Located at the entrance to the Alde Estuary leading up to Orford and Aldeburgh, Shingle Street is an isolated hamlet situated on a shingle beach facing the bracing North Sea.  It comprises an oddment of houses huddled along the beach beside one of the majestic Martello Towers which are dotted along the Suffolk coastline. The flat, panoramic landscapes of the sea and the beach to the front and the grassy marshlands to the rear provide vast expanses of sky and great views. This remote location is an ideal base for those wishing to get away from it all and to take in the abundance of fresh air. There are some marked coastal paths for walking and cycling, glorious views of the land and sky to photograph or paint, the woods and forests are only a short drive away, together with the RSPB reserve at Havergate Island, Orford. It is strongly recommended not to swim in the sea due to the swirling currents caused by the sea meeting the river and the spit. The nearest shop is in the village of Hollesley about two miles away and Alderton, about 3 miles further down the coast, offers a couple of little shops and a good pub. There are also good pubs at Shottisham and Ramsholt within a few miles of Shingle Street. The market town of Woodbridge is about 7 miles away.

Windy Ridge is located right on the beach and is a wonderful base for a holiday at any time of year - there are French doors to let in the lovely summer air and a woodburner and open fire in the open plan kitchen/dining/living area to provide cosy comfort in the winter. Windy Ridge is a single storey property offering spacious and comfortable holiday accommodation for not more than six people.   

From the grass parking area, a path leads through a gate, into the garden and round to the front door. The large entrance hall has plenty of space for storing wellies and coats and a ‘drop down’ airer for drying beach towels.  Off this entrance hall is a double bedroom with views of the grassy marshlands and a smaller side window looking towards the beach and sea. Also at this end of the house, is a bedroom with two single beds with a similar beach view, a shower room with WC, wash basin, shaver socket and shower cubicle and an inner lobby where a washer/dryer lives.

A door with a unique stainglass window goes from the entrance hall into the main living area where there is a fitted kitchen area with an Aga (switched off in the summer), a built in oven, grill and microwave, two electric hobs, a dishwasher, larder fridge (there is a large fridge/freezer in the garage) and plenty of cooking and dining equipment. A dining table which comfortably seats 6 is in the centre this large living/congregating area and, to the beach end, is the soft seating area with a long sofa in front of the open fire and beside the French windows which lead out onto the beach. There is a woodburner close to the dining table for cosy, long, lazy meals. Also provided is a television, DVD, mini hi-fi system and a library of books and films. Off this main living area is a double bedroom which overlooks the beach, a bathroom with bath and a hand held telephone shower for hair washing purposes, WC and wash basin and, the piece de la resistance, a ladder going up into a lookout tower with fabulous 360 degree views. The lookout tower has benches with loads of cushions on two sides and a desk and chair look out across the beach, over the sea to the horizon – the ladder is naturally very steep and extreme care must be taken at all times and the trap door must be closed to cover the ‘hole’ when using the lookout tower.

From the dining area, a further set of French windows go out to an alfresco dining area which leads to the rest of the garden and further outside seating – loungers and a BBQ are stored in the garage which visitors are welcome to use but please remember to put them back under cover should the weather change and at the end of your holiday. There is a further small area of garden to the beach side of Windy Ridge which is enclosed by a picket fence.

The owners provide duvets, pillows and all bedlinen but please remember to bring towels and teacloths with you. As well as the open fire and the woodburner, there is a night storage heater in one of the bedrooms and some free standing electric radiators.  Children are welcome but please remember that the beach and sea are right on the door step and one, well behaved, clean dog is also allowed.   Smoking is not permitted inside Windy Ridge.