A quirky character cottage in a Nature Reserve - Cissys Cottage

Cissy's is situated beside it’s own private Nature Reserve, a 10 minute drive from the Sea at Aldeburgh on Suffolk’s unspoilt coast.

The Cottage features a gorgeous wood panelled room and an ancient working kitchen range.

Cissy’s is a very romantic 17th Century Millers Cottage for guests who enjoy nature and period comfort.


The Experience

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.


Cottage Walk Through

Cissy’s Cottage has a beautiful interior and all the original historic features have been carefully restored.

You enter the small but practical kitchen which leads through to the hall and open plan dining area, from a pretty old cobbled courtyard with an original working water pump.

To the left of the hall is the bathroom with a Victorian roll top bath with ball and claw feet. Beside it is a steep winding staircase – for those guests who are less than able bodied this is not the cottage to choose, but for the rest it is just another beautiful feature. To the right of the hall is a nice sitting room with a stable door and gorgeous wood panelled walls.

The floor is made from original Suffolk white bricks and has a large antique rug to give the room a cosy feel. The ancient kitchen range which dates back to the 1700’s is still in use – light it and enjoy! 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 - charges apply.

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 buildings are on the main access road to Aldeburgh, so it is a quick ten minute drive into what has been described as England’s best unspoilt Seaside Town, but as it is a busy main road 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.

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.

This cottage has a steep winding staircase and only the able bodied should consider it.

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



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

Cissy’s is on the main access road into Aldeburgh, so those particularly sensitive to traffic noise may find a better alternative, but being in its own private Nature Reserve and a ten minute drive to Aldeburgh or Snape Maltings this is a very special place to enjoy.

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 of Lebanon 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.


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.


Local Area

Aldeburgh is a quick ten minute drive away and is what has been described as England’s best unspoilt seaside town. it has some famous top class restaurants like The Lighthouse and The Wentworth Hotel as well as a host of others – a real foodies delight.

You are just 2 1/2 miles from Snape where the famous Snape Malting’s Arts, Crafts and Music Centre is, a really interesting place to explore its many shops and perhaps pick up a ticket for a concert or have an evening meal in one of their excellent restaurants.

The Tunstall Forest of UFO fame is close by and many guests enjoy walking round the lakes to Aldeburgh.

Aldeburgh is also where you can buy fish and crabs straight from the fishermen’s huts on the beach, there are unique walks from there along the famous Orford Ness Nature Reserve or beside the salt lakes to Thorpeness.

Cissy’s is perfectly situated to explore the famous local forests, and the pretty little seaside towns in this area.


Standard Inclusive Features

Kitchen: All cottages are complete little homes and facilities include modern central heating, refrigerator, hobs, oven and / or 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 (please bring babies bedding).

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 has direct access to it from the cottage, which you and your dogs are invited to enjoy.