The Old Brooder bunkhouse is situated down a long drive on an environmentally-friendly working farm in rural Suffolk. It is within three miles of historic Lavenham, but accessible by train and within an hour or so from London, and 16 miles of Colchester, Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich. The bunkhouse is surrounded by ancient wildflower meadows, ponds, hedged countryside, ancient listed barns and Milden Hall farmhouse.
The bunkhouse sleeps 22 guests in two 8-bed rooms and two 2-bed rooms with 3ft wide, joiner-made oak bunk beds and conventional beds with comfortable mattresses, and twin beds in the restored Shepherd’s Hut - all made up with linen. 4 WC, 4 separate showers. You can all cook and eat together in the kitchen or relax together in the cosy upstairs sitting room.
The bunkhouse is perfect for friends, walkers, cyclists, scouts, school or church groups, and civilised hens to get together, BBQ on a summer evening, play croquet, badminton, ping-pong,table football, rounders, football - and beyond explore the tracks and enjoy the wildlife around our lovely farm.
Bunkhouse hire includes the use of 20+ adult road bikes so you can explore the local historic towns on the quiet country lanes of the South Suffolk Cycle Route and our own planned circular routes - and try our Wool Town Quiz. BYO bikes if you're on one of the Long Distance Sustrans routes that passes within 2 miles of here. Alternatively hire boats and kayak down the River Stour from Sudbury, Go Ape in Thetford Forest, visit local National Trust properties, enjoy Gainsborough House art exhibitions and print workshop courses, explore local castles (and our own castle earthworks) or re-enact different eras at nearby Kentwell Hall or the West Stow Anglo Saxon village. Visit bird reserves on the coast and nature reserves closer to home - or spend a wet day at Colchester Zoo.
If you have a larger group or a bigger budget consider the completely the separate Tudor barn which sleeps 25+ (also in this guide).
Comfy, farm stay self-catering in rural, train-accessible, Suffolk. Sleeps 22 in five bedrooms, including a restored Shepherd’s Hut. Mix of oak bunks & beds. Relax in cosy sitting room; croquet, BBQ, ping-pong & badminton; explore the farm, picnic in a meadow. 20+ bikes included in hire or kayak down the River Stour. Go Ape, visit castles, coast, historic towns. Larger groups can also book the Tudor Barn (also in this guide).
The Old Brooder bunkhouse is situated down a long drive on an environmentally-friendly working farm in rural Suffolk. It is within three miles of historic Lavenham, but accessible by train and within an hour or so from London, and 16 miles of Colchester, Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich. The bunkhouse is surrounded by ancient wildflower meadows, ponds, hedged countryside, ancient listed barns and Milden Hall farmhouse.
The bunkhouse sleeps 22 guests in two 8-bed rooms and two 2-bed rooms with 3ft wide, joiner-made oak bunk beds and conventional beds with comfortable mattresses, and twin beds in the restored Shepherd’s Hut - all made up with linen. 4 WC, 4 separate showers. You can all cook and eat together in the kitchen or relax together in the cosy upstairs sitting room.
The bunkhouse is perfect for friends, walkers, cyclists, scouts, school or church groups, and civilised hens to get together, BBQ on a summer evening, play croquet, badminton, ping-pong,table football, rounders, football - and beyond explore the tracks and enjoy the wildlife around our lovely farm.
Bunkhouse hire includes the use of 20+ adult road bikes so you can explore the local historic towns on the quiet country lanes of the South Suffolk Cycle Route and our own planned circular routes - and try our Wool Town Quiz. BYO bikes if you're on one of the Long Distance Sustrans routes that passes within 2 miles of here. Alternatively hire boats and kayak down the River Stour from Sudbury, Go Ape in Thetford Forest, visit local National Trust properties, enjoy Gainsborough House art exhibitions and print workshop courses, explore local castles (and our own castle earthworks) or re-enact different eras at nearby Kentwell Hall or the West Stow Anglo Saxon village. Visit bird reserves on the coast and nature reserves closer to home - or spend a wet day at Colchester Zoo.
If you have a larger group or a bigger budget consider the completely the separate Tudor barn which sleeps 25+ (also in this guide).
W/ends: 2 nights min from £1250. 3 nights Bank Hols £2,700. 2 nights m/week from £900. Ask for a quote for small groups or 1-night stays.
Booking:
By email or telephone, non refundable deposit required.
Directions:
0.6 mile farm drive is opposite telephone box in village of Milden, fork right in farm yard, bunkhouse car park on left. Or ... 0.3 mile front drive on sharp bend (and quite easy to miss, especially in the dark) on the B1115 between Milden crossroads and Little Waldingfield village.
Public Transport :
Train: from south to Sudbury (15mins) change at Marks Tey on Liverpool St-Colchester line, from north and west to Bury St Edmunds (25 mins).
Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with your family at the Old Brooder in Suffolk!
You will have sole use of this well-kitted out and luxury bunkhouse where you can cook and feast together in the kitchen and relax in the cosy sitting room. The Old Brooder has space for up to 22 of you with five bedrooms including the restored and heated Shepherd’s hut. Play family games or you can walk off the excesses of Christmas on our farm trails… or borrow our bikes to cycle down country lanes to local pubs.
Easily accessible from London, the North and West. Discounts for smaller groups & book for a minimum of two nights!
Late Availability
Planning a school trip in rural Suffolk?
September 12th 2024
The Old Brooder Bunkhouse is a great eco-farm-stay location for school residentials, DofE and other youth groups who want either accommodation only or would like some history, environment, art or culture-related activities too. The Old Brooder can accommodate up to 22 guests, plus 25 in our Tudor Barn, catered for or do your own. We’re in a good spot to use as a base from which to explore the local area. Close to London, within an hour of Harwich, the Suffolk Coast, Cambridge, Thetford Forest.
We’ve hosted schools, choirs, universities, DoE groups and others on residential trips for over 20 years and hosted day trips for days on the farm for even longer! Our small family team can offer flexible and seasonal activities related to Tudor living, WWII living, the natural environment, art and culture – and if you just wish to bring your group here and use our farm as an outdoor classroom with your own teachers, that’s fine too! There’s woodland, ancient meadows, ponds, farmland, archaeology and ancient buildings to study, to paint, to write about. You can pond dip, check out the moth trap, look for minibeasts under logs and in the meadows. You can field walk for artefacts; you can get the coppiced firewood in. There’s 500 acres of farmland to orienteer on or walk the signed farm trails.
Get in touch with your needs and we’ll get back to you.