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Thinking of Aldeburgh or Southwold.
Ace or bobbins?
Been to Southwold for a weekend in the off-season. Nice, pretty place. Tim Hunkin's amusements on the pier are great. Beach is good. Adnams shop is great. Probably heaving in the summer though.
Southwold is a bit Cambridge-on-Sea (as in a lot of people go their for weekend breaks) so I understand it is a bit expensive, but really pretty with good pubs / food. More of a romantic break destination in that it doesn't have as much of the fun park stuff like Great Yarmouth, but if you just want walks, beaches and nature reserves then it's lovely. We've been recommended The Crown (which is epensive but very good) and having a pint of Adnams at The Lord Nelson looking out over the beach.
Southwold is nice, get in before the Joules/Costa/Jack Wills brigade ruin it. There's enough left worth seeing/doing to make it worthwhile.
Aldeburgh is going the same way it seems as well.
I'm not far away and Southwold is a nice starting off point for a bridleway bimble to the forest trails in Tunstall. Staying in Reydon is probably about half the price if you can live with a walk to the pub, the Randolph in Reydon is as good a place to eat and drink as anywhere in Southwold imho.
Snape Maltings provides a nice location for anyone not so fussed about razzing around on their bike in Tunstall. 😉
With bikes?
There's a couple of lovely rides in the [url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Lanes-Glorious-Southern-South-East/dp/0957157312 ]Lost Lanes book[/url] round some pretty bits of Suffolk.
St Peter's brewery is two thirds round one of them.
Southwold, Aldeburgh, Walberswick and Dunwich (mega expensive) are all nice with great pubs. Couple of nice castles local in Framlingham & Orford
Without bikes. With small kids.
Looking at two weeks for next summer.
Beaches are all nice and kid friendly except Aldeburgh which is very stoney, but's not too much in the way of "amusements" it's all a bit more "up market" so to speak.
Good. We're a farm park, castles and stately homes sort of family.but's not too much in the way of "amusements"
oh in that case theres also Minsmere nature reserve (this years spring watch) and the town that fell into the sea museum at Dunwich. And Adnams brewery tours too.
I spend a few days with my sister in Polstead every year. NIce place to pedal about in a rural England way. I've found some nice art shows, a plane museum, and an owl sanctuary on my travels, HArwich also.
Same sandy beaches at southern end of Lowestoft, Pakefield and Kessingland areas. Lowestoft is a lot more downmarket though, and more industrial. Mate of mine has a flat there and we've been down a few times. Not too far from Gt Yarmouth for a trip tp the theatre on the pier. The Chuckle Brothers are back! Oh dear, oh dear! Inland there's Africa Alive, medium sized zoo/safari place. Not far to the big donkey sanctuary at Caldecott. There's a cracking little aircraft museum at Flixton too. Plenty of farm parks and stately homes too, and the Broads.
Easton Farm Park for the kids is great.
Sutton Hoo, Orford and Framlingham (better) castles are all in pretty close proximity, Walberswick for great crabbing, they hold *I think* the world champs there, very tongue in cheek though.
I'd be suprised if there isn't something on at Glenham Hall during some point of you stay too.
If it's summer I'm sure there's a maze they cut into a corn field somewhere too.
Somerleyton Hall for stately homes which isn't far from Aldeburgh, Southwold area.
That's just a few things off the top of my head. Will have a think and see if I can come up with some others.
Thanks.
We had a week in Thorpeness, just up the road from Aldeburgh in May last year. We were with a large family group and rented a house on the beach. I loved it and we managed to keep 6 little kids and 8 adults occupied everyday. If you do go to Aldeburgh you [u]will[/u] end up buying (an overpriced) little wooden sail boat to sail on the little pond. So get one before you go. You have been warned!
The boating lake at Thorpeness is a must too and the pub round the corner (can't remember it's name) is ace.
The town itself gets very busy on sunny days but if you venture inland a bit there's still plenty to do. If you like old stuff then the viking burial ground at Sutton Hoo is a good day out as is the Malting's which is basically a concert hall with lots of shops gathered about it.
The road bike is a must too. Its quite flat but the roads are just fantastic. 50 miles before breakfast. Lovely.
The B1159 is an epic road. Plenty of 'secret' beaches to find and explore.
Consider Orford as a base nice quiet little village as the towns are very busy in the summer. It's a bit like going back in time but not in a bad way. If the National Trust did amusement's the pier in Southwold is it.
Grim stay away, I've been [s]holidaying[/s] living here for years, nothing to see.
Africa Alive is very good.
Away from the coast Bury St Edmunds is a fantastic base with loads to do and plenty to eat, you can travel to Southwold & Aldebrugh easily also
Does Pleasurewood Hills still exist? My parents had a caravan in Suffolk when I was a kid and I remember going there a few times.
Woody the bear
Also visit the windmill at Saxtead. Not too far for a day trip to Grimes Graves towards Thetford.
This has brought back some great memories of childhood holidays. I think a camping trip to Suffolk with my daughter is a must this summer.
I grew up in Cambridge and we had a place in Dunwich, absolutely lovely. Not been back for 30 years, though watching spring watch has rekindled some memories. My dad is a bit of a twitcher and his cousin used to manage the RSPB reserve somewhere near there.
I used to go to BuryStEdmunds with work and liked it, I met Brian Blessed 🙂 he was pissed and was telling everyone that SAF was going to sign Samuel Et'o 😀
nice bit of the world, just be aware it's a bit of a trek from manchester
Born and raised in Bury St Edmunds and now live in Lowestoft. Southwold is very nice but full of Londoners and celebs. Jonny Dep has a house there if rumour is to be believed. And a beach hut can set you back £100K!!!
The Crown in Southwold was excellent last year for food. Adnams and St Peter's brewerys both worth a visit. Minsmere nearby too if you like birds (with feathers)
The Tide Mill in Woodbridge is good and the walk from there along the river wall towards Kyson Point or the other way to Wilford Bridge and Melton is quite pleasant.
Sutton Hoo
Landguard Fort at Felixstowe and watch the inner workings of one of Europe's largest container ports from the beach.
Alton Water hire bikes for a family friendly loop of the reservoir
Snape Maltings for craft shop type things
Picnic and walk on Sutton Heath or at Iken (you will probably need an os map to find that)
Shotley peninsula has some nice country side and pubs
Suffolk lanes are lovely for cycling too
The chip shop in Aldeburgh has a deservedly good reputation but be prepared to queue at peak times.
Thorpe Ness Mere is lovely on a warm day and is pretty shallow.
Ooh, I've just remembered what I liked most about Suffolk
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We had a lovely week in Southwold September last year with our two little ones. Lots of lazy pub lunches, plenty of time on the beach, crabbing, ice creams. I could fancy another week by the sea just now......
Lived in Woodbridge for 5 years and loved it. Really nice cobbled thoroughfare and the Tide Mill is worth a visit as is the Suffolk Punch colony near Hollesley Bay open prison if you have any interest in horses or old farming stuff.
Been a while so wouldn't be able to advise re eateries but used to spend a while in the Kings Head by the fire ( less so in summer admittedly)
Beach is Brown water with groynes, but Southwold is very civilised. It's ok but having been there I don't ever plan on returning. Depends what you want from the sea. If it's cliffs, rock pools and golden sands then it's no good
Peace and quiet available at Shingle Street and Orfordness, though it can be a bit breezy.
Suffolk Punch trust at Hollesley.
The castle at Orford (Pump Street Bakery does great coffee and baked goods my bike will not pass this one the brakes lock on).
The press columnists descend en-masse at Southwold for August when it's rammed during the day. Walberswick is worth the walk though that also has a luvvie and media contingent.
Check out Snape Maltings. If you like Benjamin Britten that is.