"Adelaar" is a beautiful Dutch barge, built in 1906, updated and modernised. She is located on the edge of the beautiful River Orwell in Suffolk, 5 minutes walk from the riverside village of Pin Mill.
She is in an absolutely stunning location - not a place for party people, but is tranquil, atmospheric and scenic. She only floats for a few hours every month, and even then the water is only a couple of foot deep !
10% of your booking fee will be donated to a great charity - WaterAid.
The space
Adelaar is a static houseboat on the saltings at the edge of the beautiful River Orwell in Suffolk. She is on her own - no neighbours ! Pin Mill, with its historic Butt and Oyster pub, is only 5 - 10 minutes walk via a footpath along the riverbank.
Guest access
Adelaar has a modern shower room, kitchen / living room, wheelhouse for lounging with great views, and two outdoor seating areas. The master cabin has a standard double bed. The bunk cabin has a double bed and a single bunk bed. The cabins are compact but very comfortable.
Adelaar has an outdoor cockpit where you can sit and enjoy the views, and there is also a patio-style seating area on the ancient wooden barge that Adelaar is moored alongside.
Adelaar has a new modern shower room, kitchen and central heating. The kitchen is fully equipped with a fridge, hob (but no oven) and table and chairs.
There is a radio / CD player / MP3, a selection of books and a pair of binoculars for looking at the bird life and watching the boats go by. There is a good mobile phone signal but no Wi-Fi or TV. (Wi-Fi is available at the nearby pub if you are desperate !). Also, PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS NO MAINS ELECTRICITY as the electricity comes from batteries charged by solar panels, but there is a USB charger for your phone.
There is free parking in a nearby car park - its 10 minutes walk away from Adelaar, on a good footpath along the river bank. We have a small trolley for your luggage and we are usually on hand to help.
Other things to note
Houseboat “Adelaar” - Getting Ready For Your Visit
Welcome
Adelaar (Dutch for eagle) is a classic Dutch barge known as a tjalk. Adelaar’s riveted iron hull was built in 1906, and she was originally a sailing barge whose main cargo was potatoes from the fields around the canals and estuaries of Friesland, in the north-east of the Netherlands. She was converted to a houseboat in around 1975.
We bought her in Holland in 2016, shipped her back to Suffolk and restored and updated the interior to create a comfortable houseboat in an idyllic location.
Your Hosts – Contact Details
Adelaar is owned by Simon and Sheila, who live nearby, so we should normally be available to sort out any problems. Please feel free to contact us if necessary - I will send you contact details.
Parking, And How To Find Adelaar
Adelaar is a short walk from the hamlet of Pin Mill on the Shotley peninsula, in the heart of the Suffolk Coasts & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. To find Pin Mill:
• head south east from Ipswich on the B1456
• go through the villages of Freston and Woolverstone
• when in Chelmondiston you will see a signpost to the left to Pin Mill
• go almost to the bottom of Pinmill Road, turn left into the small public car park
• we have a private parking space that you can use free of charge - lift the barrier and it is the last space on the right, at the far end of the car park
Please make sure you park inside the white line in the parking space – they give parking penalty tickets if you cross the line to the adjacent space !
There is a hand trolley at our car parking space (combination lock number will be sent to you) to make it easier for you to get your bags to Adelaar – but its best to travel light.
There is a parking permit disc in the hand trolley, in a plastic bag. Just put this in your car windscreen, and leave it in the trolley when you leave.
We will normally meet you in the car park and show you to Adelaar. If we are not able to do so, its easy to find:
• walk down Pinmill Road to the bottom where you will see the river and the Butt & Oyster pub on the right
• turn left along the river bank, past the boatyard and the cottages
• follow the track as it swings left immediately before the Pin Mill Sailing Club
• turn right along the footpath just before the last set of brick-built garages (brown double doors), following the brown signpost “South Suffolk, Route B”
• walk along the path along the edge of the field for a few minutes, over the small wooden bridge, and Adelaar will be seen a few yards further along on your right
It is a 10 minute walk from the car park.
Keys
The key for Adelaar is in the small grey “key safe” just to the left of the houseboat door. Open the flap, key in the code which I will send to you, press the two buttons on the sides and you will then be able to get the key. When you leave, just leave the key locked back in the key safe.
Facilities
Adelaar has two cosy Cabins, a modern Bathroom with a shower, a Kitchen with fridge, gas hob (no oven), dining table, cutlery and crockery, and a Wheelhouse where you can relax and enjoy the views. A gas lighter (and matches) for the oven is in the kitchen drawer.
The Kitchen leads to the Cockpit where you can sit outside – there is also an outside “patio” area on the old wooden barge that Adelaar is moored alongside.
The Master Cabin has a 4’ 6” double bed, and the Bunk Cabin has a tapered 4’ 6” double plus a single bunk bed. Both cabins are compact, but comfortable. All rooms have opening sliding windows and the Master Cabin also has an opening deck hatch.
There is hot water and full central heating with domestic-type radiators (plus a warm air heating system, although this is not needed in addition to the central heating). Full instructions are on the notice just to the right of the steering wheel – please read them carefully.
There is a USB socket to charge phones etc, but no mains (240 volt) electricity supply – so sorry, but its not possible to use a hairdryer !
If you want wi-fi, apologies but there isn’t any, so just enjoy the peace and quiet ! If you are desperate, there is wi-fi at the Butt and Oyster pub at Pin Mill. However, Adelaar does have a radio / CD player and a selection of books and games for your entertainment.
What We Provide
The Kitchen comes fully equipped, with a range of basic provisions:
• tea towels • kitchen roll
• fresh coffee (with cafetiere) • washing up liquid
• tea bags • sugar
• cooking oil • salt and pepper
Water from the tap comes from a tank but is fine to drink.
The Cabins are provided with all bedding and fresh towels. In the Bathroom there will be soap and plenty of toilet rolls – please only use the toilet rolls provided and do not put anything else down the toilet.
Food and Provisions
There are grocery shops within walking distance up the hill in Chelmondiston, and the excellent Suffolk Food Hall (which has a fantastic range of fresh, local produce, plus any other food that you could wish for) a short drive away under the Orwell Bridge.
The Butt and Oyster at Pin Mill is only a few minutes walk away and serves excellent food (and great beer !) – worth booking in advance on sunny weekends. The Red Lion in Chelmondiston and The Boot in Freston also do good food. There are plenty of pubs and other places to eat nearby - full details are provided in the folder on board.
Things To Do and Places To Go
The Pin Mill Studio runs very popular photographic courses. The studio also includes a gallery and café.
Freston Tower, built in 1578 and now owned by the Landmark Trust, is well worth a visit and in one of the surrounding villages called Erwarton, legend has it that Anne Boleyn’s heart is buried in the church there. She used to stay at the nearby Erwarton Hall. There is a plaque in the church providing more details.
Shotley-Harwich-Felixstowe foot ferry is an interesting trip in its own right and allows a visit to the historic Landguard Fort in Felixstowe and historic Harwich. Embark at Shotley Marina.
Barge trips on the river on the historic Thames Barge “Victor”.
Jimmy's Farm is a great day out to see a working farm. There are often craft and local produce fairs. 6 ½ miles - 15 minute drive.
River Trips on “Orwell Lady”. The Pin Mill Cruise leaves from Ipswich and lasts approximately two and a half hours taking in the most beautiful wooded stretches of the River Orwell.
Sailing, Canoeing and Windsurfing, Alton Water, where you can also hire cycles to ride around the reservoir, walk and bird watch - 15 minute drive.
RSPB Bird Reserve, Minsmere - a great place to see a range of birdlife - an hour’s drive.
Dedham Vale and Constable Country - 30 to 40 minute drive.
Woolverstone Marina and The Royal Harwich Yacht Club are a 20 minute walk along the riverbank.
Fynn Valley Golf Club, Witnesham, Ipswich.
Birdwatching - the River Orwell is an important area for waders and wildfowl. Numerous species can be seen from Adelaar. Oystercatchers are a common sight, and a small colony of Little Egrets has recently established nearby. During the winter, large numbers of Widgeon, Teal, Snipe and Brent Geese may be seen.
Taxis are available from Orwell Cars, Avenue Taxis and Hawk Express.
