Pretty countryside staycation near one of England’s ‘most romantic houses’ and very famous castle

I PROMISED to turn off my phone on our much-needed mini break to Suffolk.

But within five minutes of arriving I can’t resist taking photos of our gorgeous holiday home.

The Stables at Ivy Lodge Barns near Hoo in Woodbridge is a charming two-bed cottage with a modern rustic vibe.

Pastel pink squishy sofas in the vaulted, beamed living room are perfect for lounging in front of the woodburner.

The open-plan kitchen with its wood worktops and exposed bricks and beams is Pinterest-perfect and the bedrooms are a riot of country chic.

Tempting as it was to stay in the cottage, there were plenty of walking routes on our doorstep.

But none was as intriguing as Rendlesham Forest, where visitors are invited to explore one of the UK’s most famous UFO sightings.

The intriguing trail is free and the kids loved the idea of hunting for evidence of extraterrestrial life.

The forest also had plenty of opportunities for outdoor fun. We spent hours building dens and scrambling over climbing apparatus scattered throughout the woodland.

No visit to this part of Suffolk would be complete without a trip to the market town of Framlingham, which is famously associated with Ed Sheeran’s hit song Castle On The Hill.

 The castle in question is a magnificent medieval motte and bailey fortress that has stunning views across the countryside.

 We sat in the cockpits of eight different planes from the Cold War to present day, pressing all the buttons we could find.

We sadly didn’t cross paths with the superstar, so our Ed-ventures continued back in Woodbridge, where we had dinner at the cosy Red Lion, with resident dog Frank providing some extra company.

One of the highlights of our trip was a visit to the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum near Bungay. It is a real gem and great value for money.

For a small donation, we were given a personal guided tour by one of their knowledgeable volunteers.

 We sat in the cockpits of eight different planes from the Cold War to present day, pressing all the buttons we could find – although I had to remind the children to avoid pulling the ejector seat handle, just in case!

And the flight simulator made us feel like we were real-life Top Guns.

Everything we hoped for

For a more restful day, we headed to Southwold. Home of Adnams brewery, we skipped the taste tour for a more family friendly day out by the seaside.

We splashed in the waves and had a kickabout on the beach before exploring the quirky Under the Pier Show on Southwold Pier.

This collection of eccentric arcade games was unlike anything we’d seen before and provided plenty of laughs.

 Nearby Maize Maze also has lots to do. There’s two mazes to navigate, with great views of Reydon marshes and the River Blyth – if you get to the middle.

We rewarded ourselves with a classic fish and chips dinner, plonking ourselves next to the cannons and towering lighthouse as we watched the sun set.

Our time in Woodbridge and the tranquil Suffolk countryside was everything we could have hoped for.