willow_barn_suffolk

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willow_barn_suffolk Willow Barn is a self-catered, romantic, boutique retreat in a village close to Bury St Eds. Stylish & cosy surrounded by countryside.

Book direct or via Airbnb of which I’m a Superhost ⭐️

12/05/2025

* WEEKEND ROUNDUP *

We made the most of the glorious sunshine this weekend.

On Saturday we went to our nearby village of Bardwell which was hosting a fundraising event. A great day of music, food, a raffle, an auction and tractor rides 🚜

We popped into the village church of St Peter & St Paul. It is grade 1 listed from the 1300s with a hammer beam nave roof, medieval stained glass windows and 100 kneelers embroidered in the 1970s, each one with a unique Bardwell related design. Externally, the church is dominated by its tower surmounted by a small spire and weathervane - over 100 feet high. You can arrange to climb the tower on certain days for a view across Bardwell.

On Sunday we went to The South Suffolk Show at Ampton Racecourse (South Suffolk Agricultural Association / South Suffolk Show). We enjoy going here as it is a traditional agricultural show which celebrates country life. They also have a great range of bands to sit and enjoy listening to with a glass of Pimm’s 🍹

The flyover by a Spitfire from WW2 was a treat to see.

Why not book a stay willow_barn_suffolk and enjoy a slice of Suffolk life for yourselves ❤️

05/05/2025

Lynford Arboretum is beautiful place to visit. It is the UK’s largest man-made lowland forest at just under 19,000 hectares. Many trees have information plates about their origin and when they were planted. There are over 200 species of trees.

The “Sequoia Avenue” was planted in the 1800s to honor the Duke of Wellington.

We always stop at The Shepherds Baa Lynford for a drink or an ice-cream before we set off for a long walk.

We followed the path to Lynford Hall a neo-Jacobean country house, where the BBC filmed several programmes there, including ‘Allo ‘Allo! and Dad’s Army.

The government used the Hall as a hospital during World War II. Some carved names can still be found in trees on the grounds from this period. The estate house was also used by American forces during World War II and they installed a hot-water central-heating system for the main building.

Lynford Hall was turned into a hotel in 1970. It is currently closed and if you have a bit of spare change it is on the market for £3.95m!

If you fancy a walk amongst the trees when you stay at Willow Barn - Lynford is a 25 min drive away🌲 🌳

19/04/2025

A morning walk around the pretty village of Lavenham.

Lavenham is renowned for being one of the best-preserved medieval villages in England, with over 300 listed buildings, many of which are timber-framed and have a unique wonky shape. It was also a major centre for the wool trade, earning it the title of one of Suffolk's wool towns. The village is also known for being a filming location for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows".

From the market square we walked up the hill to the church of St Peter & St Paul’s which is a Grade I listed wool church and regarded as one of the finest examples of Late Perpendicular Gothic architecture in England.

Lavenham Farmers Market, which has been named as one of the best farmers market in the UK, is held on the fourth Sunday of every month outside the village hall. All the food at the market is grown, baked, brewed and butchered by the person who is selling it. Plenty of delicious treats to be had!

If you would like to visit Lavenham when you stay it is a 30 minute drive.

15/04/2025

New poster & postcards for Willow Barn

15/04/2025

Limited availability, online exclusive - in a special edition pack from willow_barn_suffolk

‘Takeaway the perfect countryside getaway - Willow Barn’

13/04/2025

An afternoons walk in nearby Lackford Lakes (15 min drive) Lackford Lakes - Suffolk Wildlife Trust

Lackford Lakes is a wildlife oasis with a landscape of lakes, reeds, meadow and woodland. There is wildlife all year round from iridescent kingfisher and dazzling dragonflies to elusive otter.

They have a cafe where you can sit and watch the wild birds coming to feeders just outside the centre whilst you enjoy your drink.

You can hire binoculars from the visitor centre to make your visit much more enjoyable. There are lots of bird hides dotted around the lakes where you can view the birds.

We didn’t spot the Kingfisher but we did see lots of other birds & butterflies and we could hear the woodpecker as we walked through the woods.

After walking up an appetite we drove to The View Restaurant in Fornham St. Genevieve and enjoyed a club sandwich whilst looking at the views across the Suffolk Golf Course.

If you would like to dine at The View or enjoy a drink from the bar it is a 10 minute drive from Willow Barn.

Play a round of golf - the 18-hole golf course is widely regarded as one of the prettiest courses in East Anglia ⛳️

29/03/2025

Corners of Willow Barn 🧡

Please see our links in bio to book or send a message 📧

26/03/2025

A beautiful day for a walk amongst the wild Exmoor ponies of Knettishall Heath Nature Reserve 🐴

You can take many trails here through diverse habitats of woodland, riverside meadows and heath.

The perfect spot to sit amongst the wildlife and enjoy a picnic. Knettishall is a 15 minute drive from Willow Barn 🧺

23/02/2025

We visited the pretty village of Rattlesden today.

Rattlesden village lies in a sweeping valley between the market towns of Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket. Unusually for the county of Suffolk, this portion is decidedly hilly.

It has a rivulet that runs through it named the River Rat which feeds the river Gipping. A pair of whalebones form an arch over the Rat. Unfortunately, the whalebones are replicas of the 9th-century originals.

The church St Nicholas dates to the 13th century and boasts a restored 15th-century angel roof, decorated with 60 figures of angels with their wings outstretched 👼

The picturesque Church Cottage is a mid-15th century timber-framed hall house. The house faces the road and backs onto the churchyard, and the combination of the historic house and the church is an idyllic sight.

There are 2 pubs in the village and we had a delicious Sunday roast in The Brewers

The Brewers has been named one of the UK’s top 100 gastropubs by Estrella Damm and it also features in the Michelin Guide. It has been named one of the prettiest pub gardens in the UK by The Good Food Guide.
We will be back to visit the garden in the warmer months 🌞

If you fancy a wander around this village and a meal in The Brewers this is a 20 minute drive from Willow Barn.
Make sure to book in advance for The Brewers 🍻

23/02/2025

Today we drove to Thornham Magna & Thornham Parva.

I’ve never seen a thatched church before and St Mary’s at Thornham Parva is beautiful. It’s a Norman church which sits on its own surrounded by fields.

You can also see traces of Saxon stonework in the walls and St Mary’s was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086!

The inside of the tiny church is just as stunning. Behind the altar is a painted retable dating all the way back over six and a half centuries to the 1330s! It is the largest and most complete medieval altarpiece in Britain.

There are also wall paintings from the 14th C which show the early years of Christ and the Martyrdom of King Edmund.

As well as other treasures you can see a bible displayed in a glass case from 1640.

It is a little hidden gem!

We then popped into The Four Horseshoes Inn for a drink, it is said to be Suffolk’s oldest inn dating back to the 12th C.

Lastly we went to Thornham Estate to walk part of the Thornham Walks which stretch across 2,000 acres of parkland, farmland and woodland. It has a cafe, artisan businesses, a walled garden and fishing lakes.

If you would like to visit here when you stay at Willow Barn it is a 26 min drive and makes for a lovely day out.

13/02/2025

Willow Barn is ready for Valentine’s Day ❤️

Our guests are arriving later for a long, romantic weekend. We’ve put some extra love in the barn for them to enjoy!

Willow Barn is the perfect, romantic getaway for 2, please see links in bio to book or send a message. We’d love to welcome you ❤️

03/02/2025

We decided to blow the cobwebs off yesterday and go for a long walk in the glorious winter sunshine at Cley next the Sea.

The village of Cley has a famous 18th century windmill and is on the doorstep of a nature reserve owned by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust. It is set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has wonderful coastal walks.

Cley Beach lies between the sea and Cley Marshes, and is one of the UK’s most renowned bird watching sites. We certainly saw a variety of birds and at certain times of the year you can spot seals along the beach 🦭

The village has several pubs, a pottery shop called Made In Cley, a second hand bookstore called Crabpot Books, The Cley Smokehouse - a traditional smokehouse which produce hand-crafted smoked fish & meats and a deli called The Picnic Fayre selling local produce and homemade treats.

You could also buy a newspaper through the window of a house!

We walked from Cley into Morston Quay and back again. Stopping for well needed refreshments at The Two Magpies Bakery in Blakeney. This walk took us 3.5 hours, but you can choose lots of different length paths.

If you’d like to visit Cley when you stay at Willow Barn this drive takes 1 hour and 25 mins - just make sure to take your binoculars!

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Bury St. Edmunds

Website

http://www.willowbarnsuffolk.co.uk/, https://www.airbnb.com/h/willowbarn-suffolk

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