Enjoy Suffolk’s Natural Attractions from Windmill Lodges

One of the beauties of Suffolk is that it is home to all kinds of weird and wonderful wildlife. Windmill Lodges, in Saxtead, is the ideal base from which to enjoy the varied flora and fauna that Suffolk has to offer – and at the end of the day you can come back and relax in your own private hot tub. Here are some of the natural attractions you can enjoy during your Suffolk hot tub holidays with us.

RSPB Minsmere

Avocets, bitterns (pictured left), bearded tits and marsh harriers are among the species which you can see at this reserve, which is only 15 miles from Windmill Lodges. The reedbeds, wet grassland, shingle vegetation and lowland heath all encourage a wide variety of flora and fauna – not just birds. Red deer, badgers and water voles all thrive on the site, which is also home to more than 1,000 species of moths and butterflies, including the rare scarce tortoiseshell and the flame wainscot moth.

The 1,000-hectare site, which is a short drive to the east of Windmill Lodges’ Saxtead base, also includes a number of footpaths and trails, a visitor centre and hides, so you can observe the birds without disturbing them.

Natural Wildlife

Minsmere is part of the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which runs from the Stour estuary in the south of Suffolk to Kessingland, near Lowestoft, in the north. You don’t have to visit the RSPB reserve to see all sorts of flora and fauna, because the AONB is home to a diverse range of wildlife.

For example, the Sandlings heath is home to such rare birds as the nightjar, Dartford warbler and woodlark. Look carefully and you might be able to spot yellow-horned poppies, sea campions and sea kale, along with plenty of heathers, lichen and mosses.

Water Creatures

Sunbathing seals are a more common sight off the coast of Scotland, but you might be able to catch them on the beaches of Walberswick and Southwold. This is because they thrive in the North Sea waters where they thrive on the fish. The best way of seeing them up close might be to take a trip on one of the boat trips from Southwold Harbour.

European otters have been enjoying something of a resurgence in recent years in the rivers, estuaries and streams of Suffolk. Although you will need a pair of binoculars, you might be able to catch a glimpse of this handsome creature either at Minsmere or in Snape Marshes to the south.

In the Skies

As well as a base for enjoying wildlife, Windmill Lodges is the ideal place to do a bit of star-gazing. Our unspoiled location means there is very little light pollution, and we have a large flat area which offers clear, uninterrupted views of the horizon. Guests have sole use of our Sky-Watcher SKYLINER-200P Parabolic Dobsonian Telescope, which is ideal for viewing the moon, the planets and deep-sky objects such as nebulae and galaxies. There is a hire charge for sole use of this telescope, and we advise pre-booking.

We have operated some highly successful astronomy weekends in partnership with members of the Orwell Astronomical Society (Ipswich), who have offered tuition and advice on what to look out for in the skies. Check out our website for any future weekends.

Suffolk Hot Tub Holidays at Windmill Lodges

At Windmill Lodges in Suffolk, our hot tub holidays are ideal for short romantic breaks and family getaways, as well as a base for wildlife-spotting. All our authentic log cabins have been given four or five stars by Visit England. Each lodge has a fully fitted kitchen and an en- suite shower room as well as its own hot tub, and two of our lodges, Woodpecker and Wagtail, are pet-friendly.

If you would like to find out about the current availability of any of our lodges, simply click here and fill in the online form.