Wow - We’re a ‘Dog Friendly Awards’ Finalist!

Our fabulous Letheringham Mill holiday cottage guests have voted us into the finals of the 2022 Dog Friendly (Magazine) Awards (Cottages and Self-catering Category). Thank you! Thank you! There’s no bone(o) about it - we’re like the dog that’s got the biscuit - so totally chuffed!

Of course Ted, Amber and Lola are already fighting tooth (canine) and paw over who should accompany Mum (Jacqui) and strut their doggy stuff at the illustrious Kennel Club HQ in London at the awards ceremony in December. Perhaps we should stop the squabbling and get you to vote on that too?!

So what makes Letheringham Mill that ultimate, go-to dog ‘happy place’ for holidays? Each one of our guests seems to have their own special reasons - but we thought we’d list here just a few pointers (… other breeds of course also always very welcome!)

• Acres of fully enclosed riverside grounds

• Ultimate holiday freedom – bounding, free-ranging hounds welcome

• No charge for doggy guests

• No limit to the number of doggy guests

• Resident canine welcoming committee

• Doggy welcome crates provided with cool stuff like cosy bedding and treats (and dull stuff like dog towels etc)

• Luxury pooch pampering shampoo products provided (and even a dog shower in some cottages!)

• Country dog walks from the cottage door

• Oodles of ideas for doggy days out provided

• All dogs always welcome

---

Holidays at Letheringham Mill are always something to celebrate!

---

“Best 6 days holiday, what a find! - Absolutely loved my stay, so relaxing and Jacqui was so welcoming.

The Woodshed was amazing myself and Duke had such a relaxing time, lovely walks around the grounds, all information in folders so you can plan your days out.

Lovely little gifts for you and your dog when you arrive. Really dog friendly, definitely 5*****.”

Why not take a look our Dog Friendly listing and read more reviews – or maybe add your own?

Or if you’ve not stayed with us before and want to be in the know about our latest offers and last minute availability, sign up to our regular newsletter now.

Thanks again everyone - and fingers crossed!

Letheringham Mill's Wise White Labradoodle, Ted, Woos Suffolk Magazine Readers

Letheringham Mill's ultimate ambassador and uber-adorable Labradoodle, Ted, has been wooing Suffolk Magazine readers this month with tales of super-dooper dog shampoos and riverside grounds for hounds.

Sharing insights into what makes Letheringham Mill the luxury self-catering holiday spot in Suffolk for four-legged friends and their human companions alike, Teddy’s wise words are indeed nothing to be sniffed at!

---

AN AUTUMN POSTCARD FROM LETHERINGHAM MILL

(See magazine page & images below)

Dear All

Just wanted to spill the dog-biscuit barrel on all the tail-waggingly good times to be had here at Letheringham Mill. There’s nothing I like more than introducing new four (or two) -legged friends to our gorgeous collection of luxury holiday cottages.

Mum says I’m on a mission as soon as guests arrive. She calls me her ‘Secret Weapon’. Apparently it’s because I hit the (soft) spot when it comes to settling everyone in. Well, what’s a Labradoodle to do if there’s a Lurcher lurking about looking a bit lost or a new terrier on the patch looking terrified? It’s only natural to walk them through everything - their comfy bed, stash of treats, super-dooper dog shampoo smellies and our amazing ‘riverside grounds for hounds’ of course.    

I often get a pat on the back for making folk feel at home and endless invitations to do some sofa-surfing too. From ‘Come Dine with me’ to ‘Four in a Bed’, there’s usually a feast of daytime TV, room for a snooze and sometimes the sniff of a breakfast- or supper- bowl to enjoy alongside my new pals. Guests might ping Mum a quick pic, afraid she’ll be worrying, but hey… she knows the gardens are all enclosed and how I need a break from a house full of girls! Those Auburn Labradoodle ladies back in the Mill House might melt hearts and also make guests come back for more, but folk always say I take the biscuit.

Thanks. Don’t mind if I do. I’ll have the big bone-shaped one please. 

Love, Woofs & Waggy Tails

Ted xx & ‘The Girls’ - Jacqui (that’s Mum) &  the four-legged females, Amber & Lola (lol!)

---

Meet Our Magical Mill House

This summer, we’ve finally taken the step to share our beloved Mill House with guests who will appreciate the very special facilities we put in place just a relatively short time ago.

Its ground floor disability suite presents a wonderful opportunity for families with more frail, vulnerable or differently abled family members, relatives or close friends to take some precious time out together. Here, everyone can be truly comfortable and able to enjoy each other’s company in a beautiful, relaxing, friendly (and dog-friendly) environment.

It is very important to us to share and see things shared in this way - and it is certainly what my late husband, Richard, would have wanted.

We have started out gently and will be offering short breaks and longer stays going forward. We have been overwhelmed by the encouragement, support and incredibly positive feedback of our first guests to this rather unique accommodation offer.

We thought we’d include Pippa’s comments here, as well as a few recent photos. We now have some dedicated pages about the house and its facilities. View full details of The Mill House here.

In the meantime, if you’d like to find out more, plus availability and prices, please do get in touch.
It would be a pleasure to talk you through and make a difference.

Jacqui x

REVIEW

“Every step of planning this special trip has been easy thanks to Jacqui. She feels more like a good friend than a host and has shown us such incredible kindness during our stay.

What a wonderful stay! This will be my third stay at Letheringham Mill, but the first for my large family. The location is just stunning. It is an oasis of beautiful plants, water features and secret gardens – surrounded by countryside dog walks and delicious pub lunches.

Our enormous family of 9 adults, 2 children and 2 cockapoos stayed in the Mill House, which was a fantastic space for socialising, enjoying large roast dinners and late night board games on the patio.

The Mill House was ideal for my mother in law who had full use a disabled-friendly luxurious downstairs bedroom suite. Jacqui provided us with extra equipment to help make her stay comfortable and was on hand to answer any questions I had.

Every step of planning this special trip has been easy thanks to Jacqui. She feels more like a good friend than a host and has shown us such incredible kindness during our stay. Our enormous family of 9 adults, 2 children and 2 cockapoos stayed in the Mill House, which was a fantastic space for socialising, enjoying large roast dinners and late night board games on the patio. The Mill House was ideal for my mother in law who had full use a disabled friendly luxurious downstairs bedroom suite. Jacqui provided us with extra equipment to help make her stay comfortable and was on hand to answer any questions I had.

The interior of the house is stunning, my brother-in-law especially enjoyed the various artwork and sculptures. We all slept well in large double/king ensuite bedrooms and even enjoyed use of Jacqui’s private pool which the kids adored!

In my experience a lot of dog friendly holiday homes tend to be a little scruffy, this is definitely not the case with Letheringham Mill. It is beautifully maintained, the house was very luxurious and dogs roam freely across the large gardens. Our cockapoos made themselves very at home and loved exploring without being on leads.

Our recommendations for the local area are –

The White Horse at Easton : delicious food and a lovely garden, we actually visited here twice. There’s a carpark nearby and its wheelchair friendly in the garden.

Rendlesham UFO trail : we used the mobility scooter for this trip but it was a fantastic forest to explore together and there’s even play equipment for the little ones.

Snape Maltings, Framlingham Castle, Woodbridge town centre, Aldeburgh & Southwold, Easton Farm park were all days out we enjoyed.”

(Pippa August 2022))

BRIEF DETAILS OF THE MILL HOUSE

Combining retro-style and contemporary living in a luxurious smart house within an exquisite garden and riverside setting close to the Suffolk Heritage Coast.

Disability access / Dogs welcome

8 guests / 4 bedrooms - 4 beds / 5.5 bathrooms

Includes a Disability Suite all on one level, comprising:

Bedroom, open plan to wet room with shower, basin and WC and private enclosed patio. An accessible ensuite lounge with TV makes for an area where everyone can enjoy relaxed time together in comfort.

All appliances and furniture in the suite have been chosen with mobility and independence in mind. These include a rise and recline mobility bed and fully accessible wet room with a wash and dry WC, adjustable height basin with safe touch basin taps, shower with supports and a shower commode chair. There are screens for privacy during bathing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION I DISCOVER THE MILL HOUSE CLICK HERE

---

Summer Letheringham Mill Postcard in The Suffolk Magazine

We’re absolutely delighted to see our latest column published in The Suffolk Magazine.

With the 2022 DogFriendly Awards on the horizon, it includes just a handful of comments regarding that roam-free and rewarding happiness, you’ll discover at Letheringham Watermill Cottages. Thanks to our happy four- (and two-) legged visitors for sharing!

If you’d like to show your support (and your comments) by voting for us in the forthcoming awards, we’d really appreciate it. You can join the public vote, show that we go the extra mile and boost our puppy power, here - 2022 DogFriendly Awards .

Thank you.

---

Dear All,

Hope you are having a lovely summer. As this is an edition celebrating the fabulous dog friendliness of the county we so wanted to remind you just how differently dog-friendly we are. Shortly after opening in 2017 we won Visit England Dog Friendly Business of the Year and we have gone from strength to strength. Creating a holiday that is as fun for our four legged friends as it is luxurious for our two legged guests is at the heart of everything we do here at Letheringham Mill.

But perhaps it easier to let our wonderful guests (who return again and again) speak for themselves…

“The grounds are lovely and enclosed where your pooch can wander to their hearts content.”
“I loved the fact I could leave the doors open and the dogs could roam around safely outside.”
“It is, by far, the best “dog friendly” and “owner friendly” place ever.”
“It is so great to find high quality cottages that are soooooo dog friendly.”
“For those who don't have pets be assured there is no trace that doggies have stayed there…”

As you would expect our guests are met with a hamper of delicious treats from around the county and the dogs are definitely not forgotten – crates greet them complete with blanket, treat, bowl, towel, poo bag etc. We try hard to ensure that you all have everything you need for a perfect stay. A guest said to us earlier in the summer, ‘if it’s not there then you don’t need.’ How kind was that!

Have a wonderful summer.

Love Jacqui, Ted, Amber and Lola 🐾

Utter Relaxation – The Perfect Tonic for Musicians, Foodies, Gin-lovers & All Sorts of Folk

It’s awesome August and Suffolk’s famous three-day FolkEast festival is kicking off just a few miles away from us here. Snape’s Summer Proms are in full swing and what’s more, its award-winning Food and Drink Festival and fringe events are now fast approaching on the September horizon. Letheringham Mill just couldn’t be better placed to feast on the very best the East of England has to offer!

But it really doesn’t have to be summer to treat yourself, foodie-friends or musical mates to a Suffolk smorgasbord of delicious opportunities and magical musical offerings.

Stay with us in the lap of riverside luxury at any time of year and you won’t be disappointed. There’s fresh air and wonderful wildlife on your doorstep. You’ll find farm shops, fine dining, fishermen’s huts, and the gin distilleries and artisan smoke houses along the Suffolk coast just down the road.

And as for musical interludes, there’s sure to be something which lights your candle - without it even being Christmas!

A tasty treat for every season

Between October and May, why not stay this way and check out creative one-off events and classical programmes at Snape Maltings world-renowned concert hall (20 minutes’ drive)? Discover plays, concerts and exhibitions at a whole hidden host of beautiful town and country venues such as Wingfield Barns (30 minutes’ drive). Or tune in (and join in even) with the rousing choruses courtesy of the ‘good company’ found at time-honoured folk haunts like the Harbour Inn at Southwold (41 minutes’ drive) or Jolly Sailor in the charming coastal village of Orford (25 minutes’ drive) or enjoy impromptu musical moments or just a quiet first class pint or two at that must-visit pub for real ale lovers, The White Horse at Sweffling (15 minutes’ for your driver, but only 8 miles of country lanes by bike!)

Give a musician-friend the gift of getting off the bandwagon

Letheringham Mill is the perfect getaway – and our gift vouchers make perfect presents. If your friends or folk are into festivals, but would prefer a few more creature comforts, our watermill cottages make the ideal, civilised base.

We’re just a short drive up the A12 from Henham Park (Latitudes), Glemham Hall (FolkEast), Snape Maltings and Aldeburgh (Britten Pears Arts/ Aldeburgh Festival) and the Maverick Festival (Americana and country) is literally just across the water meadows in the neighbouring village of Easton.

Festivals aside, so many of our great local pubs serve fantastic food and share all sorts of musical offerings to enjoy, from The Ship, Suffolk’s traditional home of folk music at Blaxhall ( 15 minutes’ drive / 7 cycling miles), to jazz at The Rendham White Horse just a few doors down from the home of famous artist, Maggi Hambling (16 minutes’ drive / 8 cycling miles).

Giving a gift voucher of or towards a stay at Letheringham Water Mill Cottages makes for a delightfully different birthday, anniversary or Christmas present and couldn’t be easier to organise. Simply drop Jacqui an email on enquiries@letheringhammill.co.uk

Arrange a Letheringham Mill Stay I Contact us

Delight a foodie-friend with a getaway stay to savour

A visit to sample the wines at Shawsgate Vineyard in Framlingham. Delicious asparagus by the bunch from the Saxtead roadside stall with its honesty box. Smoked oysters or artisan breads from Orford. Fresh fish and chips on Aldeburgh seafront. A pint of Adnams near its brewhouse or apple juice from Middleton orchards. Cromer crabs from Framlingham Market’s fish man (unless dare nip over the border into Norfolk!) Succulent sausages from Revetts traditional family butchers at Wickham Market or impressive hams and home-cured bacons from the illustrious Emmetts of Peasenhall…

No short break is long enough to get a big enough bite of this delicious cherry, even when this fantastic festival of food and drink is all within such a small radius of your Letheringham home-from-home.

Sounds like the perfect tonic for someone you love, or simply loves food? Why not book your next stay at Letheringham Watermill Cottages, or give the gift of a voucher towards an utterly relaxing stay with us?

Each of our cottages has a set of very comprehensive local information manuals to get the very best out of every stay - whatever folk want to tune into or tickles their tastebuds.

Letheringham Mill Self-catering Stays Gift Vouchers I Email us now »

And to wrap it all up…

As our cottage stay gift vouchers are the perfect tonic, it’s a great idea to deliver it with a bottle of Adnams or Fishers gin!

Visits to those distilleries at Southwold and Aldeburgh will surely be amongst their delicious must-do Suffolk outings during their stay – when they’re not sipping back and relaxing on the cottage decking by the lazy River Deben at Letheringham Mill, of course!

Give the Gift of Utter Relaxation at Letheringham Mill I View our Cottages now »

Easter Postcard from Letheringham Mill in The Suffolk Magazine

Exciting to see the latest column from The Mill in the April edition of The Suffolk Magazine.

Dear All,

Happy April!  This is such a special time for birdwatching as the breeding season starts so don’t miss out on a chance to swan off to a riverside cottage here at Letheringham Mill where you can happily relax and enjoy observing Suffolk’s bird life.

Each and every one of our luxurious waterside cottages has a bird’s eye view of the River Deben. What’s more, RSPB Minsmere and the beautiful bird-rich woodlands and beaches of the Suffolk Coasts and heath areas are all only a short drive away.

Of course, we can’t promise you’ll see a kingfisher or Little Egret from your window - but many of our guests do! When we say that our luxurious cottages are ‘by the river’, we really mean it. Each cottage has windows looking out over the reedmace and its own waterside decking or garden area too.

Our extensive grounds and gardens are home to all sorts of tweets from Greenfinches to Great Spotted woodpeckers. Mute swans, moorhens and birds of prey are regular sights and our adjacent meadows are also popular with flocks of visiting waterfowl.

We don’t provide the binoculars, but each cottage boasts a dedicated birding folder which includes our ‘Letheringham Mill Bird Spotters’ Guide’, prepared by one of our regular birdwatcher-guests and listing around 50 feathered friends to look out for on site.

Love

Jacqui, Ted, Amber and Lola 🐾 

We made the Front Page!

It was very exciting seeing such a fabulous review of The Woodshed appear in Dog Friendly Magazine earlier in the year.

Gifts for Super-sleuths & Murder Mystery Enthusiasts

Give your budding Sherlock the gift of a stay at Letheringham Water Mill Cottages and let them piece together our mysterious true-life tales of a murdered miller and more.

There’s been a mill on our site for centuries and local tales tell of Anglo-Saxon burial grounds, but Letheringham Mill has one special secret to share…

Give the super-sleuth in your life the gift of a stay at Letheringham Mill and whether they’re a Poirot-style perfectionist or more of an outdoors Rosemary and Thyme type, they’re sure to love landing in our little green lap of luxury and getting to grips with our own little mystery for themselves.

To help track down the local legend surrounding the death of 17th century miller, John Bullard, there are clues in the garden and in our carefully curated cottage scrapbooks . Our much-loved walks folders even include trails to follow all the way to the grisly Potsford Gibbet…

Letheringham Mill - It would be a crime not to stay…

This part of Suffolk is just full of fascinating finds, tall tales and haunting landscapes too, making Letheringham the ideal base for exploring the coastal lands which inspired some of England’s greatest crime-writers.

Head across to the Suffolk heritage coast - just a half-hour drive away - to the eerie heaths and whispering shingle coastlines which made Ruth Rendell and P.D. James reach for their pens.

Even Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle is said to have found inspiration for his Hound of the Baskervilles in East Anglia – so keep an eye out for big black dogs and tales of Black Shuck, the devil dog which rampaged through Bungay and burnt its claw marks into the north door at Blythburgh church.

Of course, Letheringham Mill’s water-meadows can be hauntingly misty too, and as well as our resident (gently) rampaging team of hounds - loving labradoodles, Ted, Amber and Lola – you might come across the occasional black lab … Or a terrific little terrier or daring dachshund perhaps.

Sniffing things out around the beautiful Letheringham Mill grounds is simply part of an enjoyable stay for all guests at our oh-so-dog-friendly cottages.

Take a walk along the riverbank to check out our curious cricket bat willows, or potter down to the copse to spot the mysterious ‘medicinal’ toothwort - a throw-back to medieval times. And however long your linger, be prepared to go home with hand-on-heart tales of fairies hiding in the flower borders.

A Great Gift, made elementary (my dear Watson)

A stay at Letheringham Mill is full of intriguing surprises and ideal for any wannabe Sherlock, Miss Marple or Inspector Morse. So why go grilling your little grey cells for the perfect gift this Christmas? The answer is right under your nose.

Letheringham Mill Gift Vouchers I Request yours now »

Brilliant for Birdwatchers I Christmas Gift Vouchers from Letheringham Mill Cottages

The chance to swan off to a riverside cottage at Letheringham Mill in Suffolk for a spot of birdwatching makes a simply great gift. And one to enjoy at any time of the year!

At Letheringham Mill, each and every one of our luxurious waterside cottages has a bird’s eye view of River Deben. What’s more, RSPB Minsmere and the beautiful bird-rich woodlands and beaches of the Suffolk Coasts and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty are all only a short drive away.

If you know someone whose binoculars are their best friend, then a gift voucher towards a stay at Letheringham Mill Cottages is surely ‘spot’ on.

Of course, we can’t promise you’ll see a kingfisher or Little Egret from your window - but many of our guests do! When we say that our luxurious cottages are ‘by the river’, we really mean it. Each cottage has windows looking out over the reedmace and its own waterside decking or garden area too.

A great on-site selection of wildlife habitats

So what’s it to be? A spring stay to spot the fluffy new broods as they put a first webbed foot in the water? Lazy summer days on the decking with one eagle-eye on the look out for an iridescent kingfisher flash? An appointment with an awesome autumn murmuration or maybe moments gazing at arrays of overwintering birds?

At Letheringham Water Mill, our extensive grounds and gardens are home to all sorts of tweets from Greenfinches to Great Spotted woodpeckers. Mute swans, moorhens and birds of prey are regular sights and our adjacent meadows are also popular with flocks of visiting waterfowl.

We don’t provide the binoculars, but each cottage boasts a dedicated birding folder which includes our ‘Letheringham Mill Bird Spotters’ Guide’, prepared by one of our regular birdwatcher-guests and listing around 50 feathered friends to look out for on site.

The home of #birdinghappiness

The gift of a stay at Letheringham Mill really is a passport to birding happiness. Suffolk is renowned for being on the flightpath of all sorts of species and venturing out from your own little Letheringham nest to take a closer look couldn’t be easier.

Sir Benjamin Britten’s ‘Curlew River’ - the snaking River Alde and its wonderful world of wading birds - is barely 20 minutes drive away. The avocet scrapes of RSPB Minsmere and Nightjar haunts of Rendlesham Forest are within 30. From Letheringham, both towards and along the coast, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is your oyster(catcher) and so much more. It really is the ideal place to hide up and head out to explore the heathery Suffolk Sandlings heathlands, beautiful bird haven estuaries, Red crag cliff coastlines and vegetated shingle shores.

Letheringham Mill gift vouchers -The perfect Tweet

Give the gift of an ultimate flying visit to a twitcher you love this Christmas. With our gift vouchers you can prepare their flight path to a perfect birdwatching tweet at any time of the year. Whether you wish to offer a whole short break, longer stay, or simply seed the idea with a tempting contribution towards some tweet-time away, do just get in touch.

Letheringham Mill Birdwatching Breaks Gift Vouchers I Email us now »

A Gift For Dog Lovers - Letheringham Mill Christmas Gift Vouchers

Need a present for someone whose trusty four-legged friend never leaves their side? No holiday home-from-home could be more ideal than our award-winning, differently dog-friendly cottages in beautiful rural Suffolk.

Extending the warmest of welcomes to canine companions is very much at the heart of what we do – and we’re not just talking about our welcoming committee of Australian Labradoodles, Ted, Amber and Lola!

At Letheringham Mill , we provide bedding, bowls and treats for all doggy guests and give them the green light to range freely around our enclosed countryside site.

Our little, patch of rural Suffolk really is a dog happy place. Enjoying the grounds is never sniffed at here. Frolics with new-found friends are never frowned upon. In fact, we’ve thought of pretty much everything, even providing pooch-parlour-quality doggy shampoo and hose facilities! Well, there’s bound to be a must-shower-down moment after that impromptu splash in the river, race along a Suffolk beach or good roll around in something smelling irresistible (if only to doggy nostrils ) !

pick up the dog & bone for the perfect present

Whether the dog in your loved one’s life is the curl-up-and-cuddle kind or an energetic hound forever full of bounce, the gift of a short stay at Letheringham Water Mill Cottages is sure to be tail-waggingly well-received and an absolute winner.

When perfect gifts are this simple, what are you waiting for? Fetch!

Dog-friendly Holiday Gift Vouchers I Pick up the dog and bone, or email us now »