Onderneming Barge - Chelmondiston, Suffolk, England - Sleeps 6+2

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Onderneming Barge is the perfect antidote to stress. The 100-year old barge has been sympathetically restored and converted into luxury holiday accommodation for up to 8 people. There’s even room for up to three well-behaved pets on board so no one needs to miss out on the fun. Onderneming is moored at Pin Mill on the River Orwell, and you won’t find a better location anywhere in Suffolk. The views are spectacular, and it’s conveniently close to a favourite local pub, the Butt and Oyster.

Managed by the National Trust, Pin Mill is a well-kept secret by those in the know. Start the day with a walk through the woods that flourish on the shoreline, which begins at the steps behind the pub. It’s a lovely walk whatever the season or the weather, especially when you know you have a sunny deck or a cosy cabin to greet you on your return. Make sure you have your binoculars handy as there are lots of different bird species who make the river and the riverbank their home. Pill Mill helped provide the detail for two of the “Swallows and Amazons” stories, and the view you see is virtually unchanged to that which inspired Arthur Ransome to write the classic British tales.

Pin Mill is tiny, with little more than an excellent pub, gallery, and yacht club. It’s half a mile from Chelmondiston village where there are a few shops and a post office, and five miles from Ipswich, which is a vibrant city with a fascinating past as the oldest continuously inhabited town in England, and a bright future thanks to its natural beauty and everlasting appeal.

You will certainly want to spend time exploring the Shotley Peninsula, named after Shotley village, which is around a 30 minute drive from Onderneming. Shotley Marina was built at the intersection of the rivers Orwell and Stour. There’s a pub there called The Shipwreck, which is ideal for lunch on a sunny day. It’s a fantastic place to walk and cycle, and thanks to the owners arranging for free bike use, it’s simple to do both.

Whether you spend your days exploring the area or sitting on the deck enjoying the magnificent 180-degree river views, the luxurious surrounding of Onderneming will make it difficult for you to ever leave.