Dark Sky Holidays at Windmill Lodges.
Windmill Lodges is a small site with just seven log cabins located in rural Suffolk and less than 1 ½ hours from the M25. We are ideally positioned to explore all of the Heritage Coast including Southwold, Walberswick and Aldeburgh.
Our location in Suffolk benefits from some of the darkest skies in England and with minimal light pollution the wonders of the night sky can be enjoyed at its best.
We have a large flat area available ideal for setting up telescopes with good horizons in all directions. If you are wishing to try your hand at astronomy for the first-time or do not wish to bring your own scope, guests are able to have sole use for their stay of our Sky-Watcher SKYLINER-200P Parabolic Dobsonian Telescope* which is ideal for viewing the Moon, Planets and Deep Sky Objects such as Galaxies and Nebulae.
If you also want to make the most of the dark skies whilst you are here and try out some astro photography, you can take a trip to open coastal heathland or national nature reserves at Walberswick, Dunwich Heath and Westleton Common. These are designated dark sky discovery sites with good views of the night sky including the Milky Way which can be seen by the naked eye on a clear night.
Our seven authentic log cabins are 4* or 5* rated by Visit England offering comfortable and private self-catering accommodation for couples, families or groups. During your stay, there is plenty to keep everyone occupied; whether its relaxing on the veranda with a good book and a glass of wine looking out onto our wildlife lake, or soaking in the hot tub. Further afield you can wander across the village green to our local pub, or just two miles away is the market town of Framlingham whose 12C Century Curtain Walled Castle was the inspiration for a song written by Ed Sheeran. As well as the Castle, Framlingham has a supermarket, butchers, delicatessen, cafes and numerous independent shops.
The Windmill on Saxtead Green,
the namesake of our lodges;
taken with a Canon 60Da camera with a 14mm Samyang lens
Photo credit to David Murton
Our Sky-Watcher SKYLINER-200P Parabolic Dobsonian Telescope which is available to hire*
We have a dedicated viewing area close to the log cabins where we have our telescope.
* There is a hire charge of £50.00 for a short break and £75.00 for a week break for the sole use of the telescope. As we only have one telescope available for guests use, pre-booking is essential. The telescope is hired on a first come first served basis. No refund will be given if you are unable to view the night sky due to unsuitable weather conditions. To avoid disappointment, if the use of the telescope is integral to your stay with us please contact us prior to booking your holiday to ensure the telescope is available for your dates. We can be contacted via email to info@windmilllodges.co.uk or call us on 01728 685338