Father's 70Th Birthday

[Islay]

It's my fathers 70th Birthday in September and I have no idea what to get him at all.

He is retired but active, can no longer drive long distances, but does enjoy days out. He lives in East Anglia.

Any unusual gift ideas out there?

No idea of budget but not over £300 probably.

[Islay]

Again the problem is pops has led a very full life and has driven many sports cars and tanks etc.

Also, he is cross between fletcher and the actor from Who framed Roger Rabbit so short and a little rotund and I am not sure he would fit!! Lol

I think I may send him off for a weekend he loves birds of prey so I may include that as well.

[Buenchico]

They run falconry courses up the road from me, at the East Anglian Academy of Falconry:
http://www.owl-help.org.uk/styled-5/page72.html

[Maydup]

Titchwell Manor is lovely for a meal and an overnight stay. Its on the edge of the RSPB reserve in North Norfolk, beautiful beaches.

http://www.titchwellmanor.com

If your father lives in North Norfolk, how about a weekend in Norwich? The Assembly Rooms have just opened some luxury bedrooms; a meal and tickets for the theatre next door would make a lovely present.

http://www.assemblyhousenorwich.co.uk

Or my final thought, if he hasn't got one already, is an ipad.

[Islay]

Chris, Thank you so much for that, I will get him a course there, as it is a bit for him to travel can you recommend any hotels near by?

Thank you

[Buenchico]

Thanks for your post.

At the cheaper end of the market, there's a Travelodge near NeedhamMarket (5½ miles from Stonham Barns):
https://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/37/Ipswich-Beacon-Hill-hotel

TripAdvisor reviews:
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g503751-d249268-Reviews-Travelodge_Ipswich_Beacon_Hill-Needham_Market_Suffolk_East_Anglia_England.html

For a spot of luxury (at a price!), Bays Farm is the place to go. (5 miles):
http://www.baysfarmsuffolk.co.uk/

It's got some of the best reviews ever seen on TripAdvisor!
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g612465-d1876026-Reviews-Bays_Farm_Country_B_B_and_Kitchen-Stowmarket_Suffolk_East_Anglia_England.html

The Claydon Country House Hotel is very 'traditional'. (9 miles). It's part of the Best Western group and, unlike the others above, it's not 'in the middle of nowhere'. So it's possible to pop out for a pint in the evening, at one of the two pubs in the village. (The Crown is the better of the two!):
https://www.bestwestern.co.uk/hotels/best-western-claydon-country-house-hotel-83676

It's TripAdvisor reviews are a bit varied, with some liking the rather old-fashioned style of the place and others hating it:
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g190725-d192795-Reviews-BEST_WESTERN_Claydon_Country_House_Hotel-Ipswich_Suffolk_East_Anglia_England.html

There's a Premier Inn down the road from there (so also 9 miles from Stonham Barns). It's a bit isolated although one could walk into Claydon for a pint (if you don't mind an unlit road and a roundabout that's awkward to cross!):
http://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/suffolk/ipswich/ipswich-north.html

Good reviews though:
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g1069683-d571007-Reviews-Premier_Inn_Ipswich_North_Hotel-Claydon_Suffolk_East_Anglia_England.html

My own choice though might be Creeting House. (4½ miles). It's in a small (publess) village but, if your father fancied a drink or a pub meal, a taxi into Needham Market wouldn't cost much. (There are 5 pubs in Needham Market. The Lion and the Rampant Horse are the best of them).
http://www.creetinghouse.com/

It's superb!
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g190725-d1748071-Reviews-Creeting_House-Ipswich_Suffolk_East_Anglia_England.html

[murraymints]

a day on the broads ?? some pleasure boats with lunch etc ?

[Buenchico]

PS:
Whatever you do, avoid the Limes Hotel in Needham Market!

Although I understand that things have improved quite a bit, it's not so long since it scored just 1 out of 5 for its food hygiene. Further, it's just across the road from the church, which has a clock that strikes loudly every quarter of an hour throughout the night!