along with fresh coffee, tea, sugar, milk, fruit and some cookies.

Hot Tubs make your Winter Break

Luxurious Hot Tub options on your Winter BreakWith three barns to choose from with your own private luxurious Hot Tub, you can enjoy your Winter Break whatever the weather.

Deben Barn has a Hot Tub on the patio, with Gipping and Orwell Barns having theirs under cover just outside your back door in one of our covered Garden Rooms with opaque roofs letting in light.

Christmas at Woodfarm

Celebrate Christmas in Suffolk on your Winter BreakThis is an extra special time of the year here at Woodfarm and we have always been fully booked way in advance. From the first year when we just had Woodfarm House, the following year when we added the Granary Barn and then the following year when we had the five new holiday cottage barns all up and running.

Our holiday cottages all lend themselves to the cosy charm you would expect from a yule-tide break in the country. With Christmas trees to put your presents under and tasteful traditional decorations all around you, it’ll feel like a home from home.

Book early to avoid disappointment!

Whether you are in Woodfarm House, The Granary Barn or one of the ‘Woodfarm’ barns, you’ll relax and enjoy the oak-beamed ceilings and bags of rustic country charm. Having done this for many years, we have been working hard to strike the right note for our guests, whatever the season. Take a look at the hundreds of reviews from our happy guests on TripAdvisor, Facebook and Google, resulting in the awarding of our TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence and our Quality In Tourism Gold Awards for all seven cottages.

The farmhouse has a wonderful open fire and all six of the barns have great wood-burning stoves so if the temperature drops in the evening then you can get a cosy fire going and chill out with one of hundreds of DVDs that we provide, again free of charge.

You’ll find country lanes, thatched ­cottages, classic out-of-season seaside resorts at Aldeburgh and Southwold, meandering rivers and great pubs & restaurants.

Kids are welcome. Woodfarm House sleeps 2, plus travel cots for toddlers and all the barns have room for a travel cot (provided free of charge). See our ‘Have Fun’ page on our Tourist Guide website “Where Do We?” for some ideas on what to do with the kids, big and small!

Three well-behaved dogs are welcome in all the cottages too – See our separate ‘Pets Welcome’ page at the bottom of this page or have a look on “Where Do We?” at our ‘Take the Dog‘ section.

Winter is defined by the Met Office as December, January and February. Our Winter 2016 prices start from just £248 for a 2 night weekend break.

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Autumn breaks in our luxurious Suffolk Holiday Cottages

Cosy fires in our luxury holiday cottages in Suffolk

Blue skies, open landscapes, country lanes and public footpaths, mixed with picture postcard villages, beaches, marshland and a large dollop of eccentricity, Suffolk is an ideal Autumn holiday escape. All the pics on this page were taken from our holiday cottages and down our lane in October 2012
Continue reading Autumn breaks in our luxurious Suffolk Holiday Cottages

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Pets Welcome – Luxury Dog Friendly Cottages at Woof Farm Barns!

Happy Dogs love our log fires

Testimonials | Dogs | Pubs | Beaches

If you landed here after searching for ‘Dog friendly cottages suffolk’ find out why dogs love Woodfarm Barns! Your dog needs a holiday too! Dogs account for a massive proportion of our guests to sunny Suffolk and we even allow some of them to bring their well-behaved owners!

We combine a dog-friendly ethos with the luxury that many don’t expect to find in holiday cottages accepting dogs. We don’t simply ‘tolerate’ guests with dogs, we welcome them.

We welcome dogs in all seven of our Suffolk holiday cottages both our barges as this is a huge part of the ‘stay at home’ holiday cottage market. We normally say a maximum of two dogs but we are happy to discuss other requirements. We are also happy to discuss other pets with you on an individual basis. We’ve had house cats and rabbits before but it’s mostly dogs!

We are also delighted to have been awarded the Pets Welcome accreditation by the English governing body ‘Quality in Tourism’ backing up our approach.

Not ready to book yet? Download our Dog-Friendly Guide to Suffolk



    wont-share-your-email-address1

    pets welcome award

    Our library of canine guests is growing! Check out loads of photos of our four-legged guests here.

    Taking pets away when enjoying a holiday or break in England is an increasing trend and one of the mainstays of our business. Nearly two million dog owners and around one million cat owners take their pets away when enjoying a break away from home.

    In response to customers who do not wish to be parted from their pets, the Welcome Pets scheme gives dog, cat or bird owners the confidence that they are booking quality accommodation that meets their needs and the needs of their pet(s).

    The criteria that we have in place to adhere to the guidelines includes:

    • Water bowls and food bowls available
    • Torch and nightlights to be available
    • Refrigeration facilities
    • Chews or treats, which can be chargeable (we provide a treat every time with no extra charge)
    • Suitable pet waste disposal facilities
    • Poop bags (look out for our special Woodfarm Barns poop bag dispensers to take home!)
    • Pet washing facilities and towels available
    • Following each departure, all areas used by pets to be cleaned thoroughly to remove any evidence of them, including odours (we have a stringent cleaning regime anyway, with extra precautions and processes when we have had pets staying with us)
    • Where dogs have free access to garden areas, suitable fencing should be provided (all our cottages feature secure, enclosed gardens)

    We are also duty-bound to display the following information at a central, easily accessible information point:

    • Information for pet owners on local vets doctors, dentist, hospital and all night chemists
    • Maps and books suitable for reference on walking dogs in the area. We have lots of info in the cottages, but also have a central info point and bike shed with far more info than you could get through in a month!

    We have a special page on our other website wheredowe.co.uk giving you lots of ideas of places to enjoy dog friendly places and walks in Suffolk.

    In addition, we have information for our guests on the location and opening times of the nearest shops, nearest bank/cash machine, public telephone, post office, and more.

    There are info folders in all our cottages with lots of details of local dog-friendly restaurants and pubs – again, in addition to all the info we hold here, we have loads of ideas on wheredowe.co.uk

    In 2012 we had a fabulous review by October Ward for ‘Out & About’ dog-friendly magazine, which really speaks for itself. October’s dog Roxy is the Dalmatian featured in the below photo, standing on the land outside Woodfarm Barns. This is the lane that leads down to the church next door and it’s perfect for stretching your dog’s legs first thing in the morning. Get a long enough lead and you won’t need to stretch yours!

    Dog walking down a Suffolk lane

    This is the article:

    pages from the dog friendly magazine
    dogs on holiday

    Dog Walking

    There is a great little dog walk straight from our door, popular with all our dog-owning guests. Crowfield Church is next door but one to our holiday cottages and marks the start of an easy 20-minute loop with the dog.

    Crowfield Church in Suffolk

    It is one of the last remaining timber-framed churches in Suffolk and is well worth a look. Two choices of public footpaths go from the church across the fields beyond. Instead of turning in by the church you can walk straight on for miles and there are various public footpaths across the fields – so there’s plenty of exploring to do and loads for the dog to sniff out.

    This is a great area for dog walking, as is Suffolk in general. There are books in all the cottages on Suffolk walks, with or without dogs, and they are there for you to peruse whilst you are here.

    The nearest dog walk in most of the books encompasses Barham, Baylham and Coddenham for a total length of 8 miles. You could cheat a little and start it in Coddenham, which is only a couple of miles down the road. The walk incorporates the Baylham Rare Breeds Centre as well as taking you right past the Sorrel Horse Pub, which is very dog-friendly.

    The next nearest one is a five-miler, taking in Cretingham and Brandeston, and past The Queens Head – an excellent pub/restaurant (you can see a theme here!).

    There are also lovely lake walks at Needham and Hoppit Wood, both just four miles from Woodfarm Barns, featured our page on ‘Walking in Suffolk’ here.

    Dog-Friendly Pubs

    Whether you’re visiting Suffolk for the first time, or are a frequent visitor or resident, it’s useful to know where you can eat with your dogs. Suffolk has a wide range of dog-friendly pubs. While some request that you keep your dog in the garden or terrace area, many allow dogs inside the pub as well. Here is a selection of pubs across Suffolk that allows pets either in the pub or garden:

    The Star Inn is a cosy and friendly pub in Wenhaston that welcomes well-behaved dogs. It has a large garden and a high-quality menu.

    The Tollgate Inn is a lovely restaurant and bar in Bury St Edmunds and has a large garden and seating area where dogs are welcome.

    The Queen’s Head, Bramfield is an award-winning pub and dogs are welcome in both the pub and the garden.

    The Sorrell Horse Inn in Woodbridge is very pet-friendly and dogs are allowed in the pub and garden. The same goes for The White Horse at Tattingstone.

    The Bildeston Crown allows well-behaved dogs in the pub and they have a lovely, dog-friendly, outdoor seating area.

    The Kings Head Inn in Orford allows dogs in both the pub, as well as in their rooms and  The Cock Inn in Polstead allows dogs in the pub.

    The George and Dragon in Long Melford allow dogs, except when food is being served.

    The Crown Hotel in Southwold allows dogs in the bar areas, but not in the rooms or dining areas.

    The George in Cavendish has a terrace/garden area where dogs are welcome, although they are not allowed inside the pub and the same goes for The Brantham Bull in Manningtree.

    The Ship Inn in Woodbridge is dog-friendly, and so is The Angel Inn Wangford.

    Please do check with any of these pubs before you visit with your dog as their pet policies may change at any time.

    Dog-Friendly Beaches in Suffolk

    With miles of beautiful beaches open to the public year-round, Suffolk is a great place to bring your dog on holiday. The good news is that from October through April there are no dog restrictions in force on Suffolk’s beaches so your pet can enjoy the benefits of any stretch of beach you like! In the summer, however, there are dog restrictions on some beaches, so here’s a list of some restrictions from 1st May through to 30th September: Aldeburgh – Although the main beach has restrictions during the summer months, there is a mile of wonderful dog-friendly beach just to the North of Aldeburgh which is well signposted, and stretches from the Wentworth Hotel to Thorpeness. Felixstowe – While the main beach has dog restrictions in place from May through September, there are dog-friendly beaches on either side of the restricted area, stretching from Spa Pavilion to Wheeler Road. These areas are well signposted and easy to spot. However, dogs have to be kept on leads even on these stretches.

    Dunwich – With the beautiful National Trust site of Dunwich Heath and a beach that’s dog-friendly all year round, Dunwich makes a fantastic dog friendly location with plenty of long walks and refreshing water on offer. Bear in mind, however, that Dunwich is the home to RSPB Minsmere, so there are occasional restrictions on dogs on the Heath (not beach) during the nesting season. If you’re not sure that your dog will stay on the beach then it’s best to check with nearby Aldeburgh Tourist Information before you make your trip to ensure these nesting restrictions aren’t in place.

    Southwold – One of Suffolk’s most famous beaches, it offers a fantastic holiday resort for the family. Although the main beaches of Southwold have dog restrictions in place during the summer months, Southwold Benes, just north of the main beach, is dog-friendly throughout.

    Testimonials from a handful of our dog-loving guests

    A dog at Dog friendly cottages suffolk

    Deb, August 2019

    Our fourth year at Woodfarm Barns. The dogs walked in and were straight at home, as were we. The purpose of our visit is a week long agility competition so we are out all day from 07.00 but it’s perfect being able to come back to the hot tub after walking 20,000 steps, let the dogs mooch around the garden and light the BBQ.

    I’m not sure what more Carl and his team could do to make the cottages any more perfect, the welcome basket means there’s everything for a cuppa when you arrive and a bacon sandwich for breakfast plus loads of information about the area. We had one wet afternoon and the store if DVDs kept us entertained.

    Next year is already booked.

    Dawn, August 2019

    Stayed for 2 nights with our little dog. Fantastic location and accommodation. It has everything you need for all seasons. Hot tub was lovely after a long day out on our bikes exploring the countryside nearby. Dog loved having the garden to wander round whilst we had a drink and dinner in the garden. Carl was very helpful explained where everything was when we arrived. You can’t hear any neighbours other than them walking over the stones.

    To get to the meadow on the other side of the lane which caters for all dogs nervous or confident. Our dog didn’t want to come home. Thanks for a great time; see you again soon.

    Roger, July 2019

    We were delighted with our stay in Deben Barn with our two golden retrievers. Carl was very helpful from the first minute of our stay and the welcome basket was a great touch. Dog exercise field was very handy. The barn was very well equipped, clean and tidy. Excellent hot tub. The location is perfect for exploring Suffolk. Would thoroughly recommend Woodfarm Barns.

    Read more reviews here…