Back in February we spent a few days up on the Norfolk coast - somewhere we hadn't been before. It was a lovely few days discovering a beautifully unspoilt part of the UK so I thought I'd share with you where we stayed and what we got up to.
When planning our trip, I really wanted us to stay somewhere rural but with a touch of luxury, so I spent ages online troweling through various hotel and B&B websites. I can't remember how I came across Norfolk Courtyard, but immediately I was in love.
When planning our trip, I really wanted us to stay somewhere rural but with a touch of luxury, so I spent ages online troweling through various hotel and B&B websites. I can't remember how I came across Norfolk Courtyard, but immediately I was in love.
Norfolk Courtyard B&B is situated on Westfield Farm in Foulsham, North Norfolk, not far from the iconic local towns of Burnham Market and Holt. The owners, Simon & Catherine, live in a beautiful Georgian farmhouse with large gardens, allotments and chickens. They have converted their out-buildings into a charming B&B and also have a holiday cottage on site, along with little glamping caravans/huts!! It is no wonder that their accommodation has featured in Country Homes & Interiors and Country Living magazines... On arrival it was immediately very clear that they had put a tremendous amount of work into transforming this space into somewhere so unique and tranquil.
We stayed in 'The Garden Room' which was beautifully decorated just to my taste - with floral cushions, a big comfy bed with luxury bed linen, complimentary cookies and tea, an amazing shower... It was so idyllic.
On our first day we headed straight to Wells-Next-The-Sea, one of North Norfolk's most attractive towns. Here is one of Norfolk's biggest and most beautiful sandy beaches with traditional, pretty beach huts as a backdrop. I'd heard so many good things and seen quite a few photos from various friends and instagrammers so I was excited to be there myself. Being February it was a chilly afternoon but the sun was shining so there was a gorgeous sparkle on the sea and we had a lovely walk along the great expanse of sand and paddled right into the sea in our wellies!
And obviously it was totally mandatory to write our initials in the sand with a love heart!
We stayed on the beach until the sun went down and it got cold. Such a perfect afternoon!
That evening we headed to The Pigs in Edgefield, a lovely 17th century countryside pub, with a traditionally British feel to it. The clue is in the name - the menu focuses largely on pig; bacon, roast pork, sausages, pate... but they also serve a wide range of other dishes too if it's something else you're after. I'd been recommended this pub by an instagram friend Rebecca (check out her blog - Roses & Rolltops) as she had previously stayed at The Pigs' accommodation, and we were so pleased with the recommendation as we had such a scrumptious dinner! I had 'The three Pigs belly of pork' which came with smokey bacon beans, apple chutney and crackling. So delicious!
After the most amazing sleep in one of the most comfortable beds I have ever slept on, we woke the next morning and headed to The Breakfast Room in the large upstairs room of the converted barn building. The breakfast at the barn was a DIY jobby - the owners had laid out a breakfast feast of freshly baked croissants, breads, fresh eggs from their chickens, homemade jams and marmalade, fruit, cereals, homemade muesli, juices, tea and coffee. Everything was decorated with a real shabby chic, vintage feel to it with floral cushions, wrought iron chairs and vintage food posters on the walls. It made for a really relaxing start to the day.
That day we drove along the coast and headed to some of the nearby towns and villages that we had read about on Lonely Planet, stopping first at Burnham Market, a popular village with tourists and locals. It has a Cotswolds feel to it - beautiful chocolate-box cottages and pubs, with a small selection of traditional, independent shops - a butchers, a bakers, a post office, a fish shop, a chemist and a few little cafes. It's so unspoilt and has real charm. There are some fantastic gift shops too which we spent ages wandering around, and some upmarket clothes shops. We ate lunch at The Hoste one of the area's best rated boutique pub/hotels - somewhere I'd definitely recommend.
In the afternoon we visited Holt. Holt is one of the biggest towns in the area, famous for it's Georgian high street consisting of gift shops, pubs and eateries. I can imagine it is magical at Christmas time, all lit up like something from a children's story book! Again we enjoyed wandering around the shops and cafes and soaking up the atmosphere.
We then drove up and down the coastal road to explore - there are miles and miles of nature reserves along the coast, perfect if you're into bird watching or walking. We stopped off at Burnham Overy Staithe to look at the old windmill, browsed local art galleries and book shops and came across the most amazing organic food shop called Picnic Fayre in Cley-Next-The-Sea which has won awards for 'Deli of the year'. We treated ourselves to the naughtiest chocolate brownies!
That evening, after a delicious steak at The King's Head in Holt, tea and biscuits back at the B&B were much needed...
The next day we woke up early to visit what we had been told was the final day of the Snowdrop walks at Walsingham Abbey - some nearby old abbey ruins, where each February they hold walks where you can see the 'first flowers of Spring' in all their glory. It's supposed to be spectacular - hundreds upon hundreds of snowdrops carpeting the woodland floor. Unfortunately we arrived and nothing seemed to be happening at all and noone was around - I think we were a day late! It was such a disappointment. If I'm ever around in Norfolk one February again it will be top of my list.
Instead we drove to Holkham Hall - a vast country estate of 6100 hectares, containing 25 farms, walled gardens, a museum, cafe, lake and play area. There are various walks you can do around the park - we chose The Lake Walk which was 3.7 miles around the large lake. It was stunning! The park was so remote, for the majority of our walk we were the only people in sight and the views were gorgeous. We got up so close to the deer too! The walk took us right up to the front of the main hall itself which is very grand and you almost feel like you're on the set of Downton Abbey!
We had such a brilliant couple of days. Norfolk is definitely one of England's little gems!
Lydia xxx
We stayed in 'The Garden Room' which was beautifully decorated just to my taste - with floral cushions, a big comfy bed with luxury bed linen, complimentary cookies and tea, an amazing shower... It was so idyllic.
On our first day we headed straight to Wells-Next-The-Sea, one of North Norfolk's most attractive towns. Here is one of Norfolk's biggest and most beautiful sandy beaches with traditional, pretty beach huts as a backdrop. I'd heard so many good things and seen quite a few photos from various friends and instagrammers so I was excited to be there myself. Being February it was a chilly afternoon but the sun was shining so there was a gorgeous sparkle on the sea and we had a lovely walk along the great expanse of sand and paddled right into the sea in our wellies!
And obviously it was totally mandatory to write our initials in the sand with a love heart!
We stayed on the beach until the sun went down and it got cold. Such a perfect afternoon!
That evening we headed to The Pigs in Edgefield, a lovely 17th century countryside pub, with a traditionally British feel to it. The clue is in the name - the menu focuses largely on pig; bacon, roast pork, sausages, pate... but they also serve a wide range of other dishes too if it's something else you're after. I'd been recommended this pub by an instagram friend Rebecca (check out her blog - Roses & Rolltops) as she had previously stayed at The Pigs' accommodation, and we were so pleased with the recommendation as we had such a scrumptious dinner! I had 'The three Pigs belly of pork' which came with smokey bacon beans, apple chutney and crackling. So delicious!
After the most amazing sleep in one of the most comfortable beds I have ever slept on, we woke the next morning and headed to The Breakfast Room in the large upstairs room of the converted barn building. The breakfast at the barn was a DIY jobby - the owners had laid out a breakfast feast of freshly baked croissants, breads, fresh eggs from their chickens, homemade jams and marmalade, fruit, cereals, homemade muesli, juices, tea and coffee. Everything was decorated with a real shabby chic, vintage feel to it with floral cushions, wrought iron chairs and vintage food posters on the walls. It made for a really relaxing start to the day.
That day we drove along the coast and headed to some of the nearby towns and villages that we had read about on Lonely Planet, stopping first at Burnham Market, a popular village with tourists and locals. It has a Cotswolds feel to it - beautiful chocolate-box cottages and pubs, with a small selection of traditional, independent shops - a butchers, a bakers, a post office, a fish shop, a chemist and a few little cafes. It's so unspoilt and has real charm. There are some fantastic gift shops too which we spent ages wandering around, and some upmarket clothes shops. We ate lunch at The Hoste one of the area's best rated boutique pub/hotels - somewhere I'd definitely recommend.
In the afternoon we visited Holt. Holt is one of the biggest towns in the area, famous for it's Georgian high street consisting of gift shops, pubs and eateries. I can imagine it is magical at Christmas time, all lit up like something from a children's story book! Again we enjoyed wandering around the shops and cafes and soaking up the atmosphere.
We then drove up and down the coastal road to explore - there are miles and miles of nature reserves along the coast, perfect if you're into bird watching or walking. We stopped off at Burnham Overy Staithe to look at the old windmill, browsed local art galleries and book shops and came across the most amazing organic food shop called Picnic Fayre in Cley-Next-The-Sea which has won awards for 'Deli of the year'. We treated ourselves to the naughtiest chocolate brownies!
That evening, after a delicious steak at The King's Head in Holt, tea and biscuits back at the B&B were much needed...
The next day we woke up early to visit what we had been told was the final day of the Snowdrop walks at Walsingham Abbey - some nearby old abbey ruins, where each February they hold walks where you can see the 'first flowers of Spring' in all their glory. It's supposed to be spectacular - hundreds upon hundreds of snowdrops carpeting the woodland floor. Unfortunately we arrived and nothing seemed to be happening at all and noone was around - I think we were a day late! It was such a disappointment. If I'm ever around in Norfolk one February again it will be top of my list.
Instead we drove to Holkham Hall - a vast country estate of 6100 hectares, containing 25 farms, walled gardens, a museum, cafe, lake and play area. There are various walks you can do around the park - we chose The Lake Walk which was 3.7 miles around the large lake. It was stunning! The park was so remote, for the majority of our walk we were the only people in sight and the views were gorgeous. We got up so close to the deer too! The walk took us right up to the front of the main hall itself which is very grand and you almost feel like you're on the set of Downton Abbey!
We had such a brilliant couple of days. Norfolk is definitely one of England's little gems!
Lydia xxx
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