A Stunning period Sea Side Cottage in a Nature Reserve
With direct access to a the owners private Nature Reserve with walks leading to Snape and the Arts & Music Centre there and onwards to the seaside at Aldeburgh.
This little cottage will appeal to pet owners who want a more luxurious cottage and love authentic character, antique furnishings and great walks. The cottage benefits from a bath and a cosy log burning stove and is 10 minutes from the sea at lovely Aldeburgh.
Queenies is part of a small rambling 17th Century clutter of Mill buildings all on their own, with Farmland in front and the owners beautiful private Nature Reserve behind.
Beautifully restored and filled with antique furniture Queenies is an absolute delight for a couple to experience.
The owners welcome their guests with a generous Breakfast Hamper including local bacon and chipolatas, eggs and bread. In season there are fresh herbs for guests to use including mint, thyme, rosemary, bay, lemon verbena, sage etc. There are stocks of tea, coffee, sugar, salt, pepper and olive oil in the cottage.
2 well behaved doggies are welcome - there is a £20 per pet charge for up to 7 nights.
Cottage Walk Through
This cluster of buildings was built for milling and later grander buildings were added. Queenies is a red brick and pan tiled conversion of the late 1700’s stables and grain stores and is set back from the road by 2 unused buildings and there is safe off road parking.
At the rear is a lovely old cobbled courtyard where the clematis and wisteria wind a beautiful trail of flowers along the walls and where you can enjoy a pleasant sunny breakfast.
The building retains much of the original brick floors on the ground floor and lovely old oak boards on the first floor – A good wide staircase has been installed.
The kitchen is entered via a stable door. The flooring is slate and the units have been made using old panelled doors which conceal the dishwasher, fridge and microwave. There is an excellent electric Bosch cooker and an original Butler sink with traditional draining boards. A traditional plate rack and open shelving complete the period feel.
Part of the original manger has been incorporated into the wall dividing the kitchen and the main living/dining area where there is a large cosy wood-burner whose doors can be left open.
Traditional 17th Century Suffolk white brick flooring and painted wood panelled walls create a wonderful cosy ambience that transports you back in time.
The Dining area has an antique oak gate-leg table with a harlequin set of C18th country dining chairs and a Pewter chandelier. The curtains and blinds are in a fabulous ancient-looking crewel work which really compliments the panelling and the oak furniture that furnishes the room.
Upstairs the cosy bedroom is dominated by an amazing Antique French bed with a fabulous gilded canopy (one of the antique hunting owners best ever buys!) all dressed in a dramatic toile fabric. There is a small fitted cupboard an antique chest of drawers and a very pretty period armchair. Pretty bedside lighting & chandelier complete the totally romantic atmosphere.
There is an en-suite bathroom with period style wood panelling, basin and a ball & claw footed bath – plus the luxury of under-floor heating and a heated towel rail.
Queenies is in an isolated Regency Row attached to two small brick barns and a small rambling Regency house. This cluster of buildings is where the owners live and where they have created the 3 beautiful cottages: Cissy’s Cottage, Queenies Cottage and Laundry Cottage which was listed in The Sunday Times ‘Coolest 100 Holiday Cottages’.
The buildings are on the main access road to Aldeburgh, so it is a quick seven minute drive into what has been described as England’s best unspoilt Seaside Town but as it is a busy main road it’s not ideal to walk or cycle on. If you borrow the bikes supplied at the cottage you can go through the Nature Reserve to access the small country lanes.
This cottage will appeal to pet owners who want a more luxurious cottage and love authentic character, antique furnishings and great walks through Nature, forest and unspoilt wild coastline.
The Gardens
Outside both the front and back doors is patio, one of which will always catch the sun, and is a lovely place to have breakfast in amongst the rambling rose covered walls.
There is also an adjacent ‘Arbour’ garden which a lovely little private space for you.
Tables and chairs are provided for you in both the patio areas and the ‘Arbour’ garden.
Outside
One of the main attractions to the lovely Queenies Cottage is that it you are located in the owners own private Nature Reserve.
You walk down the courtyard and into the private off road car park in the Nature Reserve.
The owners have carefully laid down winding footpaths that meander around the escarpment meadow, the giant Cedars of Lebanon, the beautiful ancient Oaks, 100’s of years old, and all the other wonderful trees that are now in their mature grandeur.
Carpets of bluebells, primrose and daffodil enchant this Reserve which is a haven for birds and wildlife.
You and your dog are very welcome to wander around and explore this beautiful Reserve, and make use of the picnic tables and benches thoughtfully placed in idyllic locations along the footpaths and in the glades.
Maps are provided in the cottage to find the footpaths going onwards to Snape Maltings, which is just 2 ½ miles away, The Forests and the lakes, which lead round to the Sea at Aldeburgh.
Green Credentials
The buildings have been restored/repaired using old timber, bricks and fittings sensitive to their historic setting.
The range fireplaces in both Laundry and Cissys cottages were both historically reclaimed as is the bath in Cissys.
Most of the furnishings are antique (re-used by generations) – predominantly oak and elm.
The initial supply of wood for the wood burners comes from our own woodland.
We have our own Waste water system.
We are lucky enough to have a great selection of wildlife including badgers, deer, rabbits, bats, voles and moles.
There are numerous birds – Owl, Green and Spotted Woodpecker, Thrush, Tits – Long tailed ,Blue and Great. Chaffinch, Night Jar, Robin and Wren and many, many, more. We also get pheasants.
The Welcome Basket includes local bacon and chipolatas, eggs and bread. In season there are fresh herbs for guests to use including mint, thyme, rosemary, bay, lemon verbena, sage etc. We also have a very ancient mulberry that guests can try in season.
Local Area
Aldeburgh has some famous top class restaurants like The Lighthouse and The Wentworth Hotel as well as a host of others – a real foodie’s delight.
You are just 2 1/2 miles from Snape where the famous Snape Malting’s Arts, Crafts and Music Centre is, a really interesting place to explore its many shops and perhaps pick up a ticket for a concert or have an evening meal in one of their excellent restaurants.
The Tunstall Forest of UFO fame is close by and many guests enjoy walking round the lakes to Aldeburgh.
The seaside at Aldeburgh is also where you can buy fish and crabs straight from the fishermen’s huts on the beach, there are unique walks from there along the famous Orford Ness Nature Reserve or beside the salt lakes to Thorpeness.
Cissy’s is perfectly situated to explore the famous local forests, and the pretty little Seaside towns in this area.
Standard Inclusive Features
Queenies is a complete little home and facilities include modern central heating, refrigerator, hobs, oven and / or microwave, toaster, crockery & serving dishes, cutlery, many utensils, fire-extinguisher, lots of pots & pans, glasses & mugs, kettle, coffee maker, teapot, kitchen towels, oven gloves, olive oil, salt & pepper, sugar, herbs, tea, fresh and instant coffee, washing up liquid, cloths, general cleaning materials, etc.
Bathroom: Soap, fluffy cotton towels, bath mats, shaver point, toilet brush, toilet roll.
Bedroom: Cotton bed linen, wardrobe with coat hangers / chest of drawers, iron, ironing board, hairdryer.
Your cottage has a woodburning stove and a basket of firewood and a bucket of coal will be provided free, more will be available at cost – firelighters will be provided. TV, books, games, magazines, local brochures, OS and other maps, folder with our special ‘What To Do’ insiders guide to the local area.
Bikes: Please check with the owner that these are available before you arrive to avoid disappointment if they are in for maintenance.
Baby: Cot and high chair provided in cottages accepting babies (please bring babies bedding).
