Out and About the area around Brook Farm

Brook Farm, situated off a country lane in attractive rolling countryside, is well-placed for enjoyment of both countryside and coast. The immediate area is of quiet winding lanes and public footpaths linking ancient villages, and all under wide Suffolk skies where bright stars bejewel the night sky.

Yet a day out can lead you to the sea, a castle or two, an interesting small town, a windmill, open heathland and much more. The unique and busy seaside town of Southwold is within a 20 minute drive and is well-worth a visit. View the work on show at the art galleries there or perhaps sample a pint of the town's own Adnams beer. Stroll along the promenade, past the beach huts to the modern pier, and take in the view.

This part of the Suffolk Heritage Coast is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and abounds with heathland, nature reserves and other open spaces. Take a walk in the woods at Dunwich and perhaps see the friendly native ponies. Explore the RSPB's Nature Reserve at Minsmere, National Trust land at Dunwich Cliffs and the seaside villages of Dunwich and Walberswick, all with delightful tearooms. Just a little further along the coast are Snape Maltings and Aldeburgh, both famous for their international music festivals.

The north Suffolk Market Towns have an unhurried air and offer a good variety of independent shops and marketday stalls to browse. Nearby Halesworth (approximately three miles away) will easily cater for your needs, also offering art galleries, a secondhand bookshop, and The Cut Arts Centre (a converted former maltings building) where varied performance events, films and festivals take place throughout the year. Annual town events include the springtime HighTide Festival, various carnival and fete dates throughout the year (including a 'duck race' on the Town River), the Thoroughfair Food Drink and Craft Fair held on a summer Sunday, the excellent Gig in the Park held over three days in August, the two-week long Arts Festival held late Autumn, and the Christmas Lights switch-on and festive events which round-off the year. Henham Park is just east of Halesworth and annually hosts a 'Wings and Wheels' event in May, the renowned Latitude Festival in July and the long-established Grand Henham Steam Rally in September. Close by Henham Park is Blythburgh, a small village but with the magnificent Holy Trinity Church to visit there. Renowned for its angel roof, this is just one of the wonderful churches in this area of Suffolk.

To the north of Halesworth is the market town of Bungay, the two linked by Stone Street, a Roman road. Bungay has its own Fisher Theatre and a ruined castle. A rather more impressive castle stands at Framlingham, to the south, where interesting events are hosted, usually with an historical theme. While in that area perhaps visit the restored windmill at Saxstead too (both in the care of English Heritage).

For cyclists Sustrans National Cycle Route 1 (Dover to the Orkney and Shetland Isles) passes very close by, and other established routes weave through the local area. The land is criss-crossed by public footpaths which offer great walking and delightful views. This area is well renowned for being popular with birdwatchers, both inland and along the coast.

Golfing visitors are welcome at the scenic Halesworth and Southwold courses and fishermen will find sea fishing expeditions available at the coast in addition to several well-stocked fishing lakes in the local area. Whether you wish to be active and explore ,or to just quietly relax, your accommodation at Brook Farm is well-placed to enjoy north-east Suffolk.