Cranmer Country Cottages is ideally located for luxury birdwatching breaks in Norfolk. Our rural setting is at the heart of the North Norfolk Natural Area of special interest and the Norfolk Coast ANOB . With some of the finest nature reserves in the country and its unique position on the east coast, Norfolk is one of Britain’s top birdwatching destinations – whether you are a seasoned ‘twitcher’ or enthusiastic amateur. There’s plenty to see whatever the time of year – from barn owls to kingfishers, avocets to bearded tits. Norfolk is a birdwatchers’ paradise and a wonderful place for children to begin to learn about their feathered friends. With child-friendly visitor centres and nature reserves, you’ll find all the help and information you need to get started.
As far as accommodation goes our luxury Norfolk holiday cottage Coot sleeps 2 and is an ideal birdwatching bolthole, alternatively our larger holiday cottages can offer space to accommodate special interest birdwatching groups in communicating cottages of up to 12. the Green Room provides a meeting facility for lectures, talks and film showing. Our private farmland setting provides an opportunity to observe farm birds from the doorstep and the wonderful dunes of Holkham are within cycling distance along the Roman road passing our door.
Hawk & Owl Trust
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, you can observe tawny and barn owls, kingfishers, buzzards, bullfinches, willow and marsh tits and great spotted woodpeckers throughout the year. – 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. The site was created by and managed by the Hawk and Owl Trust. This special place provides every one with a real opportunity to get involved with the natural environment. Families and wildlife watchers are made very welcome, it is a great place to relax and watch nature at work at any time of year. Boardwalks guiding you through the reserve make easy access for everyone including people using wheelchairs. The reserve host a range of special events throughout the year, including beginners & intermediate guides to nature photography, guided walks and talks.
Pensthorpe
A centre for wildfowl set in 500 acres of beautiful countryside. There are miles of peaceful nature trails to explore through ancient fen meadows, woodland and a superb series of lakes. Pensthorpe is home to Europe’s finest collection of waterfowl including endangered exotic waterfowl from around the world, and was also the home of BBC Springwatch for 2008 and 2009. More recently Pensthorpe has defined itself as a centre of nature discovery for young children with its indoor and outdoor adventure play houses with nature inspired play themes.
RSPB Titchwell Marsh
Titchwell Marsh is blessed with diverse habitats that include reedbeds, saltmarshes and freshwater lagoons where avocets, bearded tits and marsh harriers nest. The Wash is one of the country’s most important winter feeding areas for waders and wildfowl. With its big skies, a fabulous sandy beach and bird-filled lagoons tucked away inside, this really is a gem for all the family to enjoy. Facilities include a café, picnic area, binocular hire, guided walks and nature trails.
NWT Cley & Salthouse Marshes
For black-tailed godwits, ruffs, snow buntings and several thousand brent geese. An excellent reserve with birdwatching hides and boardwalks across the marshes.
Holkham Nature Reserve
Closeby you will find the Holkham Nature Reserve vast, 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. The core section of the reserve, from Wells to Holkham Bay, is crisscrossed by paths allowing access through the pine woodland.
RSPB Snettisham
The best place to see these thousands of birds coming into roost is RSPB Snettisham nature reserve
Swimming pool was fabulous , games room brilliant and were greeted on a very wet dark night with a very happy and smiling host. Truly recommend this farm to stay at , close to Wells next to sea , Holkham Hall and other coastal areas. We will definitely be returning.
Wonderful to come back to such a peaceful place, fresh air and beauty. It was very snowy while we were here and although very cold still fantastic. We loved the touch of the welcoming tea tray and fresh flowers - felt very personal. A wonderful haven!
We booked Garden House, Avocet & Woodpecker for a surprise birthday party for my son. It was such a brilliant weekend and I would like to thank you for recommending Susi; she was marvellous and the food was perfect. Hope to return to Cranmer Cottages in the near future and would thoroughly recommend them to everyone.
A wonderful week with plenty of memories - and amazingly enough, no rain, even some sunshine. Completely sold on Norfolk and this place - have no doubts we will be back.
Plenty to keep the children entertained and over all very comfy place to stay. Only a short drive from wells next the sea for a day trip out too. Highly recommend for somewhere to stay in Norfolk.
There is so much more on offer. Quiet lanes linking pretty villages with duck ponds and great pubs, watch out for the wild life on the way, brown hares and barn owls don't seem very shy as they go about their business.
I can't think of another five-star self-catering accommodation in the UK that is as green as Cranmer
Self-catering just got a seriously stylish upgrade
We very much enjoyed our stay in the lovely warm surroundings of Woodpecker Cottage. Heated pool absolute bliss for early morning swims with the added bonus of splendid views of extensive countryside through those huge windows. Thanks for a wonderful stay, we will be back soon.
