There's a quiet beauty to the coast and heathland of East Suffolk, with its fens and dykes, big skies and dunes, and if you're going to enjoy the experience to the full, then you need a sympathetic place to stay. The hand-built timber lodges at Toad Hall blend in with their natural, hideaway surroundings – there's a nature reserve at the end of the road, with cornfields, reed beds and marshes beyond, and an estuary walk that takes you to either Southwold or Walberswick, two of the most charming places on the English coast. You really couldn't be in a better place to slow down, relax and get back to nature.
Best of all, there's no skimping on comfort. There are five handsome little lodges, three with king-sized double beds, the other two with twins. One of the doubles, Pebble Lodge, is en-suite, with a shower, toilet and basin. The other four share a separate, heated shower block, with your own private shower plus toilet, basin and mirror. There are reading lamps and lights inside each lodge, plus sockets and USB ports – there's no wifi but there is a strong 4G signal. French doors open onto your own private wooden deck, where you can enjoy the hand-delivered breakfast basket each morning, and sit
and gaze at the stars at night. A covered outdoor kitchen has a gas grill and barbecue, fridge, and hot and cold water, and there's a communal firepit too.
You can walk, run and cycle right from the doorstep – there are water voles, otters and herons in the nearby waters, forested bike trails to follow, and sand and shingle beaches where you'll scarcely see another person. Owners Emma and Gavin are passionate about being active in the great outdoors, and they even have a small yoga studio and gym on site, which you are welcome to use.
Southwold is an hour’s winding estuary walk or quick drive in the car away, a lovely gorgeous seaside town of candy-coloured beach huts and indie shops. Great places for a bite to eat include The Lord Nelson and The Swan. There’s local bike hire, and paddle-board and kayak rental too, and any number of routes to hidden beaches, rolling dunes and wild swimming spots. It’s a longer walk, via the famous foot ferry, to Walberswick, a charming place with 2 terrific country pubs, The Anchor and The Bell. Or if festival-life is more your thing, Toad Hall is just a 20-minute walk from the Latitude site, for which it makes a good base.
