Share Article Green Places to Stay in Suffolk
Having just penned a story on the Food Safari in Suffolk, a brilliant gourmet experience for one day excursions, we went on the hunt for sustainable accommodation in this neck of the woods. We came up trumps with Pinetrees, a 'green' B&B in Beccles, as well as a new place, Alde Garden, just about to open (11th June) that offers an array of accommodation, from the exotic with a hint of luxury - think yurts, gypsie caravan, cob roundhouse, hideouts or simple cheap tent pitches.
Alde Garden is located in the beautiful Alde Valley in the heart of Suffolk, just 12 miles from Food Safari and we can't wait for it to open on 11th June! Holidays and short escapes, even here in ol' blighty can be carbon intensive, but not here with their low impact alternatives. And you don't have to sacrifice luxury either, as their home-made yurt looks delightful, as does their gypsie caravan! On the cards too is a cob house, which will be made with their very own hands in the very near future!
Alde Garden is very family friendly, even with a professional Ofsted registered nanny on hand to give parents a break (aka a romantic meal for two alone!). What we also love is their free bike hire so that you can roam the local Suffolk area at a casual speed that'll both relax and exhilarate you. The coastal town of Aldeburgh is 11 miles away, a great place for a beach walk, local fish and chips and independent boutiques if you want to splash out.
As The GIN Lady used to live in a yurt, this will be our choice, and Alde Garden's sleeps 2 to 5 and looks very cosy indeed. The romance of the occasion will be a memory you won't want to forget!
As the yurt doesn't have electricity (or telly - phew!), your candle-lit interior will no doubt add to the sense of adventure and romance! But don't worry, you'll still enjoy your creature comforts as the yurt is fully equipped with bedding, cooking utensils, wood for the woodburner and gas for the stove.
We are also sorely tempted by their gypsie caravan! Wooden and cosy, it boasts traditional artisan craftsmanship and is currently being renovated to be ready when they open. Alde Garden's stylish gypsie caravan is perfect for a couple, even if you have a little child, as it offers a cosy double and smaller bed if required, and has all the necessary equipment to sit and eat together as well.
Find out more from Alde Garden's website and let us know if you stay there!
Further north but still only 27 miles from Food Safari is Pinetrees, a wonderful eco friendly B&B in Beccles, close to Lowestoft on the Suffolk coast. The site many years ago used to be a pine tree plantation, but was cleared by the time B&B owners, Graham and Sue, took the land on. Now in its place they have built a sustainable building and manage a 5.5 acre wild meadow, which attracts a whole host of local wildlife, including newts, frogs and dragonflies. The building itself was built from sustainably sourced woods, namely Spruce for its frame, Red Cedar for its cladding and the trim and doors are made from Douglas fir.
Talking to Graham, it's clear their commitment to sustainability is strong and in every way they feasibly can, they make Pinetrees as low impact as possible - and they really enjoy it too, as do their guests. Their environmental policy is impressive: Rain water is harvested for loo water and for washing clothes; Solar panels heat water; Organic, locally produced materials are used, as well as fairtrade; They actively support local cyclists and walkers; Pinetrees even has a bio-system to treat the building's sewage, which after natural treatment, discharges its clean water into a nearby ditch. This, coupled with their eco friendly building materials, recycling and natural habitat regeneration, gives this place the big green tick for sure. Best of all, staying at Pinetrees is highly affordable too :-) To find out more visit Pinetrees today!
Food Safari also recommend a great line up of local places to stay, from a plush hotel at Aldeburgh to a trendy beach hut at Thorpeness!
