Located on the borders of Suffolk and Norfolk, Belle Grove is a collection of five luxurious, boutique barns surrounded by beautiful countryside. Being fully self-catered and only hosting a few people at a time, Belle Grove is truly a peaceful escape from the city – aside from spotting a couple out walking one morning, it pretty much felt as if we had the place to ourselves for the weekend!
We stayed in the ‘Gate House’ barn, set over two floors and with a private rear garden. The style is a mix of English country house and exotic, decorated with many Asian and African artefacts the owners collected over the last 30 years when they ran a travel company in Tanzania. Rather than feeling like a themed room, however, everything fits together nicely and creates a very cosy feeling inside.
Arriving on a cold February night and sitting down by the open fire with a glass of vino and truffle choc from our welcome pack (YES every guest gets some cheeky treats on arrival), we felt at home straight away. The barns may have a rustic style but each one is seriously kitted out. The kitchen had more gadgets than you could ever wish for including a huge cooker and fridge both of which looked brand new; the living room had Bose radio and MP3 player and LCD TV; and, best of all, under-floor heating everywhere.
Upstairs, the marble-walled bathroom features a huge freestanding bath and the red-painted bedroom has a seriously comfortable/sexy four-poster bed. We loved Belle Grove. The homely yet luxurious feel and remote surroundings made for a very relaxing stay and we only wish we could have stayed longer…
We’ll be back.
Belle Grove Farm, Low Common, Westhall, Halesworth, IP19 8QU
www.bellegrovebarns.com