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, 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 no 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.

Please use the Availability Calendar to contact me with any further questions or booking enquiries.

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 Bodicea 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 totaly unspoilt seaside village, famous for its Arts events and good food - it is about 50 minutes from Lavenham.

 

           

On Saturday, 30 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!

On Thursday, 07 of August, 2008 Shirley & family:
Fabulous cottage, tastefully furnished and well equipped. Attention to detail completes the perfect ambiance

On Thursday, 07 of August, 2008 Cathy & friends:
Lovely house, great place for a girl's get away ! Can't wait to come back !

On Thursday, 07 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+ !

On Thursday, 07 of August, 2008 Lucinda:
Fantastic, amazing & wonderful!

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

On Wednesday, 04 of June, 2008 Celia, Kirsty & Alex:
Perfect escape from men and children!

On Wednesday, 04 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 !

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

On Friday, 25 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.

On Friday, 25 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.

On Friday, 07 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!!

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

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

On Friday, 29 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!

On Saturday, 21 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.

On Monday, 20 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!!

On Sunday, 14 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.

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

On Friday, 10 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!

On Friday, 03 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.

On Monday, 30 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.

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

On Monday, 31 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.