What the Press Said   100 Cool Cottages: Black Sheep Cottage. it's a textbook conversion. Take one half of a sixteenth century cottage. Accentuate everything ancient and textured. Contrast with the odd piece of modern furniture. And serve up with a flourish of chocolatey colour. Outside, there's a shared orchard and pond, a private garden and a large chunk of rural Suffolk. Sunday Times Travel, January 2010
Black Sheep and White Sheep are two cottages in the village of Peasenhall. Dating back to 1560, their interiors blend antiques with contemporary design and with oak timbers and floorboards. There's a plentiful supply of books, maps and games - and wifi if you can't leave the 21st century behind. White Sheep cottage has a large inglenook fireplace and a double ended tub. From the cosy bedrooms you can gaze out over the church and village, or onto the rolling Suffolk countryside. Independent, October 2009

A beautifully restored pair of ancient village cottages, with character filled, yet uber-chic white, chocolate and cream boutique interiors. Old and new are in perfect harmony at Sheep Cottages, a pretty pair of timber framed 16th century houses, a short drive from the Heritage Coast. Black Sheep and White Sheep, sleeping 4 and 6 respectively, have both been restored immaculately, the interiors keeping bags of ancient charm and re-using much of the original material. Wood and stone, centuries old, combine with shades of white, cream and chocolate, characterful beams, coir, stone and oak flooring to give a super-stylish interior. Stressed out city dwellers will love it: a break in the country without sacrificing style. But so too will foodies, twitchers, walkers or cyclists as there's plenty to do in the surrounding area, from coastal rambles to bird watching and country bike rides. If it's shopping you're after, there are numerous antique shops and art galleries within striking distance and keen gardeners will find a tempting array of local nurseries. Alternatively, just sit and relax on your private terrace or by the pond in the wild flower meadow. Angela Linforth for i-escape, 2009

Guestbook 2010

"What a gorgeous cottage!.....perfect for a New Year break, and the snow made it even prettier. We loved everything about our stay - the stylish interior, the history of the cottages, the lovely village, the log fire...and the excellent and attentive customer service - all the more impressive considering you were thousands of miles away!" Kate, Michele, Frances and James

"Thank you so much for letting us have the pleasure of staying in your beautiful cottage!....it was like home from home and we didn't want to leave..." Kelly & Tim xx

"Enjoyed a lovely few days in this fantastic cottage - so cosy with the log fire - and super visits to Framlingham Castle, Aldeburgh and Southwold" Sam, Adam & Ethan

"We have had a fabulous short break.....trips to Southwold, Thorpeness and Aldeburgh great fun"......Carol ......."I love your plays. Aspesholie the cudlys at the top of the stairs Love Astrid :-) :-) :-) :-) Age 5"......"we had a fantastic time we went to many beaches My favourite was Southwold I loved this places name Felix aged eight" Carol, Astrid & Felix

"We have loved our week in Black sheep Cottage...you really know how to make your guests happy! Every detail so carefully thought out - the lovely bedrooms with comfy beds and crisp bedlinen...the 'gun room' wardrobe, masses of space...the steep stair with ancient hand hold, and the practical kitchen.....the cottage is perfect.......and Suffolk has been well worth exploring.......so thank you Sue, you have a great talent for making people happy in your houses" Alastair & Olivia Thomson

"Very nice cottage with loads of attention to detail and space-saving. Thoroughly enjoyed our stay...good location for the many attractions in the area...and lots of good places to eat." Ann, Neill, Sarah & Robert, Durham

"Lovely place to stay - have enjoyed local produce & people, very friendly!.....with so much thanks! Jo, Miranda, JJ, London SE19

"We have spent a very enjoyable time here. The cottage while offering all modern conveniences affords a feeling of living well in the past" David & Mavis Grossman

"We've had a lovely time. The house is beautiful. We love the wobbly floors and ceilings and it's great to have real fires. Great walks with beautiful moody weather and great light...see you again" Billie, Frank & parents

"What a wonderful cottage! We had a great weekend at Black Sheep Cottage....lovely and warm, with everything you could need...we all felt at home.." The Simons party

"We had a lovely time again. This property is an absolute pleasure to stay in. With great character, it has all the style & comfort for a fantastic break. The location was perfect for us - we wanted to be close enough to the Heritage Coast but far enough away to avoid other tourists! Peasenhall is a beautiful village and Black Sheep Cottage a fabulous find!" Kate, Shell, Frances and James

"We have had a lovely break in this beautiful cottage. The kids loved their dinky room and we all slept like logs.." Fiona, Darren, Jean, Brian, Isabella and Tommy

"Many, many thanks for letting us stay in your beautiful cottage. Everything has been catered for helping us have a wonderful break. See you next year" Dave & Lyn Anderson

"We have had a wonderful time staying in White Sheep Cottage. It is a very beautiful house in a gorgeous village...thank you very much to Sue for our lovely holiday..." Gary, Joanne and Claudia Towle, Nottingham

"Super cottage, lived up to expectations....thoroughly recommend Southwold for the whole family...Aldeburgh, Jimmy's Farm, Lavenham....beach at Dunwich...lovely coastal walks at Orford." Jason, Alison, Grace & Harry, Solihull

"This is a beautiful cottage and we would definitely come back, we would write more but we are in a hurry!" Jane Family and Hal

"Lovely cottage....favourite spot Walberswick, especially for crabbing, great pub...enjoyed Southwold, Aldeburgh, cycling round Snape. The Roberts and Whitesides

"What a delightful cottage! It made a perfect stopover for our visiting daughter...they go back with happy, lasting memories of this well-equipped and pretty cottage and friendly people....thank you, thank you!" The Harringtons and The Afflecks

"Wonderful cottage made for the perfect get away holiday. Exquisitely decorated, we really thought of it as home for our too brief stay....definitely plan to come back (if we can get Mum away in the first place!) Thank you! Trudi, Jean and Jessica

"We love Sheep Cottages, thank you so much for sharing them with us. We have enjoyed spending time here relaxing....and out and about exploring the beautiful unspoilt countryside....brunch trip aboard the Lady Florence at Orford and many delightful meals in the numerous pubs....Thank you Sue" Alan, Diane, Lee & Tom x

Guestbook 2009

"We just wanted you to know how much we enjoyed staying in your fabulous cottage. Not only does it look extremely stylish, but it is also very comfortable - just the right size for a family. The location is fantastic ... we'd love to come back" Patricia, Daniel, Mia and Hannah Nathan

"Thank you so much for the loan of Black Sheep Cottage; it is truly beautiful and an absolute credit to you. We've had a wonderful and relaxing time ... fantastic place, home from home, genuine character in spades ... loved all the little extra touches, fab". Shelley, John and Jessie Morgan

"We really enjoyed staying in such an historic house. Every care taken to make our stay enjoyable and comfortable. A wonderful place from which to explore Suffolk". Len and Fran Morley, Leeds

"We absolutely loved the cottage and had a wonderful weekend ... Peasenhall is a lovely village". The Pitcher Family

"We had a lovely relaxing week in this delightful cottage visiting Southwold, Aldeburgh, Sutton Hoo, Framlingham Castle and Colchester Zoo". The Percival Family

"Thank you Sue for "sharing" your wonderful cottage with us. We all had a great time here and think it'a a fabulous place to stay. Quiet enough, away from the crowds in Aldeburgh and Southwold, but near enough to get there quickly!" Lynne, Peter, Imogen (8), Theo (6) Chambers

"Like everyone else we have had a great holiday. Your cottage has been superbly refurbished and is a credit to you. We have never been to Suffolk before and have been truly surprised by the beauty and diversity of the area". Peter and Lynne (York)

"Loved staying in this 16th century cottage ... so lovingly converted ... a very relaxing holiday" Terry and Jude

"We've had a lovely week ... nice cottage, everything we needed ... very relaxing and Suffolk an unexpected gem" Fred and Jo Richardson

"What a gorgeous cottage! This was perfect for a New Year break and the snow made it even prettier. We loved everything about our stay - the stylish interior, the history of the cottages, the lovely village, the log fire ... the excellent and attentive customer service ... we would always come back to Blackie and will definitely recommend it to our friends" Kate, Michele, Francis and James

"Beautifully equipped and furnished cottage ... the bed was the most comfortable we have ever slept in ... a charming and well thought out holiday cottage ... have driven through Peasenhall many times over the years but to actually stay here was a great joy"Jenny and Michael Finch

"A very comfortable and stylish cottage in a magical place ... the gorgeous weather has allowed us to sit out in the garden and enjoy the wild flower meadow and the call of the swifts - perfect ... just wish we had another week!" Andy, Elaine and Hector Eynon

"A very enjoyable holiday in a comfortable and very well equipped cottage ... we only wish we had another week"

"A fabulous holiday. White Sheep has been a great place to stay. We had a really lovely time. Thank you" The Hortons

"A lovely holiday spent just pottering about ... beautiful cottage, fabulous kitchen design - perfect! Beautiful gardens - enjoyed many meals al fresco". The Needhams

"We have spent a lovely weekend in this lovely cottage ... everything you could possibly need has been provided. Thank you" The Prossers and The Robinsons

"We had a great time at White Sheep Cottage and are wondering where you got the beds - they were very very comfy!" Mike and Siobhan Bond

"Our stay was a delight and we're looking forward to visiting Black Sheep again in the not too distant future". The Longhursts

looking for some sun...?

www.thegecko.org.uk