Beaches Local to our holiday cottages
(Don't forget to take a bag to do your #2minutebeachclean, and keep your eyes peeled along the debris line caused by the last high tide for raw amber, which is a dull, creamy brown stone)
1 ) Sizewell Beach - Perfect for beachcombing and a warmer swim in the sea!
Beach: Sizewell, Suffolk
Distance from us: 10.7 miles
Postcode: IP16 4UH
Type of beach: shingle
Facilities: Toilets and Cafe (closes at randoms times so do check)
Car parking: Big car park right next to the beach path.
Notes: Book a beach combing lesson with Beach Bonkers - you will thank me. Sharks teeth, egg cases, sea glass and lots more are all found. Every tide change re-sets the beach for more exciting treasure to be found!
Distance from us: 10.7 miles
Postcode: IP16 4UH
Type of beach: shingle
Facilities: Toilets and Cafe (closes at randoms times so do check)
Car parking: Big car park right next to the beach path.
Notes: Book a beach combing lesson with Beach Bonkers - you will thank me. Sharks teeth, egg cases, sea glass and lots more are all found. Every tide change re-sets the beach for more exciting treasure to be found!
2 ) Aldeburgh beach- perfect for fish and chips! (11.7 miles from our holiday cottage)
from fishermans Beach: Aldeburgh, Suffolk
Distance from us: 11.7 miles
Postcode:
Type of beach: shingle
Facilities: Cafes, restaurants, toilets, pubs , and shops all very close.
Car parking: There are lots of parking spaces dotted about so worth a try in these- Opposite the white lion IP15 5BJ, the high street, and crabbe street. Official car parks are Oakley Square IP15 5BX, King St IP15 5BY, and Fort Green IP15 5DE.
Notes: There are two fish and chip shops to choose from- one offers dine in too. Fresh fish of the day is for sale from fishermans huts on the beach including lobster. Visit the Red house which was home to the iconic Suffolk composer Benjamin Britten. there are a good lot of quality clothes, art and home shops in the high street. Get your fish and chips and head up in your car to beyond the end of the high street to the boatyard, walk up the slope and sit in looking out to sea. Visit the towns cinema which has been screening films since 1919. and has kept its traditional atmosphere.
Distance from us: 11.7 miles
Postcode:
Type of beach: shingle
Facilities: Cafes, restaurants, toilets, pubs , and shops all very close.
Car parking: There are lots of parking spaces dotted about so worth a try in these- Opposite the white lion IP15 5BJ, the high street, and crabbe street. Official car parks are Oakley Square IP15 5BX, King St IP15 5BY, and Fort Green IP15 5DE.
Notes: There are two fish and chip shops to choose from- one offers dine in too. Fresh fish of the day is for sale from fishermans huts on the beach including lobster. Visit the Red house which was home to the iconic Suffolk composer Benjamin Britten. there are a good lot of quality clothes, art and home shops in the high street. Get your fish and chips and head up in your car to beyond the end of the high street to the boatyard, walk up the slope and sit in looking out to sea. Visit the towns cinema which has been screening films since 1919. and has kept its traditional atmosphere.
3 ) Dunwich Beach (Village)- Perfect for a peaceful beach with marsh walks right next to the carpark (11.4 miles from our Holiday Cottage)
Beach: Dunwich (Village), Suffolk
Distance from us: 11.4 miles
Postcode: IP17 3EN
Type of beach: sand and shingle
Facilities: Cafe, toilets, pub, Museum
Car parking: Lovely big carpark.
Notes: Walks over the RSPB dingle marshes are sign posted from the carpark.
Distance from us: 11.4 miles
Postcode: IP17 3EN
Type of beach: sand and shingle
Facilities: Cafe, toilets, pub, Museum
Car parking: Lovely big carpark.
Notes: Walks over the RSPB dingle marshes are sign posted from the carpark.
4 ) Dunwich Heath beach- perfect for quiet family beach visits, heathland walks and birdspotting (11.9 miles from our holiday cottages)
Beach: Dunwich Heath, Suffolk
Distance from us: 11.9 miles
Postcode: IP17 3DJ
Type of beach: sand and shingle
Facilities: Cafe (breakfast lunch, and snacks), Toilets, visitors centre, gift shop.
Car parking: Free of charge for National Trust members
Notes: Form July to September the Heather is in full bloom- a sea of purple and pink. A great place to watch Murmurations and hear nightjars as well as other bird sightings. carpark is a small pah down to the beach away- so nice and close.
Distance from us: 11.9 miles
Postcode: IP17 3DJ
Type of beach: sand and shingle
Facilities: Cafe (breakfast lunch, and snacks), Toilets, visitors centre, gift shop.
Car parking: Free of charge for National Trust members
Notes: Form July to September the Heather is in full bloom- a sea of purple and pink. A great place to watch Murmurations and hear nightjars as well as other bird sightings. carpark is a small pah down to the beach away- so nice and close.
5 ) Thorpness beach- perfect for beaches and boating lakes in a fairytale village (12.3 miles from our holiday cottages)
Beach: Thorpness, Suffolk
Distance from us: 12.3 miles
Postcode: IP16 4NW
Type of beach: shingle
Facilities: )
Car parking: Li
Notes: The kitchen @ thorpness is a seriously good cafe- breakfast, lunch and cake (they open 9-5, 7 days a week!), Alde driving are there in the main season at weekends to offer horse and carriage rides around the village. Hire a rowing boat and go around the Peter Pan lake
Distance from us: 12.3 miles
Postcode: IP16 4NW
Type of beach: shingle
Facilities: )
Car parking: Li
Notes: The kitchen @ thorpness is a seriously good cafe- breakfast, lunch and cake (they open 9-5, 7 days a week!), Alde driving are there in the main season at weekends to offer horse and carriage rides around the village. Hire a rowing boat and go around the Peter Pan lake
6 ) Orford Ness Beach- the 10 mile long spit National Trust nature reserve - only accessed by boat (13.8 miles from our holiday cottage)
Beach: Orford Ness, Suffolk
Distance from us: 13.8 miles
Postcode: IP12 2NU
Type of beach: shingle
Facilities: No facilities (pick up supplies in the village before you head over)
Car parking: Opposite the Jolly Sailor pub as per the postcode
Notes: Seek out the Quays locally caught fish and smokehouse goodies. There is a disused lighthouse that is soon to fall victim of coastal erosion. There is a pay on the day ferry that takes you over to the spit / nature reserve (admission fee included in ferry cost) where you can book on to guided tours too. The shingle spit is the largest in Europe. Orford Castle is worth a visit.
Distance from us: 13.8 miles
Postcode: IP12 2NU
Type of beach: shingle
Facilities: No facilities (pick up supplies in the village before you head over)
Car parking: Opposite the Jolly Sailor pub as per the postcode
Notes: Seek out the Quays locally caught fish and smokehouse goodies. There is a disused lighthouse that is soon to fall victim of coastal erosion. There is a pay on the day ferry that takes you over to the spit / nature reserve (admission fee included in ferry cost) where you can book on to guided tours too. The shingle spit is the largest in Europe. Orford Castle is worth a visit.
7 ) Walberswick beach- perfect for crab fishing! (14.1 miles from our holiday cottage)
Beach: Walberswick, Suffolk
Distance from us: 14.1 miles
Postcode: IP18 6TN
Type of beach: sand and shingle
Facilities: Village shop, gift shop, foot ferry (takes you Southwold Denes where there is a fish and chip shack), Cafes, two gastro pubs.
Car parking: There are two main car parks. - The Harbour IP18 6NB and Ferry Road IP18 6TZ
Notes: Crab fishing lines and bait can be bought from the Harbour shop shacks, and the village shop in the road in to Walberswick. There are two decent gastro pubs but always worth calling and booking- We haven't had success calling in and getting a table on the off chance. The village itself if gorgeous and only a few minutes walk- It reminds me of a Mid-sommers type village.
Distance from us: 14.1 miles
Postcode: IP18 6TN
Type of beach: sand and shingle
Facilities: Village shop, gift shop, foot ferry (takes you Southwold Denes where there is a fish and chip shack), Cafes, two gastro pubs.
Car parking: There are two main car parks. - The Harbour IP18 6NB and Ferry Road IP18 6TZ
Notes: Crab fishing lines and bait can be bought from the Harbour shop shacks, and the village shop in the road in to Walberswick. There are two decent gastro pubs but always worth calling and booking- We haven't had success calling in and getting a table on the off chance. The village itself if gorgeous and only a few minutes walk- It reminds me of a Mid-sommers type village.
8 ) Southwold Pier beach- perfect for a visit to bustling seaside town with an amusement pier and beach huts! (16.2 miles from our holiday cottage)
Beach: Southwold PIer, Suffolk
Distance from us: 16.2 miles
Postcode: IP18 6BN
Type of beach: sand and shingle
Facilities: Amusements, a large selection of independent shops, cafes / restaurants, pubs, home of Adnams Brewery heritage attractions, home to Southwold surf school, weekly markets (Monday and Thursdays) and so much more.
Car parking: Its not easy parking in Southwold when it's busy but you have a few options- The Pier, the Common (IP18 6AN) and various one off spaces dotted in the marketplace and seafront.
Notes: Take lots of 2p's for the coin machines on the Pier! We think the under the Pier show (actually on the pier... about half way down) is quite amusing - the kids think it fun too! The town itself if full of shops to find some seriously good food as well as some great independent shops for a little bit of indulgence. Southwold Pier has the Blue flag for 2018.
Distance from us: 16.2 miles
Postcode: IP18 6BN
Type of beach: sand and shingle
Facilities: Amusements, a large selection of independent shops, cafes / restaurants, pubs, home of Adnams Brewery heritage attractions, home to Southwold surf school, weekly markets (Monday and Thursdays) and so much more.
Car parking: Its not easy parking in Southwold when it's busy but you have a few options- The Pier, the Common (IP18 6AN) and various one off spaces dotted in the marketplace and seafront.
Notes: Take lots of 2p's for the coin machines on the Pier! We think the under the Pier show (actually on the pier... about half way down) is quite amusing - the kids think it fun too! The town itself if full of shops to find some seriously good food as well as some great independent shops for a little bit of indulgence. Southwold Pier has the Blue flag for 2018.
9 ) Southwold the Denes beach- perfect for coastal walks, river walks, seeing a working fishing harbour and fresh Seafood (17 miles from our holiday cottage)
Beach: Southwold 'the Denes', Suffolk
Distance from us: 17 miles (But worth it!)
Postcode: IP18 6NB
Type of beach: sand and some shingle
Facilities: Fish and chip restaurant, seafood restaurant, toilets, foot ferry to Walberswick, boatyard, Adnum's gastro pub 'The Harbour Inn' with views over the river and marshes, shacks that sell catch of the day, smokehouse, tea/coffee/ice cream hut, The Alfred Corry Lifeboat Museum, and Coastal Voyager boat trips (speed or seal and wind-farm tour),.
Car parking: yes (Ticket machine).
Notes: We found it the best to combine the trip to the Denes with the visit to Walberswick. The foot ferry rowing boat costs £1 a person and goes between the two.. I would possibly prefer to park the Walberswick side and visit the Denes. on the ferry, rather than vice versa. Its easier than navigating through Southwold town. The Denes is a lovely little area that has avoided being commercialised leaving it feeling pleasingly more isolated than its neighbor Southwold pier and town. It had a really great atmosphere that reminds me of the fishing towns of the South west coast. The grassy sand dunes made a great snug to make a base- the soft sand was a Suffolk novelty!
Distance from us: 17 miles (But worth it!)
Postcode: IP18 6NB
Type of beach: sand and some shingle
Facilities: Fish and chip restaurant, seafood restaurant, toilets, foot ferry to Walberswick, boatyard, Adnum's gastro pub 'The Harbour Inn' with views over the river and marshes, shacks that sell catch of the day, smokehouse, tea/coffee/ice cream hut, The Alfred Corry Lifeboat Museum, and Coastal Voyager boat trips (speed or seal and wind-farm tour),.
Car parking: yes (Ticket machine).
Notes: We found it the best to combine the trip to the Denes with the visit to Walberswick. The foot ferry rowing boat costs £1 a person and goes between the two.. I would possibly prefer to park the Walberswick side and visit the Denes. on the ferry, rather than vice versa. Its easier than navigating through Southwold town. The Denes is a lovely little area that has avoided being commercialised leaving it feeling pleasingly more isolated than its neighbor Southwold pier and town. It had a really great atmosphere that reminds me of the fishing towns of the South west coast. The grassy sand dunes made a great snug to make a base- the soft sand was a Suffolk novelty!
10 ) Covehithe beach- Desolate, wild, remote, Bleak, untamed, perfect for being alone with nature (19 miles from our holiday cottage)
Beach: Covehithe, Suffolk
Distance from us: 19 miles (But worth it!)
Postcode: NR34 7JW
Type of beach: sand and shingle
Facilities: No facilities (pack up a lunchbox before you leave the farm) but promise of beautiful pictures, wild seals, countryside walks and sand. Its also worth a look closer at the enormous roofless church - it houses a tiny thatched church with in the main church ruins. The windows of which are etched with signatures over a century old.
Car parking: Limited car parking- Park alongside the road which is 60 m or so before the start of the footpath (which is just after a green triangle with a bench on it to your right).
Notes: To find the beach, take the footpath on the opposite side of the road well before the church. It has a big signboard (see photo). Follow the path around the fields (pig and arable) and then through a hedge / tree lined further foot path. With a good off road pushchair you can get down there with little ones. We have a mountain buggy urban which handles it fine.
Alex Garland's The Beach “Tourists went on holidays while travellers did something else. They travelled....the lure of a perfect beach is that no one knows how to get there” It has to be one of most secret secluded beaches in Suffolk. I can now see why it is listed in the Telegraphs 'Britain's 40 best beaches'.
According to our quick google before we set off- Cove Hithe has the highest rate of erosion in the UK. Its erodes by 3 to 4m a year according to an article in our local newspaper the EADT. The name comes form the De Cove family- landowners from the middle ages and Hithe meaning Quay (as in loading and unloading boats)
Beach: Covehithe, Suffolk
Distance from us: 19 miles (But worth it!)
Postcode: NR34 7JW
Type of beach: sand and shingle
Facilities: No facilities (pack up a lunchbox before you leave the farm) but promise of beautiful pictures, wild seals, countryside walks and sand. Its also worth a look closer at the enormous roofless church - it houses a tiny thatched church with in the main church ruins. The windows of which are etched with signatures over a century old.
Car parking: Limited car parking- Park alongside the road which is 60 m or so before the start of the footpath (which is just after a green triangle with a bench on it to your right).
Notes: To find the beach, take the footpath on the opposite side of the road well before the church. It has a big signboard (see photo). Follow the path around the fields (pig and arable) and then through a hedge / tree lined further foot path. With a good off road pushchair you can get down there with little ones. We have a mountain buggy urban which handles it fine.
Alex Garland's The Beach “Tourists went on holidays while travellers did something else. They travelled....the lure of a perfect beach is that no one knows how to get there” It has to be one of most secret secluded beaches in Suffolk. I can now see why it is listed in the Telegraphs 'Britain's 40 best beaches'.
According to our quick google before we set off- Cove Hithe has the highest rate of erosion in the UK. Its erodes by 3 to 4m a year according to an article in our local newspaper the EADT. The name comes form the De Cove family- landowners from the middle ages and Hithe meaning Quay (as in loading and unloading boats)
- Aldeburgh Museum Learn about the history of Aldeburgh and the neighbouring area located in one of England's most important timber framed buildings.
- Alfred Corry Lifeboat Museum See the restoration, preservation and the maritime history of Southwolds No1 lifeboat.
- Dunwich Museum Explore the history of this medieval port and get a sense of what has happened to it over the centuries. Open March to end of October.
- Orford Museum Located inside part of Orford Castle the museum holds a vast knowledge of not only Orford but the surrounding area and villages
- Southwold Museum Find out more about this towns history from Fossil remains to the 20th century redevelopment into a prosperous fishing port and also the history behind the iconic lighthouse.
- Fishing from Southwold Pier Keen fisherman or just fancy a go, day tickets can be bought onsite from the pier. Regular landings of Whiting, Codling, Dover Sole and Bass.
- Thorpeness Meare Set in the middle of Thorpeness, a vast array of boats can be hired to explore and make your own adventure upon the meare.
About the farm
We wanted to create a holiday where guests could get away from city life , relax with family or friends surrounded by nature. Experience rural living surrounded by our beautiful British landscape on a working farm in a cosy cottage for a long chilled out weekend, just like the good old days.
We are Andrew and Laura, we are the third generation owners of Sweffling Hall Farm. We left our jobs in 2007 and moved to Suffolk to get back to rural life and to make it our new family home. In 2009 we converted the cart shed in to two self-catering holiday cottages to run alongside the working farm.
We are Andrew and Laura, we are the third generation owners of Sweffling Hall Farm. We left our jobs in 2007 and moved to Suffolk to get back to rural life and to make it our new family home. In 2009 we converted the cart shed in to two self-catering holiday cottages to run alongside the working farm.