Days out with the family

Here are just a few of the great things in the area to do with children. You will find more details of all of these and more in our welcome book in the cottage. We have visited everything personally to make sure we feel these are worth recommending.

There are so many beautiful walks in the area to entertain and tire out the children!  Only 5 minutes from the property you can find yourself in wonderful open country side with footpaths leading to the river to spot the wildlife, the otters can often be seen along the stretch of river!

However, if you do prefer to do a more organised day out there are plenty of options in the area.

Hollow Trees Farm Shop

Wonderful farm shop and café but it’s the farm trail the children will love.

The Farm Trail gives you the chance to come face to face with all lots of animals from goats and pigs, chicken, cows. There are even friendly alpacas.  Buy a bag of food from the feed station and you’re off!

They have a play area called ‘Pogles Pit’ where you can find rope swings, climbing pole and a slide. There is also a sand pit for little ones.

Boydell’s Farm

All of the usual farm animals can be seen here but what’s great is that they give you a guided tour at this family run farm. It’s really good fun and you can try your hand at milking a cow, bottle feeding lambs, feeding the chickens and watching the sheep being milked in the modern milking parlour.  You can also ride a donkey cart.  All the other farm animals such as pigs, goats, cows can be seen.

Jimmy’s Farm

As seen on TV…

The Wildlife Park here plays host to traditional, rare and exotic animals. From crocodiles, camels and capybara to pigs, skunks and guinea pigs – there’s lots to see!

There is  WonderWood  where kids, big and small, can build their own den.

There is a Butterfly House and Tropical House, where you can meet some of our colder blooded friends as well as free-flying birds.

There is a bar, field kitchen, restaurant and tea rooms on site.

Kentwell Hall

Kentwell Hall is great afternoon out for the children. You can walk from the cottage in about 10 minutes, but the driveway to the Hall is then probably another mile long so you may wish to drive.

There are beautiful gardens to walk around, see the farm animals, a tea room on site.

Expect a variety of themed Living History events and other event days which are really worth a visit and very popular.

In the summer you may like to visit for one of the open air cinema showings.

Throughout October, Kentwell has a Scaresville event to celebrate Halloween. Scaresvillie is an award winning haunted village created in the grounds of the Hall.  The evening event is definitely for adults/older teens but the daytime events are aimed at much younger children.

Worth checking their website when you stay for events coming up.

Melford hall

Melford Hall is a National Trust property located 5 mins walk from the cottage, It’s a beautiful property to visit and was regularly visited by Beatrice Potter who’s cousin owned the Hall. They do various things for children throughout the year including a Cadburys eater egg hunt and ‘The big night out’ a large firework display with fun fair.  Worth checking their website when you stay for events coming up.

Clare Country Park

The park contains the remains of the 13th Century stone castle keep set upon its 60ft high motte overlooking the town, which you can walk the steep path up to climb up to and view its inner and outer baileys.  Really popular place for picnics in the summer and also has a tea room in the old railways station in the grounds.  There are footpaths through the trees and along the banks of the River Stour and along the old railway line.  There is also a children play area.

Belle Vue Park Sudbury

This is a park in Sudbury with play equipment, outdoor gym apparatus, sand pit and climbing for younger ones, and a skatepark and basketball court for older children.

Nowton Park

With almost 200 acres of landscaped countryside there is a large area to cover at Nowton Park.

Nowton Park also has a fantastic maze in the shape of a stylised oak tree. The maze is open from May to October.

The has a large play area, football pitches, a picnic area, tea room and visitor centre.

Abbey Garden Bury St Edmunds

The ruins of an 11th century Benedictine monastery lay within the gardens. For children there is a well-equipped play area and a treehouse nestles within a willow maze. There is also a sand and water area so don’t forget your bucket and spade!

There is a sensory garden, herb garden, small aviary and river with feeding area for the ducks.

Colne Valley Railway

Colne Valley Railway has a miniature railway with two stations, a turntable and six locomotives. The miniature railway can be accessed from the rear of the shop. The ride is some 750 metres long and should operate, weather permitting, on most main railway open days.

A mainline train ride, you board one of our restored railway coaches at our station. The train takes you for about 1/2 a mile towards the village of Castle Hedingham, over and alongside the River Colne.

Chappel – East Anglian Railway Museum

Immerse yourself in a real steam railway museum and get up close and personal to our wide collection of steam trains, diesel locomotives and vintage carriages.  You can even have afternoon tea in a vintage carriage.

Colchester zoo

A large, well run zoo, an opportunity to see all the big animals and even get to feed some of them to!  Has elephants, lions, tigers, rhinos, giraffes and much more.

Set over 60 acres it a great family day out.  It has picnic facilities and parks spread throughout the zoo.

Alton Water

Here you can try your hand at paddle boarding, Canoeing, kayaking, boating, wind sailing, or hire bikes and do the 6 ride the 6 mile bikes track around the perimeter of the lake.  Small crazy golf and a children’s play area onsite.  Great for teenagers.

Henny Swan

Lovey pub by the river, but you can hire paddle boards for older children, or a boat for the family by the hour.

RAINY DAY IDEAS