Firethorn Cottage Launched!

A little while ago, we shared with you the photoshoot at Firethorn Cottage. The cottage is now live on our website and taking bookings!

We are very impressed with the finished result, and think this cottage is going to go like hot cakes! Rachael at Best of Suffolk says "Firethorn Cottage is light and airy, with a stunning wood burner for those cold winter cosy nights!" We're sure you can visualise that - add a glass of wine and a good book and you have the perfect relaxing evening!


One of the main features of Firethorn Cottage is the lovely big garden for you to explore, with lawn and flowerbeds, a table and chairs for 6 people and a couple of BBQs! We think there is still time for some late-summer BBQ lunches if you book now!


Middleton is a lovely village in the heart of the Suffolk coastal region, and the local pub in the centre of the village is called The Bell. It has a lovely friendly atmosphere and lots of character, as well as hearty home cooked meals - well worth a visit to get a feel for Suffolk country social life!


For full details and to book online, click here!

Artist in e-Residence: Jason Gathorne-Hardy

Adventure No I : 9th June ~ Slaughden @ Aldeburgh on the Alde Estuary

This is an online residency. The idea is to drop in snapshots of local landscapes that give a glimpse of Suffolk and its extraordinary beauty. Suffolk is a fair county. Many of its most remarkable qualities are fleeting by nature. They are gone in an instant - but often return. 

Each month will present a selection of images from different parts of Suffolk and East Anglia. Many will be from the Alde Valley - one of the least developed of the river valley systems in East Anglia. Curiously, the Alde Valley is also superstore-free from the source of all its tributaries [the Fromus near Saxmundham, the Upper Alde Valley near Badingham and the Ore by Framlingham] to the sea. One consequence of this quirk of local planning policy is that the Alde Valley is also home to one of the UK's most vibrant and innovative local food economies. [Visit www.aldeburghfoodanddrink.co.uk , www.snapemaltings.co.uk , www.aldevalleyspringfestival.co.uk  for some tasters and more information].


The first collection of images come from Slaughden. There was a pub and a small settlement here until 1953, when a storm surge swept most of the buildings away. A martello tower survives, standing firm on the edge of the land. It is the last in a long line towers and fortifications that stretches round the coast as far south as Rye and Winchelsea in Kent. This northernmost outpost stands like an old molar tooth, buttressed by brickwork, concrete and Scandinavian boulders against the  relentless erosion of the North Sea. 



As is so often the case, a weather front was rolling overhead. To the west, a long lip of broken clouds was curling along above the river and shoreline. Its underside was a bundle of soft tufts of cloud, darkened by half-fallen rain. To the east, over the sea, the sky was lighter and more open. In the distance two rain storms were drifting southwards over a shipping lane, heading towards Felixstowe.

Along the shore waves were coming in on a rising tide, staining dry stones a deeper brown as they reached higher and higher up the beach. Between the groynes, the action of the sea was piling stones up into mounds on one side and scouring them away on the other. Looking low out to sea over the shingle, the teak timbers, bolted tight to heavy uprights, seemed to be spouting water like the sides of a leaking galleon. The wet surface of the wood was the colour of rusted iron, but was reflecting the light of the sea like a mirror. Above, as always, seagulls roamed and wheeled on the wind. Some were gathered around cars, waiting for chips and morsels of battered fish to be flung from opened windows. Others, perhaps already full, were riding an evening breeze back to Orfordness. They do this when the wind is in the right direction, catching a sheet of updraft as it rises off over the river wall.

Jason Gathorne-Hardy, White House Farm, Great Glemham. 9th June 2011.

Drawings of seagulls from the Alde at Snape are currently on show at Snape Maltings Gallery and by appointment at the farm.

Marathon & Carnival Fun!

A beautiful sunny day in Aldeburgh made the perfect setting for the Aldeburgh 10k Mini Marathon, followed by the ever-popular Aldeburgh Carnival!


There was a tangible buzz in the air on Sunday and Monday last week, as locals and holiday makers gathered along the sea front, milling around the little stalls, and watching the runners prepare for the 10k mini marathon.

Naomi represented Best of Suffolk in the mini marathon and says "It was a tough run in the hot sunshine but I discovered some great new footpaths on the route beyond Thorpeness - they are currently a blaze with purple heathers and worth exploring at a more leisurely pace!"

Congratulations Naomi!

The Aldeburgh Carnival is always incredibly popular, with people flooding to the beautiful seaside town to soak up the sun and the happy atmosphere. A colourful parade down the high street is fun for visitors of all ages, and all the locals join in the festivities too!

Vote For Us!

Please help us by nominating the Best of Suffolk website for the Website of the Year Awards!

It’s quick and easy to do by clicking HERE!

So is it really good enough to win?  Just look at what our guests said about it in our recent survey...

“Best of Suffolk has the best website and booking experience we have ever come across.”


"I think BOS is possibly the best cottage company in the market. You understand your guests and there needs you are moving with the times modern traveller... first class company."


“By far the best site out there.”
“I have been looking at many other similar websites recently, and yours is by far the best.”

“Personally, I find your website excellent & very easy to use in comparison to the websites of other companies. I can't think of anything that is missing or has frustrated me when using your site.”
“Your website is excellent and far exceeds those of other companies.”

“Your website is excellent, very easy to use and navigate. The quality of the photographs/slideshows is excellent and together with the descriptions they do justice to the quality of the beautiful interiors. Booking with you I can feel confident there will be no nasty 'surprises'.”

“Excellent website, one of the best I've EVER seen.”
“You can tell a lot about a company from its website and yours is eyecatching, stylish, informative and easy to navigate - that's one of the reasons we keep coming back!”

“Its very easy- I love it- gives me hours of pleasure looking through the properties!”

“Your website, in my view, leaves nothing to be added to it - it is excellent. Thank you for it. It is so valuable being a great guide to facilities and places in Suffolk. Just looking through its pages brings a sense of calm when surrounded by the hurley-burley of our home town surroundings location!

Thank you for support. The more nominations we get, the more chance we have of winning so please help spread the word. CLICK HERE!

A Haven in the Heart of Suffolk

A beautiful wooden-beamed property on the edge of the Suffolk countryside, makes for a really relaxing break!

Set in the grounds of Columbine Hall in the village of Stowupland, The Gig House makes a wonderful family break with the whole of Suffolk surrounding you, ready to explore!


Alex Tarry, Director of Best of Suffolk says, "With The Gig House I can honestly say I am envious of our guests...not only will they be able to enjoy sitting around the magnificent open fire and relaxing in the tastefully restored period building but they will be able to roam the grounds of Columbine Hall, which has some stunning views and areas to explore...yes the Gig house is very special."


I personally highly recommend The Crown at Stowupland, a gorgeous pink thatched pub which is the epitome of  traditional countryside pubs. It is cute, cosy and full of character, and serves hearty home cooked meals which are excellent quality and value for money.


Our favourite things about The Gig House:

• The character of the building
• The open fire
• The setting within the 29 acres of Columbine Hall, which guests are welcome to explore when they visit...
• ...plus your own garden area with table and chairs!

For full details and availability, click here!

Happy Birthday Best of Suffolk!

Best of Suffolk has reached the grand old age of 5 years old today!

We launched the original Best of Suffolk website with great excitement on Wednesday 2nd August 2006 from our small office in the attic at home.

At the time Alex and I were still working full time for BT and the BBC, and Best of Suffolk was tiny with only six properties to market compared to 152 now.  They were Oakley House, Valetta, Blythburgh Cottage, Seawall Cottage, The Workshop and Aldeburgh Cottage.  

The owners of these properties had faith in us and agreed to join before we’d even decided on a name for the business or had a website to show them.  They saw that we were enthusiastic and determined to do a good job for them, and the rest as they say is history! I’m pleased so say that the original six cottages are still with Best of Suffolk and that we are continuing to do a great job for these original owners.

We now have over 150 stylish holiday cottages for you to choose from, all of which meet the high standards required to be a part of Best of Suffolk.

Please take a look for yourself: www.bestofsuffolk.co.uk

Written by Naomi Tarry, Director of Best of Suffolk and East of England Businesswoman Entrepreneur of the Year.