The Area
Whitehouse Barns
THE SUFFOLK HERITAGE COAST​
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Southwold – The Barns are just a ten minute drive from this elegant seaside town with its sandy beaches which regularly win ‘Blue Flag’ awards. The town itself has many attractions including a Regency High Street, spacious greens, charming cottages, the lighthouse, the famously expensive beach huts, traditional working fishing harbour, the horsedrawn brewery dray and the newly restored pier and Electric Picture Palace. The town is the home of Adnams brewery and there are many excellent pubs recommended in good pub guides. Golf, sailing, horse riding, tennis, crabbing and other sports are available in Southwold.
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Other nearby villages feature excellent pubs, beaches, walks and cycle rides.
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Aldeburgh – the home of the composer Benjamin Britten, Aldeburgh is a popular, elegant seaside family resort with many working fishing boats pulled up on the shingle, fresh fish to be bought and renowned fish and chip shops.
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Snape Maltings – The home of the world famous Aldeburgh Festival of Music, this is also a most beautiful site, with spectacular views over the reed beds and the River Alde.
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There are many other beautiful towns, villages and attractions within easy striking distance of the Whitehouse Barns, including Sutton Hoo, Orford, Framlingham and Thorpeness. Read plenty more on the Suffolk Coast website.
PUBS, WALKS, CYCLE RIDES
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There are plenty of opportunities for walks of all distances starting at the barns or nearby. Cycling is also a highlight in the Suffolk Coast region, with the many attractive villages, seaside views and relatively flat terrain. Bikes can be hired in Southwold.
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Of course no seaside walk is complete without lunch or a celebratory pint in a country pub. The nearby towns and villages are well endowed in this regard. The nationally acclaimed Adnams Brewery and Distillery is based in Southwold and makes many delicious beers, wines and spirits, stocked extensively in the area.
BIRDWATCHING
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Birdwatching is spectacular from the barns themselves. Because of the wealth of unusual birdlife, the site around Whitehouse Barns has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The intertidal marshes directly beside the property are also designated as a RAMSAR (wetland of international significance), a Special Protection Area AND a Special Area for Conservation as well as being part of the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Few areas carry higher designations for wildlife.
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Further afield there are many more wonderful options.
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Minsmere RSPB Bird Sanctuary – the showcase of the RSPB. Bitterns, Marsh Harriers, Avocets, Godwits and even an occasional Spoonbill can be seen.
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The Sandlings are an area of lowland heath of international importance with reed beds, mudflats, low crumbling cliffs, shingle beaches, peaceful woodlands, rough grazing and salt marshes. Dunwich Heath is an important National Trust Nature Reserve where night jars are often heard.