Cakes & Ale Holiday Park, Suffolk
The sleepy county of Suffolk is certainly off the beaten track in England, being situated at the end of the bulge that constitutes East Anglia. And, for those who take the time to venture here, it’s worth the trip.
The seemingly endless flat landscape is characteristic of these parts, and is ideal for easy cycling or walking. Inland, it’s very peaceful and hedgerow birds are often the only thing you’ll hear as you follow footpaths through fields speckled with pretty red poppies, blue cornflowers and large daisies in summertime. The many quaint, dreamy villages, with their traditional flint and pink-painted thatched cottages, seem unchanged over time, and the traditional pubs are perfect for lunch or refreshments.
Suffolk also boasts a lovely coastline and seaside towns, and villages like Southwold and Aldeburgh, which are within easy reach of the campsite, are certainly worth a visit. For nature lovers, RSPB Minsmere and the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB are nearby, too. For culture vultures, there are abbeys and castles aplenty to visit.
Cakes & Ale makes the perfect base from which to explore the local area and it’s also a lovely place just to relax when you don’t fancy going out. It’s not too big and pitches are well spaced, so it doesn’t feel cramped or overcrowded, even when it’s busy. We stayed in the adults-only section and it was very tranquil indeed!
At reception, there’s a handy shop and the on-site bar is nice for a quiet drink at the weekends. If you’re feeling energetic, there are tennis courts and a boules rink as well as a golf practice range to enjoy, and equipment is available to borrow free of charge.
There are plenty of footpaths and cycle routes, as well as a dog walk to explore directly from the campsite. The abbey and the village of Leiston are also worth a nosey. We also visited Framlingham Castle, which is run by English Heritage.
The campsite offers everything you’ll need for a comfortable stay, with hardstanding pitches serviced with electric hook-up and a water tap, an immaculately clean toilet and shower block, as well as a laundry block with washing-up facilities.