Peacock Farm Paddock

All set for a day at the beach? National Trust-owned Dunwich beach is your closest (10 minutes’ drive), and a lovely place for a walk, a paddle or a bit of sea fishing. Also close by are Walberswick, for a stroll through the heathland and sand dunes, and Southwold, home to Adnams brewery tours and an excellent pier. Both are about 15 minutes away. If it’s wildlife-spotting that entices you out into the open air, you should find plenty of that at RSPB Minsmere nature reserve (20 minutes). Meanwhile, bigger, more exotic beasts can be spied on a tour of Africa Alive! animal park (20 minutes). And who knows what you might spot at Rendlesham Forest (25 minutes) – there are several walking trails here, including one that leads to a suspected UFO landing site… For other days out, a couple of handy spots to have up your sleeve are the 12th-century Framlingham Castle (20 minutes), a classic castle with a colourful past, and the East Anglia Transport Museum (25 minutes), where you can board a vintage tram and see all sorts of heritage vehicles.