Arriving by taxi: how to reach The Firs without driving the whole way

You don't need to drive the whole way to The Firs. The simplest car-free route is train to a nearby station, then a short taxi to Cratfield. Here's how it works.

The two useful stations are Diss and Halesworth.

Diss is the fastest connection from London. It sits on the main Greater Anglia line, with direct trains from London Liverpool Street taking roughly an hour and three-quarters. From Diss, The Firs is about a 30-minute taxi ride.

Halesworth is the closest station to us — around 15 minutes away by car. It's on the East Suffolk line, so coming from London you'd usually change at Ipswich. This is the better option if you're already travelling within East Anglia, or if you'd rather the shortest possible taxi at the end.

Darsham (also on the East Suffolk line, near the coast) is another option if your journey suits it, at around 25 minutes from the lodges.

Book your taxi in advance — this is rural Suffolk. There are no ranks of cabs waiting outside these country stations, and you won't reliably hail one or summon a ride-hailing app out here. The reliable approach is to pre-book a local firm for your arrival time, and to book your return taxi when you book the outbound one. If you let us know your train, we're very happy to recommend a local driver who knows the lanes to Cratfield — just drop a note to info@thefirssuffolk.co.uk.

A few tips for a smooth arrival:

• Give your driver the postcode IP19 0QD and the address, Manse Lane, Cratfield — but mention you're heading to The Firs, as local drivers know it.

• Country lanes are dark at night with no street lighting, so an arrival before dusk is easiest for a first visit.

• If you're planning to explore the coast and the wider area during your stay, bear in mind that public transport between villages is limited. Many car-free guests taxi in, settle into the slower pace, and use our on-site bikes and footpaths rather than travelling far each day.

For some guests, arriving without the car is part of the appeal: you step off the train, the lanes get quieter and the hedges get higher, and by the time you reach the lodges you're already on Suffolk time.

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