Ballingdon Mill Retreat; LDN 1hr20

An artists retreat in an 18th century windmill base on the edge of Sudbury, Suffolk, a small bustling market town in the heart of Gainsborough country. If seeking a cosy, spacious, 'off grid' bolt hole a stone's throw from London we are for you. The accommodation is situated on the 1st floor of the Mill which is heated by a large wood burning stove stocked with wood in the colder months. There is a double bed, duvet and electric blanket. There is also a Muji sofa bed that sleeps two as a double or two singles. We have a small bicycle pool available for guests (bikes are the ideal way to explore the local countryside) - please ask with your enquiry. The Mill has a galley kitchen (kettle, fridge, mini-stove & microwave), unlimited fibre wifi, Bluetooth HiFi, 30" HDTV, DVD, Chromecast plus a desk & chair. PLEASE NOTE: There is a flight of 16 stairs to reach the accommodation - see photos. Bathroom facilities comprise a dedicated private bathroom with power shower in the main house as well as a military campaign loo on the ground floor of the mill for emergencies. Dogs are welcome (if supervised) but are charged as an extra berth - so please add an extra guest if booking for a dog. Guests have use of a private garden including garden furniture, picnic blanket, and a small barbecue. There is also a map library. Cyclists: We have facilities for cyclists including a secure area, track pump, basic tools and brushes and a wash area. We also have a pro shop 5 minutes from the Mill. There is a wealth of published routes on Strava and many beautiful back roads for cruising (Clare, Bures, Edwardstone, Boxted, Polstead etc). Walkers: Bures via Lamarsh and Henny - 3hrs (take train back to Sudbury); Belchamp Ponds - circuit - 2.5 hrs; Long Melford (Melford Hall); Pentlow, Clare & Cavendish etc. Canoe hire: We are delighted to promote the local boat hire company to guests 5 minutes away on the River Stour during the summer months. We can either arrange an hourly rate. Please enquire ! Travel: Sudbury Railway Station is connected to London Liverpool Street by an hourly service which takes 1hr 20mins and is within the Network Discount Card region. The service is suited to bicycles. By Road - Sudbury is about 1hr 20 mins from most areas of London and 40 minutes from Stansted. Galley kitchen, dedicated bathroom, garden, cooking facilities, laundry and drying room. We will check you in and are normally on hand if you need us - otherwise you are independent. We are really close to London on the edge of a small bustling working market town. Sudbury is a perfect base to get lost in Gainsborough and Constable's countryside. Parking is included for a maximum of 2 cars. We are also connected to London by rail. We recommend guests to come by bicycle (you can take them on the train) as this is the best way to explore locally. The best way to connect with Stansted is via a local Taxi company (costs about £45). There is also an excellent car hire service 3 minutes walk from the Mill (enquire). Parking is available for a maximum of 2 cars only. Feel free to bring food with you.