Driving from The Firs: the best days out within an hour of Cratfield

The Firs sits in the village of Cratfield in north Suffolk, roughly halfway between the coast and the countryside towns of High Suffolk. Most of the places worth driving to are between 20 and 50 minutes from the lodges, which makes us an easy base for a long weekend of slow exploring.

Here's where our guests go most, and how far each is.

Southwold — about 25 minutes. The classic Suffolk seaside town: a working pier, beach huts in sweet-shop colours, a lighthouse in the middle of the streets, and the Adnams brewery it's famous for. Good for a long beach walk, fish and chips, and a wander round the independent shops.

Aldeburgh — about 35–40 minutes. A little further down the coast, with a shingle beach, Maggi Hambling's Scallop sculpture, and some of the best fish and chips in the county (expect a queue in summer — it's worth it). Snape Maltings, the concert hall and shopping complex on the river, is just inland from here.

Framlingham — about 20 minutes. Market town built around a genuinely impressive 12th-century castle you can walk the walls of. It's also Ed Sheeran's home town — the "Castle on the Hill" of the song — so it draws a certain kind of pilgrim. Lovely for lunch and a mooch.

Walberswick & Dunwich — around 30 minutes. Walberswick is the crabbing village across the river from Southwold; Dunwich is the famously vanished town, now heath, beach and a very good National Trust café. Both are quieter, wilder alternatives to the main resorts.

Bungay & Beccles — 15–25 minutes. Closer to home, two characterful market towns on the edge of the Waveney Valley, good for antiques, riverside walks and a proper Suffolk pub lunch.

Norwich — about 50 minutes. The nearest city: a Norman cathedral, a castle, cobbled lanes and the best shopping and dining within range if you fancy a change of pace.

You won't need to drive far to feel a long way from everything. And on the days you'd rather not get in the car at all, there's a pizza oven, a firepit and six private hot tubs waiting back at the lodges.

Ready to plan your stay? Check availability and book direct.