Tried and Tested 25 Park Lane
Welcome to the latest edition of our Tried and Tested blog series, highly commended at the East of...
by Morris / Tried and Tested
Welcome to the latest edition of the Best of Suffolk ‘Tried and Tested’ blog series, featuring Rosedene – a charming and stylish pet-friendly, family holiday home in the heart of the village of Rickinghall.
In this edition, Marketing Manager Abi, her partner Adam and their children headed off for a weekend of family adventure at Rosedene. This active family put Rosedene to the test and it was the ideal base for a weekend of exploring locally, relaxing in the comforts of a cosy cottage and getting out and about.
A day trip to Bury St Edmunds, walks from the cottage door, cooking up a family feast as well as enjoying a meal in the local pub all combine to create an ideal family getaway at Rosedene! Find out what Abi and her family got up to, their recommendations and more in the latest Tried and Tested.
#TriedandTested is a blog series growing in popularity and readership that puts our properties to the test by real families. Yes, we really do stay in them, sleep in them, cook in them and share our stay with you so you get an accurate and real-life account of what a holiday there would be like. We share our activities, days out, eateries and top tips, as there’s nothing better than a real-life recommendation when it comes to a holiday!
Our photos are all taken on our phones and capture our holiday snaps without filters or any professional photography equipment. What you see is what you get, and we’re very proud of that!
Let’s see how Abi and her family got on when they ‘Tried and Tested’ Rosedene.
Rosedene is a simply stunning period end-of-terrace family holiday home in the heart of the picturesque village of Rickinghall which has been refurbished with impeccable taste. Comprising of a large entrance hall, stylish kitchen with all mod cons including dishwasher, washer-dryer and coffee machine, cosy living room with wood burner, practical family dining room and cloakroom on the ground floor. Three ample-sized bedrooms and a family bathroom are on the first floor. Two king-sized bedrooms have been tastefully refurbished with neutral tones and tasteful finishing touches. The twin bedroom is ideal for younger guests with a bright colour scheme.
Rosedene has a lovely large wrap-around garden, featuring a decked area, lawn, and mature shrubbery which would be wonderful when the weather permits.
The property oozes style, carefully mixing period features, with beautiful bold colours. You can’t help but instantly feel relaxed when you walk through the door.
Rickinghall is a charming village, just 7 miles from the market town of Diss. The village itself has a wonderful pub, The Bell Inn which is less than two minute’s walk away from Rosedene! There’s also an East of England Co-op just around the corner for all those staycation essentials like milk, bread and orange juice. Other amenities in the neighbouring village of Botesdale (just a short walk down the hill!) include The Greyhound – a pub specialising in pizza and steak, Blue Orchid Chinese takeaway and Botesdale Fish and Chip shop. At Rickinghall Village Hall there are tennis courts, a wonderful skate park and play area for children. It’s also home to a farmers’ market on the second Saturday of the month.
We were absolutely blown away by the generous welcome pack at Rosedene. Not only was there a delicious bottle of local wine from Wyken Vineyards, but there were also locally sourced fresh apple juice, crisps and biscuits. There was something for every member of the family and we truly felt well-looked after.
One of the extra little touches we discovered whilst exploring Rosedene was the owner’s commitment to artwork depicting the local area. From a bright and colourful Suffolk map, to old Victorian postcards of Rickinghall, to illustrations of Rosedene itself – a lot of effort has gone into displaying all the wonderful things about this part of Suffolk.
We found the kitchen at Rosedene to be particularly well-equipped. So many little extra touches had been thought of, and everything was of the highest quality. We particularly liked the range cooker, and quality pans due to the induction hob. It meant Adam was able to whip up a family meal in no time!
After cooking a quick and easy tea, we all headed into the dining room to enjoy our meal. Comfortably seating six with a mix of chairs and a small bench, it meant we were very well-accommodated whilst having our tea. The delicious local wine supplied in the Welcome Pack also went down a treat!
Before long it was time for bed. At Rosedene, prepare to be spoilt for choice with two king-size bedrooms and one twin. This room flexibility means it’s ideals for families, couples or friends looking to get away.
The children absolutely loved the child-friendly design of this bedroom. They also described the beds as being ‘like giant, fluffy marshmallows!”, something which I completely agree with!
Monty enjoyed the space and luxury of one of the king size bedrooms. He decided to bring all his favourite cuddly toys with him for company, and particularly enjoyed curling up with his bedtime book in such comfortable surroundings.
After the children were all tucked up in bed, the adults decided to head downstairs and enjoy the fire and the rest of the bottle of wine. What a wonderful first night of our holiday!
We awoke after an incredibly comfortable night’s sleep and were up early enjoying breakfast and coffee from the De’Longhi coffee machine. It was easy to use thanks to the simple instructions in the Best of Suffolk Welcome File, and the added extra touch at Rosedene of providing coffee capsules, sugar and tea meant we could enjoy our morning coffee with ease.
Whilst the adults were busy making breakfast, the blackboard in the kitchen at Rosedene proved to be very popular with our budding young artist! With chalks provided to encourage messages and artwork, today’s design featured hearts, stars, and a ladybird! It was another added touch that made us feel very at home.
The children absolutely loved having breakfast in the sunny dining room, and so did the adults! A tablecloth, plus mats and boards were provided meaning a fuss-free clean up after. We spent the morning planning our day and deciding how to spend our time.
It was decided that a day trip in the winter sunshine would be fun, so we made the short car journey of about 25 minutes to Bury St Edmunds.
Once home to one of the most powerful monasteries in medieval Europe, Bury St Edmunds has some extraordinary architecture, including St Edmundsbury Cathedral, the flower-filled Abbey Gardens and West Stow, an ancient Anglo-Saxon village.
In the centre of Bury St Edmunds you’ll find Moyse’s Hall Museum, a beautiful medieval building in which you’ll find anything from medieval jewellery to portraits by England’s first professional female painter.
Bury St Edmunds offers prestigious shopping, from clothes to kitchenware, chic shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. The Arc is Bury St Edmunds’ latest shopping outlet, with well-known high street names.
Monty and I decided to do a little bit of retail therapy, and then treated ourselves to some delicious elevenzies! There is an excellent choice of cafés to keep you well stocked up on cake, tea and coffee. We wandered from the more modern shopping area to the market square and decided to head into Harriets Tearooms.
A charming café, designed to look like a Victorian tearoom with the staff dressed for the occasion to boot! Monty absolutely loved seeing all the cakes on display and was able to choose his favourite, a strawberry French fancy for his treat.
Harriets Tearooms also do a lovely selection of breakfasts, lunches and afternoon tea. We opted for a small treat, knowing it wouldn’t be too soon before lunch.
The twice-weekly award-winning market has fine regional fare from fish and meats to cheese and breads, fruit, vegetables and flowers. We headed into Bury St Edmunds on a Saturday and were delighted to see such a thriving market.
We decided to take a wander around the market in the sunshine, enjoying seeing all the different produce for sale.
It would have been very easy to pick up fresh, locally sourced fish, vegetables and meat from the market and take it back to Rosedene to cook up a very tasty meal.
Bury Market also has a small merry-go-round that proved very popular with the children!
We had worked up quite an appetite after all that shopping, and decided to go for some delicious wood-fired pizza from The Mobile Pizza Co. Serving freshly made oak-fired pizzas to order, right in the heart of Bury Market, we were able to feed a family of five easily and quickly.
Even though it was a chilly winter’s day, we enjoyed being out in the fresh air, wrapped up and eating tasty food. The pizza was a huge hit with the kids! We also secured a couple of punnets of strawberries from one of the many fruit stands nearby.
A brief stroll from Bury Marketplace are the Abbey Gardens. A beautifully manicured garden set in the ruins of Bury St Edmunds Abbey. You can hardly believe all this open green space is right in the heart of Bury!
The children loved learning about the history of the Abbey as it used to be, as well as meeting the squirrels.
Along with trails to follow, a bowling green and the ruins of the Abbey to explore, there’s also a fantastic children’s play area at the bottom. Children of all ages will enjoy the various pieces of play equipment, all set in the ground of this historic site. There’s even a little coffee hut at weekends offering refreshments for children and adults alike.
We got back from our day trip to Bury St Edmunds in the late afternoon and decided to head out to the local pub for a bite to eat. The Bell Inn at Rickinghall is less than a 2-minute stroll from Rosedene, so could not be more ideally located! Offering a varied menu, specials board and children’s menu, there’s something for everyone.
Our table of five was located near a crackling fire and we were made to feel very welcome. The children were all happy with their meals from the varied children’s menu, and the adults appreciated the food and wine on offer!
After our delicious meal, and 2-minute stroll home, we were all ready to get into our pyjamas, curl up on the sofa in front of the fire and enjoy watching a family film. With Netflix, plus many other streaming options on the Smart TV, we were spoiled for choice and soon found something that entertained both children and adults alike.
Once the children were asleep I was able to enjoy another of the lovely touches at Rosdene – the bath, complete with bath tray (and sunken wine glass holder and slot for your tablet!). The luxury toiletries provided meant I could enjoy a glass of wine, a deep bath full of lovely bubbles, a few lit candles and some relaxation time!
After another fabulous night’s sleep we were up and ready to start our last day at Rosedene. One of the other lovely features of the family-friendly kitchen is the breakfast bar. Suitable for adults and children alike, it makes the kitchen a very sociable space. Monty enjoyed munching on his breakfast as I pottered in the kitchen.
After a relaxing start to our final day at Rosedene, we decided to head out for a walk and get a burst of fresh air! The owners have thoughtfully provided a number of walking maps, and we decided to tackle the 2-mile blue route around the village.
We absolutely loved the wood-burning stove in the sitting room. It made the room feel cosy and incredibly comfortable. We took the opportunity to have a family games afternoon after a busy morning out exploring. We combined the games provided by Rosdene with some of our own and were able to relax and enjoy this very comfortable Suffolk holiday cottage.
That family-central focus is at the core of everything Rosedene offers. There’s a wonderful collection of toys and children’s books for guests to enjoy, keeping little ones happy on rainy days or between outings.
“Our kids had the time of their lives” pretty much sums up how we felt after our wonderful family weekend away.
Rosedene has a wonderful wrap-around garden with a dining area, enough space for children to play garden games and a BBQ. Sadly the weather wasn’t on our side on our weekend to visit, but next time a BBQ in the sunshine with a glass of something cool and bubbly would be perfect!
A 20-minute drive away is the bustling market town of Harleston. Full of independent shops, delicious cafés and restaurants, plus a huge par for the children means it would be a fun day out for the whole family.
Roxy couldn’t be with us on our weekend away, but next time she will definitely be coming! Rosedene is an ideal property for anyone looking to bring their four-legged friend away on holiday. A cosy place to curl up in front of the fire, an enclosed garden and walks from the door are ideal for dog-friendly holidays in Suffolk.
Rosedene is a wonderful family-friendly period holiday home, which is as stylish as it is comfortable! Ideal for the dog too, the large garden is a real bonus. With so many little touches that make you feel very welcome from the moment you enter the property. Our family of five loved the space, the location and the quality of everything on offer. Rickinghall is a charming village and the pub was wonderful! We will definitely be back!
If Rosedene sounds like the place for you, why not take a look at availability and prices?
by Morris / Tried and Tested
Hi! I'm Morris, the Best of Suffolk seagull representing stylish places to stay in Suffolk....
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