Enchanting England: The Suffolk Party

Sometimes a painting says so much more than a photograph. Gainsborough's portrait of Mr and Mrs Andrews shows you a mid-eighteenth century Suffolk which has little changed since. This is my home county. It is England’s big sky county and it is that part of the south-east that has, miraculously, been left largely untouched, unmodernised. The walking is relatively flat so this is a good choice for people who do not like hills ... though there may be an occasional slope!

The coast line has much shingle and stories. Half of it has been swept into the sea over the past centuries leading to stories of how one can hear the bells toll from the sea depths at certain times of the year. It is a coastline with fantastic character and an inspiration for Britten's operas Peter Grimes and Billy Budd.

In many ways Suffolk will be exactly what you expect: historic and atmospheric pubs such as The Crown in Bildeston; quintessentially English villages such as medieval Lavenham and picturesque Dedham; cooked breakfasts and cream teas; half-timbered houses and oak-fringed, wet meadows. We manage to cram it all in.

Yet in other ways it will confound your expectations for over the years we have found that the food and local beers, produced by microbreweries, have only got better and better. The many gastropubs have transformed the reputation of English dining and we promise you that your palate will be satiated! There is exceptional work here. You have two top chefs appearing this week: Régis Crépy of The Great House, Lavenham and Chris Lee of The Crown, Bildeston. You will not be disappointed!

The beauty and untouched quality of Suffolk comes from the dearth in industry since the medieval days when the wool trade made this county one of the richest in England. Industry can so easily change the face of a countryside. Kersey, pictured here, was famous for its cloth and gets mentioned in Shakespeare's 'The Taming of the Shrew'. The extraordinary quality of richness of Suffolk's flat land lends itself to exceptional quality of farming and is the reason why you eat so well here with local, well sourced produce.

The coast is wild and wonderful. This is an erosive coast. Tennyson's words often come to me here " Break break break On thy cold gray stones Oh sea! And I would that my tongue could utter The thoughts that arise in me." There is somethig so special about wandering along a windswept coastline with the swell of the sea and the terns and their beautiful aerobatics.

The church of Covehithe has been a spot for romantics for many years. Painted by Cotman, Turner, Piper and much of the Norfolk School. It sits precariously close above the sands. A symbol to the ravages of time.

I don't think anybody knows abourt Chelsworth! It is just another of those gorgeous Suffolk timeless villages that we pass through and enjoy. Totally remarkable yet never remarked!

The ethereal angels that span the nave of Blythburgh, Cathedral of the Marshes, are just one example of the exquisite beauty within these flintstone wool churches. They are called wool churches simply because the affluence of medieval Suffolk came from the wool trade. A quintessential part of the character of this picturesque Suffolk landscape.