Where to go in Suffolk

moulesy
moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,404 ✭✭✭
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edited December 2015 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

We're planning a trip around the east of the country early next year. Stop off for a few days at Ferry Meadows en route to the Norfolk coast then returning through Suffolk. We've never visited the county before. I fancy the coastal parts, Mrs M is keener
on villages inland. So any suggestions for spots that could please us both? Ideally we'd like to be based in one place for about a week. Any ideas, anyone? Happy

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  • JD6620
    JD6620 Forum Participant Posts: 202
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    edited December 2015 #2

    White House Beach is a lovely site right on the beach at Kessingland.  Ideal for visiting coastal towns like Lowestoft, Southwold, Aldeburgh.  Also easy access to head inland away from the coast.

  • lesandang
    lesandang Forum Participant Posts: 243
    edited December 2015 #3

    An alternative site for Southwold and Aldeburgh which are both a must, is the CL at The Eels Foot Pub, haven't stayed their recently so can't comment on the CL but at the time the food was good and if you're in to Beer the local Southwold  brewed Adnams is excellent. For the Sudbury area the C&CC site at Polstead is excellent. For the Norfolk Broads the Club site at Wroxham is a good location. Don't miss the North Norfolk coast around Wells and Holkham.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited December 2015 #4

    We enjoyed seeing where John Constable grew up and painted. We stayed on a CL called Flatford Farm, it has direct access to the local footpaths and you can follow in Constable's footsteps down to Flatford Mill with lovely walks along the Stour. (NT) There is a a good pub just up the road and shops in nearby East Bergholt (all walkable.)

    For another famous painter, Thomas Gainsborough, you can visit his home in Sudbury, an interesting place to see, with lots of lovely Suffolk villages in the area.

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,610 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2015 #5

    Oh boy are you in for a delight. Suffolk, apart from Kessingland, doesn't have a CC site so we tend to stop on CLs. Croft Farm at Snape fits the bill. You can walk straight out with the dogs, down to Snape Malting's, made famous by Benjamin Britten, and
    carry on walking along the Alde estuary. A few miles away is Aldeburgh, with their fish stalls on the beach, chic shops and an excellent chippie. Again plenty of walks, maybe up to Thorpeness. There's a Waitrose and Tesco's in nearby Saxmundham and Friday
    Street farm shop about 1 mile away. Southwold, Dunwich and Walberswick are easy drives away on the coast and all worth a visit. 

    Brue's Constable country is about 45 mins away and the pretty inland village of Lavenham is an hour in the car. We like the coastal area so much that we don't mind the drive inland.

    Other interesting areas are nearby like Sutton Hoo near Wood bridge and Orford Ness with its radar equipment from WW2. RSPB at Minsmere is near the Eels Foot, already mentioned. Decent pub as well as is the Bell in Walberswick.

    Enjoy it. If further info required shout out as its our favourite county.

  • PaulRT
    PaulRT Forum Participant Posts: 33
    edited December 2015 #6

    I would be happy to recommend Heathside Caravan and Camping site at Wenbaston, a few miles inland from Southwold –
    www.heathsidecaravans.co.uk.

    The site is well laid out and spacious; the adjoining glamping pods and lodges are well separated from the camping and caravanning area. There is an adjacent nature trail and small lake. Dog walking is available on the heathland, just across the minor road
    above the site. It is a very quiet location.

     There is easy access to Southwold, which is well worth a visit (except at the height of the season!). Also a lovely beach at Covehythe, a few miles north of Southwold. Minsmere RSPB and National Trust areas are within a short drive, as is Halesworth, a
    pleasant inland small town. Further away is the castle at Framlingham.

    The site is open all the year.

     

    Cheers

    Paul R T 

  • XTB 907
    XTB 907 Forum Participant Posts: 47
    edited December 2015 #7

    I would be happy to recommend Heathside Caravan and Camping site at Wenbaston, a few miles inland from Southwold –www.heathsidecaravans.co.uk.

    The pricing could not be simpler - £15 all year for non electric and £20 all year for electric

    WIFI free or included  ( depending on your point of view Happy)

  • HelenandTrevor
    HelenandTrevor Forum Participant Posts: 3,221
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    edited December 2015 #8

    Following this thread with interest as we are planning a trip to Suffolk, in March. Club sites not open so have been looking at CL'S.  

    Paul RT, will take a look at Heathside, as it's in the area we want to visit.

     

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,404 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2015 #9

    Thanks for all the ideas so far, going to have a good scout around the maps tomorrow!

    Happy. Use left and right arrows to navigate.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,659 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2015 #10

    Will backup Wherenext...Croft Fm is a grand site.

    You'll find Flatford Farmhouse under Manningtree, Essex but close to Suffolk.

    DianneT should be a good contact for sites in Suffolk.Wink

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited December 2015 #11

    Flatford is in Suffolk, just near the county border.Smile

  • HelenandTrevor
    HelenandTrevor Forum Participant Posts: 3,221
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    edited December 2015 #12

    Will backup Wherenext...Croft Fm is a grand site.

    You'll find Flatford Farmhouse under Manningtree, Essex but close to Suffolk.

    DianneT should be a good contact for sites in Suffolk.Wink

    Had a look at Croft Farm, looks lovely,  and in the right area.  Think we may give it a try in March.  Thanks for the recommendation. 

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited December 2015 #13

    I'll put it on my list too, good to hear these recommendations.Smile

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,659 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2015 #14

    Flatford is in Suffolk, just near the county border.Smile

    It may well be but the CL is listed in Essex. No 651 in SD.Tongue OutWink

    I've marked it down in my recomm'd list. Thanks.Laughing

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited December 2015 #15

    It's confusing Nellie isn't it? Why a Suffolk CL is under Essex seems a bit daft, don't know why these details aren't better organised.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,659 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2015 #16

    It's confusing Nellie isn't it? Why a Suffolk CL is under Essex seems a bit daft, don't know why these details aren't better organised.

    I guess it's something to do with the site's postal address, it has a Colchester post code.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2015 #17

    An alternative site for Southwold and Aldeburgh which are both a must, is the CL at The Eels Foot Pub, haven't stayed their recently so can't comment on the CL but at the time the food was good and if you're in to Beer the local Southwold  brewed Adnams
    is excellent. For the Sudbury area the C&CC site at Polstead is excellent. For the Norfolk Broads the Club site at Wroxham is a good location. Don't miss the North Norfolk coast around Wells and Holkham.

    Used the Eels Foot Pub to eat and drink which is really good.  Can walk to minsmere from the site.  Personally I wouldn't stay on the CL, it looks like a a scruffy car park with an open drain close by.

  • SELL
    SELL Forum Participant Posts: 398 ✭✭✭
    edited December 2015 #18

    I would be happy to recommend Heathside Caravan and Camping site at Wenbaston, a few miles inland from Southwold –www.heathsidecaravans.co.uk.

    The pricing could not be simpler - £15 all year for non electric and £20 all year for electric

    WIFI free or included  ( depending on your point of view Happy)

    Write your comments here...Just looked on the site those rates are exclusive of VAT so actually slightly more expensive.

  • birderbilly
    birderbilly Forum Participant Posts: 349
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    edited December 2015 #19

    I would be happy to recommend Heathside Caravan and Camping site at Wenbaston, a few miles inland from Southwold –www.heathsidecaravans.co.uk.

    The pricing could not be simpler - £15 all year for non electric and £20 all year for electric

    WIFI free or included  ( depending on your point of view Happy)

    Write your comments here...Just looked on the site those rates are exclusive of VAT so actually slightly more expensive.

    ex VAT prices, that's a bit naughty ! - not sure the ASA would like that as can't imagine they have many "trade" customers.  Perhaps it's just a mistake on the website.

  • XTB 907
    XTB 907 Forum Participant Posts: 47
    edited December 2015 #20

    I would be happy to recommend Heathside Caravan and Camping site at Wenbaston, a few miles inland from Southwold –www.heathsidecaravans.co.uk.

    The pricing could not be simpler - £15 all year for non electric and £20 all year for electric

    WIFI free or included  ( depending on your point of view Happy)

    Write your comments here...Just looked on the site those rates are exclusive of VAT so actually slightly more expensive.

    I hadn't realised that, very naughty  Surprised

    £18 per night is far too expensive for a non electric pitch, as was £15

  • Bebo
    Bebo Forum Participant Posts: 54
    edited December 2015 #21

    Little Lakeland in Wortwell, just by the suffolk border, about 30 mins from Southwold.

    There is also a nice Cl in the neighbouring village, just in Suffolk in the grounds of a pub.

     

  • lesandang
    lesandang Forum Participant Posts: 243
    edited December 2015 #22

    Little Lakeland in Wortwell, just by the suffolk border, about 30 mins from Southwold.

    There is also a nice Cl in the neighbouring village, just in Suffolk in the grounds of a pub.

     

    Write your comments here...which CL is that please Bebo?

  • JimE
    JimE Club Member Posts: 353
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    edited December 2015 #23

    No visit to Suffolk would be complete without a visit to my home town of Bury St Edmunds.  Lavenham and Newmarket are also within easy reach.

    There is the club site at Mildenhall (11 miles away) or a commercial site at The Dell Caravan Site, Thurston (6 miles) and another at Brighthouse Farm, Lawshall (7 miles).

    There are also 3 specially designated motorhome parking spaces in Bury itself in the Cotton Lane car park.

  • PaulRT
    PaulRT Forum Participant Posts: 33
    edited December 2015 #24

    Brighthouse Farm, near Lawshall, mentioned in the last post, is a very pleasant site, where we have stayed a few times (www.brighthousefarm.co.uk). In a quiet location, it has informal pitches, many looking
    out over open farmland, with immediately adjacent footpaths for dog-walking. The showers and facilities could be a bit stretched, if there are many units on the site (doesn’t worry us – we use our own). It is very convenient both for Lavenham and for Bury
    St Edmunds.

    Cheers

    Paul R T

  • Urchin
    Urchin Forum Participant Posts: 32
    edited December 2015 #25

    I would recommend Run Cottage at Hollsley, Nr Woodbridge. Super little site with a dog freindly pub 5 minutes up the road a dog walk on site and the coast 5 mins away in the car.

    Local attractions are Sutton Hoos Viking burial ground, Framlingham Castle, Orford Castle and Orford Ness, Snape Maltings, Rendlesham Forest, Aldeburgh and not least Woodbridge and its tidal mill on the river Deben. So many things to do and see, you'll need a week. A little further a field all well under an hour are Southwold, Minsmere RSPB reserve and Dedham vale, Constable country.

    Enjoy but keep it quiet.

  • TanyaandMick
    TanyaandMick Forum Participant Posts: 139
    edited December 2015 #26

    I agree Run Cottage is very good.

    I'd also recommend Mollets Farm (CL), CCC Polstead, Whitehouse Farm CCC (CS) and Southwold council run touring park.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2015 #27

    If your into wildlife just have a look at the Suffolk Wildlife Trust website for info on their many sites.  

    General note - all counties have wildlife trusts so a quick search will give you their reserves

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,404 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2015 #28

    Thanks for all your recommendations, folks. We have settled on the C&CC site at Polstead for the week. Some of the CLs suggested looked very good, but with only a small van, 2adults and the 2 dogs, the van shower is used as storage so for a week or more
    we like somewhere with facilities.

    BTW, the week before we were heading for the Barleywood CL but unfortunately they were already booked, so at their recommendation we've booked the CS at Creaks Meadow near Fakenham which looks very promising.

    I always like to have at least one trip away settled before Christmas for the following year - gets me thinking about preparing the van for short breaks in Jan & Feb! Happy

  • TanyaandMick
    TanyaandMick Forum Participant Posts: 139
    edited December 2015 #29

    Thanks for all your recommendations, folks. We have settled on the C&CC site at Polstead for the week. Some of the CLs suggested looked very good, but with only a small van, 2adults and the 2 dogs, the van 

    BTW, the week before we were heading for the Barleywood CL but unfortunately they were already booked, so at their recommendation we've booked the CS at Creaks Meadow near Fakenham 

    Write your comments here...both sites are owned by the same family - sisters.

    We stayed at Creakes Meadow one Easter and had a great time.

    Enjoy....

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,659 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2015 #30

    Thanks for all your recommendations, folks. We have settled on the C&CC site at Polstead for the week. Some of the CLs suggested looked very good, but with only a small van, 2adults and the 2 dogs, the van shower is used as storage so for a week or more
    we like somewhere with facilities.

    BTW, the week before we were heading for the Barleywood CL but unfortunately they were already booked, so at their recommendation we've booked the CS at Creaks Meadow near Fakenham which looks very promising.

    I always like to have at least one trip away settled before Christmas for the following year - gets me thinking about preparing the van for short breaks in Jan & Feb! Happy

    Creake Meadow has a green lane directly behind the site which is ideal for walking the dogs.It leads onto a couple of quiet lanes. Another great place for walking is into the back of Holkam Hall Estate. Before you go let me know and I'll point out a quiet
    free car park.Wink

  • Bebo
    Bebo Forum Participant Posts: 54
    edited December 2015 #31

    Little Lakeland in Wortwell, just by the suffolk border, about 30 mins from Southwold.

    There is also a nice Cl in the neighbouring village, just in Suffolk in the grounds of a pub.

     

    Write your comments here...which CL is that please Bebo?

    Write your comments here...hi, apologies for the delay, its The Black Swan, Holmersfield, near Harleston