Orchard Farmhouse

Originally built in the 1700s as a winnowing barn, this cosy cottage conversion is part of the Old Grove Farm, and is one of six homes around a large central courtyard. Begin your morning here with a welcome basket breakfast, served at the Millstone breakfast bar. Then explore the acres of orchards and meadows, with your four-legged friend trotting by your side. For lunch, why not follow the footpaths through the open countryside to the dog-friendly pub, which is just a fifteen-minute walk away?

In the late afternoon, we would love to curl up on the sofa with a good book in front of the roaring fire or lounge beneath the apple and pear trees in the beautiful orchard.

From inside the house, handmade oak windows in the living room, cut through the floor to the bedroom above affording amazing views, while a handmade iron balcony is a great vantage point to watch the sunset from.

In the summer months, the large open-sided ‘Cart Lodge’ has a barbecue which can be pulled out, or you could simply sit beneath the lodge’s fairy lights and gaze at the stars of the night-time sky. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for the wildlife – bats, badgers, hares, rabbits, deer and birds ¬– that share this land.

Despite its rural setting, this cottage is only a five to ten-minute drive from supermarkets, cafés, museums, and the river Stour. Kersey, widely regarded as Suffolk’s prettiest village, is only a ten-minute cycle ride from the home. Plus, Lavenham – England’s best-preserved Medieval Village – is just a fifteen-minute drive away, where you will also find great quality restaurants such as The Great House or The Swann. Meanwhile, a day out to the unspoilt Suffolk coast is roughly an hour’s drive away to reach places like Pin Mill, Nacton, Levington, Orford, Aldeburgh, Dunwich, Southwold, and Mersey Island.

Home truths:
*Due to the location of this home, we recommend hiring a car to get the most out of your stay – off-road parking is available
*A travel cot and high chair are provided
*The South Suffolk Cycle route runs past the cottage and bikes are available for free but please check with the owner before you arrive to avoid disappointment if they are in for maintenance
*Superfast broadband is supplied to this home
*The host sometimes keeps bees and has many flowering plants to encourage them into the gardens