Thorpeness cottages

Self-catering holiday cottages in Thorpeness 

Quirky and fun for all the family, Thorpeness is a fabulous choice for a self-catering holiday on the Suffolk coast. Created in 1920 by Scottish architect, barrister and playwright Glencairn Stuart Ogilvie as a private ‘model’ holiday village, Thorpeness is dominated by the Meare – a vast boating lake with islands and inlets inspired by the work of author JM Barrie, an Ogilvie family friend. Close by, the ‘house in the clouds’ is another novelty, while romantic Tudor and Jacobean-style properties complement the village’s post mill, golf course and country club. The shingle beach at Thorpeness is amid the Suffolk Heritage Coast and much of it is dog-friendly year-round. All this – together with cafes and a traditional village inn – make Thorpeness a unique setting for a self-catering break, with plenty to please on the doorstep. 

Contrasting its man-made features, Thorpeness is surrounded by beautiful countryside – including the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB  – where there’s an abundance of walking, cycling and wildlife-watching to enjoy. To the north, the National Trust’s Dunwich Beach, RSPB Minsmere and Westleton Heath are all within a 10-mile drive. A little further on, Walberswick and Southwold sit either side of the River Blyth, each with their own beach, boutiques, inns and eateries. Head south from Thorpeness and Maggie Hamblin’s iconic Scallop sculpture sits on the shoreline; beyond, Aldeburgh is famed for its pastel-coloured holiday cottages, high-end boutiques and connection with Benjamin Britten, founder of the Aldeburgh Festival which takes place largely upriver at Snape Maltings. Our collection of Thorpeness holiday cottages has something to suit everyone– take a look and book your next Suffolk coast break now.