Our Local Area

Fakenham

3.5 miles from Cranmer

Our local town is Fakenham which is within 5 miles inland from Cranmer. Here you’ll find supermarkets, chemists, banks and a post office. Fakenham is a traditional working town which really comes alive for the Thursday market day. Fakenham was granted a charter Market in 1250 and markets have been held here ever since. Together with all the colourful fresh fruit, veg & bric-a-brac there is the lively James Beck Auction a regular with locals and dealers alike.

Wells-Next-The-Sea

7.5 miles from Cranmer

Wells-next-the-sea has a quay with wonderful views out across the harbour and is a great place to sit and enjoy a plate of freshly fried fish & chips. On a short walk away from the quay you’ll find a buzzy town with a mix of traditional and contemporary shops as well as an array of eateries.  Take a walk away from the quay towards the life boat station and you will find access through the pinewoods & boardwalk to the Wells-next-the-Sea beach.

Wells-Next-The-Sea Beach

9 miles from Cranmer

This is a great beach with beach huts, pools for paddling and endless sandy stretches for long walks. Wells beach is located approximately one mile from the town. Drive and park at the Beach Road car park near Pinewoods Caravan Park, where you can find the Beach Café and car park (pay and display). A toilet block with shower is located at the entrance to the car park.

Wells & Walsingham Light Railway

9.7 miles from Cranmer

The Wells & Walsingham Light Railway has always been a hit with our guests. The 10-and-a-quarter-inch narrow gauge steam railway is the longest in the world! The four-mile line runs between Wells & Walsingham on a half hour trip through countryside, under bridges and past a real ghost platform.

Burnham Market

6.8 miles from Cranmer

A great place for retail therapy – vintage shops, bookshops, craft fairs and delis as well as the traditional butchers, bakers and fishmongers.  Also great for foodies with some of the best pubs and eateries in the area. Nick-named Chelsea-by-Sea the village tends to get pretty rammed in the summer. Thankfully, there is now a large carpark on the outskirts of town.

Holkham Estate

7.3 miles from Cranmer

A great place for retail therapy – vintage shops, bookshops, craft fairs and delis as well as the traditional butchers, bakers and fishmongers.  Also great for foodies with some of the best pubs and eateries in the area. Nick-named Chelsea-by-Sea the village tends to get pretty rammed in the summer. Thankfully, there is now a large carpark on the outskirts of town.

Holkham Beach

10.3 miles from Cranmer

Holkham beach is widely recognised as being one of the finest beaches in Norfolk, if not England. At low tide the pristine sandy beach stretches for miles and miles bordered by sand dunes and cooling pinewoods. It is easy to escape the melee, the beach never feels crowded.  There is a wheelchair accessible boardwalk from the Wells pinewoods car park just off Wells quay. Here you will also find the excellent Wells beach café a great place to stop for a coffee or an ice cream.

open water and wet meadow.

Holkham Nature Reserve

9 miles from Cranmer

Close to Cranmer you will also find the Holkham Nature Reserve,  a vast wilderness with rugged coastal wetlands, saltmarsh, dunes, pinewoods and scrub, grazing marsh and foreshore. The reserve land stretches from Burnham Norton to Blakeney and covers about 3,706 hectares. It is possible to explore most of the area by following footpaths from the main car parks. At the end of Lady Anne’s Drive is The Lookout, a new RIBA award-winning visitor centre and café. It offers spectacular views over the nature reserve and provides information, refreshments and accessible facilities visitors to the Holkham National Nature Reserve and Beach.

Hootz House & Wild Rootz at Pensthorpe

5.9 miles from Cranmer

Nature themed indoor and outdoor play areas developed for family fun whilst learning all about the wildlife at Pensthorpe Nature park. Combined with beautiful gardens and a great café & shop. A good trip out for the whole family at any age especially with small children for rainy days!

Sculthorpe Moore Nature Reserve

2.5 miles from Cranmer

We are lucky enough to have a fantastic community reserve right on our doorstep – Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve a peaceful and beautiful place that never feels crowded, an excellent chance to get close to birds throughout a patchwork of habitats including wet woodland, hazel coppice, reed and sedge beds, open water and wet meadow.

Copyright image Hawk & Owl Trust

Walsingham Abbey

5 miles from Cranmer

Walsingham is just 10 minutes from Cranmer and has a long and fascinating including a history of religious pilgrimage dating back to the 11th Century.  In the village there are many 14th & 15th century buildings in including one which is now the Shirehall Museum and Priory gardens. The Walsingham Abbey Grounds are stunning in February when the area is covered in a carpet of snowdrops.

Farmers Market & Local Produce

5 miles from Cranmer

There are many places nearby where you can find excellent seasonal produce either on the menu or to purchase and bring back to prepare in your cottage during your stay. Fakenham and Creake Abbey both have monthly farmers markets and Walsingham Farms shop is great for local cheese, meat and deli items produced in Norfolk.

Creake Abbey Cafe & Food Hall

5 miles from Cranmer

A great family friendly café surrounded by fields and plenty of space for little ones to run off some energy after a long car journey.  The café uses local produce, offers a kids menu and serves breakfast, lunch afternoon tea and takeaway. The food hall includes a fine butchery, superb cheese counter, great charcuterie, fresh produce, staples, wines and beers.

Burn Valley Vineyard, North Creake

5.6 miles from Cranmer

Burn Valley Vineyard truly is a family project.  Located on a family farm in North Creake, two sisters work alongside their brother who farms the land surrounding the vineyard. Burn Valley offer wine tours, secret suppers and steak nights. See their website for booking and other events planned for the season.

Sculthorpe Mill Pub & Restaurant

2.1 miles from Cranmer

Our favourite local pub.  Shoreditch comes to Sculthorpe, or that what the papers say! Voted the best Hotel in the East of England. A beautiful pub in a glorious location. The converted 18th century watermill is within cycling distance of us and is popular with locals and foodies alike. Relaxed vibe an family friendly with outdoor garden games to keep the kids amused.