Lavenham

 Lavenham is a quaint and curious town of half-timbered houses that wouldn't look out of place in a fairy-tale or a nursery rhyme - this one is purported to be the original 'Crooked House' from There Was A Crooked Man Who Walked A Crooked Mile.

 I'd heard a lot about it through tourist sites and on Instagram but it's actually more amazing in real life. I'd expected one or two houses to be in Medieval style, just the popular tourist sites like the restored Guildhouse and a pub or two, but virtually every building was.

Round every corner, down every street, there was something new to discover.

We went late in the afternoon so shops, cafes and the National Trust museum were closing, but that meant that traffic was less - and just gives me a good excuse to go back.

Melford Hall

Melford Hall is a curious place. from the outside it looks like a Tudor mansion with 'pepperpot' towers, but inside reflects the changes in style and fashion of hundreds of years

First, while the weather remained sunny, we walked to the Banqueting House and round the gardens, then headed indoors.

As it was now quite late in the afternoon, we were almost the only visitors and had the helpful, knowledgeable guides to ourselves so learned many snippets of family history that we might otherwise have missed.

Back outside for a short wander by the roses still flowering well despite it being October.

 

Suffolk

For our last holiday of the year we headed to Suffolk. actually staying a mile or so into Essex in Hare Field Cabin, a Canopy and Stars property, with all the comforts of home but surrounded by open countryside.  

              

It was only a two night break but it's always amazing how long that can feel. 

We walked on footpaths and country roads to the nearby village of Foxearth, admired the view from the cabin deck, collected conkers, ventured over the border into Suffolk to explore Melford Hall and Lavenham, then back for board games and a good night's sleep.

National Trust cake

Long Melford Hall

Lavenham

Anglesey Abbey

On the way home we stopped off at Anglesey Abbey for a walk round the gardens, a look at the exhibition of men's clothing, and, of course, more National Trust cake.

This was my first trip to Suffolk but hopefully won't be my last.

 

Fell Foot

On Sunday, as we started our journey home, the sun appeared. Fortunately we weren't hurrying anywhere and were able to enjoy it at the National Trust's Fell Foot Park.

A grand Victorian house once stood on the site but that was demolished years ago. Boathouses and their remains still survive at the water's edge though - and one has even been turned into a lovely, and unusual cafe.

There are water activities on offer here but we contented ourselves with a downhill walk to the cafe, and a back uphill one to the car park. It wasn't a long walk as yet again some of the paths were wet and muddy after the recent (and not so recent) rain.

It's a pleasant spot though, to just amble by the waterside and watch boats and canoes going past.

Another place that I'd like to visit again, hopefully in drier weather.