Entire Peaceful Country Cottage | Benhall, Suffolk

Experience the charm of Christmas Cottage, an 1844 Grade II-listed retreat nestled in serene Suffolk. Overlooking the village green and conservation area, this renovated haven blends historic allure with modern comforts. Enjoy seasonal pleasures: cozy winter evenings by the log burner, sunlit alfresco dining, and exploring nature on scenic walks. Ideal for families, couples, or friends seeking a rejuvenating country escape and a base to explore the varied delights of the Suffolk Heritage Coast. The space Christmas Cottage is a beautifully decorated Grade II listed cottage in tranquil Suffolk. It overlooks the large village green to the front and Wadd conservation area to the rear. The property offers a fantastic holiday base all-year round for families, couples or friends. It is close to the popular coastal towns of Aldeburgh, Southwold and Thorpeness, as well as Saxmundham and Snape (for Snape Maltings & Concert Hall). Further afield but also popular are Woodbridge, Orford and Framlingham. Layout Christmas Cottage was built in 1844 but has been sympathetically extended and renovated to offer modern day luxury and convenience. The cottage sits in a very quiet location in rural Benhall Green, overlooking the village green to the front and Benhall Wadd conservation area to the rear. Benhall Green is about 1 mile from Saxmundham, 3 miles from Snape and just 6.5 miles from Aldeburgh. The cottage is arranged over two floors. In true Suffolk style, the main entrance is via the solid wood side/rear door, which leads to a small lobby with coat hooks, as well as a downstairs toilet, with heated towel rail. The lobby leads to the kitchen diner. The kitchen is well equipped, with fridge-freezer, dishwasher, microwave, gas hob, electric oven, wine fridge and Nespresso coffee machine (two complimentary pods provided), as well as crockery, cutlery and cooking equipment. There is a large pantry cupboard to store all your supplies and treats. The dining area has a table with four chairs, and French doors which open onto the rear garden, perfect for summer living or watching the wildlife in colder weather. The kitchen leads up a small step to the lounge, which has a large sofa, two armchairs and a small Log Burner to cosy up to on a cold day (logs not provided, but available locally). The room also has an LG Smart TV and a small selection of books and games for you to enjoy. Off the lounge is a small utility room, which contains a washing machine (for use at your own risk), as well as an app control device for the electric heaters, towel radiators and water boiler (all Wifi controlled). Upstairs is also accessed from the lounge, via a small and quite steep twist staircase. There is a safety rail to help but please mind your head! The stairs lead to a large landing area, with double wardrobe and chest of drawers for storage. Immediately off the landing to the right is the front bedroom, which has a kingsize bed, two bedside tables and lamps, and slimline wardrobe, as well as views over to the trees on the village green. A good place to watch the pheasants and muntjac deer. Also off the landing is a small corridor leading to the main bathroom and back bedroom. The main bathroom has a high vaulted sloped ceiling with velux window, quadrant shower, counter top basin and vanity unit, as well as an LED light mirror, mirrored bathroom cabinet and large heated towel rail. The back bedroom has a vaulted ceiling, double bed, two bedside tables and lamps, a wooden chest of drawers, and views over the back garden and Benhall Wadd conservation area. Another fantastic vantage point to watch pheasants, muntjac deer and birds of prey. The back garden is secluded and quiet, and a great space to use and enjoy. There is a small lawn down one side, as well as two separate patio areas down the other, against a modern wooden slatted fence with solar-powered downlighters for ambient lighting. There is an outside ‘dining area’, with patio table, four chairs and central umbrella for al fresco eating, as well as a more informal ‘living room area' with small sofa and two armchairs with glass-topped coffee table for yet more relaxing, eating and drinking! Cushions are available in the brick shed, as well as some beach chairs and outdoor children’s toys which you are welcome to use. There is a BBQ for your use (charcoal not provided) - but please remember to use a safe distance from the house, shed and furniture, and to leave it as you would wish to find it! The garden wraps around the house, but is fully enclosed front and back by a picket fence, each with a latched gate. Exiting the front gate across the single-vehicle road leads to the large village green, which has a Beacon (lit on special occasions) and children’s play area (with swings, fast slide, basketball hoop and football goal) at the far end. The back garden gate leads to off-road parking for up to three vehicles, which is via a private lane serving the cottage and its two neighbours either side. Please park considerately and only in the spaces directly outside the back garden. Please kindly note that the Studio at the bottom of the garden is Private and locked, and is not included in the rental. There are wonderful walks to undertake on your doorstep, including over the footbridge crossing the River Fromus ford. Take care crossing the ford by car, especially after periods of heavy rainfall. Be guided by the measuring depth gauge and be aware that the ford is slippery, the water can be powerful and it may be impassable by vehicle during high and fast water! Benhall also has an ex-Serviceman’s club down School Lane, behind the thatched-roofed primary school. The club has a licensed bar, pool table, Sky Sports and welcomes visitors. The club hosts various events throughout the year, including Bingo nights and live music. The local football team (the Benhall Badgers) also play on the pitch next to the club. Community spirit is alive and kicking in Benhall. Annual events like the Village Summer Fair and Music Festival are brilliant events to attend. If you are lucky enough to be staying here at the time, please consider supporting the events and local community. You won't be disappointed! There is a train station in Saxmundham, with links to London via Ipswich. Catching the train to Woodbridge is also recommended. The nearest supermarkets are Waitrose and Tesco in Saxmundham, less than a 5 minute drive. Although nestled into rural Suffolk, Fibre Broadband is available in the cottage, with a download speed of 150Mbps. As a family, we have loved escaping to our rural retreat in Benhall, but it is now time to share it with you! If a relaxing haven is what you are after, Christmas Cottage is perfect. Or if you are after a relaxing base from which to explore the huge array of treats the local area has to offer, Christmas Cottage won't let you down. Quite simply, Christmas Cottage is perfect for all occasions, and we look forward to welcoming you. Nick & Karen Guest access Guests have access to the house and garden, apart from: (i) a small third upstairs bedroom in the house; (ii) part of the wardrobe on the landing; and (iii) the Studio room at the end of the garden These are all marked Private and locked at all times. Other things to note Other things to note: - Fibre Broadband included - download speed 150Mbps. - Bedlinen and large fluffy towels included. - Small complimentary welcome pack included. - Please bring your own beach towels. - Logs for the burner and charcoal for the BBQ are not included, but are available to buy locally. - Nespresso machine and milk frother provided. Apart from two in the complimentary welcome pack, Nespresso pods are not provided so please supply your own. - Please remember to sign out of any streaming services on the LG Smart TV (eg. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Disney+ etc) before you depart. - Whilst there is a high chair available, guests will need to provide their own travel cot and bedding for babies/infants. - Our cleaning/turnaround service is provided by an external company; please let us know directly of any issues before the end of your stay. - The Cottage is nearly 200 yrs old and Grade II-listed; although it has been completely refurbished and is very comfortable for modern living, please be aware that some of the doorways and ceilings may be lower than you are used to, and the stairs are steep. We love the character and history they reflect, and we’re sure you will too once you’ve got used to them! Thank you and enjoy your stay!