Cottage Walk Through
The spacious dining / sitting room has one entire wall made of glass that opens out onto a large decking, where meals can be taken.

Cooking and preparing meals is a pleasure in the well equipped kitchen.

On the ground floor there is a pretty double bedroom with its own shower / bathroom.

Upstairs is another double bedroom with its own bathroom containing a luxurious roll top bath.

There is a feeling of comfort, space, light throughout this cottage and all windows look out at pretty countryside.

It is so easy to just light the cosy wood-burning stove, relax back into the large sofa as the sky changes from day to night and to watch the stars come out.

This is the perfect antidote to city life.

Please note that outside High Season this cottage offers a reduced rate for just two guests, who use one bedroom only.

The Gardens
The patio overlooks a large enclosed garden, leading through to three acres of wild flower meadow.

There is a perfectly-placed picnic table as you enter the wild flower meadow, where you can dine al fresco with only the bantams busying themselves around your feet to distract you from the enjoyment of watching nature flourish all around you.

Mowed pathways meander round the wildflower meadow and there are cleverly places benches and picnic areas for you to look over the meadow or out to the rolling Suffolk Countryside.

This a great spot for bird watching.

Outside
This cosy cottage sits beside a quiet single track lane surrounded by farmland and is a perfect place to relax and unwind.

This part of Suffolk has a subtle beauty and the gently undulating countryside and quiet country lanes make it perfect for cycling and walking – bikes are provided for guests to explore the pretty lanes and nearby villages.

The nearest village is Old Newton which is a small agricultural community, with a pub ‘The Shoulder of Mutton’ and a village shop, the ancient market town of Stowmarket is 3 miles away.

Green Credentials

When we built Skylarks Barn on the site of the ancient cowshed, we knew it should reflect its heritage, but in an honest way and with a modern twist. Lots of insulation, underfloor heating and a wood burning stove make it cosy in the winter (we only use renewable electricity). And big French doors which open onto a large deck, mean that in the warmer months, you can make the most of the three acres of gardens and wildflower meadows which surround the Barn.

Skylarks style is ‘modern country comfort’ and we hope guests will feel at ease wearing anything from welly boots to high heels! Our ethos has been to use the garden and countryside as our inspiration; I hope you agree that our décor and furnishings (often refurbished auction finds) reflect this ambition.

Like a lot of people in this area, we try to live in a ‘sustainable way’ and use only ecover cleaning products.

Mid Suffolk is a ‘Green’ area, an echo perhaps of the work done by Eve Balfour in the 1920’s, one of the original founders of the Soil Association, whose ‘Haughley Experiment’ took place a short walk from Skylarks, at New Bells Farm, Haughley.

Unlike Eve, we are not farmers, but we do grow vegetables, fruit and flowers AND without resorting to nasty chemicals. This is because the gardens and wildflower meadow provide such a wonderful habitat for animals and plants of all kinds. In spring, we enjoy a carpet of Cowslips, which are then followed by Orchids and Oxeye daisies; irresistible to bees, moths and butterflies.

The longer summer grasses, Purple Vetch and Knapweed are home to field mice and voles, which in turn attract Kestrels and of course Barn Owls. To see one of these magnificent birds hunting in the meadow at dusk is always thrilling, always magical and if it is your first time, unforgettable. And all year, we are visited by the iconic Brown Hare, Roe and Muntjac Deer. A guest who worked for the RSPB once counted 27 different species of birds (including of course Skylarks) and I haven’t even mentioned the amphibians and reptiles: who knew there was so much going on?

In autumn, we feast on Apple and Blackberry pie and at Christmas time toast the New Year in with Sloe Gin made with fruits from the Blackthorn in our hedgerow – not too bad a life is it?

Our main road is called Silver Street, a single track lane, big enough for one car, which is on average what you might see each hour. So, cycling around here is easy and we ride what are called ‘Elephant Bikes’. They are refurbished Royal Mail Postal Bikes, saved from landfill and given a new lease of life by a company who support a charity in Malawi, one of the poorest countries in Africa. So a very, very good cause, sustainable, but most importantly great fun to ride; pack a picnic and take off. You can follow the Elephant Bike story at www.cycleofgood.com.

And although we are not far from Stowmarket, the A14 and the modern world, one criticism levelled at this part of Suffolk is that it is very beautiful, very peaceful, but nothing ever happens!

Great isn’t it, long may it continue!

Kitchen: Cottages are complete little homes and facilities include modern central heating, refrigerator, hobs, oven and / or microwave, toaster, crockery & serving dishes, cutlery, many utensils, fire-extinguisher, lots of pots & pans, glasses & mugs, kettle, coffee maker, teapot, kitchen towels, oven gloves, olive oil, salt & pepper, sugar, herbs, tea, fresh and instant coffee, washing up liquid, cloths, general cleaning materials, etc.

Bathroom: Soap, fluffy cotton towels, bath mats, toilet brush, toilet roll.

Bedroom: Cotton bed linen, wardrobe with coat hangers / chest of drawers, hairdryer.

Utility Area: iron, ironing board,

Living room: Your cottage has a wood-burning stove, the owner has a store of logs and coal that you can purchase from at cost – firelighters will be provided. TV, books, games, magazines, local brochures, OS and other maps, folder with our special ‘What To Do’ insiders guide to the local area.

Bikes: Please check with the owner that these are available before you arrive to avoid disappointment if they are in for maintenance

Baby: Cot and high chair provided in cottages accepting babies (please bring babies bedding).

Dog: Up to 2 well behaved doggies are welcome, charges apply at £20 per pet for up to 7 nights.