Eye Holiday Cottages

Eye is one of North-Suffolk’s most delightful market towns and is a beautifully peaceful place to enjoy a Suffolk cottage holiday.  It gets its name from the Old English word for ‘island’ as it is thought that in its early days the settlement was complete surrounded by the waters of the River Dove and its tributaries.  The town itself is charming, but Eye is also a fabulous base to explore the Suffolk countryside and, dare we say, even venture into Norfolk!

Now dominated by the Victorian flint and brick town hall commissioned in the 1850s, Eye has a thriving community spirit.  There is an array of shops including an especially good selection of gift, antiques and home furnishings shops. There’s plenty to choose from where refreshments are concerned too, with tearooms, cafes, restaurants and pubs offering a variety of treats and dishes to satisfy your palate.  There is a Country Market on Wednesday mornings at the Town Hall, where local goodies are available from cakes to crafts, and ‘market day’ is Friday, when lots of locally sourced produce can be bought including Lowestoft fish and fresh fruit and vegetables.

Eye Castle is a lovely place to visit during your cottage holiday.  Built in Norman times and destroyed in 1265, the ruins of this motte and bailey castle have been transformed are now a relaxing setting to enjoy the vista from its viewing platform.  The Church of St Peter & St Paul enhances the views from the castle and is a landmark of the town.  Dating back to the 14th Century, this church is thought by many to be one of the finest in Suffolk. 

Out and about in the area there is also lots to explore.  The Pennings nature reserve sits on the banks of the River Dove and has beautiful views across the meadows and river to the church spire.  There’s also the Thornham Estate, where 2,000 acres of land are home to 12-miles of waymarked walks that take in a lovingly restore walled garden, Victorian greenhouses and folly, and a bird hide.