The Waveney Valley is one of East Anglia’s undiscovered gems. The unspoiled river valley teems with wildlife and has excellent footpaths and cycling routes (there is an Ordnance survey footpath map in each cottage and suggested routes can be found on the Harleston website here).
Shopping
The local market town of Harleston, 2 miles away, provides wonderful shopping of a kind rarely found in England these days. There are lots of independent shops with excellent food and friendly service. Our favourite butcher, D A Browne & Son, has a board behind the counter naming the local farms from which different meat has come. Cook and Co is a great deli, with a wide range of local and not so local cheese (try the Black Bomber). Adnams, the Southwold-based brewer, also has a shop in Harleston with a wide selection of wines to suit every taste and pocket. With a greengrocer too (Jacksons) you really won't need to shop anywhere outside the town.
Restaurants
The village pub here in Mendham, The Sir Alfred Munnings, reopened in July 2011 after a major refurbishment and now has an excellent restaurant, open 7 days a week. Not only good, it's within walking-distance too! For those who wish to explore a little further, the renowned Fox & Goose is just 4 miles away in Fressingfield. St Peter's Brewery is an attraction in its own right (the brewery is open to visitors) and it also has a restaurant. Just a couple of miles from Mendham Mill The Dove Restaurant has excellent French country cooking. Good local pubs include The Bell in Wortwell, The Black Swan in Homersfield, The Cratfield Poacher and The Low House (aka The King's Head) in Laxfield (famous for not having a bar! It has a traditional 'tap room' instead). There are plenty of others too and we will willingingly advise you where you might enjoy eating.
Places to Visit
There are a large number of places to visit from Mendham Mill. These are just some of the places visitors have enjoyed:
Southwold and the East coast seaside towns of Warbleswick and Dunwich, just 35 minutes drive away. Southwold, with its pier and beach huts is a quintessentially English seaside town.
RSPB reserve at Minsmere
Boating on the Broads: either from Beccles, just 25 minutes away or from Wroxham.
Banham Zoo and BeWILDerwood are popular with families. Of interest to all ages, the Flixton Air Museum just four miles from Mendham has a surprising number of planes on display.
Norwich. The Cathedral City is 20 miles north of Mendham Mill (30 minutes drive)
Flatford Mill, Dedham and ‘Constable Country’ is 45 minutes away. Dedham is also home to Castle House Museum which became Sir Alfred Munnings’ home in later life and is now a museum with a large number of his paintings.
Some people prefer just to stay at Mendham Mill itself, fishing, canoeing or simply enjoying the grounds!