Things to do
Things to do on the farm and nearby
There's plenty to do without leaving the farm, and some of our regular guests tell us they never go out at all. When you do fancy a day out, these are the places we recommend.
Without getting in the car
On a rainy day with young children, there are board games in the cupboards, plenty of books and a smart TV in every cottage for a film. Older children and teenagers usually head for the games room, where pool and table tennis are free to play and table football takes 20p pieces. Many groups set up a tournament and keep score on the chalkboard.
When the weather's fine, the grass in front of the Hall is a good spot for football, cricket or a picnic, and the playground has swings, a climbing frame and a slide. You can also walk around the moat through the orchard, or follow the footpaths to the spinney and down Needham Lane to the pubs in Bildeston, before coming home to the hot tub.
Margo, our golden retriever, is always pleased to say hello.
Days out
The drive times in this table are from our gate.
Place
Drive
Good for
What we think
10 mins
Young families
Farm trail, café and local produce. The best farm shop we know
Stowmarket
15 mins
Shops and trains
Our nearest market town, with the railway station and the Food Museum, an open-air museum of Suffolk life
20 mins
Sightseeing and history
The Crooked House, the National Trust Guildhall and the house used as Godric's Hollow in Harry Potter
Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm
20 mins
Children
Meet and feed goats, pigs, Highland cattle, sheep and alpacas
40 mins
Swimming and watersports
Open-water swimming, watersports, cycling and walks around the reservoir
Felixstowe
45 mins
Seaside
Watch the container ships from Landguard Fort, then the amusements on the pier
Where to go in Suffolk with kids
Our favourite days out for children, with drive times from our gate.
- Hilly Ridge Alpacas, 2 mins: walk your own alpaca through the countryside
- Hollow Trees Farm Shop, 10 mins: a farm trail and a café where nobody minds the noise
- Stowmarket, 15 mins: the Food Museum, an open-air museum with farm animals and old buildings to explore
- Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm, 20 mins: meet and feed goats, pigs, Highland cattle, sheep and alpacas
- Jimmy's Farm, 30 mins: bears, farm animals and a café
- Alton Water, 40 mins: cycling, walks and watersports around the reservoir
- Easton Farm Park, 45 mins: Suffolk Punch horses and farm animals
- Felixstowe, 45 mins: the beach, the pier and the container ships from Landguard Fort
On a wet day, the Omniplex in Ipswich (30 mins) has bowling and arcades under one roof, and Bury Bowl in Bury St Edmunds is 30 minutes away. Back at the cottages there's the playground, the games room and plenty of board games.
Where to eat
The Bildeston Crown, named Pub of the Year by Suffolk & Norfolk Magazine, for a special dinner
The King's Head, Hadleigh, for a good-value Sunday roast
The Six Bells, Preston, small and cosy, for pub food
With young children, where nobody minds the noise:
If you're eating out as a larger group, it's best to book ahead.
When it rains all day
For a properly wet day, we'd suggest Bury Bowl in Bury St Edmunds, or the Omniplex in Ipswich, which has arcades and bowling in the same building.
A walk nearby
Combs Wood, a Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserve, is within ten minutes' drive.
You don't need the car for a good walk, though. Public footpaths start right by the farm and cross the fields towards Bildeston and Hitcham. The map below shows the public footpaths in red and the permissive routes in purple, with the cottages marked “You are here”. Download it to your phone or print it before you set off, and please keep dogs on a lead around the farm and near livestock.
Tap or click the map to see it larger. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Download the walking map (PDF)
Dates worth planning around
When
What
February and March
Lambing at Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm
Early May
Hadleigh Show
May half term
Suffolk Show
Late August
Beer festival at the Red Rose, Lindsey
Early September
FOMO Festival
Mid September
B Natural, a free music festival in Bildeston
Weekend nearest 5 November
Fireworks at the Red Rose, Lindsey
The useful list
Nearest shop: Bank House Stores, Bildeston, 2 miles
Supermarket: Morrisons, Hadleigh
Chemist: Hadleigh or Needham Market
Doctor: Bildeston
Vet: Hadleigh or Stowmarket
Come and stay on the farm
Stays start on a Friday or a Monday, for a minimum of two nights.
Check availability →