Out of Season Stays on the Glorious Royal Norfolk Coast

At this time of year, Norfolk makes a great get away from it all destination to escape to, and it is a wonderful place to re-charge the batteries for the year ahead. A haven for birdwatchers and walkers, one of the key areas to gravitate to is the Royal Norfolk Coast in the north west of the county.  Famed for its fantastic wide open skies, much of the coastline and inner countryside sits within a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the area also attracts bird populations from the northern hemisphere that like to over-winter in and around The Wash.

If there are just a few of you visiting together take advantage of staying in a big house with space for all, at a reduced rate.  One of our popular properties which offers this option during out of season weeks is the beautiful and unique Old Methodist Chapel in Heacham.

The chapel is a truly spacious and comfortable holiday nest set at the heart of one of the most popular north-west Norfolk coastal villages.  It is a great house for families and groups of friends’ holidaying together and dogs are welcome too. The building has been sympathetically converted and features vaulted ceilings, oak beams and original stained glass windows. The impressive, double height downstairs living room and equally large kitchen/dining room have a generous sized wood burner in one room and an open fire in the other, for keeping cosy on colder days.  The two ground floor bedrooms are available for up to 4 guests, each of which can be made up as either twin rooms or super-king size double rooms and there is also a family bathroom and a cloakroom on this floor. The garden leading off the living room, is in a sunny position and the perfect spot to relax after days out exploring this great part of Norfolk –  even out of season it can be a suntrap, wrap up with a rug, a hot chocolate and a good book and get your dose of Vitamin D!

Aside from walking and bird watching, there are some fabulous eating pit stops that lurk along this part of the coast.  Take your pick of numerous award winning restaurants, gastro pubs, country pubs, cafés and tea rooms all with their own style and illustrious chefs; you will easily find somewhere to keep hunger and thirst at bay. Also don’t forget to seek out the farmers markets, farm shops and delicatessens, all of which champion fabulous food locally grown that is made in and around west Norfolk; look out for such delights as samphire, asparagus, saffron, lavender bread, mussels, oysters, crab, Stewkey Blues – cockles to you and I - venison, pheasant and pigeon in season.  Even your four legged friend is well catered for in this part of the county, drop in to The Orange Tree at Thornham, where apart from  great food for you, there is also a special menu for your canine friend.  They can dine on pigs ears in gravy, doggy sausage rolls and marrow bones - here it is literally a dog’s life!

A wonderful day out can be had at two grand estates in the area.  Sandringham Royal Estate has been the private retreat of British monarchs since it was built in 1870 by King Edward V11.  Out of season the 240 acres of parkland that surround the house are easily accessible and a great place to walk the dog and stretch your own legs.

Equally not to be missed is the splendid Palladian Houghton Hall, current home to the 7th Marquis of Cholmondeley but originally built by the first Prime Minister of Great Britain, Sir Robert Walpole in 1720.  The interiors are much as they were when the house was first built with many of the original furniture and fabrics still in place, as well as a considerable art collection.  This year there is a special exhibition featuring works by Damien Hirst – love him or loathe him the works are bound to stimulate conversation!

For something completely different you may like to try your hand at glass blowing at the Caithness Crystal Centre at Kings Lynn.  Here you can see the professional glass blowers and master craftsmen at work and then get creative yourself. Children can try making a friendship ball and adults can tackle a whisky tumbler or a paperweight – the results will be as individual as you are and who knows you may discover a new artist in the family! 

Book The Old Methodist Chapel online, or give our friendly team a call on 0333 2020 899