The Wilderness Reserve is an 8000-acre Suffolk estate of woodland, lakes and rolling pasture located between Sibton and Yoxford east of the county near Saxmundham. It contains an eclectic collection of historic and traditional Suffolk properties with features like oak frames, lime plaster and thatch roofs, which have been lovingly restored by artisans, using traditional materials. Each home has unique character, from the grand Grade II listed manor house and restored 15th century barn, to charming thatched cottages and romantic retreats.
These delightful properties are available to rent as luxurious holiday homes and include one-bed Hex Cottage, which has no electricity and requires the AGA to be stoked to heat the radiators and hot water. There’s also Sibton Park, a grand 12-room Georgian mansion, The Farmhouse, a pink six-bedroom cottage, and Chapel Barn, which sleeps 38 people and features a games room, playground, sauna and steam room, cinema, gym, two treatment rooms and indoor pool.
It is, unsurprisingly, popular with celebrities, which have included actor and comedian Jack Whitehall, television presenter and model Alexa Chung, singer Cheryl and her co-stars in Girls Aloud to celebrate her 40th birthday, and comedian Sandi Toksvig.
The Wilderness Reserve is also a long-term conservation and restoration project, protecting English nature and breathing new life into historic properties. It is owned by Jon Hunt, billionaire founder of British estate agents Foxtons.
Over three decades the family has bought up more and more land, and during that time more than 1.5 million trees have been planted, with the planting continuing at a rate of about 100,000 trees a year. Initiatives such as the digging out of moats or creation of wetlands has meant that the initial 38 bird species the Hunt family first found has now risen to more than 150 different species.
Wilderness is planning to more than double its accommodation by adding the nearby Cockfield Hall estate, which will allow for a further 250 bedrooms in another swathe of restored historic properties, including a new country house hotel.
Although you’re just a short drive from the popular seaside towns of Southwold and Aldeburgh, once you arrive at Wilderness, you won’t want to leave, not least because of the feast of activities on offer. These include wild swimming, paddle boarding and boating on the lake, archery, axe-throwing, falconry, biking – and Fire Feasts, in the company of Michelin-starred chefs like Tom Kerridge.
Wilderness has its own fleet of helicopters at guests’ disposal, but there’s also, within the 8000 acres, ample places to park a car, should you wish to travel by more modest means.
Further information: Wilderness Reserve: 01986 802113; wildernessreserve.com