What will we find when we arrive? 

• When you arrive you will find that there is a welcome starter pack waiting for you including bread, jam, marmalade and milk together with a selection of teas, coffees and breakfast cereals – and not to forget the flowers. Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements or allergies. There are also apples, plums, pears, strawberries and cherries to pick in season.
• Alongside the welcome pack we provide all the cleaning essentials together with the self-catering basics you will need.  As we are a mile from the nearest shop we operate an ‘honesty pantry’ system in both cottages which has proved to be especially useful and appreciated by guests, this contains tins of soup and vegetables, pasta and sauces, rice, gravy mixes, flour and other staples – the simple rule is that if you use it then just replace before you leave.
• Toys/bowls/blankets/poo bags/towels for your pets are also included as standard.
• There are complimentary toiletries in the bathrooms for you to use if you wish.
• Set amongst working farmland and pasture our cottages form part of a barn conversion and its outbuildings which were built around 150 years ago for the farmhouse and still working farm next door – so particularly at Harvest there are times when you will hear and see tractors and other farm vehicles coming and going about their business.  
• Both of the cottages were rated by Visit England and gained the additional accolade of  a Trip Adviser Certificate of Excellence (now called Travellers Choice) for the fourth year running. The Bee’s Knees (4* Gold) adjoins the main house with The Borrowers (5* Gold) adjacent in the courtyard, both have dedicated garden areas as well as sharing the communal gardens and amenities.

Can you arrange a special gift or surprise?

• If you wish to arrange an extra special treat for someone on arrival then just let us know and we can work together to make your celebration even more memorable.

Where can we go when we visit?  

• Situated in Banham,  between Thetford and Norwich just South of Attleborough, we are ideal for visits to Banham Zoo, the Snetterton Motor Circuit, Bressingham Steam Museum,Englands only Whisky distillery (The English Whisky Company) and several other Norfolk and local Breckland attractions including a day out at the races at Fakenham Race Course or Great Yarmouth. Indulge yourself with a spa day at Centre Parcs at Elvedon which is easily reached or in The Retreat in the famous Jarrolds Department store in Norwich. If steam trains are your particular love then we are only 20 minutes away from the longest heritage railway in East Anglia. The Mid Norfolk Railway runs between Wymondham and Dereham.  There are wonderful museums in Norwich and surrounding towns and also several beautiful National Trust and English Heritage places within easy reach to visit including Felbrigg. There are numerous wind and water mills to visit.  Petrol heads and extreme speed lovers will welcome the opportunity to visit the Lotus factory which is situated in Hethel – if you have ever fantasised about driving one of their cars, now is your chance!! If your particular dream is to experience a hot air balloon ride then just over a mile away from the cottage you can do just this with Breckland Balloons;  soar high above the Norfolk landscape, see the Broads and much more from a unique birds eye point of view!  then be back in the comfort of your cottage within minutes.
• See for yourselves the wonderful wildlife at Minismere(home of Springwatch) or Wild Ken Hill(home of Winterwatch).
• You might also like to take in a guided walking tour of Norwich or the Broads with Paul Dickson Tours. Paul’s tours feature Shardlake’s Norwich, celebrating CJ Sansom’s best-selling novel Tombland and looking at Norwich at the time of Kett’s Rebellion (1549); Norwich: an Introduction, covering 1000 years of the city’s history; Norwich Historic Pub Tour; The Maids Head Hotel and Tombland; The Great Market; Boardman and Skipper, celebrating the architectural legacy of the great Victorian and Edwardian Norwich architects; Norwich, the City of Stories, a tour that considers the writers who have lived in Norwich and what people have written about the city; Norwich on the Dark Side, crime and punishment, filth and grime and The Pastons in Norwich, the life and times of the 15th century letterwriters.In the Broads, there are two tours which start at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden – Fairhaven Garden and South Walsham Marshes, wildlife and history, and Fairhaven Garden and the ‘Cathedral of the Broads’, which goes to Ranworth and includes a visit to Ranworth Church and a climb up its tower offering wonderful views of the Broads. Contact Paul on 07801 103737 or email paul@pauldicksontours.co.uk,

What facilities will we find in the cottages? 

• We believe that if you are looking for a warm welcome, high levels of comfort in high quality furnished and well equipped cottages with free wifi, luxury beds and bedding, Smart TVs, BluRay players,  Alexa with Amazon Prime, Roberts/Panasonic sound systems,  Nespresso coffee machine, dishwasher, ceramic hob, granite worktops, combination microwave, full size oven, fridge and separate freezer and laundry facilities, together with food mixers, slow cookers, smoothie makers, choppers and blenders then our cottages will easily meet your requirements.  We offer you the informality of self-catering but with the added twist and benefit of quality furnishings and all the little extras that you would hope to find in an up-market hotel

What are the cottages like?  

• The cottages are both different but each has a wealth of character and we have kept and restored local, natural materials where ever possible.  They have exposed beams, oak floorboards, clean crisp decoration, shutters, egyptian cotton linens, beds so comfortable you will not want to get out of them;  large, squashy sofas with soft throws and carpets which your feet just sink into.   Watch the wild birds as they visit to enjoy their breakfast tidbits and feed the resident ducks. Spend the long winter evenings snuggled up in front of the fires with a good book and a hot toddy or chocolate and choose from the selection of DVDs to watch. Have a romantic candlelit evening BBQ in The Smial or throw together a fragrant and warming dish in the slow cooker so that it is ready for when you come home after a day exploring. In the warmer months, enjoy dining alfresco in the garden – the Lookout overlooking the pond is lovely for a glass of wine or to linger over supper. The pagoda is tucked away in a quiet corner and catches the last of the suns rays – perfect for a pre-dinner drink or to watch the wildlife at dusk.   There are picnic tables scattered around for informal lunches or snacks and each cottage also has its own outdoor table and chairs on the patio or deck.  There is also a large children’s play area complete with swings, slide, ‘airport’, trampoline & Wendy House.  The cottages are ideal for couples & families and for larger groups they can be booked together.