Join over 100 bird species, 2,000 nesting boxes and 38 owl boxes in the grounds. This is a world of barn owls and buzzards, where raptors swoop low. Silence here is golden, but only enhanced by the call of the reed warbler or reed bunting. Ponds, lakes and meadows attract butterflies and moths, and an army of amphibians.
Bring your binoculars and feast your eyes on the flora and fauna. When you’ve done that, explore further and find man-made marvels galore. Dive into the spectacular naturally-filtered swimming pool with integrated hot tub designed by leading landscape architect Kim Wilkie.
Remember your rackets and bash some balls on the all-weather tennis court. Or make the most of Mother Nature’s gifts and fish or shoot, or simply explore the wilderness and drink in the silence.
Make yourself at home in light, bright spaces accented with bold furniture and artwork. In every room in The Clockhouse, there’s time to reflect and time to plan. That could be because clocks take pride of place, reminding you that time is precious – so spend it wisely.
There are worse places to pass time than in The Clockhouse’s sizeable slice of luxury. Relax in the drawing room amid squishy sofas and copious, clock-themed cushions, break out the cards and games, catch up with friends. It’s impossible not to feel chilled.
In The Barn, traditional timber on the outside hides light-filled interiors, high ceilings, flagstone floors and exposed beams. Shake off your socks and enjoy the underfloor heating. Drink in the views from the floor-to-ceiling French windows. Fling them open onto private parkland.
There are spaces here to be together, or space to be peacefully apart. From the conservatory or the first-floor sitting room, the sense of calm will stay with you and the ticking clocks remind you of the old saying: enjoy yourself – it’s later than you think.
The natural heart of The Clockhouse is the rustic, charming kitchen and breakfast room. Gather here for croissants and coffee as the sunlight floods across the brick floor. Make plans for the day, or review the action in the evening. Open the floor-to-ceiling French doors to the secluded courtyard for al-fresco drinking or dining.
If you know your onions from your aubergines, you’ll love the kitchen, with its large island, American-style fridge freezer and range cooker, plus dishwasher to save your hands. In The Barn, the kitchen is just as much a hub, with range cooker and French windows opening onto parkland.
In The Clockhouse, you’ll eat in the dining room with its Georgian sash windows and views over parkland. In The Barn, the conservatory offers the feel of al-fresco dining without the feel of al-fresco raindrops. Prefer to take it easy? For a Michelin-starred celebration, let our Raymond Blanc-trained chef, Adam Simmonds, take the strain.
More everyday, yet no less enjoyable, are seasonal, locally-sourced menus from resident chef Matthew Appleton, to menus set by Adam Simmonds. Tuck in. We’ll even wade into the washing-up. Dining out? There are gastropubs galore, from the Westleton Crown to the Sibton White Horse.
The Clockhouse and Barn offer a combined seven blissfully quiet large bedrooms and eight bathrooms, sleeping up to 14. You’ll grow to know the meaning of deep sleep where the only sound to break the crisp country air is the hoot of an owl or the beating wings of a bat.
All is modern and chic. King-size beds are luxurious, furnishings eclectic and the sense of peace palpable. Technology, in the shape of large flatscreen HD TVs and iPod docks, is discreetly tucked away. Wake to each new day in your own en-suite wet room, pull on soft robes and potter out to the courtyard for croissants and coffee.
Fittings are fit for a king and power showers would satisfy even the fussiest New Yorker. But behave: no squabbling over the room with the freestanding roll-top bath. In The Barn, top prize must be the master bedroom – the ultimate hideaway, with four-poster bed sitting in majesty above a sitting room leading to a private terrace.
Bedrooms come with tiled floors, soft cushions, rich linen and, in The Barn, magnificent exposed beams. In The Wilderness Reserve, one of the most attractive quarters is the Land of Nod.
