Suffolk B&B accommodation in Beccles
| country: | England, UK |
| location: | Beccles, SuffolkSee map here |
| price: | From £43 - £55 per double room per night on B&B basis |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to Suffolk B&B accommodation in Beccles
Suffolk B&B accommodation in Beccles
Sustainability is very important to us and this is why we have taken so much trouble when the house was being constructed back in 2003 and 2004. The outside is very important to us as well and this is why we are managing the 5.5 acre field that the house is set in to achieve a more natural meadow where a whole host of creatures can thrive in safety.
The natural pond has already attracted newts, frogs and dragonflies - there are seats around the pond where you guest are very welcome to sit and watch the wildlife during the stay. In June 2007 we purchased a small woodland, approximately 0.75 of an acre which adjoins our plot - now known as "Taylor's Wood" in memory of the previous family who owned it, we intend to manage it for wildlife.
Guests may be lucky enough to see one of a pair of barn owls currently occupying a recently installed barn owl box (July 2006) close to the edge of the field. We are also delighted to see a large array of small birds coming in to feed close to the house where wild flowers were sewn for the first time in 2006.
Walking: We are within a mile of the Beccles Marsh Trail for walkers. It’s also in close proximity of the Angles and Iceni Way, again for walkers. The B&B is set in 6.25 acres including .75 acre of woodland where guests are very welcome to walk in and around the site.
Cycling: The B&B is on Route 1 of the National Cycle Network. We are very pleased to work with Cedar Cycles of Wrentham and offer cycle hire from early April 2008. Once booked, the cycles will be delivered to the B&B. We are happy to help with the planning of routes - we have a large stock of local maps and new car-free itineraries which offer ideas on complete day trips including directions, information along the way and much more. Why not nip into the Broads via Reedham Ferry? Or why not take a lovely leisurely ride to the gorgeous seaside destination of Southwold?
Sustainability is very important to us and this is why we have taken so much trouble when the house was being constructed back in 2003 and 2004. The outside is very important to us as well and this is why we are managing the 5.5 acre field that the house is set in to achieve a more natural meadow where a whole host of creatures can thrive in safety.
The natural pond has already attracted newts, frogs and dragonflies - there are seats around the pond where you guest are very welcome to sit and watch the wildlife during the stay. In June 2007 we purchased a small woodland, approximately 0.75 of an acre which adjoins our plot - now known as "Taylor's Wood" in memory of the previous family who owned it, we intend to manage it for wildlife.
Guests may be lucky enough to see one of a pair of barn owls currently occupying a recently installed barn owl box (July 2006) close to the edge of the field. We are also delighted to see a large array of small birds coming in to feed close to the house where wild flowers were sewn for the first time in 2006.
special things to do and see here
Locally you will find a number of good eateries in the attractive market town of Beccles which is less than 1 mile to the centre from the B&B. Walking: We are within a mile of the Beccles Marsh Trail for walkers. It’s also in close proximity of the Angles and Iceni Way, again for walkers. The B&B is set in 6.25 acres including .75 acre of woodland where guests are very welcome to walk in and around the site.
Cycling: The B&B is on Route 1 of the National Cycle Network. We are very pleased to work with Cedar Cycles of Wrentham and offer cycle hire from early April 2008. Once booked, the cycles will be delivered to the B&B. We are happy to help with the planning of routes - we have a large stock of local maps and new car-free itineraries which offer ideas on complete day trips including directions, information along the way and much more. Why not nip into the Broads via Reedham Ferry? Or why not take a lovely leisurely ride to the gorgeous seaside destination of Southwold?
rooms, food and facilities
Each room at the Beccles accommodation has a double bed, an en-suite with shower, a radio clock alarm and is very comfortable. Our house is an open house which means there are no separate areas for guests – you share the contemporary and attractive spaces with us. We offer high quality beverages on demand and there is always some nice home-made WI cake to go with your drink when you arrive!
Family friendly: Our house is not suitable for all children – we need to discuss any special requirements individually as some people like our dogs (who are very friendly) and some don’t.
Disabled access: We have a down stairs room with wide access which has an en-suite with grab bars, lower wash basin and spacious walk-in shower. There is a ramp up to the front door and once inside, anyone in a wheelchair will find it easy to get to and fro the dining area which is on the same level as the disabled access bedroom.
On foot: We are very close to the Angles Way - a Waveney Valley Path from the North Norfolk Broads to the Suffolk Brecks. This links in with Weavers Way, Peddars Way, Icknield Way and Iceni Way.
By car: From Norwich, follow A146 to Lowestoft until 3rd roundabout signed Lowestoft where you go straight on along the Beccles bypass with Morrisons on the right. Turn right at next roundabout and go through Worlingham until you see the sign for Beccles on the left.
Family friendly: Our house is not suitable for all children – we need to discuss any special requirements individually as some people like our dogs (who are very friendly) and some don’t.
Disabled access: We have a down stairs room with wide access which has an en-suite with grab bars, lower wash basin and spacious walk-in shower. There is a ramp up to the front door and once inside, anyone in a wheelchair will find it easy to get to and fro the dining area which is on the same level as the disabled access bedroom.
how to find us
By train: The nearest station is Beccles. On foot: We are very close to the Angles Way - a Waveney Valley Path from the North Norfolk Broads to the Suffolk Brecks. This links in with Weavers Way, Peddars Way, Icknield Way and Iceni Way.
By car: From Norwich, follow A146 to Lowestoft until 3rd roundabout signed Lowestoft where you go straight on along the Beccles bypass with Morrisons on the right. Turn right at next roundabout and go through Worlingham until you see the sign for Beccles on the left.
how this holiday makes a difference
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Staying at the B&B has been described by a guest as “an oasis of tranquillity in a busy world” and that’s what we have always tried to achieve, a little peace. We have escaped from the rat race, sold our car and decided to build upon our already strong green values by building a very eco-friendly B&B.
When building the B&B, our main aims were to harness solar power for heating water for the guests, harvest rain water for toilet flushing and clothes washing and to construct the house 100% sustainably. All these aspects of the house work very well along with a whole array of other green schemes. Food is very important to us and we make sure that all breakfast items are organic and locally sourced. We feel that supporting the local community through our efforts in tourism contribute greatly towards the local economy. Weekly we use the local co-op store and buy fairly traded goods and I purchase all home-made cakes, preserves and locally grown flowers for the table for the guests from the local WI stall. On a weekly basis, we also have an organic fruit box delivered from Eostre Organics of Norwich who source their apples and mushrooms within a 20 mile radius. Oranges and bananas are of course, organic and fairly traded from Eostre as well. Organic milk is delivered from the only company who delivers to the door in bottles! - Dairycrest. Monthly, I visit the farmers market for local organic sausages and bacon. We buy all our main food supplies from Rainbow Wholefoods of Norwich who deliver to our door. All cleaning products purchased from them are eco-friendly, foods are organic and some are fairly traded. Our eggs are produced from our own hens and we buy all the necessary foods and straw etc from our local pet shop, Bartrams. Graham and I are both volunteer rangers for Sustrans and the National Cycle Network: Beccles to Halesworth and Beccles to Harleston. I am the Secretary for the Beccles Cycle Strategy which in general terms, works to improve cycling facilities and encourage more cyclists through this in Beccles. We are part of a scheme to support barn owls in the area by purchasing a barn owl box and monitoring their numbers (The Suffolk Community Barn Owl Project). My husband, Graham is a volunteer with the Broads Authority and goes out once a week as a conservation worker. We help our local Tree Warden by "policing" the area. This means that we advise him if we see evidence of any suspicious behavior around tree felling in readiness for back-land development which there seems to be a lot of in this particular area. I am a member of the Beccles Tourism Forum who meet in Beccles every couple of months and I have recently been invited onto the Waveney Tourism Forum who take a keen interest in tourism in the area. It is my intention to encourage sustainable forms of tourism as a priority. We hold an Open Day for Suffolk Wildlife Trust where upon all proceeds go to the charity and local people have an opportunity to find out what's going on in the area as SWT bring lots of information. We support PACT - People for Animal Care Trust - they are an animal sanctuary in Norfolk who currently have 600 animals and birds in their care waiting to be re-homed, League Against Cruel Sports - they lobby and campaign tirelessly for the protection of an array of wild animals, and Actionaid - they support people through intelligent projects in some of the poorest parts of the world. We have just been recognised by Waveney District Council for taking part in their Suffolk Breakfast Initiative We do encourage people to use bus, train and local bike hire. The buses run every half and hour from Beccles to Lowestoft and Norwich. There is a twice weekly coach which takes you into Norwich for 4 hours of shopping which is extremely good value. The train station is about 1 mile walk and offers a good service to nearby towns. (All up to date timetables are always available and are easily visible for people to refer to). One person helps me with the cleaning on a very casual basis and we work together. She lives one mile away and cycles in. We always use local companies where ever possible and actively recommend them to anyone who needs information. Sustainable transport is important to encourage and we feel, through our good examples that many guests take a few ideas home with them when they leave – we never preach, we never judge, we just quietly set good examples and welcome guests from all backgrounds to our home. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |
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