Hi I’m Mark After travelling the world, I decided to settle down in Suffolk twenty years ago and started my own little business with a beautiful old derelict farm complex, which I converted into six lovely little cottages for people to escape from city life and enjoy the wonderfully rural experience that this area amazingly has, despite it’s close proximity to London. I love what I do and am ‘Hands On’ with welcoming guests to my own six cottages, as well as looking after my Cottage Agency 'The Grove Cottages' that soon developed as other owners came asking me to take on their cottages and give them the same level of personal customer care, attention, and promotion that we are known and appreciated for. I don’t want to be a huge company, I’m very happy to have a small agency where personal involvement is always the priority and where I can pick only places which I love and know inside out to join us. I am always available to answer any questions and above all else I want you to be in a cottage that suits you, so you will become our ambassador. Please do ask me a question about this cottage and I will give you a very honest answer. Best Wishes Mark - The Grove Cottages

You enter this historic ‘Listed’ cottage into a hallway with the cosy sitting room to your right with its lovely wood-burning stove, to your left is marble shower bathroom, ahead is the well-equipped kitchen. The kitchen opens out into the wonderful conservatory which catches the sun all day with views over the mature garden and onto the Lake Nature Reserve beyond. There is a beautiful formal dining room off the kitchen, as well as a handy well equipped utility room. Upstairs there are 2 elegant king size bedrooms and a third bedroom for a single person. The second marble shower bathroom is on the landing hall. The Cottage sits snugly between the historic lock with is beautiful ships, the lake Nature Reserve and the Sea Wall: a unique position but also very private, as the cottage is set well back and the view from the conservatory is away from the lock. The cottage is elegant and comfortable with beautiful antique and contemporary furniture rarely seen in a holiday cottage. Its position is exceptional for privacy, guests can enjoy canal path or sea view walks, nature, and visiting local pubs and tearooms or just lounge in comfort in the cottage: a ‘walkies’ dream for doggies. Up to 2 well behaved Pets are welcome: Banned Dogs: Please also note that if you are considering bringing a dog breed speak to us first. There is a 20 Pound charge per pet for up to 7 nights. Please note that cottage owners cannot accept pets that have not been paid for, so please make sure that you have paid for your pet before arrival. Special Reduced rate for 2 guests using just one bedroom outside High Season. Please note that if you put in the number of guests as 2 then it is assumed you will only require one bedroom. If you want to use 2 bedrooms then you should put in the number of guests as 3, because outside High Season the larger cottages will have a reduced rate for 2 guests using only one bedroom reflecting the saving made on laundry and cleaning.

Navigation Cottage is a historic listed weather boarded cottage set back from a sea lock at the mouth of the Blackwater Estuary. Restored London barges and yachts of different sizes and countries, come and go every day creating a cosmopolitan environment along the Essex coastline. The back of the cottage opens out to unspoiled marsh land and is a pit stop for migrating birds on their way to Africa, Scandinavia or Maldon, depending on their inclination and size….. You have footpaths to explore around the lake starting just on the other side of your garden hedge. There are miles of pretty canal side walks all the way into Maldon, where the famous Historic Thames Barges are berthed on the Hythe quay. You are always invited to have a look around and maybe lucky in buying a place on a memorable short sailing excursion. At Heybridge Basin where Navigation Cottage is situated, there are two pubs and the well known Tiptree Tea Rooms of jam making fame. The walks along the sea wall can take you round to Maldon or all the way up to Tollesbury, if you fancy a really long walk! The ever changing tides, sea, sky, ships and landscape make this a special place to visit and relax in.