The Birds And Bees.

We are now well into our eighth season at Bridge Cottages. Bookings for this year have been very good with many of our regulars returning including a number who have visited at least once each year since we started back in 2006.

Since our last Blog entry at the end of 2012 (how time flies) we have continued to endeavour to keep the cottages well maintained. A new central heating boiler has been installed at no.4. The sash windows in no.3 have all been repaired or replaced and also draught proofed. Sue was also busy with her paint brush over the winter months.

On the wildlife front the the recent highlights have been the increased number of sightings of red kites locally. At Bridge Cottages a pair of nuthatches are nesting in the old acacia tree in our next door neighbours front garden and there is a tree bumblebee nest under the decking surrounding the pine trees at the bottom of no.4's garden.

Guests have spoken well of meals they have enjoyed at the Wiveton Bell. Byfords in Holt remains a firm favourite with all. We like the Dun Cow at Salthouse which has been transformed since new owners took over a couple of years ago. Great food and the best view from a pub garden anywhere along the coast. The Wiveton Hall Cafe is also blessed with lovely views and scrumptious cakes!

Winter Ramblings

A week off work to catch up with the winter maintenance at the cottages and to get the gardens in order for next spring. Also managed to find time to join Bernard Bishop the warden at the NWT's Cley Marshes reserve on his regular Wednesday morning ramble. A fascinating (but chilly) couple of hours learning about the management of the reserve. The scrapes, reed beds and grazing marshes all look so natural but a vast amount of time, effort and money is spent on the management of each habitat to ensure that they provide the perfect environment for bittern, avocet, marsh harrier, lapwing et al. During our ramble we were lucky to view marsh harrier, peregrine falcon and a ring tail hen harrier sending the assorted ducks, geese and waders into flight. Bernard Bishop will be featured on this coming Sunday's Countryfile programme. We also ended the week with a celebratory lunch at our current favourite hostelry, the Saracens Head at Wolterton, and by taking one of our favourite rambles from Upper Sheringham, through Sheringham Park down to Weybourne Station on the North Norfolk Railway. A 'Santa Special' was on the platform making a very festive scene to accompany our coffees and mince pies purchased from the station buffet. Our spring and summer bookings for 2013 are looking good but we still have plenty of availability in the new year for those tempted to enjoy a winter break in North Norfolk. Finally merry Xmas and a happy new year to all our regular (and future!) guests.

School's Out

Can't believe that almost 12 months have gone by since my last post. Time really does fly when you are having fun. We are well into our sixth season at Bridge Cottages now and despite the weather we are having another busy year. Just one week still left to let at the end of August otherwise the 'no vacancies' sign is up until late September.Lots of nice comments continue to to be made in our guestbooks and our repeat guests are accounting for 40% of our bookings this year so we must be doing something right. We had an enjoyable week off at home at the end of June when we took time to take a leisurely late evening stroll from Kelling to Salthouse on the green lane out across the marshes and then back along the beach. A solitary grey seal came to take a close look at us as we neared Kelling Beach. Stopped for a pint of something cold at the Pheasant Hotel before heading home. An ideal way to end the day if you are staying at Bridge Cottages. A little further afield but still easily reached from the cottages we also enjoyed a very long leisurely lunch at the Saracens Head at Wolterton. The pub plays on being in the middle of nowhere but if you can find it is very worthwhile. We also spent a day on the Norfolk/Suffolk border visiting the Lakenheath Fen RSPB reserve and the NWT site at Weeting Heath. A successful day's birdwatching included sightings of golden oriole, bittern and stone curlew. We also spent some while with the sun shining waching two hobbies hawking along the Little Ouse. The photo posted with this blog is the view from the small seating area that we have created in the back garden of no.3 Bridge Cottages.

Here Comes The Summer!!!

Well maybe not this year!! Despite the sometimes changeable weather we have had a really busy but enjoyable season at Bridge Cottages so far this year. Lots of returning guests and judging by the comments in our guest books some of our 'new' guests will also be returning again. The North Norfolk Railway continues to be popular attraction for young and old. Fishing for crabs at Blakeney or Wells harbours has also been a popular pastime with younger guests. When the weather was less kind the indoor pool at Splash in Sheringham has been popular and the Sticky Earth Cafe in Cromer has received some nice reviews from mums looking to keep their little ones amused. When the sun has shone then the beaches at Sheringham and Holkham seem to be the favourite spots. Slightly further afield Bewilderwood is also a popular family destination. From the grown ups the local pub that has received consistent praise for its food and service is the Wheatsheaf Inn at West Beckham. (We have been ourselves and agree with the reviews in the guestbooks) Pensthorpe Nature Reserve has been popular with old and young alike. For those reading this who like to enjoy a round of golf on their holidays then the club at Sheringham has received an honorable mention for having a well groomed course, friendly members and reasonable green fees. Just goes to prove there are plenty of attractions and activities in North Norfolk for all the family to enjoy whatever the weather.

Spring is in the air!!

At last!! The sun has been shining in North Norfolk today, the birds have been singing and it really does feel as if winter is behind us. Our season is already underway at Bridge Cottages with only a short break between our Xmas guests and our first guests of 2011 at the beginning of this month. Sue has been busy spring cleaning and carrying out some redecorating in both cottages to keep them looking fresh and cared for. Here are a few comments from our guestbooks made by guests staying over the last few months. Julie & family August 2010 - Very enjoyable stay. Very comfortable. Lovely location. Great bird watching. Neil & family September 2010 - Enjoyed the break and loved the cottage. Very much appreciated the little extras. PS - Great marmalade. Bob & co November 2010 - We have nothing but praise for Bridge Cottages. Thank you for providing such a lovely place to stay. We particularly enjoyed the North Norfolk Railway and a meal at the Feathers Hotel in Holt.

Cookies Crab Shop

Our busiest season yet at Bridge Cottages but we still managed to have our own very local 'staycation' at the beginning of July. With just three days off work we managed to cram in a lunch at Cookies Crab Shop at Salthouse followed by a ramble out across the marshes to the shingle and back, a day at the Royal Norfolk Show, a very funny production of Much Ado About nothing in the lovely setting of the National Trust's Sheringham Park and a sunset cruise on the Broads listening to a bit of jazz. But most importantly lets get back to Cookies. A local institution for 50 years located right on the coast road and only five mins in the car from Bridge Cottages or a leisurely stroll along country lanes with great views. The menu is limited. It's mainly locally caught crab or lobster salads garnished with a variety of other sea food. Very reasonably priced. Less than a tenner for a (half) lobster salad. The facilities are a little rustic (if the weather is not so good then the seats in the garden shed are the best bet), there is no licence but you are welcome to take your own wine or beer, and the toilet facilities are across the road. But it is our favourite spot for lunch along the coast. They also do an excellent take out service. Our guests have also enjoyed the charm of Cookies. I & M who recently stayed rated their cottage "first class" and had a great holiday but picked out Sue's lemon marmalade and Cookies as their personal favourites!! Stay at Bridge Cottages and you to can sample the Cookies fayre but it is advisable to book if the weathers fine.

Oliver Cromwell visits the NNR

The NNR continues to be a very popular attraction with our guests. Both cottages were booked this weekend with our guests drawn to North Norfolk by the official opening of the level crossing at Sheringham linking the NNR to the Bittern Line. To mark the occasion The Broadsman 'special' was run from London to Holt hauled by the Oliver Cromwell. Many thanks to Phil Greenslade for this picture of the train as it approached 'our' bridge 299. On the nature front lots of redwing and fieldfare in the field behind the cottages this weekend and a brief glimpse of the Marsh Tit which has been an occasional visitor to the feeders in our neighbours front garden for sometime now. Here at Bessingham regular sightings of the local Barn Owls, Roe Deer and the Brown Hares doing their 'Mad March' thing.