Mind, body, chickens and goats
Hone your heritage-building skills at Orchard Barn, take the farm trail and meet goats and chickens at Hollow Tree, or paint ceramics at the Craft and Glass workshop. Lose an hour or two at Alder Carr, with farm shop and great ice cream. Sort your mind and body out at Kersey Mill and pick up some fizz for supper at Shawsgate Vineyard.
Country kids
Get set for developing your environmentally sound, heritage-building skills at Orchard Barn, learning the theory and practice of building with Suffolk earth and trees. Discover more local traditions at the Museum of East Anglian Life, with tractors, a historic house and friendly animals.
Take the farm trail and meet goats, cows and chickens at Hollow Trees in Ipswich. With adventure play, a café and farm shop, there’s something for everyone here. Or pick from glass painting, ceramics, bear building, décopatch, wood painting, fabric fun, sand art and mosaics at the Craft and Glass workshop.
Ride the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway: the ‘Middy’ is Suffolk’s only standard-gauge heritage railway. Head to Stonham Barns Park for adventure golf, foot golf, the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, plus a collection of vintage cars. Or track down a dazzling array of wildlife including bitterns, otters and rutting red deer at Minsmere Nature Reserve.
Uncover stories of ambitious barons, a Tudor queen and Georgian poorhouse children at Framlingham Castle, then conquer the spectacular wall walk. Discover Sutton Hoo, site of two Anglo-Saxon cemeteries. Or enjoy an afternoon of fresh air and freedom at Walberswick Beach or Southwold seaside and pier.
For the grown ups
Lose an hour or two at Alder Carr, a hidden gem in the Suffolk countryside, complete with a farm shop full of seasonal and artisan produce, plus multi-award-winning ice cream. Or swim, gym, climb the walls or knock down the pins at Mid-Suffolk Leisure Centre.
Take time out for your mind and body at Kersey Mill, with Pilates, beauty and boutiques, or Weavers’ House Luxury Spa. Play the pretty parkland course at Stowmarket Golf Club, then stick around for the archery. Or get splat-happy with paintball (or low-impact paintball for the squeamish) at Gunsmoke.
Head into Lavenham to discover a gorgeous historic market town chock-full of museums, antiques, quirky independents and teashops. Take a tour and taste the wines at Shawsgate Vineyard, one of East Anglia’s oldest commercial vineyards producing a range of white, red and rosé plus quality English sparkling wines.
See how real beer is brewed on a visit to Greene King. Visit Aldeburgh’s iconic pebble beach with pastel-coloured holiday villas along the promenade. Get over to Bury St Edmunds for the medieval architecture, Georgian squares, cathedral and abbey. Or sample the marina at Ipswich Waterfront, with its buzzing bars and restaurants.
