Thorpeness Holiday Guide
Enjoy a beach holiday in this hidden gem of a village on the Suffolk Coast. Thorpeness is a truly unique place to rent a holiday cottage: originating in the 1920s, Glencairn Stuart Ogilvie created this seaside village with its mock-Tudor buildings set against the backdrop of the unspoilt shingle beach.
With its Country Club, 18-hole Golf Club, 65-acre boating lake, with many of the islands named by JM Barrie - the author of Peter Pan, and its distinctive 'House in the Clouds', Thorpeness really is a magical holiday destination!
There is a rather special village shop: with a stunning selection of produce from organic fruit and veg and freshly baked bread to Suffolk ham, sausages, smoked fish and local cheeses. The homemade sausage rolls are a local delicacy and there’s a wide selection of ready meals available, cooked by the estimable Dolphin Inn pub in the village.
Aldeburgh is a walk or cycle ride away along the beach path and has many additional attractions to offer: with its charming high street, renowned fish ‘n' chip shops, cinema, sailing club and Moot Hall.
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Attractions and things to do
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RSPB North Warren
Just south of Thorpeness is this RSPB nature reserve, set within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and noted for its bird populations of Bitterns, Marsh Harrier, Nightjar and Dartford Warblers. This is a wildlife habitat par excellence and you may also see otter, red deer and adder. Thousands of ducks, swans and geese use the marshes over winter.
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The Meare
There's fun for all the family on the Meare: with canoes, rowing boats, dinghies and small sailing boats for hire. Whether you fancy a leisurely row or a splash around – the Meare is no more than four feet deep – make sure you keep track of the islands and cove names taken from Peter Pan as you make your way round the lake!
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Thorpeness Golf Club
18 holes in a stunning coastal location and officially Britain’s Greenest Golf Course – for its environmental focus – Thorpeness Golf course is playable all year round and visitors are welcome to book tee times from 11.30am on. The championship tee at twelve is, apparently, a ‘thinking golfer’s dream’!
Local pubs and restaurants
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The Dolphin Inn
You could not get a more welcoming, family-oriented, seaside pub than the Dolphin Inn. Ever popular, its’ cosy fires in the winter months and extensive gardens for sunnier days attract a throng of locals and tourists alike. There’s a great choice of really good, locally-sourced food with an extensive ‘specials board’ and a children’s menu.
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The Meare Shop and Tea Rooms
Perfect at any time of day for coffees, cakes, cream teas or a more substantial sandwich, ploughmans or jacket potato, the Meare Tea Rooms overlook the boating lake: the perfect spot to sit back and smile at all the endeavours on the water!
Thorpeness Meare Leiston Suffolk IP16 4NW Tel: 01728 452156
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