This Grade II-listed cottage at the heart of historic Dunwich is only 50 metres from the beach and has one of the area’s best loved inns on the doorstep. Full of period charm, it has three bedrooms, an enclosed garden and is pet-friendly – stay here and you can enjoy a different dog walk every day!
Known as ‘Suffolk’s Atlantis’ after 13th-century storms swept away most of its buildings, Dunwich is the epitome of postcard-pretty, its main street lined with picket fences and, behind them, characterful cottages – including this lovely three-bedroomed abode. Step inside and you’re immediately into the living room, where sofas sit before a large inglenook feature fireplace and, to their rear, there’s a dining suite where guests can catch up over good food and drinks. You’ll likely want to eat at the nearby inn – its reputation draws customers from far and wide – but the kitchen here has all the essentials for an effortless self-catering stay. Sharing the ground floor layout is a traditional family bathroom, while typically steep and winding cottage stairs lead to the upper storeys. On the first floor, there’s a spacious king-size bedroom with stunning views across Walberswick Bay to Southwold; off here is a single bedroom with a pretty, low-level window and stair access to a twin bedroom on the second floor. Exposed roof timbers add character to this twin room, but the stairs may deem it unsuitable for very young children. A small cottage garden sets the property back from the road, while at the rear, there’s a fully enclosed garden with patio furniture, a lawned area and secure storage for bikes should you wish to bring them.
Dunwich is mid-way along the Suffolk Heritage Coast and, within 50 metres of your doorstep, the huge National Trust-owned beach, which is set in a break between the cliffs, is where you’ll find small boats pulled up on the sand and a popular tearoom. The surrounding countryside is teeming with wildlife; Dunwich Heath offers a true sense of being at one with nature and in summer, it is a patchwork of pink and purple heather and coconut-scented gorse. Stroll around the village and you’ll discover the remains of a medieval friary. Walk further and you’ll reach Westleton, another pretty village with a dog-friendly inn. For adventures further afield, visit Walberswick (6 miles) and, across the River Blyth, the bustling seaside town of Southwold (8 miles).