The Old Mill

Fully refurbished in 2016, The Old Mill, Snape is made up of two separate cottages just yards away from one another in the grounds of The Old Mill Snape in the heart of the popular coastal village of Snape. Just a short walk from the River Alde and Snape Maltings, this is the ideal retreat for two couples or friends wishing to get away from it all or simply enjoy the Aldeburgh Festival.

ALDEBURGH 6 miles, ORFORD 7.5 miles, RSPB MINSMERE 9 miles, WOODBRIDGE 11 miles, DUNWICH 17 miles, SOUTHWOLD 18 miles

About The Old Mill Snape: Garden Cottage and Miller?s Cottage are both tucked away in the tranquil setting of Snape and make up part of The Old Mill which dates back to 1797. Converted in 1937, The Old Mill Snape was the home of Suffolk composer Benjamin Britten and his partner Peter Pears, and it was here that Britten composed some of his greatest works, including Peter Grimes.

The Mill acted as the meeting place for numerous great artists, musicians and writers of the mid 20th century. Among those included E M Forster, John Piper and W H Auden. Creators of the Aldeburgh Festival in the 1940s, Britten and Pears soon found that the Jubilee Hall in Aldeburgh was too small for the audiences they were attracting and began looking for a larger concert venue.  Living at The Old Mill they looked down over the derelict Snape Maltings in its beautiful riverside setting and set to work to convert the Maltings into the world famous concert hall it is today. You can read more about The Old Mill's history here.

About the Properties: Both Miller?s Cottage and Garden Cottage have been thoroughly restored to create charming self catering accommodation for four people. With both cottages providing ground floor facilities throughout, they make the ideal getaway for those who may find stairs difficult.

Miller's Cottage has a cosy countryside theme running throughout, whilst still retaining some of its wonderful history including the pamment floorings and flint walls. The light and bright kitchen area is a delight year round, with its charming stable door and window looking out over the garden; a perfect place to read a book and enjoy the sunshine. The bedroom and sitting room too are decorated in a light and contemporary style - a real home from home.

Garden Cottage is a charming detached cottage, overlooking the surrounding fields and garden from the south facing French doors. The open plan property is full of character, from the homely touches to the fascinating artwork which dresses the walls. Complete with newly fitted power shower you really can blow away the cobwebs!

Packed with all the mod cons you could need including TV?s, DVD players and WiFi, you can truly relax at The Old Mill.  

Outside: Both cottages have the benefit of separate garden areas. Garden Cottage enjoys its own private verandah with table and chairs, as well an attractive lawned area with wonderful planting providing colour year round. At the top of the garden you can enjoy uninterrupted falling away views across the fields. Miller?s Cottage too, also has a garden area, complete with a bench - perfect for summer dining.

There is off-street parking in the drive for two or more cars. The large garage provides plenty of storage space for bikes, as well as a tumble dryer.

This property is ideal for: The Old Mill provides the ideal base for two couples or friends who wish to explore the Suffolk coast and enjoy Snape and the Maltings. Perfect for those with a love of walking, cycling, music, art, fine dining and relaxing, there are plenty of fantastic walks in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. One such draw is RSPB Minsmere, which is only 9 miles away.

The Old Mill Snape is just a short walk from Snape Maltings, well known for being a centre for fine dining, art, culture and shopping. The Concert Hall provides a year round programme of music and dance from many genres. This is also a great place to start a walk either following your own leisurely itinerary or by joining one of the guided tours from the Snape Maltings to explore the wildlife and historic landscape of the Alde valley. There are also boat trips down the river Alde to Iken church, an area naturally rich in wildlife and a haven for wildfowl.

For cyclists the quiet country lanes and pathways provide a picturesque ride with some great pubs and tearooms to punctuate your journey.

Snape, Woodbridge and particularly Aldeburgh are rich in art galleries for viewing, collecting or inspiring and you will find a great art shop in Woodbridge; an Aladdin's cave of art materials for creating your own landscape masterpiece.

Eating and Drinking: With three local pubs  - The Plough & Sail, The Golden Key and The Crown - all of which offer food from fish and chips to gourmet cuisine, you can dine out without getting into the car. Further afield Aldeburgh has some great restaurants, The Regatta and The Lighthouse are both very popular and there is also a good choice of shops selling excellent local produce. The historic fishing village of Orford is situated on the rivers Alde and Ore and well worth a visit for lunch, supper or just to explore. Pinney's of Orford has grown oysters at Butley Creek since the 1950s and their smokehouse supplies mouth-watering freshly smoked fish every day. The Crown & Castle, Orford, co-owned by Ruth Watson of TV's The Hotel Inspector fame, offers a wonderful menu, fine wine and enjoys great reviews.

Self Catering: There are several good farm shops nearby, Friday Street Farm Shop on the A1094 just before you get to the A12 and The Farm Cafe and Food Market, Marlesford. There is also a great deli and tea room at Snape Maltings and you can buy groceries and newspapers at the village stores. There are a number of supermarkets nearby, including both Waitrose and Tesco in Saxmundham.

For more information on places to eat and things to do in the area, please take a look at Visit Snape.

With the brilliant seaside town of Aldeburgh and the vibrant market town of Woodbridge nearby, there?s plenty to discover.

For more information on the local area, please see our online guide Visit Snape, Visit Aldeburgh and Visit Woodbridge.