Introduction
Old Hall Southwold is located on the Reydon Road just outside Southwold. Originally a working farm, the family owned business decided to diversify in 2005 and created a Maize Maze, which turned into a popular summer attraction with both locals and visitors.
The farm enjoyed welcoming visitors to the farm so much they decided to develop the farm into an all year visitor attraction in this very special part of Suffolk.
Café
When the Maize Maze became such a hit, it was a natural progression to open a café for visitors to enjoy. Designed by Peter Wells Architects the café is built on the footprint of the old calf shed, and looks out across the marshes to the River Blyth. With a complete wall of glass to the south side it gives spectacular views of this incredibly beautiful and wild part of the Suffolk Coast, previously not accessible to the public.
Providing freshly prepared food, using exciting and local ingredients to either takeaway, or to eat in to take in the views and soak up the peace and quiet. It is a fantastic place to bring the family (and of course the dog!) for a leisurely walk before or after a scrumptious brunch, a perfect way to unwind and keep everyone happy. And if you fancy something slightly stronger than coffee there is a carefully selected choice of local bottled beers and wines available.
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Nuturing Nature
The farm has worked closely with the Suffolk Wildlife Trust and Natural England to provide habitats for wildlife. A series of water scrapes have been created along with two meadows. The meadows are dedicated to providing habitat and pollen for bees in the summer months and seeds for the wild birds in the winter months.
Old Hall Walks
There are two mapped trails starting and ending at Old Hall Southwold. The Reedbed Ramble is the shorter of the two, at just under 2.5km and taking around 45 mins. This trail takes in the Suffolk Wildlife Trust Hen Reedbeds where you can stop off at the hides for a spot of birdwatching. There is also 5 wildlife information boards for visitors to view,
The second trail is the Marsh Meander, a longer walk of 4.3km taking approx. 1 hour to complete. This trail takes in more of the estuary, with the trail following the banks of the river Blyth before winding back across the marsh to Old Hall Southwold.
You can also pick up the trails from Southwold Harbour and follow the footpath signs to Old Hall, head upriver towards the Bailey Bridge and follow the river bank to join the route.
Conclusion
Nestled in the heart of the Suffolk Coast, just outside Southwold, Old Hall Farm and Café is the perfect destination for a delightful day out. With stunning views across the Blyth estuary, it offers great options for a beautiful walk with the added bonus of a delicious lunch thrown in!
Old Hall Southwold is open Tuesdays – Sundays from 9am – 4:30pm (last lunch orders 3pm). Open Bank Holiday Mondays and Mondays in school holidays too.
The Maize Maze is open from Easter – October (Mazes not open until the summer).
Car parking and walks are free but there is a charge for the Maize Maze, please see their website for current details.
Dogs are welcome in the café but must be kept on their lead when walking through the Hen Reedbeds.
