OTLEY
The house is on a designated ‘quiet lane’ about 1/2 a mile from the centre of the village of Otley (Suffolk). Otley has an award-winning and super-friendly village shop (with Post Office), a doctor’s surgery, a primary school, a pub, a church, a bowls club, a village hall that hosts various classes and events such a pilates and crafts, as well as a choir and the Otley Players . There is also a large playing field with children’s area, exercise apparatus and Scout hut, and even a community orchard. Otley is a friendly place and there is always something on such as a summer fete, Macmillan’s tea parties, a fireworks event or Christmas fair.
NEARBY VILLAGES
Close to Otley, you find some lovely little villages each with good communities and good reasons to visit:
Grundisburgh (good pub, delicatessen, cafe) – 10 mins
Debenham (leisure centre, primary and high school, vets, various shops including a Coop, great pub, cafes, flower shop …) – 15 mins
Framsden (nice community-owned pub) – 5 mins
Ashbocking (vet, Suffolk Wildlife Trust HQ, dog groomers, cafe) – 2 mins
Helmingham (primary school, Helmingham Hall) – 5 mins
NEARBY TOWNS AND BEACHES
Woodbridge, Framlingham (with its castle made famous by Ed Sheeran) and Ipswich are each just about a 20 minute drive away. There are buses available from outside the shop too. Ipswich is the county town, with a railway station, hospital, football club and the usual array of shops, cafe and restaurants. Woodbridge is much smaller and much prettier, with the River Deben running through it. Framlingham is smaller again but also a lovely little town.
We’re also not too far from the coast with Felixstowe 25 mins away and the gorgeous Aldeburgh (with the fabulous Snape Maltings nearby – check it out for shops, great food and amazing concerts) just about 40 minutes drive, and Southwold about an hour away. Walberswick (sandy beaches), Orford (a castle and wonderful fish restaurant and smokery), and Dunwich are also great places to visit by the sea.
BIGGER CITIES
It’s just over an hour to get to London on the train from Ipswich. Norwich (great little city) is roughly an hour away, and Bury St Edmunds (better shopping than Ipswich) is about 40 minutes. Stansted airport takes us 1h 20 mins by car.
WALKS
We are surrounded by wonderful walks through fields, woods and along green lanes , and just a couple of miles up the road is Helmingham Hall, where you can walk year-round on public paths through the glorious parkland with its ancient oak trees. Helmingham Hall is also great for events such as plant and craft fairs, dog shows, vintage car fairs, open gardens (May to September), a great cafe, music in the gardens, and winter illuminated gardens.
All the walks on the map above are direct from the house. Every direction you go in, there are lovely places to walk the dog (or just yourself!). Ranging from a few minutes down the quiet lane, to an hour or much more if you join up the various routes, there is a lot of choice without having to get the car out.
Orange: The ‘Field Circuit’. About 35-45 mins.
Purple: About 45 mins
Green: ‘The Gull’ walk. About 1 hour.
Blue: About 45 mins.
Brown: About 1 hour but can be shorter.
Other favourite places for walking are: along the riverside in Woodbridge; at Sutton Heath (not far from Woodbridge, and Sutton Hoo is excellent too); in Tunstall Forest, and at Minsmere Reserve, but this is only touching the surface of what’s around us.
EATING OUT
Despite us being in a rural area, we are not short of great places to eat. There are loads of choices (especially in Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds) but below are some of our favourites.
EXCELLENT: The Greyhound at Pettistree (Michelin) – 20 mins. The Unruly Pig near Woodbridge (Michelin) – 25 mins. The Fox and Goose at Fressingfield (40 mins but worth it).
VERY GOOD: The Brewer’s Arms at Rattlesden (35 mins). The Ufford Crown at Woodbridge (20 mins). Marlowe’s in Woodbridge (20 mins).
GOOD: The Turk’s Head at Hasketon (10 mins). The Lion at Debenham (13 mins). The Brudenell in Aldeburgh (40 mins – for a meal with a sea view).
OTHERS WE RATE FOR A DECENT MEAL (when we don’t want to spend too much but don’t want to cook!): The Station at Framlingham (20 mins). The Cretingham Bell (10 mins). The Swan at Westerfield (10 mins). The Grundisburgh Dog (10 mins). The Chequers at Kettleburgh (15 mins). The White Horse at Easton (15 mins). And of course, Otley’s White Hart.