Norfolk is where we live now!

I grew up in the suburbs of London – for 40 years in all, and despite the delights of Buckingham Palace, The Natural History Museum, The Tower of London, theatres, parks, the Cutty Sark and sight-seeing boat-trips along the Thames, I think my best memories are of leaving London for our annual family holiday – a good many of which were spent here in Norfolk - often at Wells Next To The Sea, or on farms further in-land where we could ransack barns full of straw bales and feed the animals.

Norfolk is where we live now – Thorpe Market Village, just a few miles south of Cromer. After 20 years of commuting we had achieved exactly what my parents had - a family with two young children, a suburban house and car, before redundancy struck. It was time to choose between another quarter of a century of commuting and a desk-job, or taking a risk and doing something different.

So, here we are today. Keith and Paula with daughter Victoria (6) and James (3) living in a thatched 16th century farmhouse and renting out old farm buildings that we have converted into holiday cottages (see photo). We have 8 acres of private forest and fields for us and guests to explore. An abundance of chickens, pheasants, deer, swallows, frogs and moles. Lambs, goat kids and calves are in the adjacent field and wander over to see us when we go outside. It is all very different from the suburban garden that used to attract pigeons and urban foxes.

We love holiday-makers – you always see people at their best when on an annual trip. Ensuring they have a wonderful and memorable time is really rewarding. Reading comments in our visitor’s books gives us great pleasure and a sense of pride. We have swapped London and it attractions for a rural community, but still with everything and more nearby.

The beach at Mundsley is our favourite, but Cromer and Sherringham are great too. West Runton is the best for rock-pooling. Further along the coast, Cley has a fantastic bird sanctuary, and at Blakeney Point there are seals and boat trips. National Trust properties abound, as well as exhilarating days out for the kids at Dinosaur World, Gressenhall, Wroxham Barns, Thrigby and Cromer zoos, and plenty of others that we are yet to explore.

For traditional fish, chips, beach, arcades, circus and fun-fairs no resort can match Great Yarmouth. The Norfolk Broads are a holiday on their own, but also an ideal outing in a day-boat. Fishing, cycling, swimming, theatres, galleries, golf can also be found. Norwich is great for shops, old buildings and museums – and getting around is easy whether by car, bus, cycling, diesel or steam trains. The pubs and restaurants, both rural and city, are a must.

If you are not lucky enough to live in Norfolk, I recommend you come for a visit – it may even result in you moving here permanently.

Keith Barr, Thorpewood Cottages©

Also listed in Cottage Holidays