High Lodge
Luxury self-catering lakeside holiday lodges set in 120 acres of tranquil Suffolk woodland
10 Key Facts about High Lodge
Described as Suffolk’s premier sporting, leisure and hospitality venue, High Lodge offers a range of leisure and sporting activities including fishing, clay pigeon shooting, archery and rifle shooting as well as being a delightful venue to crash out and take things easy within easy reach of Southwold, Aldeburgh and Constable Country.
Created more than 30 years ago by 14 times FITASC Sporting World, European and British Shooting Champion, John Bidwell, High Lodge nestles amongst 120 acres of tranquil woodland on the Suffolk coast and is home to an array of first class facilities including luxury lodges with private hot tubs, world class shooting, fishing, an inviting restaurant and clubhouse and state of the art function suite.
The fishing lakes
The Day Ticket Lake at High Lodge
For anglers and their families the obvious attraction is the fishing on the two lakes, one of which is situated in front of the holiday lodges, and is reserved exclusively for the use of guests staying in the Lakeview and Waters Edge Lodges who also have use of the Day Ticket Lake. Guests staying in the Claywood Lodges have the use of the Day Ticket lake which is also available on day ticket for local anglers. Both lakes hold a mix of coarse fish including carp to over 15Ibs, tench, roach, rudd and perch to ensure decent sport throughout the year.
Fishing does not require pre booking although anglers must have a valid Environment Agency rod licence to enable them to purchase a fishing ticket from the site. Day Tickets cost £7.00 whilst Short Break tickets for three or four days unlimted fishing cost £15.00 and a weekly ticket covering seven days unlimited fishing costs £20.00. Although High Lodge does not sell bait, there is an Angling Direct tackle shop at Beccles and an Angling Centre at Saxmundham.
Further details of the fishing can be seen lower down the page.
The Lodges
A Willow Lodge and Hot Tub
Set amidst 120 acres of tranquil woodland and delightful Suffolk countryside, the traditional and luxury self catering holiday lodges boast an excellent location close to the renowned coastal hotspots of Southwold, Aldeburgh and RSPB Minsmere.
High Lodge offers two locations on site for our holiday lodges – the Lakeview and Waters Edge lodges overlook the well-stocked fishing lake whilst the Claywood lodges are the closest to the facilities and overlook countryside. Whichever you chose, the 19 lodges offer a scenic and peaceful retreat whilst remaining within easy access of our clubhouse and activities.
The lodges offers either one, two or three bedrooms, sleeping between two and six people and have private balconies with views over the lake or open countryside. The Waters Edge and Claywood lodges have their own private outdoor hot tubs and all come complete with their own garden furniture. All lodges are non-smoking.
Each lodge varies slightly in its description and floor plan, but each lodge has a hairdryer, iron and ironing board, tea and coffee starter pack plus a complimentary sweet treat from the cafe! Guests will be provided with an initial supply of toilet roll, soap, dishwasher tablets, jay cloth, washing up sponge and bin bag. Cots and highchairs are available for an extra charge but must be pre booked prior to your stay. Guests are required to provide their own cot bedding.
In addition, High Lodge offers a range of optional extras for guests. Whether it’s champagne, wine, a bucket of beers and cider, a bunch of flowers or even a luxury cream tea hamper on arrival, guests can add additional extras either when they are booking their stay on-line or during their stay by telephoning 01986 784347.
How to book
All lodges can be booked directly from High Lodge’s own website anytime day or night. After checking availability on the High Lodge website. When checking lodge availability online ensure you select your check in day as below:
Mondays – select 4, 7 or 14 nights
Fridays – select 3, 7 or 14 nights
Saturdays – select 7 or 14 nights
Alternatively, High Lodges can be telephoned directly during opening hours whilst enquiries about initial dates and prices can be made by emailing the venue.
Dining at High Lodge
High Lodge offers a variety of dining
Whilst there is a good selection of pubs and restaurants within easy driving distance, High Lodge offers a variety of dining every day including a selection of traditional, vegetarian and vegan breakfasts and baps, Light and Full Lunches and regular ‘Meal Deals’. It also has a comprehensive range of drinks and refreshments.
Other activities
Archery
In addition to the fishing, guests can enjoy a variety of other sports including archery with experience sessions available for those who have never tried the sport before. With target practice under full instruction, the sessions are suitable for both complete beginners or those who have tried archery before. All sessions are for a maximum of 12 people, last 90 minutes and include all equipment required.
Air rifle shooting
Set in natural woodlands, the High Lodge air rifle range offers five ranges with field targets on each. Four of the ranges have a distance of 20-40 metres and will house two people on each range. Their new long air rifle range is up to 80 metres long and will house up to four people at any one time.
Air Rifle Shooting at High Lodge is suitable for those aged eight and over. Guests can use their own air rifle or air pistol as long as it meets certain standards whilst air rifles are available to hire for two hour practice slots. High Lodge also provides one hour air rifle instruction with all equipment provided.
Clay Pigeon Shooting
Established 40 years ago, the shooting ground at High Lodge has been voted a top UK venue by visiting shooters in a national poll for outstanding facilities. Catering for all types of shooters from beginners to experienced, a team of professional instructors offer the opportunity to experience and learn more about this fascinating sport.
Anyone with a licence and their own equipment is welcome to use the facilities and High Lodge offers a wide range of targets around the ground suitable for all levels of shooters. Gun hire is also available to those with a shotgun licence. For more information visit https://www.highlodge.co.uk/clay-shooting/practice-clays/.
Clay shooting instruction is also available. Led by APSI qualified instructors High Lodge has a range of instruction and experiences available whether you are a complete beginner or looking to improve on your current technique. Full details can be found at https://www.highlodge.co.uk/clay-shooting/clay-shooting-instruction/.
The fishing at High Lodge
Lodge Residents’ Lake
The Lodge Residents’ Lake
Reserved exclusively for High Lodge residents, the Residents’ Lake provides fishing on your doorstep for a mix of species including common and mirror carp to over 15lbs but averaging about 5lbs, as well as tench to about 3lbs, roach and rudd to just over 1lb and perch to 2lbs.
Residents’ Lake is long and narrow and at about an acre in size has two islands and beds of lilies which give anglers features to fish to. Each lodge has its own dedicated hard standing peg although guests can fish from neighbouring pegs if the lodges are unoccupied.
The lake is typically about six feet deep with a flat and even clay bottom and banks which drop straight down.
Most anglers fishing for the carp use a pole or Method feeder with luncheon meat and sweetcorn being the most popular baits whilst those after the silvers opt to fish the waggler or pole using sweetcorn, meat, bread or banded 4mm or 6mm pellets loose feeding with a mix of groundbait and free offerings.
Day Ticket Lake
Day Ticket Lake is the water visitors see on the right hand side as they enter the High Lodge site and is available for both guests staying in the lodges and local anglers or those staying at other accommodation in the area.
Although smaller than Residents’ Lake at about half an acre in size, it offers 14 platform pegs and is stocked with a similar range of fish including common and mirror carp to 10lbs but averaging about 2lbs to 3lbs, tench to 2lbs, perch to about 1lb and roach and rudd to 12ozs.
As with Residents’ Lake, most anglers fish luncheon meat or sweetcorn on the pole or Method feeder for the carp with bread punch and sweetcorn proving very effective for the roach and rudd. However, fishing maggots tends to attract nuisance bites from the smaller roach and rudd although they are a good bait for anglers who simply want to catch a lot of fish and are not worried about what size they are.
Day Ticket lake is shallower than Residents’ Lake at between four and five feet deep with natural cover including reeds and lily beds.
Prices
Fishing ticket prices
| Day ticket | |
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£7.00
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| Day ticket | £7.00 | Three/four day ticket |
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£15.00
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| Three/four day ticket | £15.00 | Seven day ticket |
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£20.00
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| Seven day ticket | £20.00 |
Rules and conditions
- No fires or BBQs
- Barbless hooks only
- No night fishing
- No groundbait – loose feed only
- No bolt rigs – sliding rigs only
- Fish from designated pegs
- No litter
- Unhooking mats must be used
- Under 12s must be supervised by an adult
- Keep nets only in competitions
- No dogs
- One rod per angler
- One hook per rig
- No cat meat or nuts
- All fish to be returned ASAP
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