Greenlay Pastures

East Anglian jaunts of all kinds can be had in the county of Suffolk. Popular seaside spots like Aldeburgh and Thorpeness (both 25 minutes' drive) have appealed to writers, musicians and other artsy folk over the years – when you get a glimpse of their coastal view it's easy to see why. Suffolk's also a major hub of historic sites, including Framlingham Castle (20 minutes) and Orford Castle (30 minutes), not forgetting splendid Sutton Hoo (15 minutes), a clutch of Anglo-Saxon burial mounds that have yielded countless treasures over the years. After something more active? There's a spacious golf club and well-maintained public swimming pool in Woodbridge (10 minutes), while if you head down to Iken (20 minutes) you can head out in canoes and kayaks along a quiet stretch of the river Alde – seals, wading birds and (harmless) jellyfish can all be spotted here. There are also two indoor climbing centres on the outskirts of Ipswich (both 25 minutes), where you can either take on the wall straight away or book in to spend an hour or so building up your confidence with a pro climbing coach.