Straddling the Essex-Suffolk border and synonymous with artists including John Constable, Thomas Gainsborough, and Sir Alfred Munnings, the Dedham Vale National Landscape is a great choice for a grown-up getaway. Choose this chocolate-box cottage as your base and you’ll see what makes the area so special. Within 200 metres, Dedham’s quaint high street is home to independent shops, cosy pubs and appetite-whetting tearooms, plus an art and crafts centre. Wander half a mile to the pretty meadows beside the River Stour and you’ll find a popular spot for wild swimming, picnics and hiring rowing boats. Further afield, explore the small riverside town of Mistley (5 miles), famous for its neo-classical towers and Georgian high street. Venture to Ipswich (11.5 miles), which is steeped in maritime history and features a modern waterfront where luxury yachts and leisure boats berth before a quayside lined with bars and restaurants.
Close to the former church that now houses Dedham’s popular Art & Craft Centre, this handsome holiday home puts you at the centre of village life. Step through the front door and a small hallway leads into a lounge rich in period features, including a beamed ceiling and brick fireplace. Stretch out on a comfortable sofa, light the wood burner and settle down for a home-from-home evening in front of the Smart TV. To one end of the room, a dining table for four sits conveniently close to the adjacent kitchen. There’s a wealth of eating-out options on your doorstep, but you’ll find all the essentials for fuss-free self-catering here, including those modern must-haves: a coffee machine and double air fryer. The ground floor layout is completed by a bathroom off the entrance hallway. Head upstairs and two blissful bedrooms, a welcoming king-size and a double.
Your living space extends into a lovely country garden, accessed either from the kitchen or from the side of the property. A pretty seating area overlooks the meadow behind, while a gas BBQ and Ooni pizza oven offer a range of al fresco cooking options. Light the fire pit and linger long after the sun has gone down. Allowing you to explore Dedham at your leisure, fees for the long-stay car park 300 metres from the property can be paid via an app.