Hemley is a rural, riverside hamlet situated near the villages of Newbourne and Waldringfield, about six miles from the historic market town of Woodbridge. For those of you familiar with the river Deben, both the Ramsholt Arms and The Rocks can be seen from the cottage, on the opposite bank.

Although in a rural position, Eelsfoot Cottage is not isolated as the main farmhouse and another large property are close by but visitors are able to enjoy full privacy in the large garden, and uninterrupted views.   

After passing the church, the road becomes a private track which leads down to Eelsfoot Cottage - a detached, period, black weatherboarded property offering rural, character accommodation for five to six people.  

Going through the front door is like entering into a different world of peace and relaxation. A brick paved path goes round to the rear of the cottage and an entrance porch which has another old, heavy door leading to a stable door and into a spacious lobby cum utility room cum boot room with a dishwasher, washing machine and butler sink. A small storage room off has a tall fridge/freezer. Also off this entrance lobby is a cloakroom with an original Victorian blue and white lavatory with high level cistern and chain, and a wash basin.

The next room is the small, well fitted kitchen with an AGA, electric cooker, microwave and ample cooking and dining equipment. A good sized walk-in pantry provides extra food and drink storage space. Next, after passing another door to the garden which gives wonderful light and air on a sunny day, is the dining room with a refectory table easily for eight, and a woodburner. After the dining room is another garden door and porch with a pretty, mullion gothic shape window, and the staircase and then the sitting room. The pleasant sitting room has an open fire, four windows looking to the rear garden, a mini hi-fi cd/radio, a large flat wide screen television and DVD.

At the top of the straight stairs and to the right is a bedroom with the original wooden floorboards, a wash basin, and a white wrought iron double bed positioned between two windows looking across fields to the river.  

At the top of the stairs and to the left, the landing (mind your head!) leads to another bedroom at the far end of the house with a double, white metal frame bed. This particular bedroom has windows overlooking the rear garden and, to the front, to the river where you might be lucky enough to see seals basking in the mud in one of the creeks – binoculars required for best viewing or you can carefully walk down the river wall path as long as these gentle creatures are not disturbed in any way.

Also off the landing, is a bathroom with WC, wash basin and claw foot bath (with a push-on tap spray attachment for hair washing) and the third bedroom, with a single space-saver bed, which is a ‘walk-thru’ leading to the second double bedroom.

The top floor is in the roof space of the house so the walls lean in which means there is limited space to position wardrobes for clothes hanging but there are plenty of low level storage cupboards and drawers. The owners provide duvets, pillows, all bedlinen and towels – please bring teacloths with you.

Outside, the large garden is mainly laid to lawn with established shrubs, bushes and trees.   There is a garden table and chairs for alfresco dining and a natural, overgrown area for wildlife and for hiding away in.    Parents should note that there is a small, open pond in a corner of the garden and the glasshouse must not be entered at anytime, please.

As well as the woodburner in the dining room and the open fire in the sitting room, there are night storage radiators and electric panel heaters throughout. The wood shed in the garden is left unlocked so visitors may help themselves to fuel for the fire and woodburner but please remember to leave some money in the honesty box in the entrance lobby – as a guide, £10 if you have used both fires occasionally and £20 if you have used both every day. As mobile phone reception is very limited/non-existent, you may use the landline telephone but, again, please use the honesty box for any outgoing calls made.

Parking for at least two cars is available at the front of the house.

Clean, well behaved dogs and children are welcome but there is a no smoking policy inside Eelsfoot Cottage.     The entrance lobby has a tiled floor and is ideal for muddy wellies and for cleaning up grubby dogs – please ensure that wet and dirt are not carried through to the rest of the house. Eelsfoot Cottage is in a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of the lack of disturbance so please respect this. As long as dogs are cleared up after them in the garden, they can run free but they must be kept on a lead at all times when walking in the SSSI area and must remain on the foot paths.