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Rustic retreat in heart of rural Suffolk

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Exterior
Aerial view
Property grounds
Exterior
Exterior

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
4 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Pet-friendly
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

Map
Boxted
  • Giffords Hall Vineyard
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Kentwell Hall
    ‪17 min drive‬
  • Ickworth House
    ‪28 min drive‬
  • Bury St. Edmunds (BEQ-RAF Honington)
    ‪52 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 3

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Double Bed

2 bathrooms, 2 half bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Bathtub · Toilet

Bathroom 4

Bathtub or shower

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Rustic retreat in heart of rural Suffolk

Comfortable and spacious house set in an acre of garden away from the quiet road and surrounded by fields - a true country break, within easy reach of local shopping and picturesque historic wool towns including Sudbury, Long Melford and Lavenham, ideal for antique bargain-hunters and countryside ramblers.
Comprises through dining and lounge areas plus kitchen, entrance hall and WC on ground floor, wide staircase leading to 4 bedrooms (2 ensuite + 1 family bathroom) and study on first floor.

Property manager

mark
Premier Host
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Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Outdoor space
Parking available

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Exterior

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  • Dryer
  • Gym
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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs and cats less than 23 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
As a family holiday let we do not accommodate house parties, work placements, corporate events or other commercial activities.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

About the area

Bury St Edmunds

Located in Bury St Edmunds, this holiday home is in a rural area. Giffords Hall Vineyard and Cineworld Bury St Edmunds are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Great Cornard Country Park and Bradfield Woods. Ickworth House and Colne Valley Railway are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
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Map
Boxted

What's nearby

  • Giffords Hall Vineyard - 11 min drive - 5.7 km
  • Kentwell Hall - 17 min drive - 9.9 km
  • The Apex - 22 min drive - 17.7 km
  • Ickworth House - 28 min drive - 20.0 km
  • Newmarket Racecourse - 33 min drive - 27.0 km

Getting around

  • Sudbury Station - 26 min drive
  • Cambridge (CBG) - 53 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Crown - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The Cavendish Tea Rooms - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Rose & Crown - ‬20 min drive
  • ‪Cock & Bell - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪The Queen's Head - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Rustic retreat in heart of rural Suffolk pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at Rustic retreat in heart of rural Suffolk?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Rustic retreat in heart of rural Suffolk?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Rustic retreat in heart of rural Suffolk located?

Situated in a rural location, this holiday home is 3 mi (4.8 km) from Giffords Hall Vineyard and within 6 miles (10 km) of Holy Trinity Church and Melford Hall. Long Melford Heritage Centre and Kentwell Hall are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 9 out of 15 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 15 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 15 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 15 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 15 reviews

7.6/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.4/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.0/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

8/10 Good

Cherry S.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Review

We enjoyed a relaxing few days in Suffolk. The house is a comfortable family home full of character set in a large garden with an eclectic mix of artefacts and a massive book collection. The living /dining area is spacious, the kitchen well-equipped and the bedrooms large and airy. It was however quite dirty in places. We needed to wash some of the cutlery and crockery before use and the kitchen work surfaces were sticky. One of the mattress covers was stained. And there were quite a lot of cobwebs. All these issues could easily be rectified and once addressed would enhance the overall experience.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Katy M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Festive Country Getaway

Stayed for 4 nights with extended family over Xmas: Lovely time had by all! If you’re looking for modern and pristine, this isn’t the place for you. If you’re looking for character and country charisma, is this the place for you. Spacious, comfortable and full of interesting things to look at. Perfectly equipped for a large group over a festive period, with great views and fresh air too. Great! Tip: Definitely access the property from the road to the West rather than the farm track Google maps might want to take you from the East (Google thinks this is a road… fine if you’re in a 4x4, interesting if you’re not!). Host gave us a heads up on this ahead of time but one my party still took the track…!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gergely A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location, spacious house

We had a great long weekend at the house. The house itself is very spacious and well equipped. Beautiful, huge garden, plenty of room for the kids to play. Lot to do in the area, suitable for longer stays too. Definitely recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Laurel S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A lovely country escape

The property is eclectic and in a fantastic location. We had a lovely time. Check in and out process was easy and the hosts were super responsive. There was plenty of space for us all - just a shame the weather wasn't on our side!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lisa L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful and unique

We stayed here for new year. There were 8 of us, 4 adults and 4 children. The house is very quirky and unique. Full of books and old gimmicks. We loved how the house is remote and surrounded with fields. It was perfect for our little getaway. We will book again.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Robert B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect for the family

Overall a very homely and well lived experience. Would recommend to anyone wanting to get away from the world
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2021

8/10 Good

Richard W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Country Retreat

Farmhouse is as described , lovely rural location; lots of places to visit both National Trust and Bressingham Gardens. House has tremendous collection of books. Decorations a bit dated but serviceable. Problem with ladybird and fly hatching one day, but this was resolved quickly by local contact and owner.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2021

8/10 Good

Jennefer B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

The Rural Suffolk Experience!

Coming from the city, we loved this rural location, the lack of traffic, and the woodpecker daily visiting the beautiful garden! The Cockles country house is full of history, having loads of interesting books and interesting architecture, with a definite family feel. Some of the rooms might benefit from an update, eg the ensuite bathrooms, but equally this can be part of the quirky charm! Storage heaters and under floor heating worked a treat once they had warmed up. The hosts were kind and helpful, and keen to sort out any issues as promptly as possible. Recommended!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Anthony T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing rural retreat to help recharge the batteries

Lovely house in plenty of grounds in a quiet area with just the odd tractor going down the lane by the property. The house itself is full of country charm and character and very well equipped for your stay. If you are looking for peace and quiet this is definitely the place to stay. Our 2 dogs loved exploring the grounds and the size of the garden made sure they slept well every night!! There are walks from the cottage or a short drive away. Would recommend Clare but our favourite was the National Trust House and Park at Ickworth, just 15mins away. For shopping Bury St Edmunds is a lovely town. Communication with the owner was excellent and after checking there was a suitable area for a bbq before we travelled Mark made sure a grill was left out for us...nice touch.. Would not hesitate to recommend to anyone
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

4/10 Poor

Gill H.

Liked: Location
Disliked: Cleanliness, communication, listing accuracy

Beautiful location shame about the property

We had fabulous weather and the location was very beautiful . The property unfortunately was very outdated and very dirty. The bed linen and towels were old and the beds were uncomfortable. The outside furniture was inadequate and the bbq was a joke. Two of the bathrooms upstairs were old and dirty as was the downstairs loo. There was a general smell of mustiness due to the amount of all old books everywhere. The house needs a lot of updating and cleaning to be at an acceptable standard.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Nicole D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fenstead End

Nice, quirky, spacious house in a good location. Quite secluded, but 5 mins drive from a village with convenience shop and takeaway. Lots of interesting books in the house + well equipped kitchen. Nice, clean, comfy beds.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021

6/10 Okay

Alison G.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Country break

The house is set in a lovely peaceful area. We had fun exploring the Long Melford, Clare and Lavenham. Seeing a hare on the lawn several times was beautiful. The house is very well stocked, if anything too well stocked. It was hard to find things in the kitchen as there was so much that was not needed for a holiday stay. We were worried we might leave things behind, as virtually every surface was covered with fascinating books and trinkets. The house could be wonderful, but it was not clean (cobwebs in several rooms, the fridge and a lot of kitchen equipment was dirty, carpets only vacuumed in centre of room, toaster tray full of crumbs), some of the furniture and carpets have seen better days, taps dripped and the whole place had a bit of a tired air. We saw a mouse on several occasions and had 2 different sets of flying ants in the kitchen and lounge. It was a shame, we had a good time, but it could have been great.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2021

8/10 Good

Michele S.

Liked: Communication, location, listing accuracy

Quietness

The property location was tranquil forpeace and quiet had everything we needed forour stay. Nice areas to drive to and explore..Walks takes 1hr from the house to local pubs.. Neare st shops in Glemsford approx 3 miles. Recommend Clare Country park for walks and picnics.

10/10 Excellent

Shuvo B., London

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Charming family house

We enjoyed our stay at this fantastic family house. Very warm and cosy. Has all the essentials and an absolute amazing collection of books. Our boys enjoyed playing cricket in the garden.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Barry B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cockles Perfection

We had very specific needs in that we lived between Glemsford and Fenstead End (same road as Cockles) in the early 1970s and we wanted to return and inspire memories of very happy times there. Cockles was the ideal location being away from the village and incredibly quiet - and light-free at night. In fact, I got good milky way shots with both my cellphone and my camera. So, Cockles is incredibly quiet and peaceful. The house itself is large and rambling with lots of character plus several rooms in addition to the four bedrooms, two of which have in-suite showers. The kitchen is well-stocked with everything you can imagine or need if you wish to self-cater. The booking process was quick and easy, while Mark was very quick to respond to questions. Perhaps I can summarise by saying that this trip comprised only my daughter and grandson (other family members missed the trip through various circumstances), but I hope to return with my wife and her two daughters from California in the near future because it's a perfect base from which to explore the fascinating beauty and history of West Suffolk (I was born and raised in East Suffolk).
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

About the host

Hosted by mark

Host profile image

Why they chose this property

Avoid crowds and noise, quiet private country retreat

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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