Jim Drew

Top Santé Editorial Director, Katy Sunnassee, visited The Windmill Suffolk for a birthday celebration to remember – here’s her review…

Want a secluded, romantic getaway with a difference? And to get some perspective on life while you’re at it? You’ll be able to do both while up above the clouds – almost! – at The Windmill Suffolk. It was once a working windmill but is now a converted, luxury B&B not far from the town of Lavenham in Suffolk.

Renovated and re-invented by husband-and-wife team Natalie and Steven. The Windmill is an award-winning, eye-catching hideaway just two miles from the medieval village of Lavenham.

Retreat to the skies with a relaxing getaway in the countryside…

Photo by Jean-Luc Benazet on Unsplash

Today marks the fifth birthday of The Windmill Suffolk – an architectural marvel converted over several years by a couple with a vision for a luxury holiday let.

Natalie and Steve Roberts bought the dilapidated windmill two miles north of Lavenham in 2008 when they moved to Suffolk.

Built in 1890, it had been used for storage for the past 100 or so years and was in a state of rapid deterioration, meaning something needed to be done fast.

Mr and Mrs Windmill are excited to be included in the Extraordinary Escapes Book- Unique and Wild Getaways Across the UK

Extraordinary Escapes uncovers the hidden treasures that the UK has to offer, featuring unique and characterful holiday homes from the hit Channel 4 series, plus many more. These incredible getaways showcase England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including some of the most stunning areas of Suffolk, Kent, the Cotswolds, Devon, Cornwall and Norfolk.

Dotted across the UK countryside are beacons of the past, their sails upflung against the skyline, telling tales of when wind powered our food industry and life was pretty darn tough.

Many stand in ruins, others have been lovingly restored by enthusiasts and a few are now modernised, adapted and converted for luxury living.

Suffolk is home to some of the best Airbnbs in the UK, stretching right across the county.

There are hundreds of stays for holidaymakers or short-trip travellers to visit, ranging from private single bedrooms to entire guesthouses.

If you are looking for a short-trip away, here are some of the best Airbnbs to visit in Suffolk.

NO.1. THE WINDMILL SUFFOLK, COCKFIELD, SUFFOLK:

Fancy staying in a windmill? There’s an adults-only one for hire in deepest Suffolk. Set at the end of owner Natalie’s garden, it’s an impressive-looking structure that was one of the last built in England. Today, the millstone and machinery have made way for furniture and TVs cleverly curved to fit the building.