Arrival

Where We Are

The Clockhouse
Wilderness
Yoxford Rd
Sibton
Saxmundham
Suffolk
IP17 2LZ

Check-in & Check-out

Getting To Us

Directions

From the South/London:
The Wilderness estate can be found just off the A12, down a left turning as you enter Yoxford. As you come into the centre of town, look out for The Kings Head pub on your right. As soon as you pass The Kings Head, take a left turning towards Sibton. This road will be A1120; continue down this road for about 2 miles. The entrance to Wilderness will be down this road, and on your right through a gated entrance.

From the North:
Travelling on A14 past Bury St Edmunds, you need to take the slip road exit to the A140 towards Diss/Norwich. At the roundabout, follow signs to Diss/Norwich/A140. Travel on the A140 for a while and look out for signs which say Stonham/Aspal/Debenham to the right. Take the exit on your right at the crossroads towards Debenham/Stonham Aspal/Stonham Barns on the A1120 (it will be on a brown Tourist sign). Travel down the A1120 for about 19 miles. When you enter the village of Sibton (look out for a small sign on your left which will say ‘Sibton’ under a Triangle Warning School sign), about a mile onwards, there will be the entrance to Wilderness on your left through a gated entrance.

On The Map

Click on the map to see our recommendations for eating, drinking and things to do in the area.

Cooking & Dining

Chef & Catering Services

The estate offers everything from locally-sourced home-cooked food to fine dining for a pinch more formality. Suffolk boasts some fine local produce which features in our menus including organic vegetables, sustainable fish and hand-reared meats. Our menus, which change with the seasons, can be tailored to your specific requirements, and special diets are well catered for.

To book catering at Wilderness simply contact the concierge team on [email protected] or call 01986 802 100 to discuss your requirements and let us recommend the best options to suit your stay.

Great Places to Eat & Drink

Pubs

Sibton White Horse
A superb local pub that’s been voted as ‘Suffolk’s Best Dining Pub’ by the Good Pub Guide. As well as serving well-kept ales and ciders, the White Horse serves some wonderful food. During June and August there are also some great beer festivals that bring locals and visitors together, lasting well into the night.
Halesworth Rd, Sibton, Saxmundham IP17 2JJ
01728 660337

Bell Inn 
Gorgeous thatched pub, adorned with low beams and wonky floors. The Landlord is very welcoming, and there’s plenty of comfy chairs to relax in. Some nice ales on tap with a good selection of wines also.
The Street, Saxmundham IP17 3NN
01728 648286

The Westleton Crown 
A bustling local that’s recently been given a modern face lift, the Crown is at the heart of the village of Westleton. Lots of cosy corners to hide away in, plus a lovely light and spacious dining area.
The Street, Westleton IP17 3AD
01728 648777

Restaurants

The Anchor
A welcoming, eco-friendly gastropub that dishes up some excellent flavours, sourced mostly from the adjacent allotment. The Anchor is run by skilled chefs Sophie Mellor and Andy Storer, who are immensely passionate about food: expect delights like West Mersea oysters with new potato salad and squash and romanesco gratin with mixed leaves.
Walberswick IP18 6UA
01502 722112

Sutherland House 
Cosy little place in the beautiful seaside town of Southwold. Food is centred around locally-caught seafood; expect scallops, mussels, crab, prawns and more. If you don’t want a full dinner, you can always pop in for a glass of wine and some tapas.
56 High Street, Southwold IP18 6DN
01502 724 544

Main’s Restaurant 
Nice little restaurant which serves local game and fish accompanied with fresh and tasty produce. There’s also a bread baking club that’s renowned – please book in advance and be sure to bring and apron and a bowl!
26 High Street, Yoxford IP17 3EU
01728 668882

Shopping for Food

Nearest convenience shops

Mace 
The Street, Saxmundham IP17 2HJ
01728 602322

Horners Stores 
Yoxford, Saxmundham IP17 3ER
01728 668336

Supermarket

Waitrose
Church Street, Saxmundham IP17 1EP

Bakery

Two Magpies Bakery 
88B High Street, Southwold IP18 6DP
01502 726120

Delicatessen

Emmett’s 
The St, Peasenhall, Saxmundham IP17 2HJ
01728 660250

Farm shop

Emmerdale Farm Shop 
Westleton Rd, Darsham, Saxmundham IP17 3BP
01728 668648

Supermarket online orders

Waitrose – www.waitrose.com
Sainsbury’s – www.sainsburys.co.uk

Things to Do

Clay pigeon shooting

The Wilderness estate hosts its own clay pigeon shooting experiences, run by the friendly and professional father-and-son team Phillip and Ben Thorrold. Beginners are welcome; you will be given expert tuition. Please note there needs to be a minimum party of seven for this.

Philip Thorrold Shooting Academy 
07912 497000 | www.philipthorrold.com

Fishing, Tennis and Swimming on the Estate

Fishing on the estate can be arranged; there are numerous lakes to choose from, and the price will be £50 per rod. There’s tennis courts on the estate which can be found near the pleasure garden. Playing is free of charge. The pool can also be found near the pleasure garden.

Golf

Suffolk is graced with some of the country’s finest golf courses. Nearby Halesworth Golf Club is an absolute treat to play on, home to an 18-hole Blyth Championship Course, which fares at 6,523 yards in length. Better still is Aldeburgh Golf Club, a superb Championship course at 6,603 yards, which lies on the River Alde estuary. Stunning views of the river and sea provide an excellent backdrop for a round.

Aldeburgh Golf Club 
Saxmundham Rd, Aldeburgh IP15 5PE
01728 452890

Halesworth Golf Club 
Bramfield Rd, Halesworth IP19 9XA
01986 875567

Parachuting

Fancy jumping out a perfectly safe aeroplane at 13,000 feet? Try a tandem skydive at Beccles Airfield where you can plummet to the ground strapped to an instructor reaching speeds of up to 120mph. A truly thrilling experience. (Parachute included).

Beccles Airfield 
B1127, Ellough, Beccles NR34 7XD
01502 476131

Paintball

There’s a great paintballing centre about half an hour away with loads of different arenas to practice your Bear Grylls skills. Families, friends, and corporates are all welcome.

Skirmish Paintballing Ipswich 
Ufford Thicket, Byng Hall Rd, Ufford IP13 6EJ
01508 481841

Horse riding

North Manor Equestrian Centre 
Main Road, Bramfield IP19 9HT
01986 784552

Pampering

Massages, facials, manicures and pedicures are available. Below is the typical menu to choose from.

Massage (using aromatherapy and organic oils)
Swedish full body massage – 60 min £120
Swedish full body massage – 90 min £150
Back, shoulder, neck and head massage – 60 min £100
Indian head massage (seated), plus a 30 minute couch treatment of hand, arm, leg and foot massage – 60 min £95
Pregnancy massage (Pre-natal) – 60 min £100

Manicure and Pedicure
Luxury Neal’s Yard Remedies organic manicure. A nourishing and revitalising organic treatment, including gentle exfoliation, nail shape and cuticle tidy, deeply replenishing masque and relaxing hand and arm massage. Hands will look and feel years younger – 60 min £60
Luxury Neal’s Yard Remedies organic pedicure Unwind with an aromatherapy-infused pampering pedicure, with a relaxing foot soak, exfoliation, nail shape and an intensely replenishing leg and foot massage. You’ll leave feeling like you’re walking on air – 60 min £65
Luxury manicure and pedicure – 2 hours £120
The above treatments include an OPI polish of choice for the ladies, or a nail buff for the gentlemen.

Facial
Luxury Neal’s Yard Remedies organic facial – using award-winning organic skincare. Cleanse, tone, exfoliate, mask and moisturise with a tailored facial massage – 60 min £90
Luxury Neal’s Yard Remedies organic facial PLUS a luxury organic facial further enhanced with a 30 minute back massage – 90 min £100
Natural lift facial massage with NYR organic 30 min facial. Massage technique that naturally stimulate and clears sinuses and tones the skin giving a feel of relaxation and wellbeing – 75 min £105
Bacial (back facial). Hydrating process with cleansing, exfoliation and hot towel treatment, finished with a back, neck massage – 60 min £100

Top Things to Do for Children

Framlingham Castle

Once a fearsome fortress that saw bloodshed in countless sieges, Framlingham Castle is – for now – safe from attack and invasion. You can take part in guided tours lead by professional local historians, take a picnic and feast on the lawns, and have a look into our Tudor past at the exhibition centre.
Church Street, Framlingham IP13 9BP
0370 333 1181

Crabbing at Walberswick

Crabbing at Walberswick has proved to be something of a competitive sport among the locals. Since 1981, its held The British Open Crabbing Championship and attracted over a thousand spectators – sadly they’ve had to put it on hold while they work out how to accommodate the sheer numbers of people. You can still go on the pier though and try your hand at catching a crab – be sure to bring a net and some chicken or bacon for luring!

Oasis Camel Park

Here you can ride camels and pet llamas, guinea pigs, goats, pigs, rabbits and wallabies. There’s an outdoor and indoor play area, plus a crazy golf course and mini maze.
Halesworth IP19 0DT
07836 734748

The Southwold Pier & Beach

This famous pier is a great place to potter around. It has many sweet shops, ice cream parlours and some truly bizarre buildings. The beach is a Blue Flag winner, so you can be sure of a good swim.
Southwold IP18 6BN

Africa Alive!

Lemurs, chimpanzees, meerkats, hyenas, zebra, giraffe, flamingos, lions – you name it, they’ve got it! There’s feeding talks to go to, animal encounters to be had, and an indoor adventure play area to enjoy.
Whites Lane, Lowestoft NR33 7TF
01502 740291

Rainy day?

Aldeburgh Cinema 
Lovely little independent cinema that’s been going since 1919. They show all the latest blockbusters, plus a healthy smattering of art-house exports.
51 High Street, Aldeburgh IP15 5AU
01728 454884

Top Places to Visit

Aldeburgh

Aldeburgh is a charming, genteel fishing village with one foot in the sea and one on shore. Handsome pastel-coloured houses line the beachfront, while the High Street is adorned with art galleries, cute eateries, clothing stores, ice cream parlours, and one of the best fish and chip shops in the country, The Aldeburgh Fish & Chip Shop (226 High Street, Tel: 01728 452250). In the summer and autumn months a thriving cultural scene bursts into life, with The Aldeburgh Festival, a music festival founded by none other than composer Benjamin Britten, happening in June; a fabulous food and drink festival in September/October (www.aldeburghfoodanddrink.co.uk) and a Documentary Film Festival (www.aldeburghcinema.co.uk) in November.

Southwold

Dubbed as ‘Kensington-on-Sea’, Southwold is another prosperous town, and home to a lovely sandy beach. Southwold is another cultural hotspot, with artists like JMW Turner and Damien Hirst having visited here to paint throughout their years. The newly renovated pier is a wonderful and rather weird attraction, with some unusual and unique shops, as is the lighthouse and the High Street, which has plenty of bakeries, restaurants and boutique shops to peruse.

RSPB Minsmere

One of the UK’s premier birdwatching sites, RSPB Minsmere is home to many rare species of birds. There’s also otters that potter about, dragonflies which take to the summer skies and wild flowers which adorn the crisscrossing paths. On top of that there’s plenty of woodlands to explore and a Discovery Centre and Wild Zone to enjoy.

Bury St Edmunds

A well-heeled and relaxed town that comes with a rather turbulent past. This was the final resting place of St Edmund, last Saxon King of East Anglia. In 869 he was allegedly beaten, shot at with arrows and then decapitated by the Danes. A few devout followers found his body in 903 and re-buried him where Bury St Edmunds is now. There’s lots of ruins in the town that are fun to find, plus there are nice rows of pretty streets lined with independent shops to explore. There’s also a beautiful shopping centre called Arc that’s has all the best chain stores. Be sure to check out the cathedral, the decrepid abbey and beautiful park behind. Ale lovers should check out the Greene King Brewery (Westgate Brewery, Bury St Edmunds IP33 1QT, 01284 763222).

Useful Information

Bedrooms and Bathrooms
• Sleeps up to eight
• Four bedrooms, all of which have ensuite bath or shower rooms
• All beds are kingsize

Cooking and Dining
• Dining table seats eight comfortably
• Fantastic chef available for a special meal or throughout the weekend
• Table and chairs on terrace
• BBQ
• Range cooker
• Great dining nearby
• Drop-off meals available
• Online deliveries

Where We Are
• The postcode is IP17 2LZ
• The nearest town is Peasenhall, about two miles away
• The nearest train station is Darsham, a five minute drive
• The nearest airport is Norwich
• Plenty of parking available

Things to Do Inside
• Large TV
• Wi-fi
• iPod Dock

Things to Do Outside
• 4,500-acre estate
• Shared swimming pool open May to September
• Shared hot tub
• Shared all-weather tennis court

Activities
• Country pursuits available nearby, including clay pigeon shooting
• Horse riding
• Golf
• Sailing
• Pampering and beauty treatments at the house

Top Things to Do for Children
• Africa Alive
• Pleasurewood Hills
• Suffolk Ski Centre
• Go Ape

Payment Process
• We take a one third deposit at the time of booking
• The balance is due three months before the date booked

Cautionary Deposit
• £1,000 refundable deposit

House Restrictions
• One well-behaved dog welcome, not allowed on furnishings
• Not suitable for hen or stag parties

Arrival and Departure
• Check in 4pm
• Check out 11am

What’s included
• Linen
• Towels
• Essentials
• Utilities
• Underfloor heating

Hot Tub Use

We hope you’ll enjoy using the hot tub. We want to make sure it is as safe as possible for everyone, so we ask all guests to ensure that the following guidelines are respected. These guidelines are designed to meet basic health and safety regulations, so ensure that all members of your party have read the rules regarding the use of the hot tub.

1. Swimming costumes are obligatory and you will need to bring your own towels
2. You must shower before entering the hot tub to remove any skin oils, make-up, hair products etc. This is vital to ensure a clean and healthy hot tub. If this rule is abused the hot tub may need to be closed for several days so that the water can be thoroughly refreshed.
3. Outdoor shoes and coats must be taken off around the hot tub area.
4. No alcohol or smoking is allowed in the hot tub.
5. Do not bring any form of glass into the hot tub area.
6. Do not bring in any electrical equipment into the hot tub area where you could be in contact with water.
7. Do not over-occupy the hot tub as this will lead to water spillage and will cause the hot tub to stop working. This is because the filter needs to be covered with water to work.
8. Children must be supervised in and around the hot tub and must not use it without an adult present. Some children can overheat; please seek medical advice if this occurs.
9. Please keep noise levels to an acceptable level. The hot tub is a place of peace and relaxation – be mindful that there are neighbouring properties in close proximity.
10. It is safer and more enjoyable to use the hot tub with another person. We advise against using the hot tub alone without a member of your group knowing of your whereabouts.
11. On leaving the hot tub please switch off all jets and lights and make sure that the hot tub is sealed with the cover provided.
12. Please note you must not use the hot tub if you are suffering from an infectious disease or you have an open wound or sore that cannot be covered by a waterproof plaster.
13. You must not use the hot tub within 48 hours of suffering any stomach illness.
14. Certain medical conditions can be affected by the hot tub, particularly those involving extremes of temperature. You are advised to consult your doctor if you are pregnant, or suffer from any of the following: heart disease; circulatory problems; high or low blood pressure; diabetes; or any other condition that affects your body’s ability to react to heat.
15. Prevent taking any medication which may affect your circulation or your ability to react to heat.

Guest Reviews