At Lynford Gardens Forest Holiday Cottages, we offer an unparalleled experience of living in the heart of Thetford Forest. Our five luxurious cottages offer direct access to the forest, making it an ideal place for nature lovers, walkers, and bird watchers. You can take a leisurely stroll through the lush greenery, observing the flora and fauna, or breathe in the fresh air if you've brought your bicycles. You can also enjoy picnics in the forest or simply spend a lazy afternoon, soaking up the tranquility of the surroundings.

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The area is a popular destination for cycling enthusiasts, bird watchers and walkers. There's so much literally on the doorstep without even needing to get in the car. Embark on a journey through the forest on foot, taking in the beauty of the surroundings, and exploring the stunning terrain. The area is a good place to see hawfinches, Britain’s largest finch but surprisingly difficult to find. They favour woodland edges and are easiest to spot in winter when there is less canopy cover. Look out for crossbills and firecrests, too. We have created a bird watching page showcasing some of the beautiful birds that have been spotted here at Lynford.
 

Lynford Arboretum, a tranquil woodland gem, is just outside the entrance to Lynford Forest Holiday Cottages and has many unusual tree species from all around the world. The area is noted for its variety of bird life, spring flowers and autumn fungi.  The Arboretum has two walking trails. The blue walk, which is 1.5 miles long, takes you right through the magnificent ‘Sequoia Avenue’, one of the special features of the area.  The double rowed avenue of Sequoias was planted in the 1800s to honour the Duke of Wellington and at one time featured alternate red flowering chestnut trees. The green walk, which is 1 mile long, takes you through beautiful parkland which was formerly part of Lynford Hall estate. This area still retains features which reflect its parkland origins. The man made lakes were part of the gardens landscaped for the hall. Both walks can be linked but it doesn’t stop there. There is plenty to explore outside of the Arboretum where there are even more walks - you can literally walk for miles and miles through the forest.

 

Lynford Water which is only a short walk from the cottages, has two lakes and is popular with open water swimmers and paddleboarders. It even has manmade sandy beaches! Again there are lots of walks around the lake and beyond. The lake has an interesting history as 60,000 years ago the lake and surrounding area was a chilly, open landscape with different wildlife and a population of Neanderthal humans, the evidence of which was found in an excavation in 2002. 

 

The area of Lynford is renowned for being one of Thetford Forest's most peaceful corners. It doesn’t stop there, if you wanted to hop in the car, within a short distance there’s other parts of Thetford Forest to explore, such as High Lodge, Santon Downham, Two Mile Bottom, Lynford Stag, Brandon Country Park and much much more.