CHECKING IN: WILDERNESS RESERVE, SUFFOLK


2020 is the year nobody could have predicted. Plans have been shelved, parties postponed and I have barely ventured outside of my neighbourhood for several months, let alone book flights and go on holiday.

With this in mind, my boyfriend and I needed to escape the confines of our home where we had worked, exercised, cooked, slept, and spent every day together since March. We trawled the internet for country-inspired breaks which weren’t too far away. We settled on Wilderness in Suffolk, having been sucked in by the rural charm, quaint properties and the remoteness. It didn’t disappoint!





We arrived at Sibton Park, where the main Wilderness Reserve is located, and after a dicey drive along a secluded track near Halesworth, we found our home for the next few days, The Tabernacle.

But this isn’t any ordinary little Suffolk bolthole; it’s a little hideaway cleverly blended into the local landscape and the inside is a masterclass in interior design.





With cushions and rugs from Anthropologie, the country kitchen of dreams complete with a Rangemaster and an entire collection from Burleigh Pottery, it’s clear so much care and attention has been put into these properties. The standout for me was the pink bedroom complete with a mint green roll-top bath – if I could design my dream apartment it wouldn’t look far off the Tabernacle.

When you slice open the bifold doors, a lake, rowing boat and wood-fired hot tub which got a lot of use, alongside a barbecue, pizza oven and firepit, which was great for chilly evenings, await.  

Wilderness also supplied two Pashley bikes, which were perfect for exploring the gorgeous Suffolk countryside.

It’s just a stone’s throw from the coast; the day before we arrived, we spent the day in Aldeburgh browsing bookshops and eating chips on the beach.

It’s close to Darsham and Saxmundham railway stations, and Wilderness can even pick you up in one of their fleet of Land Rovers.

It’s the perfect getaway if you’re seeking fresh air, solitude and some serious downtime. My 2021 plans involve making my way through the rest of the properties on the Wilderness estate, they are masters of their craft.

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