Suffolk seaside Cottages… Holiday cottages near the unspoilt Suffolk coast!
Suffolk’s coastline is one of the hidden gems of England and a lovely day out for our guests at The Grove Cottages, but some of our cottages are very close to the coast or overlooking the sea.
This coastline is where you can still find lovely towns like Southwold; well known for its colourful beach huts and lovely renovated Pier, it is a grand little town filled with interesting buildings and shops and restaurants, if you walk down the seafront you eventually come to the fishing harbour where you can buy fresh fish and even fish and chips fresher than anywhere else.
A rowing boat will ferry you access to Walberswick on the other side of the river, this is a very pretty little village nestled behind the sand dunes where the houses on stilts stand and where the famous Crabbing championships are held at the quay and on the little foot bridges over the streams to the sea.
These championships seemed to be practiced for every summer weekend with children cramming the waterfront to drop down their lengths of string with bacon attached into the water, in less than 30 seconds they are pulling up 2,4, 6 crabs many of which wait till the very last second before letting go and falling back into the water – it seems as enjoyable for the crabs as the children.
The beach at Walberswick is sandy and the pubs are great.
Dunwich is just a bit further south and where the wonderful Dunwich Heath is, in the car park at Dunwich is the famous fish and chips barn, delicious !
Further South brings you to the Lookout Point at Minsmere, a National Trust set of buildings perched on the cliffs overlooking the sea and Minsmere bird sanctuary – you are right in the middle of the lovely Dunwich Heath here. There are great walks to be had up and down the beach, around the bird sanctuary and through the Heathland – this is the best treat you can give your dog.
Going South you come to Aldeburgh which is full of quaint old houses, interesting shops, great pubs and excellent restaurants. It’s easy to miss, but you are actually right on the sea with the beach running almost behind the High Street but without an ice cream vendor in sight.
You can buy fresh fish or even a lobster from the fishermen’s shacks on the beach where their boats are pulled up onto the shingle – but you won’t find candyfloss anywhere!
Running South from Aldeburgh is the famous Orford Ness now a Nature Reserve but for a long time shrouded in secrecy and where scientists were virtually imprisoned as they developed the triggers for the early Atomic bombs or radar which went round corners.
Half way down the Ness is the enchanting port of Orford here you have to have a meal at The Butley Oysterage, a kind of mix between a greasy spoon cafe and Wheelers Fish restaurant – they have their own oyster beds and also a shop specialising in smoked fish.
There is a very interesting Castle at Orford without which East Anglia would probably be an independent country : hey ho.
Best of all is the wonderful Jolly Sailor Pub, a pub they way it should be !
From Orford you can get a ferry in summer across to the Nature reserve and the National Trust do lay on tours.
Our Suffolk Coastal Cottages close to these lovely locations are Wren Cottage, a 16th Century village house, which is just 10 minutes from Orford and a short drive to Southwold, Aldeburgh and Dunwich. Cissys, Laundry Cottage and Queenies which are beautiful 1600’s millers cottages just 7 minutes from the seafront at Aldeburgh and situated in their own private Nature Reserve through which you can walk to the Arts Centre at Snap and the lakes behind Aldeburgh. These are 3 very special cottages on the coast featuring four poster beds, working Victorian cooking ranges and lovely period interiors: coastal cottages to be proud of.
All along this coastline are the iconic Martello Towers built to thwart the expected invasion by Napoleon.
A bit more close to London, as you cross the border into Essex you will find our lovely coastal cottage of Bromans Barn which is situated right beside Cudmore Park nature Reserve on Mersea Island, the island has unusual beaches and marshes with a little ferry you can take to Brightlingsea right in the Park. the Boat yards are home to the famous The Company Shed which is actually a shed in the boat yard and you bring your own wine and bread – but get there early or you will find yourself standing outside with a ticket say number 61 on it: thats how good it is and every – one seems to have been there including the TV Chef’s .
We often go to The Oyster Bar which is also a great fast food restaurant serving whatever comes off the boats or from their oyster beds. This coastal cottage is perfect for dog owners as the Nature Park and beaches are virtually your garden.
Tollesbury “The village that time passed by’” is right in the mystical Essex Marshes most of which are now important Bird Sanctuaries and Nature Reserves.
On Spring High Tides you can sail up the road in Tollesbury passing by the Sail Lofts which are built on stilts because of that. But be careful not to get stranded or you will get more problems than a parking ticket!
The Sea Wall runs round Tollesbury and down the coast past the Pirate Radio Caroline ship to Maldon and beyond – this is a great walk if you want fresh air with wild nature and sea views, it is this remote setting that The Wobbin enjoys: the road stops here and you walk down the cart track to the Sea Wall and the Marshes, or 12 minutes along another footpath takes you to Tollesbury Marina. This is a remote coastal cottage where you can really enjoy Nature and it has the advantage to having a secure garden for your dog to feel safe in.
At the Sea Lock to the Historic Canal at Heybridge Basin lies another of our special coastal cottages: Navigation Cottage, nestled in between the Sea Wall, the Historic Canal and the Nature Reserve lake is Navigation Cottage a 1700’s Canal foremans cottage : an amazing location with historic Thames Barges passing and pubs and the famous Liptons Jam tea rooms on your doorstep, this coastal cottage is wonderfully furnished to a luxury level and enjoys a big beautiful mature garden hidden away from everyone at the rear with stunning views across the lakes from its expanse of pondside decking.
These Suffolk and Essex coastal cottages offer something truly unique where it is not only their location which is special, but the character of the cottage that you are staying in.
