Suffolk’s towns, villages - and even tiny hamlets - are graced with so many unique shops and boutiques, you really can find everything you want without going near a multi-storey car park or gargantuan department store this Christmas…

Aren’t seasons funny things? We’ve yet to experience the first frost of autumn and yet I have already been down to my local garden centre to look at next spring’s bulb selection and the last remaining summer sale bargains.

What I didn’t expect to find however were people festooning Christmas trees with gingerbread men and filling the shelves with figgy puds.

Incredible I know but the festive season is creeping up on us once again and a flyer advertising the first discount Christmas night of the season (with complementary mince pie) is guaranteed to land on my doormat sometime soon.

All of this has got me thinking about how I will survive the inevitable Christmas shopping frenzy this year. Just the thought of being laden with bags full of predictable ‘buy two get one free’ smellies as I push my way thorough a throng of frenetic shoppers in central Ipswich has resulted in my swiftly devising an alternative shopping strategy.

This year I am going to make the very most of the quaint little shops and exclusive boutiques that make this county of ours such a truly superb place to indulge in some retail therapy - and I want to help visitors who are unfamiliar with the Suffolk shopping scene to do the same.

Like me, you can enjoy scouring Suffolk’s various Christmas markets for hand-crafted pieces, buy your festive food from the local farm shops and delis and go that extra mile or two down a frosty lane in order to lay your hands on the sort of unique gifts that you’d never find in a formulaic department store or monolithic supermarket.

Even better is the fact that you might get to reward your efforts with a glass of warming mulled wine and steaming hot pie in the comfort of a cosy Suffolk pub at the end of a shopping-filled day.

The county’s best locations for Christmas shopping include Woodbridge, Snape Maltings, Orford, Aldeburgh and Southwold but venture a little way beyond these places to find a variety of tucked-away outlets that you never knew existed, with some excellent opportunities to buy direct from producers, manufacturers and craftspeople.

Some of my personal favourites include Potions and Possibilities in Martlesham (a range now sold at Bloomingdales, New York), Whites Fruit Farm in Ashbocking, Carters Teapot Pottery in Debenham and Richardson’s Smokehouse in Orford. Read on for more details of these and other outlets.

Snape Maltings
The great thing about Snape Maltings is that it comprises all the outlets you need in one setting with a range of granaries and malthouses featuring shops, galleries and restaurants. Its idyllic position beside the River Alde definitely beats a concrete jungle of a town centre and you can happily browse for hours. Parking is also straightforward and there’s a nice tea shop for when shopping fatigue sets in. Whether you’re looking to buy something for a small child, fussy husband, antique aficionado or art collector you will surely find plenty to inspire you here.

Highlights:The Antiques and Collectors Centre has an eclectic range of antiques and collectables, including some fantastic vintage fashion items and accessories; the Craft Shop is a good place to look for those unusual stocking fillers (from handmade soaps to individual jewellery designs) and Little Rascals is the place for high quality clothes, toys and other goodies for babies and children up to six years. On a festive note, the Christmas range in Snape Maltings’ flagship House and Garden shop is usually launched in mid October and the run up to Christmas includes a visit from Santa (who arrives by boat.) Expect to find lots of lovely giftware by brands such as Sia, delicious Christmas fare, kitchen accessories, lotions and potions by leading names like L’Occitane and much more besides.

Also nearby: Friday Street Farm Shop at Farnham - for locally grown fruit, vegetables and other local produce/fine foods as well as a range of Christmas gift ideas.

Woodbridge
This is a super little town in which to shop for Christmas presents. It’s handy to have the odd national name in retail - like Boots and Woolworths - to hand but the overriding appeal of Woodbridge is its profusion of individually owned shops and boutiques offering a friendly, personal service (many will wrap gifts as well.) The town is especially atmospheric at Christmas time and usually plays host to a Christmas street fair, children’s Christmas evening and carols on the Market Hill, when Santa stops off as a treat for the children. Key shopping areas include the Thoroughfare, Church Street and Market Hill.

Highlights:The Thoroughfare is lined with some very impressive shops, including a Belgian chocolate shop, ceramics café (where you can design your own piece, have it glazed and fired and collect it a week later), Barretts - the family-run home furnishings store, Oxfam and Oxfam Bookshop, Global Trading (Now in Quay Street-for home interiors), Martin Hogg (china and interiors), a leather and sheepskin specialist, comprehensive kitchen store, good delicatessen and various ladies’ and gents’ fashion shops. If you’re specifically looking for antiques, Church Street is the place to find them, then proceed to the Market Hill, where there are a sprinkling of exclusive boutiques selling designer fashions and accessories and a specialist lighting shop.

Also nearby:Jewellery designer and gemmologist Susannah Chenevix-Trench is based in nearby Melton - also the location of Five Winds Farm Smokehouse and Butchery, which is well known for its Christmas turkeys, geese, bacon, gammons and ham. And don’t miss the very well stocked Grange Farm Shop at Hasketon, opposite which is Clopton Dried Flowers.

Another gem in the area is the very well stocked Potions and Possibilities factory outlet in Top Street, Martlesham, where visitors can discover a real treasure trove of beautiful gifts and therapeutic toiletries. Julie Foster, the qualified and practising aromatherapist behind Potions & Possibilities, oversees the blending of every product and the packaging is legendary too - with all gift collections hand wrapped and embellished with beads, ribbons or feathers. Stop by and you’re guaranteed helpful advice, a warm welcome and a coffee. Also check out the website: www.potions.co.uk

Orford
Quite literally a breath of fresh air for the Christmas shopper, Orford is somewhere you might traditionally frequent on warm summer days, although it is equally as enchanting in late autumn and early winter. There’s only a sprinkling of shops including the Ore gift shop on Church Street and Castle Antiques on the Market Hill; the main draw however is its two famous smokehouses.

Highlights:Orford is a must-visit destination for anyone planning to lavish a gift of gourmet foods on friends and family this Christmas. The Butley Orford Oysterage shop is situated right next to its restaurant. Here you will find a wide range of fresh fish and other products smoked in Pinney’s own smokehouses at nearby Butley Creek. These include trout, mackerel, cod roe, wild and farmed salmon, kippers, eels and sausages - also delicious patés. The other well-known smokehouse - Richardson’s - is in the yard behind the Oysterage and offers a rich array of gastronomic delights, from glistening molasses-coated hams to smoked Stilton and mature English Cheddar.

Also nearby:Butley Pottery - about four miles from Orford - provides a showcase for various local paintings, furniture and ceramics. It is usually open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in the run up to Christmas (November and December) and there is an adjacent café serving food from about 11am-5pm.

Debenham
Venture inland from the coastal areas to find the pretty village of Debenham - situated close to the source of the River Deben and similar in architectural style to the great Suffolk wool towns and villages with many fine, timber-framed merchants’ dwellings dating from between the 14th and 17th centuries. There are various shops to take, with some real gems both in the village centre and surrounding countryside.

Highlights:Carters Teapot Pottery is run by Tony Carter and his wife Anita, who have been designing and hand-crafting their exclusive collectable teapots since 1978. The designs on offer range from an English marmalade teapot to a fine looking lavatory, sleeping cat, miniature beach hut - and the list goes on. They make super presents and you can also watch the teapots being made, plus there is now a ceramics café at the pottery. Another favourite in Debenham is its legendary butcher - F.E Neave & Son: the bacon, sausages, hams and pork pies are renowned in these parts so expect long queues at Christmas.

Also nearby:Ashbocking - located south of Debenham on the B1077 - is home to The Crockery Barn, offering a comprehensive range of tableware and cookware bought direct from factories both at home and abroad. Names to look out for include Spode, Portmeirion and Villeroy and Boch - plus some lovely lines from the Mediterranean. Also at Ashbocking is James White’s Fruit Farm - a company granted a Royal Warrant in 2002 - which produces a collection of freshly pressed apple juices, Big Tom spicy tomato juice and the Great Uncle Cornelius collection of traditional non-alcoholic drinks. And in the same location is Carune - a shop (with coffee shop) which promotes local arts and crafts and stocks a wide range of gifts for the house and garden. Christmas pieces usually go on display in October and they will be offering a range of individually designed handmade stockings - either buy already filled or choose your own contents.

Southwold
With its myriad of specialist shops, Southwold is a fantastic destination for the discerning Christmas shopper and has a very festive atmosphere in the weeks leading up to December 25th, particularly on the evening of the annual ‘Christmas Lights Switch On’. Here you are likely to find the sort of designer fashion labels and exclusive accessories that you might otherwise have to go to a big city to buy, plus some wonderful art and crafts, delectable fine foods and chocolates, good books, beautiful jewellery and inspirational home and interiors pieces. Shopping in Southwold is a treat all year long, but with all those cosy Adnams pubs and great cafés in which to take shelter from the cold, it really isn’t to be missed at Christmas time.

Highlights:The Amber Shop at 15 Market Place, Southwold is owned by amber expert Robin Fournel and his wife Astrid. It has an associated museum, in which you can find out more about this magnificent 40 million year old organic gem, and sells some really fabulous pieces of jewellery - from exquisite amber pendants to natural amber earrings, bracelets, brooches and necklaces in various styles and designs. Also fascinating are the natural amber insect pieces. Another favourite in Southwold is the Collen & Clare boutique department store - again in the Market Place. Definitely one for the little black books of style-conscious girls and guys out there, this store has a distinctively Parisian boutique feel about it and is a real treat for anybody looking for exclusive clothing and accessories. Other Southwold highlights include The Black Olive Delicatessen (a magnet for food lovers with hampers made to order), Buckenhams (for all manner of gifts), Adnams’ Wine Cellar & Kitchen Store (one of the country’s most exciting wine shops) and the Southwold Gallery (traditional and contemporary art in various media.)

Also nearby:It’s definitely worth visiting Walberswick while you’re in the area, which is home to a few good shops. Of particular note is The Parish Lantern on the Village Green - a comprehensive gift shop on two floors with café.

Aldeburgh
The Aldeburgh ‘Christmas Lights Switch On’ is another date for your diary (usually late November or early December) and a chance to take in the various individually-owned shops and galleries which line Aldeburgh’s select High Street. The town is a popular destination for Christmas shopping from mid October onwards - once again a great place to pick up those hard-to-come-by gifts - unusual paintings, stunning photography, fine antiques and furnishings, beautiful home accessories, shoes, handbags, fine foods - you name it.

Highlights:There are a few good book shops and art galleries, including Thompson’s Gallery, Enterprising Art Ltd and Aldeburgh Contemporary Arts. Also super is the Coastal Images Gallery, with a selection of atmospheric photography by Tony Pick. If you’re looking for clothing, there’s everything from classic ladies and gents outfitters to chic and stylish designer wear - favourites include Moshulu for colourful shoes and Fleur for handbags, footwear, fashion jewellery and exclusive clothing. Wine aficionados should head for Slaughden Wines or Marc1wines and Fournel Jewellers (owned by amber expert Robin Fournel) is a must for beautiful amber and other jewellery. There are some nice antiques shops, including Molehall Antiques, and no shortage of places for home and interiors gifts - Avocet, Moo Moos, Alde River Pine and Looma Home & Gifts to mention a few.

Also nearby:Thorpeness Village Stores is a super little shop with a large array of carefully sourced fine foods to feast on this Christmas. Aldringham Craft Market is worth a look too - particularly for local art, stocking fillers and dolls house furniture. It’s also conveniently close to the cosy Parrot and Punchbowl Inn - a popular haunt for good food and ale.

Hadleigh
Friday is the day to visit Hadleigh, as the town is buzzing with the comings and going of its popular weekly market (where the fresh fish stall is said to be excellent.) With its handsome High Street and bustling atmosphere, this well-furnished little town is worth a visit on any day of the week though; the shops definitely won’t disappoint.

Highlights:Locals will always point you in the direction of the long-established Partridges hardware store, where you can get everything from kitchen scales to country clothing. There’s also a farm shop called Partridges, brimming with fresh local produce and also stocking Hadleigh Maid chocolates. Other interesting outlets include The Suffolk Doll Company, Ferguson’s Delicatessen, Edwards of Hadleigh (for interior design, furniture and accessories) and the very lovely Plum Green - an Aladdin’s Cave of beautiful things - clocks, candles, aprons, cushions, pretty boxes…

For an unusual gift for food lovers make for The Cooking Experience at 9 High Street, where congenial chef Mark David and his lovely wife Annie offer various inspirational cooking courses, from ‘Quick, Easy and Impressive Entertaining’ to ‘French Provincial Cooking’, ‘Seafood Extravaganza’, ‘Italian Cooking’ and many more. Other teachers at The Cooking Experience include Emma Crowhurst, well known for her appearances on the BBC’s Food and Drink programme and Ready Steady Cook. Gift vouchers start at £25 and Annie and Mark also offer delectable bespoke food baskets. These can include everything from kitchen knives and equipment to their exclusive range of flavoured Balsamic vinegars and delicious olive oils.

Also nearby:Corn Craft is a unique craft centre located on the Hadleigh road on the outskirts of the pretty village of Monks Eleigh (from Hadleigh take the A1141 towards Lavenham.) It’s well worth a visit near Christmas time, with lots of pretty decorations, local arts and crafts, toiletries, dried and silk flowers, homemade preserves, corn and maize dollies and more. Finish off with a warm mince pie and cup of coffee in the tearoom.