Enjoying A Half-Term Break at Windmill Lodges
The school half-term holiday comes at the end of this month (October) – an ideal opportunity for you and your children to recharge your batteries in the run-up to Christmas. Here Windmill Lodges identify a few events which you could visit or take part in to coincide with a relaxing short Suffolk break with us.
Framlingham Castle
Events here have a spooky flavour, as the half-term coincides with Halloween. The castle offers visitors the chance to travel back to the 17th Century and to go into the Witch Finder’s tent, where you can try on weapons and armour, and take part in sword-fighting games. There will also be a number of clues to solve and tasks to complete as part of a Halloween Quest.
The event runs from Saturday October 26th until Sunday November 3rd, from 10am-4pm; it is included in the standard entry price (although English Heritage members get free admission). Find out more about visiting Framlingham Castle on the English Heritage website.
Carlton Marshes
Another nearby family-friendly event is taking place at Carlton Marshes, just south of Lowestoft. Nocturnal creatures such as bugs, moths, owls and bats will be in the spotlight – literally – as staff will help you identify any that are flying around during the evening event.
The event takes place on October 26th and 27th, at the Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre; the cost is £7 for children over three, and £4 for adults and children under three (babies in arms go free).
The venue is also running a holiday club on October 30th; the outdoor activities, games and crafts will be suitable for 6-11-year-olds. It runs from 10.30am-12noon and the cost is £28 per-child. More information can be found on the Suffolk Wildlife Trust website.
Sutton Hoo, near Woodbridge
As always, there’s plenty going on at the famous Anglo-Saxon burial site in south Suffolk during half-term week, with the Old Stables Activity Centre hosting arts and crafts sessions from October 26th– 31st during the day.
During the evenings of October 25th and 26th, and during the daytime on October 29th and 31st, storytellers will regale visitors with epic tales of times past. This is on top of all the regular historic attractions the site offers. You can find out more on the National Trust website.
RSPB Minsmere
The famous nature reserve has several special events on during half-term week. At the start of the week (October 28th) there will be some Halloween-themed craft activities running at the Discovery Centre from 11am-3pm.
On October 30th you can learn all about mushrooms and similar plants in the Fabulous Fungi Walk around the site; and on November 1st there’s a guided tour of the whole site, when you can Discover Minsmere in Autumn. More information can be found on the RSPB website.
And Your Dog is Welcome Too
If your children (and your dogs!) fancy dressing up for the occasion, then Needham Lake in Needham Market (around 15 miles to the west of us) is the venue for a Howl-O-Ween Spooktacular Dog Show from 9am on October 27th.
And in October all Suffolk’s beaches will be open to your canine companion. The restrictions on dogs on major beaches – such as Aldeburgh and Sizewell – ended at the end of September; and many of the local pubs welcome well-behaved animals as well.
And thanks to our two dog-friendly lodges your pet can enjoy a holiday in East Anglia too –our Woodpecker and Wagtail lodges both have secure gated areas so you can enjoy your meal in peace knowing that your four-legged friend won’t escape or interrupt you.
We may be able to accommodate other types of pets as well – call us in advance of your booking and we will see what we can do. (The same applies if you would like to arrive on a day other than a Monday or a Friday, our usual start days),
Or You Could Stay In
You don’t have get out and about if you stay with us during your short Suffolk break – you could just relax in your own private hot tub and enjoy any of the board games, jigsaw puzzles and books you can borrow from our library in ‘The Hut’. This is where our communal facilities can be found, including our washing machine and tumble dryer if you need to do any laundry while you are staying here.
All our lodges come with fully fitted kitchens, and living rooms with TVs and DVD or CD players, plus a shower room or bathroom. To check on availability for any of our lodges over the half-term week, follow this link.