^{Star Rating}

Details Sleeps: 4 Changeover: Monday & Friday  Rooms: 1 double, 1 Twin  Length of stays: 2,3,4 or 7 nights Price: from £271 to £377 for 2 nights break Children allowed: 2 Babies allowed: One, sleeping in travel cot Dogs Welcome: 2 Large Dogs, Dog charges apply  Please Note: Steep steps

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Checklist

	Open Christmas / New Year		Central heating		Television		Telephone
	Private Garden - Not Dog Proof		Barbeque		DVD player		Cooker and hob
	Off road parking		1 bathroom		CD player		Washing machine
	Secure storage for bikes		Shower and Bath		Bed linen provided		Clothes dryer
	Bikes provided		Microwave		Towels provided		Clothes airer / washing line
	Ground floor bedroom		Fridge		Breakfast basket provided
	Ground floor bathrooom		Freezer / compartment		Basics of tea, coffee, sugar provided
	Electric flame effect fire		Iron and Board		Internet Access

Holmwood is an absolutely gorgeous 16th Century Thatched Cottage in a group of 5 cottages and a pub next to the Sudbury to Ipswich Main Road as pictured above, just 4 1⁄2 miles from us at The Grove.

It has a charming double bedroom with a second twin/double bedroom leading off from it.

The steep stairs leading into the bedroom give away the age of the building and people with mobility problems should consider this before booking this cottage - for the able bodied it is just another bit of the lovely character of Holmwood Cottage.

   

The bedrooms are especially cosy and have pretty beds and wonderful original broad Elmwood floors.

The lovely fully equipped kitchen has an ancient Suffolk brick floor and seats 6 at the table.

   

There is a very pretty beamed sitting room with lots of room to relax in and enjoy the charms of this unspoilt 16th Century beamed and thatched cottage.

The ‘completely new’ bathroom is situated downstairs and has both a bath and a separate shower.

Beautiful Persian carpets and rugs show off the charm of the original features in this lovingly restored cottage

    

 

Outside there is a large patio overlooking the pretty 'cottage garden', at the side there is a small shallow pond which encourages wildlife and at the back there is a second pretty evening sun patio with a wooden deck and BBQ facilities, this patio leads straight into the kitchen and is partially glass covered giving you an additional 'outside room'

The garden is enclosed and there is a gated courtyard for 2 cars to park in, this has access straight to the garden.

 

Well behaved pets are always welcomed and a charge is made for them - please ensure your pet respects the garden and the cottage and is not allowed to damage anything or sleep on any furniture, please do not let dogs upstairs or leave them alone in the property. Please bring suitable bedding.

All prices include vat, towels, soap, linen, heating, and a generous ‘Proper English Breakfast’ welcome pack, There is also a BBQ to use and bikes to ride.

The cottage is a complete little home and facilities include modern heating, TV, DVD player, CD player and CD’s, DVD’s, books, games, guides, maps, local information and a fully equipped kitchen including electric cooker and microwave, dishwasher, washing machine and dryer. There is also a cot and high chair.

Bikes are freely provided, including one with a child’s seat - The South Suffolk Cycle Route runs close to the cottage.

The garden is enclosed but it does have a small pond to encourage wildlife, and therefore little children should be supervised, there is also a sunny patio at the front and a BBQ patio which catches the afternoon sun leading out of the kitchen at the back.

This is a beautiful Historic Cottage, very prettily fitted out and with lovely walks to some of the prettiest parts of South Suffolk.

Well behaved pets are always welcome, please refer to this web page  All About Bringing Pets  for charges and how this cottage may suit your pet.

 

    


                    
Photo taken in Snow Cottage

We can now offer you the hedonistic enjoyment of a really      While you are staying with us why not have a special                 Graeme Cavey is a local naturlist who would be very 
lovely massage in this cottage, please click this link for           treat and go Sailing for the day.                                                        happy to include you on his nature walks.
more information.  Click for Massage info                                   Click for days out sailing                                                                    Click for Guided Nature Walks

 

About Suffolk

 

              

 

In Charles Dickens's days, boys living in Scotland and here in East Anglia would be allowed to leave boarding school a day early because it took so long to get back home to those places.

Even though we are just 60 miles from London, this area was always very inaccessible and remained so until very recent times.

Now the local mainline train journey to London is a mere 45 minutes and a car journey takes about an hour and a half.

But still Suffolk has retained an unusually strong independent rural atmosphere and one of the great joys of the area are the beautiful little hamlets that even locals get lost getting to though the meandering 'spiders web' of tiny lanes and byroads. Many of these villages are wonderfully preserved in their medieval origins, our local village of Lavenham being a fantastic example.

The area is very rich in History from the Saxon treasure of Sutton Hoo and the rebel Queen Boadicea who defeated the Romans, right up to the many expeditions of Settlers leaving for America - in fact the First Governor of Massachusetts came from this tiny hamlet of Edwardstone when I am based at The Old Grove Farm.

The landscape and the Architectural beauty of the area has long inspired Artists to work and move here. The greatest English landscape painter John Constable painted all his famous masterpieces along the Stour which is just 5 miles from The Grove Cottages. His work undoubtedly created this landscape as the quintessential English Landscape, which is one reason why visitors to the area feel so at home.

Flatford Mill where many of Constables most well known works of art such as 'The Haywain' were painted is now a National Trust area devoted to this artist and preserving his memory and the area he made so famous.

The Great Portrait painter Thomas Gainsborough lived in Sudbury which is the closest town to us and it is a real pleasure to visit his home which is now a very interesting museum and exciting showplace for local artists and events, it also has a wonderful print making workshop where courses on all kinds of printmaking are constantly held and very much sought after.

The great artist Sir Alfred Munnings, famous for his portraits of Rural Suffolk Life lived and had his studio close to the river Stour at Dedham and these are now an interesting museum devoted to him and his works of art.

For more information, please visit: my  'What to Do' Web Pages where I have an extensive insiders guide to South Suffolk

Here are a few photos I took around the area of Lavenham, Long Melford and Polsted - The seaside is at Aldeburgh which is a totally unspoilt seaside village, famous for its Arts events and good food - it is about 50 minutes from Lavenham.

 

           

Below is a recent article about the Suffolk Coast

Joanna Symons, Telegraph Travel Newspaper January 2nd 2010.

'Popular though the Lake District and West Country are as tourist destinations, they can be rather damp. If you want to reduce the risk of a rainy holiday, statistics show that you should head east.

Suffolk for instance, had only about a third as much rainfall as the Lake District last summer. It also happens to have one of the loveliest stretches of coastline in Britain.


The Met office regional statistics per annum.

                        The Lake District             Suffolk

Rain fall         2300 - 3900mm          600 - 660 mm

 

Friday, 4th of June, 2010, Richard, Jodie and Jake:
Absolutely gorgeous, the epitome of the English Country Cottage.

Monday, 24th of May, 2010, Joanne:
This weekend has been a real authentic British Cottage experience and exactly what we wanted, needed and were looking for, we were not dissapointed but totally suprised. Thank you for making our time here comfortable and relaxing one.

Sunday, 9th of May, 2010, Darcy and Fiona:
A beautiful cottage with gardens, in a wonderful area, lots of walks and places to see. The cottage had everything and is very cosy.

Friday, 30th of April, 2010, Andrew and Teresa:
Lovely, well equipped cottage. Cleaners have gone the extra mile, which was much appreciated.

Sunday, 25th of April, 2010, Marian and Clive:
Holmwood is a warm, comfortable, cosy cottage which is suitable for Winter or Summer breaks - it has absolutely evrything you need.

Monday, 19th of April, 2010, Michael:
A delightful cottage, very well maintained and equipped. Kevin our host was extremely friendly and knowledgable, giving us recommendations for walks, local villages, farm shops and restaurants. Very well situated for accessibility for the local area.

Friday, 9th of April, 2010, Hayley:
Had a great day at Dunwich Heath and can certainly recommend the fish and chips on the beach - the kids loved it!

Friday, 26th of March, 2010, Abi:
Lost hours of my life doing a jigsaw and snoozing. Perfect!

Friday, 5th of March, 2010, marina:
Lovely cottage, great location, good walks. Cottage very well equipped!

Friday, 26th of February, 2010, Nick and Holly:
We came to Holmwood cottage to get away from the hectic-ness of inner London for a relaxing weekend and as soon as we arrived we knew we'd come to the right place! Everything was wonderfully warm and cosy, we had everything we could possibly need and the towns and countryside nearby were wonderful. Thank you very much!

Friday, 12th of February, 2010, Adam and Kirstie:
Perfect cottage and a perfect place to unwind!

Monday, 25th of January, 2010, Alyssa:
Lovely cottage...really enjoyed ourselves. Thank you for a wonderful short holiday!

Monday, 18th of January, 2010, Nick:
We have had a lovely weekend in this fantastic cottage, very romantic. I'm sure it would be even better in the summer months! The sheets are very soft, can we take them home??

Sunday, 20th of December, 2009, Jacqui:
A wonderfully charming cottage. Our 2 1/2 year old loved it.

Sunday, 13th of December, 2009, Gemma:
A true home from home! Cute and cosy with lots of lovely touches that make it really special.

Monday, 16th of November, 2009, Lorraine:
As 3 girlies looking to celebrate an end of an era working together due to redundancy, we certainly couldn't have asked for anything more. Quality time spent eating, drinking and reminising in a beautiful period cottage - just perfect.

Saturday, 31st of October, 2009, Anna:
A very cosy home from home where everything has been thought of from a welcome basket to bubble bath! Thank you.

Friday, 23rd of October, 2009, Jonathan:
It was a delight to stay in a cottage so full of character, and with great walks and lovely places for refreshment nearby.

Monday, 19th of October, 2009, Glenn:
We have enjoyed our stay at Holmwood Cottage. It lived up to all our expectations. It was comfortable and quaint. It's a great base for exploring Suffolk and Essex. We would highly recommend it and have to the relatives who live in England.

Monday, 28th of September, 2009, Kris:
Quaint, charming, picturesque and rustic everything a country cottage should be and definately proved to be perfect in every way.

Thursday, 24th of September, 2009, Charlott and Remko:
A true 'thatched cottage' experience.

Monday, 14th of September, 2009, Wick Family:
Superb cottage, very well equipped and comfortable. A very enjoyable place.

Friday, 11th of September, 2009, Laurie and Shirley:
A delightful and well equipped period cottage in lovely rural location for walking and relaxing with our two springers. The welcome and breakfast basket, homemade jam was a nice beginning to a great weeks holiday. Thank you Kevin and another A+ for Grove Cottages. Well recommended.

Friday, 28th of August, 2009, Tim, Paula and Alice:
Thanks for providing absolutely everything we could possibly need in your wonderfully cosy cottage. We're heading back to Yorkshire feeling very refreshed!

Tuesday, 4th of August, 2009, Sandra and Bob:
It was the best equipped and most comfortable cottage we have ever stayed in.

Sunday, 2nd of August, 2009, Kent and Sharon:
We had one good day of weather and one day more 'British'. The cottage was wonderful outside and equally charming as we were contained inside. Very enjoyable - shame it was only 2 days.

Friday, 24th of July, 2009, Rebecca:
Home from home, Dunwich Heath a great family day out with pooch in toe! The low house at Laxfield, an absolute must!

Friday, 24th of July, 2009, Chris:
Beautiful garden, comfortable beds. Well restored cottage.

Monday, 20th of July, 2009, Kim:
Idealic location for a cosy cottage - fantastic garden and wildlife

Friday, 3rd of July, 2009, Leonard and Melita:
Warm, cosy and a wonderful cottage had a great time hope to come back soon.

Friday, 26th of June, 2009, Denise:
We have visited this are previously but staying in this cottage has added another dimension to the enjoyment of our break. Thank you, we will definately be coming back!

Friday, 12th of June, 2009, Alison and Brenda:
We have thoroughly enjoyed staying at Holmwood cottage. It is a delightful cottage, warm, cosy and very comfortable, the furnishings are gorgeous, with lots of attention to detail. The welcome basket was amazing, the bacon out of this world, so much nicer than supermarket fake!

Friday, 12th of June, 2009, Lucy and Iain:
Excellent location for exploring Suffolk. Very comfy and relaxing cottage.

Monday, 8th of June, 2009, Cheryl and Tom:
Holmwood is the perfect picture perfect country cottage including fabulous gardens.

Saturday, 30th of May, 2009, Trudi:
Love Suffolk, Holmwood is just perfect, a dream cottage - gorgeous owner! Welcome basket, 5 wows!

Friday, 29th of May, 2009, Jerry and Beth:
Holmwood cottage far exceeded our expectations. The extra little touches throughout helped make this a brilliant holiday - The Grove Cottages team were helpful, friendly and efficient and made the holiday completely hassle free.

Friday, 22nd of May, 2009, Barbara and Will:
Fabulous thatched character cottage with the quintessential English cottage garden - perfect for exploring the beautiful Suffolk countryside and coast. The farm shops in the area are brilliant, we ate like kings!

Sunday, 17th of May, 2009, Nicola and Peter:
Welcoming and well equiped. Suffolk CC to be commended for its footpath access - a real plus for the area around Grove Cottages.

Sunday, 10th of May, 2009, Ben and Sarah:
We have had a lovely stay. The cottage is very sweet, clean, tidy and well equiped.

Thursday, 30th of April, 2009, Laurie:
Holmwood cottage is a perfect place for a family getaway! Not only is the actual cottage cozy, comfortable and spacious; but the grounds are perfect for youngsters. My two year old stayed outside from the moment he woke up until dark everyday.

Friday, 10th of April, 2009, Joanne:
We enjoyed all the local walks through beautiful countryside, teeming with wildlife.

Friday, 10th of April, 2009, Nellie and Andrew:
Warm and cosy cottage. A very relaxing break for the family, even for the children who are four and six years old.

Friday, 3rd of April, 2009, Claire:
It was really good, I could book for 3/7 rather than the usual 2/7 w/end. Also excellent value!

Monday, 23rd of March, 2009, Hannah:
Thank you for a lovely relaxing wk'end.

Friday, 13th of March, 2009, Tracey:
Holmwood cottage was a little oasis away from the strains of everyday life. Everything was there that are needed and it really felt like a home away from home - all beautifully done.

Friday, 6th of March, 2009, Sam and Gary:
Cottage gorgeous - fantastic walks from the door.

Sunday, 22nd of February, 2009, Alan & Clare:
An absolute treasure; a little sanctuary for a lovey and relaxing weekend.

Sunday, 18th of January, 2009, Lesley & Martin:
Excellent, relaxing weekend break in a lovely 'authentic' cottage

Sunday, 28th of December, 2008, Julie & Trevor:
A splendid Christmas in a very special place

Monday, 15th of December, 2008, Susanne:
Beautiful little cottage with everything we needed on arrival. The bikes were brilliant to have at our disposal and we made good use of the handy map which highlighted all the great pubs, villages, etc.

Friday, 31st of October, 2008, Nicola & Daryl:
A wonderful break. The cottage was "chocolate box" and the location was fantastic. A real chance to recharge batteries and be a proper family for two working parents.

Friday, 24th of October, 2008, Charlotte & Daniel:
We have had a wonderful time exploring the area with the comfort & cosiness of this cottage. We will definitely be spreading the word about our experiences!

Friday, 19th of September, 2008, Peter & Marie Therese:
Our little piece of heaven. Lovely cottage, lovely walks. We all had a lovely time, including the dog!

Friday, 19th of September, 2008, Vivienne:
As we were promised....a home from home. Beautifully decorated and furnished. Loved it! The generosity regarding supplies, standard of furnishings etc outweighs any other cottages we have stayed in and we've done a lot over the years!

Saturday, 30th of August, 2008, Ann:
Holmwood is a beautiful, traditional cottage but with all the modern amenities for a comfortable, cosy holiday. The cottage garden has a great layout and there are plenty of local walks  whatever the weather!

Friday, 15th of August, 2008, Gabi, Dave, Paul & Maria:
Grove Cottages provided us with a holiday home that exceeded all our expectations! We will not hesitate to recommend them to our friends & family. Vielen Dank!

Thursday, 7th of August, 2008, Shirley & family:
Fabulous cottage, tastefully furnished and well equipped. Attention to detail completes the perfect ambiance

Thursday, 7th of August, 2008, Cathy & friends:
Lovely house, great place for a girl's get away ! Can't wait to come back !

Thursday, 7th of August, 2008, Suzy:
Fantastic cottage and pretty garden. This has been the best cottage we've ever stayed in; bed very comfy, hot water, lovely garden, etc. Everything was A+ !

Thursday, 7th of August, 2008, Lucinda:
Fantastic, amazing & wonderful!

Tuesday, 10th of June, 2008, Simon:
Holmwood Cottage delivers everything it promises  character, charm and every home comfort with lots of personal touches  great!

Wednesday, 4th of June, 2008, Celia, Kirsty & Alex:
Perfect escape from men and children!

Wednesday, 4th of June, 2008, Paul:
A charming cottage, full of period character  Perfect for a cosy & romantic stay. We had a lovely time & really appreciated the little touches like the welcome basket (Great Bacon ! ) Music playing and heating on when we arrived  That made our stay so enjoyable. We would heartily recommend it and will definitely return !

Friday, 25th of April, 2008, Federica & Michele:
We had a great time at Holmwood; we enjoyed the bicycles, cooking, reading in sun! We loved it!!

Friday, 25th of January, 2008, Tim & Catherine:
The attention to detail is excellent  from the moment we walked in through the door we felt like it as our home.

Friday, 25th of January, 2008, Joanne:
This is the 3rd Grove Cottage we have stayed in. Up to the usual high standards. Beautifully cosy and warm, lots of great walks. We will be back soon.

Friday, 7th of September, 2007, Sue:
A wonderful haven in which to rest and relax ….. body and soul. Our second visit to Grove Cottages has worked again. This is a lovely comfortable cottage, it is interesting, and a charming place to be. Following our second visit to the Grove cottages we will continue to recommend them to anyone who will listen!!

Saturday, 17th of March, 2007, Patricia:
So pleased to have found this ‘gem’ – have stayed in several holiday cottages – definitely on par with No. 1

Saturday, 17th of February, 2007, Kathleen:
A real home from home- for dogs & humans!

Friday, 29th of December, 2006, Matt & Keely:
We have just had the ‘cosiest’ Christmas here at Holmwood. You cannot fail to relax here, with the wonderful atmosphere. Lazy days in front of the log burner – Perfect!

Sunday, 28th of August, 2005, Jane and John:
We have had a fantastic holiday in what can only be described as this 'perfect' thatched cottage. This beautifully decorated, superbly equipped cottage with such a gorgeous garden was out of this world and I can't praise it enough. So much to see and do in Suffolk. What more can I say?

Saturday, 21st of May, 2005, Guy & Ann (Australia):
This, the third cottage we have rented from Grove Cottages, again reflected the very high standard of accommodation and amenities, which we have experienced before. The best cottage accommodation we have found in the UK.

Monday, 20th of December, 2004, Jonathan & Tamar:
Beautiful beams, old traditional designs, the woody feel, the crisp morning in the country, the soft warm sofas to fall into; a rather magical little retreat surrounded by historical towns. Will definitely come back, and in the meanwhile, please look after the place for us!!

Sunday, 14th of November, 2004, Alex, Rich, Bea & Col:
We have had a wonderful short break at the cottage. It is a beautiful place; warm, cosy and welcoming, lovely linen and great fluffy towels! Having the breakfast basket and bikes on hand are lovely touches. This is a gorgeous cottage with everything we could need.

Friday, 22nd of October, 2004, Carol:
Beautifully presented, clean and cosy and you let us bring our dogs! What a find!

Friday, 10th of September, 2004, The Marron Family:
This little piece of England is everything to the historian, to those in search of something completely enchanting and yet so utterly different; a place where one is truly separated from the run of the mill and the angst of modern living. Outstanding!

Friday, 3rd of September, 2004, Caroline:
Holmwood Cottage is beautiful, as are the gardens. The kitchen is well equipped and most important the beds were comfortable!! We would recommend it to family and friends.

Monday, 30th of August, 2004, Paul & Tina:
What a lovely cottage – We wish all the places we have stayed in were like this! Love the style – Thank you.

Sunday, 27th of June, 2004, Celia, Kirsty & Alex:
Perfect escape from men and children!

Monday, 31st of May, 2004, Pia & Danielle:
Overall a fantastic welcoming cottage. The welcoming basket is a touch of grace! And the rear garden is simply fantastic…. You can use it for breakfast or dinner and you always get the sun! The rooms are very warm and they make you sleep like a baby! Thank you very much.