Colchester

Ancient Roman walls rise from the modern streets, but venture beyond Colchester's historic core and you'll find yourself in proper Suffolk countryside - rolling farmland dotted with timber-framed villages that time forgot. This is Constable country at its most unspoilt.

The landscape here shifts between gentle valleys and wooded hills, with Mark Wood and Bushy Park Wood offering excellent walks through ancient broadleaf forest. Each village has its own character - Kersey with its famous water splash, Polstead where the infamous Red Barn Murder took place, and Boxford with its magnificent church and war memorial that draws quiet contemplation.

Stoke-by-Nayland stands out as arguably the most photogenic village in Suffolk. Its church tower appears in several Constable paintings, and the village sign at its heart tells stories of centuries past. National Trust's Thorington Hall adds a touch of grandeur to the area, though it's the simple pleasures that work best here - a pint at a proper village pub, a ramble along Hadleigh's Riverside Walk, or simply driving the narrow lanes between settlements.

Getting here is straightforward from London via the A12, with Hadleigh serving as the main market town for supplies and amenities. The area feels properly rural despite being within striking distance of Ipswich and Colchester.

Staying at one of the local holiday parks makes perfect sense for exploring this corner of Suffolk. You're well-placed for both the heritage attractions of Colchester and the unspoilt countryside that surrounds it - plus there's something deeply satisfying about waking up in a landscape that's barely changed since Constable set up his easel here two centuries ago.