WHAT? WHERE?

You’ll find this collection of eight luxurious lodges in deepest rural Suffolk in a gorgeous little Deben Valley village called Easton. The Farmstead opened in Summer 2022 and it’s the latest project of talented husband and wife team Ali and Sian Kerr, owners of next door Easton Grange, a wonderful wedding venue with two beautifully converted barns and a farmhouse that wouldn’t look out of place on the cover of an interiors magazine.

Location-wise, you might be in the sticks but it’s certainly not isolated. The village has a brilliant local pub, The White Horse, and you’re not far from some of the best Suffolk attractions like cultural hub Snape Maltings, coastal towns Woodbridge and Aldeburgh and Easton Park Farm for the kids.

Full disclosure here – I got married at Easton Grange back in 2014 and so am more than a little bit in love with the place. So there were high expectations for the return trip eight years later (now with two kids in tow!) and I can assure you I was definitely not disappointed.

THE VIBE

Rustic, Scandi-chic, modern luxury. Every detail of these lodges has been carefully considered and crafted to perfection. It’s a sustainable holiday-maker’s heaven with every lodge being made using reclaimed scaffolding boards and decorated with interiors touches that have been expertly and meticulously sourced by owner Sian at various antique and vintage stores.

That doesn’t mean it’s not luxurious though. All the fixtures and fittings are high-end – a sumptuous velvet corner sofa surrounds a log burner in the open-plan living room, a deep copper bath is a standout feature in the main bedroom, there’s a super smart range in the well-equipped kitchen and soft faux fur throws are draped over the many stylish chairs. Everything comes together like a dream and gives you that magical snug feeling that only certain places manage to do, making you wish you could stay forever.

The standout feature of these lodges has to be the verandahs though. We were in Lodge 5 and ours ran the full length of our lodge, and not only had gorgeous countryside views over the River Deben, but included yet another fabulous copper bathtub for al fresco bathing under the stars. Sitting on the verandah (which gave me serious Southern US porch feels) with a sundowner in late September was absolute heaven.

STAY

There are four two-bedroom lodges (one with wheelchair access and two that can sleep 5) and four one-bedroom lodges at The Farmstead, plus both children and dogs are welcome, so everyone is very well catered for here. We stayed in a two-bedroom lodge and it was vast and beautifully laid out with an ensuite bedroom either side of the huge living space. Neatly the “kids” room (the second bedroom has two singles that can be put together too) was furthest away from the smart TV so once the children were down we could watch a film in front of the fire without disturbing them.

The copper bathtubs were a hit with the whole family!

The main bedroom was a thing of beauty – more of the reclaimed wood, with beautifully constrasting textures – chunky knitted throws, a copper bath tub, thick natural curtains, a leather headboard, and a cool corrugated metal shower. As part of their sustainability pledge The Farmstead uses lots of local suppliers too and it was a delight to use the Norfolk Living products in both the bathrooms and kitchen. Little details like the sumptuous robes to wrap up in after a bath or shower gave the lodge that special five-star hotel feel too.

Jumping into the extremely comfy bed after a day in the great Suffolk outdoors was pure bliss, although it was all the more painful to get out of in the middle of the night when my one-year-old woke up (we’re planning an adults-only return trip asap!).

SCOFF & QUAFF

We arrived to a generous hamper of Suffolk goodies, including a locally-made sourdough loaf as well as Baron Bigod cheese, local butter, olives, eggs, crisps and wine. You’ll want to make sure you’ve got some supplies with you before you arrive though (or book a supermarket delivery) as this is very much a self-catering set-up and once you’re through the door I can guarantee you’ll not want to go out again in search of a supermarket – those verandah chairs are just too inviting!

The kitchen is really well equipped with all the pots, pans and kitchen implements a good cook could need. We loved the cool copper pipe taps over the butler sink, that made washing up a lot less tedious, and the two fridges mean you could do a big shop and not have to go out shopping again all week.

Can’t cook, won’t cook? You can walk to the village pub from The Farmstead via the delightful-sounding wildflower walk and there are lots of lovely restaurants in the nearby area. Two of our favourites for fine dining include the UK’s best gastropub The Unruly Pig, and Retreat East in Hemingstone, a smart restaurant doing remarkable things with sustainably-sourced food.

DOG-FRIENDLY?

Yes, for a fee of £25 per dog. Pooches will love it here almost as much as their owners. There are miles of country walks to discover and the lodges are very dog-friendly with hard floors and no stairs. There aren’t secure fences around each lodge though so it might not be one for smaller dogs who aren’t used to having lots of freedom outdoors.

OUT & ABOUT

The location is pretty damn perfect if you want to enjoy the best of the Suffolk countryside and coast. You’re close enough to the seaside action but far enough inland that you can enjoy complete silence when you’re bathing under the stars. There are so many things to do in this area of Suffolk that you could easily spend a week here and not tick them all off. We went to Snape Maltings for the Aldeburgh Food and Drink festival, but would’ve loved to stay on for a concert. Other attractions worth adding to your itinerary are Framlingham Castle, Sutton Hoo, Thorington outdoor Theatre, Easton Farm Park if you’ve got kids, and visits to the beaches and pretty towns of Southwold, Thorpeness, Aldeburgh and Woodbridge.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: If you’re in need of a relaxing countryside escape but don’t want to slum it. The Farmstead is the place to head when your shoulders are up round your ears and you need to enjoy life’s simple pleasures but with a side order of supreme comfort. The lodges work for all types of staycationers – couples, families, big groups (you could book out all eight), and dog-walkers. However, as they’re so peaceful we think a romantic break or a getaway with another adult couple would be the best way to enjoy them.

Not for: If you’re after night life or a party vibe then this one’s not for you. It’s all about serenity and hygge-style living here.

While all the lodges are on one level, most have steps up to the front and back door so wheelchair users or anyone with mobility issues should make sure to book Lodge 1.

The damage

You can stay from 3 – 14 days in a lodge at The Farmstead. A 3-night low season one-bedroom lodge stay starts at £500. In peak season you can expect to pay £682.50 for three nights in a one-bedroom lodge.

The Farmstead, Kettleburgh Road, Easton, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP13 0EL, farmsteadlodges.co.uk, Tel: 01728 746699

Review: Luxe self-catering at The Farmstead in Easton, Suffolk

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