Back in mid-July, we embarked for Hintlesham Hall on a fine Sunday morning, expectations high for a wonderful four-day trip in our E-type, good company and an England European Championship final. The 200-mile road trip from Worcestershire did not disappoint; we avoided motorways, enjoying the A- and B-roads and the waves we received in the towns and villages we passed through, decorated with their St George’s flags.
Hintlesham Hall also did not disappoint, a country house set in a lovely Suffolk valley, showing off its early Georgian facade around its Elizabethan bones. Such houses do, of course, have their idiosyncrasies. Ours was no electricity in parts of the hotel for the
first evening, which caused some consternation – not least, how we could all watch the big game?
We arrived and parked in our reserved Backwater Tours area alongside a good range of Jaguars comprising five E-types (S1 and S2 Roadsters and FHCs) and four XKs (140 and 150 FHC and DHCs). We were welcomed by our old friend Paul Trill, who was host on behalf of Backwater Tours.
After a tour overview and explanation of tulips from Paul, we had an early dinner (brought forward so we could all endure the football), and the hotel staff showed initiative and innovation to overcome the electrical challenges by providing a wonderful dinner and streaming the big match with the aid of extension leads.
Our first run, the Suffolk Village Run, was 70 miles through the glorious Suffolk countryside with a coffee stop at the Five Bells in Cavendish, where the village green provided a perfect location for a group photo. The second run, the Suffolk Coastal Run, was 110 miles around the coast including a trip to Sutton Hoo and its amazing Saxon treasures, as well as the beautiful seaside villages of Orford (in the top 20 most beautiful villages in UK and Ireland, according to Condé Nast), Aldeburgh and Dunwich, before finishing at Southwold with its traditional pier.
For the penultimate day of the trip, we had glorious sunshine for our Constable Run to Flatford Mill, the National Trust homage to John Constable. We had an erudite yet entertaining tour of his life and works, and then headed for a group light lunch at Dedham boatyard. Although we had reserved parking, some of the locals moved the cones, which led to some interesting double parking and manoeuvrings. Our final destination was to the lovely house and gardens of Melford Hall, where Beatrix Potter developed some of her stories and characters for the Hall’s family.
At the departure dinner, Julie and I, as ‘spot the village sign’ competition winners, were awarded a fine box of Hintlesham Hall chocolates, shared of course with our new friends (no more calories needed!), and we thanked our hosts Paul and Linda Trill, and the hotel staff, for making our stay so enjoyable. A great trip with fine cars, good food, scenic drives, good company and just enough culture.
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