Skylarks, enjoy the decking overlooking your garden and wildflower meadow

The Perfect Anecdote To City Life To relax back into the large sofa as the countryside changes from day to night; to watch the stars come out as you find yourself in a cosy room lit only by the warm flicker of the wood burning stove. The owners welcome guests to their cottage with a generous Breakfast basket including eggs, bacon, tomatoes, fruit, bisuits, bread, butter, milk, tea & coffee. The Experience From the expansive decking, Skylarks looks onto its beautiful enclosed garden and private three acre wildflower meadow, with pathways and seating areas to get the best views. Skylarks is named after the farmland bird whose song fills the sky around the property. This is a special romantic getaway where guests can really enjoy the beauty of the surrounding nature. Cottage Walk Through The spacious dining / sitting room has one entire wall made of glass, that opens out onto a large decking where meals can be taken.  Cooking and preparing meals is a pleasure in the well equipped and spacious kitchen. On the ground floor there is a pretty double bedroom with its own shower / bathroom.  Upstairs is another double bedroom with its own bathroom containing a luxurious roll top bath. There is a feeling of comfort, space and light throughout the cottage and all windows look out at pretty countryside. It is so easy to just light the cosy wood-burning stove, relax back into the large sofa as the sky changes from day to night and watch the stars come out. This is the perfect antidote to city life.  If you are a larger group of up to nine guests, then both Skylarks and Little Cote, which is adjacent but faces the opposite direction, can be adapted to accommodate you as a group by opening up the unused connecting hallway. Sleeping capacity is 4 in 2 kingsized bed rooms - babies fitting into the 2 travel cots are not charged for - all other children will require proper beds and are therefor classed as adults. Please note that this cottage can only accept up to two infants that fit into our supplied Travel Cots – please do not book in more infants as we will have to decline the booking – sorry. We supply highchairs and travel cots but ask you to bring bedding for the cots. Please also note that if you have been offered a lower price for just 2 guests staying in this cottage (this happens out of high season) - then it is based on you using just one bedroom. Pets: We can accept up to 2 well behaved doggies in this cottage (or cats ), the price is £25 pw per dog or £15 for less than a week – this payment can be taken after booking. The Gardens The deck overlooks a large enclosed garden, leading through to three acres of wild flower meadow. There is a perfectly-placed picnic table in the wild flower meadow, where you can dine al fresco with nature flourishing all around you. We have tried to let Nature do it's own thing, but there are mowed paths which allow you to meander round the wildflower meadow. This is a great spot for bird watching. Outside This cosy cottage sits beside a quiet single track lane surrounded by farmland and is a perfect place to relax and unwind. This part of Suffolk has a subtle beauty and the gently undulating countryside and quiet country lanes make it perfect for cycling and walking – bikes are provided for guests to explore the pretty lanes and nearby villages. The nearest village is Old Newton which is a small agricultural community, with a pub ‘The Shoulder of Mutton’ and a village shop, the ancient market town of Stowmarket is 3 miles away. Green Credentials When we built Skylarks Barn on the site of the ancient cowshed next to Little Cote, we knew it should reflect its heritage, but in an honest way and with a modern twist. Lots of insulation, underfloor heating and a wood burning stove make it cosy in the winter (we only use renewable electricity). And big French doors which open onto a large deck, mean that in the warmer months, you can make the most of the three acres of gardens and wildflower meadows which surround the Barn. Skylarks style is ‘modern country comfort’ and we hope guests will feel at ease wearing anything from welly boots to high heels! And, as with Little Cote, our ethos has been to use the garden and countryside as our inspiration; I hope you agree that our décor and furnishings (often refurbished auction finds) reflect this ambition. Like a lot of people in this area, we try to live in a ‘sustainable way’ and use only ecover cleaning products. Mid Suffolk is a ‘Green’ area, an echo perhaps of the work done by Eve Balfour in the 1920’s, one of the original founders of the Soil Association, whose ‘Haughley Experiment’ took place a short walk from Skylarks, at New Bells Farm, Haughley. Unlike Eve, we are not farmers, but we do grow vegetables, fruit and flowers AND without resorting to nasty chemicals. This is because the gardens and wildflower meadow provide such a wonderful habitat for animals and plants of all kinds. In spring, we enjoy a carpet of Cowslips, which are then followed by Orchids and Oxeye daisies; irresistible to bees, moths and butterflies. The longer summer grasses, Purple Vetch and Knapweed are home to field mice and voles, which in turn attract Kestrels and of course Barn Owls. To see one of these magnificent birds hunting in the meadow at dusk is always thrilling, always magical and if it is your first time, unforgettable. And all year, we are visited by the iconic Brown Hare, Roe and Muntjac Deer. A guest who worked for the RSPB once counted 27 different species of birds (including of course Skylarks) and I haven’t even mentioned the amphibians and reptiles: who knew there was so much going on? In autumn, we feast on Apple and Blackberry pie and at Christmas time toast the New Year in with Sloe Gin made with fruits from the Blackthorn in our hedgerow – not too bad a life is it? Our main road is called Silver Street, a single track lane, big enough for one car, which is on average what you might see each hour. So, cycling around here is easy and we ride what are called ‘Elephant Bikes’. They are refurbished Royal Mail Postal Bikes, saved from landfill and given a new lease of life by a company who support a charity in Malawi, one of the poorest countries in Africa. So a very, very good cause, sustainable, but most importantly great fun to ride; pack a picnic and take off. You can follow the Elephant Bike story at www.cycleofgood.com. And although we are not far from Stowmarket, the A14 and the modern world, one criticism levelled at this part of Suffolk is that it is very beautiful, very peaceful, but nothing ever happens! Great isn’t it, long may it continue! Local Area Skylarks is situated 3 miles from the lively little town of Stowmarket with its Street Market every Thursday and Saturday. The excellent Museum of East Anglian Life is based in Stowmarket and really worth a visit. Helmingham Hall, the World famous gardens surrounding the Tudor Moated Hall in a 4oo acre deer park are a 20 minute drive away. The Historic town of Bury St Edmunds is also just a 20 minute drive away and there are some lovely places to visit there like the famous Abbey Gardens, The Cathedral, Moyes’s House Museum, the Theatre Royal, The Green King Brewery and the beautiful pedestrian centre with its bustling market on Saturdays and beautiful architecture. The town is bursting with interesting cafes and restaurants. West Stow Country Park and Anglo-Saxon Village is a very interesting place to visit and just a 20 minute drive away Ickworth ‘An Italianate Palace in the heart of Suffolk’ is about 25 minutes away as are the famously preserved Medieval villages of Lavenham, Long Melford and Kersey. The unspoilt Suffolk Coast is under an hour’s drive away, where you can discover Shingle Street, Orford, Dunwich, Aldeburgh and Southwold. Standard Inclusive Features Kitchen: Cottages are complete little homes and facilities include modern central heating, refrigerator, hobs, oven and / or microwave, toaster, crockery & serving dishes, cutlery, many utensils, fire-extinguisher, lots of pots & pans, glasses & mugs, kettle, coffee maker, teapot, kitchen towels, oven gloves, olive oil, salt & pepper, sugar, herbs, tea, fresh and instant coffee, washing up liquid, cloths, general cleaning materials, etc. Bathroom: Soap, fluffy cotton towels, bath mats, toilet brush, toilet roll. Bedroom: Cotton bed linen, wardrobe with coat hangers / chest of drawers, hairdryer. Utility Area: iron, ironing board, Living room: If your cottage has an open fire or stove then a basket of firewood and a bucket of coal will be provided free, more will be available at cost – firelighters will be provided. TV, books, games, magazines, local brochures, OS and other maps, folder with our special ‘What To Do’ insiders guide to the local area. Bikes: Please check with the owner that these are available before you arrive to avoid disappointment if they are in for maintenance Baby: Cot and high chair provided in the cottage (please bring babies bedding). Dog: Water bowl and treat per dog is provided