Tried and Tested: Seafarers

Welcome to the latest edition of the Best of Suffolk ‘Tried and Tested’ blog series, featuring Seafarers – a charming pet-friendly country holiday cottage for two in the delightful village of Fressingfield.

Any couple looking to get away to re-charge and re-set would find a break at Seafarers in Fressingfield an ideal choice.  This charming cottage is designed for you to get away from it all, being tucked away on a little row of pretty cottages on a private road.

Designed for two, this rural retreat is ideally located for exploring all that Suffolk has to offer.  The Suffolk heritage coast can be reached easily by car, and the picturesque market towns of Harleston and Beccles are nearby.  The village itself is ideal for those who love a walk with several routes from your door.  Anyone with two (or four!) legs will be able to relax, reset and recharge at this pet-friendly Suffolk holiday cottage.

With two fantastic village pubs within a few minute’s walk, you can decide whether to put the well-equipped kitchen to the test or indulge in some tasty local cuisine.

Best of Suffolk is a holiday-letting company with a difference.  Being local Suffolk experts, we offer a truly bespoke service.  Our small, friendly team all live in Suffolk and enjoy sharing our beautiful county with you.

The Tried and Tested blog series sees the team ‘try and test’ our properties with their family and friends.  Each blog provides first-hand experience of our stays and combines this with recommendations of things to do nearby.  From the property itself to knowledge of where’s good for food – we ‘try and test’ it all.

In this edition, Abi (our Marketing Manager) and her partner Adam enjoyed a wonderful stay at Seafarers.  Here’s how they got on.

Seafarers, Fressingfield

Relax and unwind in the countryside at this pretty, small (but perfectly formed) Suffolk holiday cottage.  Seafarers is a beautiful pet-friendly holiday home, ideal for couples to enjoy.

You’re welcomed into the homely open plan living/kitchen/dining room with stairs rising to the first-floor landing with a double bedroom, a dressing room and a shower room.

Outside there’s a gravelled garden with a table and chairs for you to sit and relax in the fresh air.  There’s off-road parking and many lovely walks nearby.

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Location, Location, Location!

Seafarers sits in the pretty village of Fressingfield in the heart of the mid-Suffolk countryside.  The village has two traditional pubs serving good local food, craft beers, and wine; The Swan and The Fox and Goose.

This holiday cottage is in an ideal spot for exploring the rolling countryside and picturesque coastline with bustling towns of Southwold and Aldeburgh just 40 mins away; both offering a wide range of eateries, high street and independent shops, and wonderful walks along the beach or wild swimming in the sea.

The town of Harleston is less than ten minutes drive; a vibrant market town filled with historic buildings and an impressive array of independent shops, chemist, delicatessen, bakery, restaurants, pubs and several coffee shops.  Other great places to visit are the market towns of Halesworth and Woodbridge, plus historic Framlingham with fascinating Norman castle.

The surrounding countryside is perfect for long walks or bike rides with many other traditional pubs to break the journey.  Those who enjoy messing about on the river can head up to the Norfolk Broads and hire a boat for the day.

We arrived in the charming village of Fressingfield and found Seafarers easily thanks to the detailed instructions on the Best of Suffolk arrival details.  Nicely tucked away on a private road and with plenty of parking, we couldn’t wait to take a look inside.

We were greeted by a warm and cosy open-plan living space, and a bottle of wine and yummy biscuits next to the trusty Best of Suffolk Welcome File.

The delicious Welcome Pack goodies at Seafarers.

We decided to pop the kettle on and relax with a cuppa on the sofa before deciding how to spend our weekend at Seafarers.  We were made to feel very welcome as we explored with excitement our gorgeous holiday home for the next few days.

Halesworth

We’re skipping ahead!  On our way to Seafarers, Adam arrived by train at the nearest train station to Fressingfield, which is Halesworth.  With regular trains to Ipswich and Norwich, to connect to London and beyond thanks to Greater Anglia, it means the rural charm of Fressingfield can be reached with ease.  We decided to combine the visit to the charming market town of Halesworth with a quick drink in The White Hart.

In addition to the picnic benches at the front, there’s also a patio beer garden at the rear.  We decided to opt for a refreshing glass of Wild Wave cider, made by local company Adnams.

Well Equipped Kitchen

After arriving and unpacking, we decided to put the well-equipped kitchen to good use.  The kitchen/dining area has an antique pine table and two chairs and a dresser well stocked with crockery.  The fitted kitchen has an integrated dishwasher, electric hob and oven, a fridge-freezer and a microwave – so all mod cons!

The Nespresso coffee maker is a lovely added touch with a range of coffee pods supplied.  I felt the kitchen at Seafarers is well-equipped and comes with everything you could want, whether you simply want to make a quick breakfast or cook something more elaborate!  The open-plan living area was an ideal social space allowing us to chat, relax and cook on our first evening.

Dining for Two

After cooking up a storm, the dining table was just the ticket, and so handy right by the kitchen.

Cosy Cottage for Two

After tea, and with the very handy dishwasher stacked, we decided to curl up on the comfy two-seater sofa and relax whilst watching a bit of telly.  The owner has provided Netflix at Seafarers so it was easy to find something to watch, and be able to relax away from it all.

Gorgeous Master Bedroom

Before long, it was time for bed.  The master bedroom at Seafarers is a lovely light south-facing bedroom overlooking the garden, furnished with a double bed, and bedside tables with lamps.  The linens were crisp and white, and the bed was particularly comfy!  Fresh, fluffy bath sheets awaited us, along with a refreshing collection of toiletries.   We really were made to feel very welcome on our ideal weekend away for a couple.

Dressing Room

There’s also the added bonus of a dressing room at Seafarers.  This convenient multi-purpose room with dressing table with stool and chair with a Velux window above, makes it ideal for doing your makeup or using as a desk if you need to do a spot of work.  There’s plenty of storage space for clothes and bags in the wardrobe.

Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottage

Those with a four-legged friend are also well catered for.  With plenty of walks and dog-friendly pubs nearby, a holiday at Seafarers is ideal for a dog-friendly holiday.

Breakfast at The Broken Egg Café

After a wonderful night’s sleep, we decided to treat ourselves to one of the delicious coffees and use the Nespresso machine.  The instructions were very clear in the Welcome Folder which we followed with ease.  The owner kindly provides a selection of delicious coffee pods, a great way to kick-start our day.

We decided to head out for the morning to the charming market town of Harleston, and stop on the way at The Broken Egg Café.  Offering a range of breakfast and lunches, and open every day from 8:30am to 3pm, this charming café is also surrounded by countryside and comes with farm animals too!

The breakfasts really are the specialty here and are the perfect way to set you up for the day.  With a fair amount of local produce, including eggs from the farm, it’s delicious and local.

Eggs for Sale

Whilst at the café, you can also pick up fresh eggs from as little as 15p each!  You really can’t get fresher than this!

Harleston

After all that delicious breakfast, we decided to take the short stroll into the centre of Harleston, and take a wander around the many exciting and unique independent shops.

Bakery

Those looking for a bakery need look no further.  The Tudor Bakehouse is a traditional family bakery that just loves to use the best local ingredients to bake fresh produce each day.  They have a nice selection of freshly filled sandwiches and their famous sausage rolls.  If you are up early enough, you’ll smell the bread being freshly baked every morning!

The Cap, Harleston

We were tempted in at The Cap in Harleston, a brewery tap by the Ampersand Brew Co.  They specialise in quality locally produced craft beer.  The guest beer during our visit was a peanut butter stout.  I was able to taste it before I made my decision and it was utterly delicious!  We enjoyed a drink in the sunshine in the beer garden at the back, just next to the Adnams shop.

Vineyard Tour

That afternoon I had booked a vineyard tour at Valley Farm Vineyards, in Wissett near Halesworth.  The award-winning vineyard offers a variety of tour types, including those with delicious picnics or wood-fired pizzas.  We opted for the simple tour and tasting, which lasted about an hour and a half.  Adrian, the owner, is very knowledgeable and approachable.  He talked effortlessly about the different vines, their upkeep, maintenance, and the plans for the vineyard in the future.

After a potter around the vineyard and the 3,000 vines, we sat down to enjoy a tasting of the Madeline Angevine, the Pinot Gris, and their English sparkling wine, ‘Sundancer’.  We were given tasting notes and a no-nonsense guide as to how to get the most flavour out of each tasting.  The wines were all simply delicious, the Madeline a big hit with the group, as was the Sundancer – especially in the sunshine!

Suntrap Garden

We were so impressed with the wine at Valley Farm Vineyards, that we purchased a bottle to enjoy back at Seafarers.  The sun was well and truly out, and we thoroughly enjoyed relaxing at the bistro table in the suntrap of a garden!

Walks Around Fressingfield

We woke after another wonderful night’s sleep and decided to head off on foot exploring all that Fressingfield had to offer.  The owners have put together a fabulous collection of nearby walking maps and trail leaflets.  There’s even a very handy walking leaflet called ‘Ten Walks Around Fressingfield’, as walked by Molly the dog!  Fabulous for anyone looking for a pet-friendly holiday to Suffolk.

The sun was out yet again (we were so lucky with the weather!) and Fressingfield was a delight to stroll around.

The Fox and Goose, Fressingfield.

That evening we had booked a table at the popular Fox and Goose restaurant.  Just a few minutes’ stroll from the cottage, this is a fine restaurant and country pub situated in the heart of North Suffolk serving a very high standard of traditional and modern cooking with attention to the quality and selection of ingredients.  It has been awarded AA 2 Rosettes and featured in the Michelin and Harden’s food guides.

We were lucky enough to get a table in the bar area, a slightly more informal dining experience but with the ability to order from both the bar and restaurant menu.  I would recommend booking in advance here as it is incredibly popular, and with good reason!

Using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients is at the heart of the menu at the Fox and Goose.  I opted for a smoked salmon starter, using the award-winning and famous Pinneys of Orford smoked salmon.  Incredible food, just a few minutes walk from Seafarers!

If I Had More Time, I Would…

…Go to the Hammam Spa in Harleston.

The Old Post Office in Harleston has been converted into a luxury natural Morrocan Hammam spa.  The spa is inside what was the original bank vault of the building, originally Gurney Bank built in 1790. The original features of the arched brickwork and iron reinforced walls, compliment the tiles. The original huge safe door has been preserved on the reverse side of the shower too!  They offer packages including meze and belly dancing!

….Visit the Seaside.

Fressingfield is ideally placed for exploring Suffolk, including the heritage coast.  The quintessential Victorian seaside town of Southwold can be reached by car in 40 minutes and makes for a wonderful day out.  Talking a walk on the promenade by the brightly colored beach huts, eating fish and chips on the beach or messing about on the pier – Southwold is fun for all.

…Visit Framlingham

Whether you chose to visit Framlingham Castle for a slice of Norman history or potter around the quirky shops of this vibrant market town, Framlingham has a lot to offer.  A fabulous range of cafés and restaurants await!

What Do Other Guests Think?

Two entries by two couples who showcase very well what a hit Seafarers is!  Using the words ‘perfect’ and ‘delight’ really do sum it up very well.

The Verdict: Seafarers

This cosy cottage for two is absolutely ideal for a couple looking to get away from it all.  We relaxed the moment we stepped foot in this pretty little cottage.  The extra little touches such as the crisp white linens, toiletries, and fluffy bath sheets all made for a very comfortable stay.  Seafarers is so well-placed to explore Suffolk, either on foot from your door or by car for slightly further afield.  The village is blessed with two great pubs, the Swan and the Fox and Goose, the latter offering that high-end award-winning restaurant touch.

Prepare to be spoiled for choice for things to do for two nearby.  Vineyard tours, hammam spa days, walking – the choice really is yours!  You can fill your break with treats and experiences, or you can switch off and do absolutely nothing in very comfortable surroundings.  Either way, you’ll have a thoroughly enjoyable time at seafarers.

Why not take a look at availability, and secure your break to Seafarers today?

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