A quirky character cottage in a Nature Reserve - Cissys Cottage

The Experience

Justly Listed in The Sunday Times 'Coolest 100 Holiday Cottages

With its own private Nature Reserve to enjoy, this very romantic Suffolk holiday cottage is a special treat.

Cissys was once a 17th century millers cottage in a little cluster of historic buildings.

Beverley & Martin the owners are avid antique collectors and have renovated and furnished this pretty cottage, with some very stylish furnishings.


The owners welcome their guests with a generous Breakfast Hamper including local bacon and chipolatas, eggs and bread. In season there are fresh herbs for guests to use including mint, thyme, rosemary, bay, lemon verbena, sage etc. There are stocks of tea, coffee, sugar, salt, pepper and olive oil in the cottage.

Pets are welcome in this cottage.



Cissy's Cottage

Situated in a stunning private Nature Reserve Cissy's Cottage is a very special place, made all the more attractive by the careful restorations of its beautiful historic interiors and character antique furnishings.

From a pretty, old cobbled courtyard draped with wisteria and clematis with its original working water pump and seating for outside dining you enter the small but practical kitchen which leads through to the hall and open plan dining area,

To the left of the hall is the bathroom with a Victorian roll top bath with ball and claw feet. Beside the grandfather clock is a steep winding staircase to the two bedrooms upstairs.

To the right of the hall is a cosy sitting room with a stable door looking out over the courtyard and gorgeous wood panelled walls, there is an original historic Kitchen Range dating back to the 1700's which guests can light up and enjoy.

The floor is made from original Suffolk white bricks and has a large antique rug to give the room a cosy feel. Modern attractions like the TV are discreetly hidden behind inside the bread ovens that are built into the chimney - genius!

At the top of the stairs is a a twin bedded room through which you enter the master bedroom. This is a pretty common arrangement in very old houses and it's Historic House Listing prevents any other layout. Cissy's is a very special holiday cottage which is much loved by our guests; located in a coastal area and ideal for guests who enjoy nature. We provide bicycles for our guests to explore this lovely area without charge and we are happy to accept pets.

Cissy's is in an isloted Regency Row attached to two small brick barns and a small rambling Regency house. This cluster of buildings is where the owners live and where they have created the 3 beautiful cottages: Cissy's Cottage, Queenies Cottage and Laundry Cottage which was listed in The Sunday Times 'Coolest 100 Holiday Cottages'.

The owners have carefully planned the three cottages, so all guests have privacy in their own little garden.

This is a special romantic cottage where you step back in time, and enjoy not just the beautiful interiors, but the peaceful Nature Reserve and the best of the unspoilt Suffolk Coast.

This is a tiny cottage and 2 adults and 2 children would just squeeze in, but an extra crawling 'baby' would be too much.

The cottage has a steep winding staircase to be considered.

Please note that outside High Season this cottage offers a reduced rate for just two guests, who use one bedroom only.

Access Statement



Gardens

There is a breakfast patio looking onto the central courtyard which has a picket fence to keep you dog or child from wandering off! Wisteria and clematis cover the walls.

There is also a private arbour garden for you at the end of the courtyard.

We also have a very ancient mulberry tree that guests can try in season.



Outside

One of the main attractions to the lovely Cissys Cottage and this remote clutter of ancient buildings, is that you are located in the owners own private Nature Reserve.

A walk through the courtyard takes you into the Nature Reserve.

The owners have laid winding footpaths that meander around the escarpment meadow, the giant cedar trees and ancient oak trees.

Carpets of bluebells, primrose and daffodil fill the reserve in spring, which is also a haven for birds and wildlife.

You and your pets are very welcome to wander around and explore this beautiful reserve, and make use of the picnic tables and benches thoughtfully placed in idyllic locations.

There are maps in the cottage for you to find footpaths going to Snape Maltings, which is just 2 ½ miles away, the forests and the lakes, which lead to the Sea at Aldeburgh.

The buildings are on the road to Aldeburgh, so it is a quick seven minute drive into what has been described as England's best unspoilt Seaside Town but as it is a busy road and it's not a road to walk or cycle on. If you use the Bikes supplied at the cottage you can access the small country lanes through the Nature Reserve.


Green Credentials

The buildings have been restored/repaired using old timber, bricks and fittings sensitive to their historic setting.

The range fireplaces in both Laundry and Cissys Cottage were both historically reclaimed, as is the bath in Cissy's.

Most of the furnishings are antique (re-used by generations) - predominantly oak and elm.

The initial supply of wood for the wood burners comes from our own woodland.

We have our own waste water system.

We are lucky enough to have a great selection of wildlife including badgers, deer, rabbits, bats, voles and moles.

There are numerous birds - owls, green and spotted woodpecker, thrush, long tailed, blue and great tits. chaffinch, night jar, robin and wren and many more. We also get passing pheasants.




Standard Inclusive Features
Kitchen: The cottage is a complete little home and facilities include modern central heating, refrigerator, hobs, oven and 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.

Provisions: Beverley and Martin welcome guests with a complimentary Breakfast Basket which includes local bacon and chipolatas, eggs and bread. In season there are fresh herbs for guests to use including mint, thyme, rosemary, bay, lemon verbena, sage etc.

Bathroom: Soap, fluffy cotton towels, bath mats, shaver point, toilet brush, toilet roll.

Bedroom: Cotton bed linen, wardrobe with coat hangers / chest of drawers, iron, ironing board, hairdryer.

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: For adults and children. Please check with the owner that these are available before you arrive to avoid disappointment if they are in for maintenence

Babies: Cot and high chair provided in cottages accepting babies (please bring babies bedding).

Dogs: Water bowl and treat per dog is provided in cottages accepting pets.

The courtyard breakfast patio area can be completly closed off with picket fence and a gate but other guest will sometimes need to pass by and into the main courtyard. There is a private Nature Reserve that belongs to the owners and direct access to it from the cottage, which you and your dogs are invited to enjoy.

Dogs: Please not on the furniture or beds, or left alone.


Local Information:

The cottages have direct access to a beautiful private Nature Reserve part owned by Martin and Beverley who own the cottages, it is a really lovely place to wander around.

It takes just 10 minutes to get to Aldeburgh Seafront from the cottage, which is recognised as the nicest seaside town in England. It is totally devoid of deckchairs, candy floss, amusement arcades and flashing lights but being crammed with fabulous restaurants, really great pubs, lovely old fashioned boutique shops, quaint architecture, a vibrant Arts scene and some great local fishing boats which will sell you a freshly caught lobster or sea bass from their beach huts.

The beautiful Rendlesham and Tunstall Forests are right on your doorstep offering wonderful walks and bikes rides.

Through the back gate from the cottage are fantastic walks through the nature reserve and on towards Snape, Blaxhall and beyond.

Food & Drink

Friday Street Farm Shop (mere minutes from the cottages) is full-to-bursting with a large range of excellent homegrown and locally-made produce.

On site there is a welcoming café restaurant offering quality food, every day of the week, complete with their own farmlands which provide the farm shop and cafe’ with delicious home-grown fruit and vegetables. This is a brilliant farm shop which stocks local fresh seasonal produce, bread, cakes and all the basics in addition to luxury goods. Local meat and game are also sold.

Fresh line caught fish is now on site and on a Saturday there is a local cheese producer also on site. This is a real bonus for these cottages.

The fantastic Pinneys at Orford is a must if you love smoked fish.

The Butley Oysteridge in Orford has a wonderful cafe/restaurant and their own oyster beds.

The Pump Street Bakery in Orford is also a foodie haven.

Snape Maltings Fresh Food Pantry will include products from Newbourne Farm, Revett’s of Wickham Market, Marybelle Dairy, Pinneys of Orford and Hamish Johnston Fine Cheeses


Local Pubs:

There are four ‘Local’ pubs:

The Golden Key at Snape – this has won dining pub of the year in the past.

The Crown at Snape – produce much of their own meat etc that is served on the premises. We also recommend this pub

The Plough and Sail – this is right on the Maltings a much larger establishment.

The Ship at Blaxhall – traditional little pub serving good pub food.