Norfolk self catering holiday cottages

The historic cities of Norwich and King's Lynn are each a 20 minute drive away. Coastal resorts, the Norfolk Broads, Thetford Forest and Sandringham are all within easy reach. Good walks along quiet country lanes. Golf, riding and trout fishing nearby. East dereham 3 miles away offers good shopping and a swimming pool. Two public houses are within easy walking distance.

Kings Lynn: King's Lynn is an historic medieval port dating back to the 12th century, situated on the River Great Ouse. Marriott's Warehouse - home of the new interpretation centre - The Green Quay. The exciting, interactive exhibition at the heart of the centre highlights the unique wildlife of The Wash, one of the most spectacular features of East Anglia. As well as its many elegant merchants' houses and medieval riverside storerooms, King's Lynn also boasts England's only surviving Hanseatic Warehouse, but the most famous monument to maritime prosperity is the Custom house, built by Henry Bell in 1683, which overlooks the River Great Ouse from Purfleet Quay. It houses a special display of the maritime history of King's Lynn, as well as the tourist information Centre.

Norwich : For more than 900 years the splendour and tranquillity of Norwich Cathedral have attracted pilgrims and visitors. Founded in 1096 as part of a Benedictine Priory, the Cathedral boasts several superlatives. It stands as one of the finest complete Romanesque buildings in Europe, with the second largest spire and largest monastic cloisters in England. Our unrivalled collection of over 1,000 beautifully carved roof bosses are one of the great treasures of mediaeval art.

Sheringham: Its attractions include the Little Theatre, the National Trust-owned Sheringham Park nearby, Beeston Common (preserved as a site of Special Scientific Interest), the Splash leisure complex, and the North Norfolk Railway, with steam trains running to Holt.

Ely: Lying 15 miles north of Cambridge, Ely is today a small city of ancient narrow streets, some interesting old buildings, a busy shopping area and an attractive park which rolls down to the river, but Ely's crowning glory is the magnificent Cathedral. The Cathedral was completed in 1189 and now stands as a remarkable example of Romanesque architecture.

Stately Homes & Gardens

Sandringham House, Museum & Gardens (31 Miles)*
Sandringham House is the country retreat of HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, built by King Edward VII and passed down as a private home through three generations of monarchs.

Priory Maze Gardens (Nr Sheringham): Ten acre garden with a classic hedge maze and numerous demonstration gardens to inspire and entertain. Set within woodland and wild flower meadows.

Felbrigg Hall, Nr Norwich: One of the finest 17th Century houses in East Anglia with a library, restored wall garden, working dove cote and national collection of Colchicum.

Blickling Hall: (Nr Norwich): One of the greatest houses in East Anglia. National award winner - leading heritage venue. The house dates from the early seventeenth century and houses fine collections of furniture, pictures and tapestries. The delightful gardens and parkland surround the house offering many good walks, ranging from a short stroll around the lake to longer walks in the 4,777 acre estate.

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, Nr Norwich: Delightful natural garden environmentally managed for the benefit of wildlife. Full of interest for naturalists and horticulturists. Wild and cultivated plants. 950 year old oak tree. Boat trips on our private inner Broad.

North Norfolk Coast: The resort style of Great Yarmouth's seafront is an inauspicious start to the Norfolk coast, but it is an atypical one. For the next thirty miles, there are no estuaries, no harbours and very little habitation – until you reach Cromer, an attractively sited Victorian seaside town whose bleak and blustery cliffs have drawn tourists for over a century. West of Sheringham, the shoreline becomes a ragged patchwork of salt marshes, dunes and shingle spits which form an almost unbroken series of nature reserves, sheltering a fascinating range of flora and fauna. There's also the Norfolk Coast Path, which runs from Hunstanton to Cromer (where it joins the Weavers' Way), an exhilarating route through the dunes and salt marshes.

North Norfolk Railway: Take a 10.5 mile round trip by steam train through an area designated as being of outstanding natural beauty, and enjoy the historic stations, railway museum and visitors' centre.

Norfolk Lavender Farm: Heacham: England's oldest lavender farm has nearly 100 acres of lavender, an essential oil distillery, fragrant, herb and riverside gardens, gift and plant shops and tearoom. Admission is free. Minibus trips to see harvest in July/August.

Norfolk Shire Horse Centre, Cromer: The Norfolk Shire Horse Centre offers live animal shows and feeding opportunities every day. Meet the different heavy horse breeds, watch them get harnessed and put to work doing cultivating demonstrations. Feed the farmyard animals, see this year's mare and foals and enjoy the heavy horse cart ride. There are regular special events including small animal parades, blacksmith days, ploughing and harvesting demonstrations.

Dinosaur Adventure Park: (Nr Norwich) Enjoy the ultimate family adventure at the Dinosaur Adventure Park. Discover life-size giants of the past on the Dinosaur Trail - run from the T-Rex, wander under the legs of the towering Brachiosaurus and tiptoe past the roaring Stegosaurus.

Ecotech Adventure Park, Swaffham: Explore the beauty of the world today and play a part in its future at the Ecotech Environmental Discovery Centre. New from Summer 2001 - the Rotten Experience - see it, feel it, hear it, smell it - a scientific discovery. Explore the organic demonstration garden and learn how to live and work with nature. Climb the Ecotricity wind turbine with its unique viewing platform and learn about the future of wind power. Enjoy our special events and children's hands-on activities and find out how you can make difference. Facilities include a children's soft play area and the Amazon Rainforest Café.

Gressenhall Norfolk Rural Life Museum (7 Miles): The Norfolk Rural Life Museum is the ideal place for a family visit. A museum housed in a former workhouse, with displays on village life, cottages, rural trades and crafts, farming and working on the land.

Bishop Bonner's Cottage Museum: This delightful early 16th century, timber framed, thatched building, once three cottages, is the oldest domestic building in East Dereham.

Walking: North Norfolk Coastal Path: This long-distance path follows the coast through the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) to Cromer. The area is rich in salt marshes, dunes, and clay cliffs, as well as quiet villages notable for their flint and brick architecture. Peddars Way: The Peddar's Way starts on Knettishall Heath near Thetford, and follows generally flat fen country across Norfolk to the sea - a distance of some 46 miles. Along the way the path follows an old Roman road through the Norfolk countryside to the beginning of the Norfolk Coast Path near Hunstanton.

Beaches & Water sports: There are miles of uncrowded sandy beaches with great bathing (EU Blue Flag award for 2000) and water sports

Cycling: The Norfolk Coast Cycleway, 59 fascinating miles (95 kilometres) stretching from Cromer to King's Lynn, is more than just a cycle route. This unique cycleway follows truly quiet lanes for most of its length, enjoying magnificent sea and inland views.

Fishing: There is excellent trout fishing nearby. Further afield, the Broadland area has a diverse range of fishing types to offer, from lush, sleepy river banks to the ancient man-made Broads. There is also the Heritage Coast to be explored!

Golf: There are several excellent golf courses within easy reach.