Everyone will have a ball at this timber-framed dwelling deep in the Suffolk countryside, where contemporary cottage styling houses six guests and their two canine companions. Boasting a ground-floor, en-suite bedroom and private hot tub, it also offers access to a fully fenced dog paddock and meadow for your pup to live his best life.
There’s a focus on comfort and flexibility at this converted barn, one of three hand-crafted properties within a 6-acre setting. Unwind in the attractive lounge/diner where there’s a TV, choice of seating and wood burner; you’ll want to linger, too, around the dining table. Rustle up a feast in the rustic-style kitchen which has all the self-catering essentials, supplemented by extras in a shared utility room. A double bedroom completes the ground floor layout; with an en-suite wet room. Upstairs are two further welcoming bedrooms – one a twin and the second a double – and a family bathroom. You’ll feel far from the everyday as you enjoy the outdoor space here; take breakfast on the patio, fire up the BBQ or bask in the bubbling hot tub, which is beneath an all-weather gazebo in a pretty, wooded area. The large meadow is perfect for lawn games, and your four-legged pals can run free in the fully fenced one-acre paddock – both areas are shared with the other properties on-site.
The hamlet of Ilketshall St Margaret is named after its church, which has one of Suffolk’s earliest round towers. 3 miles to the north is Bungay, famous for the Butter Cross at the centre of its Market Place; close by are Benedictine priory ruins, the majestic St Mary’s church, and Bungay Castle. The Heritage Coast offers a contrasting day out; head 15 miles to Southwold for walks along its iconic pier, promenade and harbour. Alternatively, discover the gateway to the Broads National Park with a trip to Oulton Broad (16 miles); nearby Carlton Marshes Nature Reserve (13.5 miles) is dog-friendly and has a fabulous children’s play area.