Driving through rural Suffolk in the late afternoon really forces you to slow down and enjoy the scenery. If the narrow, hedge-lined B-roads don’t do it, then trundling in the wake of some huge farm vehicle will.

My destination was an escape designed to make guests switch off from the plugged-in modern world; my brief was to see whether a short break in nature could be as good for the soul as a full week away, and as my husband and I pulled in to Blyth Rise Stays, things immediately looked hopeful.

Two wrought-iron gates swung open at the touch of a keypad and we crunched down a long, pebbled avenue bordered with willow, Douglas fir and hornbeam.

Our accommodation for the next two nights was a 10m-long Igluhut from Estonia named Larch; an ingeniously engineered take on a studio-sized living space, clad in spruce shingles and blending in beautifully among the 2,000 native trees planted on Blyth Rise’s peaceful 10-acre site.

Enjoying a sense of splendid isolation

There are six Igluhuts in total, all named after those same native trees, but each is thoughtfully positioned to give the illusion of isolation. Inside, a double bed takes up a quarter of the space, with a large window looking straight out at the surrounding woodland.

There’s space for a couple of chairs, a snug kitchen and at the far end, a shower and toilet. Outside, a fire pit, barbecue and comfy chairs are ready to use. In other words, it’s the perfectly cosy set-up for a singleton or couple who want to escape urbanity.

And I definitely took advantage. Due to our late arrival, the first evening was spent lounging in the Igluhut, playing Scrabble (board games kindly provided) and enjoying locally made sourdough Capricciosa pizza – I’d preordered these so they were waiting in Larch’s small freezer, ready to cook. The only wifi on site is near the wooden reception building, so with intermittent phone signal, I had a digital detox too.

As night fell, the lack of light pollution was astounding. Wrapped up in blankets, we lost track of time watching the Perseid meteor shower streak across the sky, more stars revealing themselves as our eyes adjusted to the darkness. Falling asleep had never been so easy.

Morning rituals are better in nature

There is an honesty shop next to reception, a five-minute walk away from Larch, for guests who need to pick up dinner, drinks, snacks or even coffee. We chose a bag of locally roasted Old Spike beans for our morning brew, which was taken on the patio furniture while enjoying the leaves dappling the sunlight and rustling with a slight breeze.

Blyth Rise co-founder, Katie Rixon, had invited us to a 9.30am yoga session, held on a wooden platform near the site’s six lakeside eco-lodges. There she led a gently invigorating practice, adaptable to her guests’ varying levels of expertise and ability. I often feel drowsy during the earthing stage of yoga, but this time I seemed hyperaware of bird calls, the sunlight twinkling on to my skin through the trees and scents of pollen and chlorophyll all around us.

Afterwards, Katie gave us a quick tour of a lodge, all of which have two bedrooms and are arranged around a beautiful still lake filled with reeds and lilypads. These cabins are suited for small groups, but Katie explained that Blyth Rise is adults only, with no pets or children allowed, to maintain its tranquil atmosphere and open access to nature.

“We can’t really change that policy because we’d have to change the entire site because of the nature and the wildlife,” she said. “There’s so much around – if you spend half an hour sitting around the lake, there’s rabbits and water voles, not just the ducks, and if you have a dog running around it changes the vibe.”

From family escape to holiday business

Inspired by her words, we did spend a leisurely hour walking around the lake, exploring a small artificial folly and enjoying the sounds and smells of the woodland. The family’s original plan was to rewild this section of their farm and build a lodge each for her parents and their five children to use as holiday homes. However, in 2018 they changed tack, invested in the Igluhuts and opened Blyth Rise Stays as a holiday business in April 2021.

Former London-dweller Katie “wants to help people make the right choice” about their impact on the environment, “and I think that goes beyond washing out your yoghurt pots”. That’s why the honesty shop is stocked with with Suffolk produce, she recommends places to eat in nearby Laxfield rather than the bigger-name restaurants in Bury St Edmonds or Norwich, and why Blyth Rise Stays has a transfer deal with a taxi firm to help guests arrive by train, no car needed.

To make the stay even more relaxing, guests can book massage and beauty therapist Amanda Smith to give treatments inside the huts or lodges, but we wiled away the afternoon enjoying local sausage rolls (thanks, honesty shop!) and reading in the sunshine, then strolled into Laxfield for a pint at The King’s Head, which serves drinks from a traditional taproom rather than a bar.

One last treat: a woodland sauna

Our foray into the outside world didn’t last long through – we had a woodland sauna session to attend! Two sauna sessions are included in each bookings and although the exterior looked rustic – it was the same design as the Igluhuts – inside was a traditional hot-rock Nordic sauna that would fit in at any high-end spa.

Emerging after 20 minutes rather glowy, my husband and I competed to stay longest under the icy outside shower: I was victorious, managing a full 10 seconds. Our snuggly towelling robes offered a welcoming embrace for the walk back to Larch and a Scrabble rematch on our final night.

It was with regret that we packed up our things to leave the following morning – and yes, I can confirm 48 hours was just as effective at recharging the batteries as a week away!

Open March-December. Prices from £395 for a two-night stay in the woodland Igluhuts.

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS:

Laxfield’s charming village centre is a 10-minute walk from Blyth Rise Stays. It has two characterful pubs, The King’s Head and The Royal Oak, both of which serve food. If visiting in the summer, there is also a small museum inside a fantastically preserved guildhall building.

HOW TO GET THERE:
By car: Blyth Rise Stays is just outside Laxfield in Suffolk, post code IP13 8HF. It’s a 2hr45min drive from central London.

By train: The closest train station is Diss, which is on a direct line from London Liverpool Street station, or local connections via Ipswich. Blyth Rise Stays is a 20-minute taxi ride from Diss, and Katie can organise a special rate with a local firm.