Dogs love going on holiday. All the dogs we see at Woodfarm Barns and Woodfarm Barges always appear to be having a great time. Our corner of beautiful Suffolk is chock full of great places to take your dogs for an explore. If your hound is particularly ‘characterful’ then you might be interested to know there’s also a rather good dog trainer nearby!
Scroll down the page until you find something that tickles your fancy, then click the title for more information.
A great, old, real ale pub that time seems to have forgotten! It appears that it hasn’t been decorated for years, which actually really works! It’s a very quaint ‘real’ pub with wooden floors, plus a roaring double-sided open fire in the winter.
Wyken is a 1200-acre farm that was once occupied by Romans, with a 7-acre vineyard producing award-winning wines. On site they host weekly farmers markets, a shop, gardens, vineyard walks, and a restaurant and cafe.
The Hoppit Woodland & Lake community project was acquired in 2004 using grant funding, and it has been planted and managed by the community, parish councillors, and the Greenlight Trust. They began with just a stubble field, and have undergone many hours of work to create a lake, and start planting up the land in phases.
This is a real hidden gem that I happened to spot when leaving The Angel in the high street, Debenham. Heading North out of the village there is parking sign directing you to the right, and the wood is just a short walk beyond the crematorium.
The project is aimed at providing more habitat, an educational resource, angling facilities, and to provide woodland products from coppicing and other activities. They have planted a wildflower meadow, orchard, and a beautiful woodland that includes Field Maple, Oak, Hornbeam, and Ash.
Hoppit Woodland & Lake provides a lovely walk that is totally unspoilt, with fantastic views of Debenham, it is a superb example of what a community can achieve.
Altogether, the Debenham Hoppit Woodland is the ideal destination to head to if you’re seeking out an authentic experience of the British countryside. Replete with woodland and a stunning lake, visitors are able to easily relax and soak in their surroundings after taking a leisurely or lengthy stroll along the bank. For any budding anglers, the lake itself is home to various fish: in particular, you’ll find trench and carp in healthy supply here.
Debenham Hoppit is also a great place to mess around in boats, with various operators offering rentals that can be easily acquired for those interested in exploring the waterways. No doubt one of the best ways of immersing yourself and removing any stress you might have brought with you, the experience of being on the water here is second to none.
Expertly maintained by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, the Woodland extends beyond 25 acres and offers trails of varying difficulties to make it an unmissable spot for any and all visitors. Though the Trust respectfully asks anyone visiting to refrain from feeding any wildlife they encounter along the way, the appearance of various species are sure to make an afternoon stroll all the more exciting. Specifically, the following wildlife calls Debenham Hoppit Woodland home:
In addition to this varied wildlife, there’s also many kinds of flowers that are naturally occurring in this area to make the walk even more scenic. Ultimately, Debenham Hoppit Woodland is the perfect place to venture out to when on holiday in Suffolk. Providing the perfect environment to appreciate everything that the Suffolk countryside has to offer, we’re never shy about recommending this destination to anyone staying at one of our Barns or Barges to rent.
Sturdy old castle crowning historic Framlingham, a popular tourist destination
The walls of this historic building are built with flint. It’s a magnificent 12th century fortress with a long and colourful past which makes a fascinating family day out in Suffolk
Drop down to the mere for a lovely walk across the edge of Framlingham College (the owners)
Check out our gallery for for info on the mere, its flora and fauna
For more information visit their website
This is a great walk around a picturesque lake, whatever the weather
Needham Lake is man-made, having originally been rough, open meadowland. During the 1970s gravel was extracted during the construction of the nearby A14 and the pit was flooded to form the lake, which is now managed by the local council
During the extraction, ice age discoveries were made and numerous evidence of pre-historic life! There’s a board near the car park giving more information on this, which makes a fascinating read!
Thornham walks is just 10 minutes from Woodfarm Barns, with 12 miles of footpaths, a beautiful walled garden, plus a tea room, restaurant, and a couple of shops.
Proper pub serving good, hearty, wholesome food. They’ve even won awards!
It’s a 16 Century free house, which means they have a great selection of local ales from breweries such as Woodfordes, Wolf, Nethergate and Buffys
Wandering in one cold evening to meet a mate for a beer I was greeted by a very nice barmaid who asked a question I haven’t heard for years; “Would you like a straight glass or a tankard”! So shocked was I that I went for a straight glass and when my mate arrived he opted for the tankard. As the other chap at the bar also had a tankard they ganged up on me and my beer was swiftly and cheerily decanted into a tankard. It’s tough out here in the country but that’s the sort of circles I move in and the decisions I have to make. Anyway, my pint of Dapper Dog was lovely
The Four Horseshoes is a traditional old Suffolk pub, serving freshly cooked food alongside a wide selection of beers and wines. They also have two pet friendly rooms, so the perfect place for our Woodfarm Barns guests to stop by for something to eat!
Beautiful river walk with Tea Rooms & Museum – Dedham to Flatford or vice versa. In the heart of Constable Country
Ok, just about dipping our toes into Essex but it still feels like Suffolk and it’s only 20 minutes down the road from Woodfarm Barns and a real hit with many of our holiday cottage guests
Flatford Mill is accessible by road and has a car park. It’s owned by the National Trust so if you’re not a member, it’s about £3 to park. It’s also accessible by foot along the river from Dedham, which is a gorgeous 25 minute walk (pay & display)
Doodledales is an independent specialist pet shop, set within the Stonham Barns Shopping & Leisure Village, literally just around the corner from Woodfarm. Stocking a large range of products, you can pick up anything from the essentials to some new treats and toys for your lucky dog! Continue reading Stonham Aspal: Doodledales Pet Shop