One of the marvellous things about Orford is that in the midst of unchanging landscapes and absolute tranquillity, there are so many things to do. Only a few yards from the hotel stands the magnificent C12th Orford Castle (although it's strictly speaking only a keep) built by Henry II. It has fabulous, far-reaching views from the battlements,  but historians believe it was built more for prestige than as a defence.

Snape Maltings (home of the Aldeburgh Festival) is also nearby, as is the charming market town of Woodbridge, with its restored tide mill, and the smart, seaside town of Aldeburgh. On summer Saturdays there will be a trial ferry service running between Orford and Aldeburgh, the boat leaving at 11.00am from the quay. Please contact John Pask on 01728 453528 or Aldeburgh River Trips for more information.

       

To the west of the village lie Tunstall and Rendlesham forests. It’s impossible to exhaust the wonderful walks these magnificent, ancient woods provide but if the beauty of 500-year old oak trees does start to pall there are always the coastal and river paths to explore.

Excavations at Sutton Hoo in 1939 uncovered the incredible ship-burial of an Anglo-Saxon warrior king, including the iconic Sutton Hoo helmet, weapons and priceless royal treasure – all discovered when Edith Pretty hired Basil Brown to investigate some mysterious mounds of earth on her land. Intriguing insights into Britain's history are offered by the Sutton Hoo exhibition, where a full-size reconstruction of the burial chamber reveal the importance of the great Anglo-Saxon king buried there.
 
About 20 miles to the north of Orford are Dunwich beach and Minsmere a protected RSPB site.

WEATHER

The east coast is famous for being drier than many other parts of the country, although it can be quite windy.To check the weather for the coming days please click on the icon below.