Halesworth and Area
All about the area around Poachers Cottage
Halesworth Market Place from the top of the tower of St Mary's Church
Morris Dancers in Bridge Street, Halesworth
Halesworth's Millennium Green
A brief introduction to Halesworth and area
As well as being a town with an interesting history which you can explore by a marked route (the Town Trail), Halesworth hosts several events throughout the year and is close to other events of note in the surrounding area.
Annual town events include the two-week long Arts Festival, held in October and the springtime HighTide Festival, both based at The Cut arts centre (a former maltings building converted to be a theatre, concert hall, and more), various carnival and fete dates throughout the year (including a duck race on the Town River), the Thoroughfair Food Drink and Craft Fair held on a summer Sunday, the Christmas Lights switch-on and the excellent Gig in the Park held over three days in August.
Henham Park is only about five miles away and annually hosts a 'Wings and Wheels' event in May, the renowned Latitude Festival in July and the long-established Grand Henham Steam Rally in September. Henham Park is just north of Blythburgh where the magnificent Holy Trinity Church is often a venue for Aldeburgh Festival events and hosts other concerts and musical events throughout the year. To the north of Halesworth the market town of Bungay has its own Fisher Theatre and a ruined castle to visit.
The impressive Framlingham Castle is a pleasant drive away and often hosts events of interest. While in that area perhaps visit the restored windmill at Saxstead too (both in the care of English Heritage). If travelling the A1120 you can pause at Peasenhall and freely see inside the medieval New Inn building (Landmark Trust).
An exotic wildlife experience awaits you at Africa Alive south of Lowestoft, but for glorious Suffolk countryside and its flora and fauna the local lanes and footpaths are a delight. The RSPB's Minsmere Nature Reserve adjoins National Trust land at Dunwich Cliffs and in addition there are several local reserves managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust to freely explore.
Halesworth is only about ten miles from the sea at Southwold. This delightful unspoilt but busy resort is always worth a visit as too is Aldeburgh and the smaller seaside villages of Walberswick and Thorpeness.
Wherever you spend your day Poachers Cottage will welcome you back to refresh and relax.