Ivy Grange Farm Barn
East Anglia Suffolk Halesworth
- From £130 a night
- Sleeps 7+
- Cottage
A comfortable converted barn in a gloriously tranquil rural location in the heart of Suffolk
London media world refugees Kim and Nick Hoare created a real slice of rural bliss outside the small Suffolk town of Halesworth when they set up their legendary glamping site a few years ago. They've since morphed their accommodation into a wonderful self-catering barn conversion, complete with three bedrooms and bathrooms, which makes the most of this gloriously bucolic location and makes for a particularly blissful rural escape.
As before, the enthusiasm and passion of Ivy Grange's owners shines through at every turn in this newly converted 17th-century barn, which offers rustic yet luxurious accommodation, with two en-suite double bedrooms and one bedroom with a single and a bunk bed with an adjacent family bathroom. Comfortably sleeping up to seven people, the barn has a cosy wood-burner and underfloor heating, good wifi and bluetooth speakers, and a large open-plan eating and living space with a kitchen equipped with a range cooker, fridge-freezer and dishwasher (and well provided with basics like tea, coffee, milk, oil, vinegar, etc) . They can provide all you need for younger guests, with two travel cots, a high chair, and a baby bath, and larger groups can spread out into the one remaining 'Barn Owl' yurt outside, which is available between the months of April and September. Ivy Grange is a thoroughly eco-friendly option too, with solar panels and batteries powering everything inside, plus an electric vehicle charging point and two brand-new electric bikes for guest use (plus three 'conventional' bikes).
All in all, Ivy Grange Farm is a terrific place to come and relax, and to connect with nature. It's so peaceful, and Kim and Nick have made an effort to retain many of the features that were popular with their previous guests, which means outdoor woodland showers heated by solar power, lots of opportunities to cook and eat outdoors, with a large firepit, barbecue and a magnificent cob pizza oven, and lots of herbs to pick in the garden. There are also those e-bikes for guests to explore the peaceful countryside or the nearby coast, a ping pong table for alfresco matches, games and books for rainy days, and you're only a mile from the nearest pub.
Or you could just stay put: the 3-acre meadow is all yours to enjoy, and full of wildlife throughout the year, from voles during the day to the barn owls that hunt them at night. You could spend many a happy day reading, and dozing and observing, while taking the odd circular stroll, while for families, the field is perfect to let off a bit of steam (there's a treehouse at the end of the meadow). Ivy Grange is also a gorgeous and rather romantic place for a couple or pair of couples (and their pricing makes it very affordable for couples and smaller groups). It's also situated right on National Cycle Route 1, so ideal if you fancy exploring the countryside on two wheels.
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Details
Facilities
Three bedrooms, sleeping up to 7 people.
Nearby
Once your batteries are fully charged, there's plenty to do - all the traditional seaside things at Southwold and Walberswick just ten miles away; both offer great beaches for swimming and sandcastles, pubs, wonderful fresh fish straight off the boats, and crabbing! If you're a fan of Roger Deakin's Waterlog, you can try some of his favourite local wild swimming spots (we're always happy to share our favourites with guests) or discover some of the places that W G Sebald explores in his Rings of Saturn novel, all very close to us here. If you're a bird-lover, simply relax on your decking and watch the yellowhammers, buzzards and bullfinches, or head off to RSPB Minsmere or any of the great Suffolk Wildlife Trust sites.The coastline, the estuaries, the excellent pubs and restaurants serving local food and, invariably, wine and beer! We are right on National Cycling Route 1, so great to explore the flat and intensely quiet roads nearby (there is a selection of bikes to borrow). The coast is not far away at Southwold, a seaside resort that was gentrified before the term was even invented. As a consequence there are great places to eat and drink, and the bonus of a decent beach and excellent pier with homespun attractions. The handsome small town of Beccles is just a few miles north, the southernmost outpost of the Broads and a great place to hire a boat or canoe to explore the waterways or check out our favourite riverside pub, The Locks Inn at Geldeston.
Food & Drink
Our village community run pub, The Racehorse, is fab for well-kept craft and keg-beers and wines. The Queen's Head at Blyford and Queen's Head at Bramfield are both worth a visit and St Peter's Brewery, a 15th century moated former-abbey, just 5 miles away in "The Saints" is a must. definitely not to be missed. Continuing the theme, if you are a brewery fan, check out Adnams at Southwold and try the brewery tour and check-out the fabulous kitchen store and cafe there. The market town of Halesworth has a good range of independent food shops as well as a larger Co-op, so you don't need to worry about bringing masses of food with you. Westhall village is home to The Racehorse Inn, just over a mile away and a lovely quiet walk or bike ride.
Pricing
From £260 for a 2 -night minimum stay – the Barn accommodates up to 4 adults and 3 children (plus 2 infants), and prices are based according to numbers, so it's cheaper for a couple.
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The Owner Says
Location
Getting There
Despite being so rural, Ivy Grange is easy to reach, close to the A12 and just a short drive from Bungay and Beccles. From Bungay, turn left at Ilketshall St Lawrence primary school (Hog Lane) and then first right (Butts Road) – the site is about half a mile down on the left. If travelling from Halesworth, turn right at the Spexhall crossroads (the first right turn on this road) along Nollers Lane, then take the first left (Butts Road) and follow the road for 1.3 miles, ignoring the right hand turn to Westhall village. The site is on the right.
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Reviews
Let us know what you think of your stay.
Add Your ReviewRated ★★★★★ over 11 reviews
Brilliant place to stay!
Fabulous!
Wonderful stay!
Perfect space for a girly retreat!
Can’t recommend enough!
Beautiful quiet space
Beautifully converted barn
Fabulous barn!
What an amazing place!
Beautiful accommodation!
Beautiful accommodation with plenty of private outdoor space, thoroughly recommend and hope to visit again. Stayed June 2022.
Brilliant
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