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.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all our past and future guests and especially to our 'regulars'. 2009 was a very busy year for us. Thank you to all those guests who left such kind comments in our guestbooks and apologies to those who had to live with no.4's faulty central heating and hot water system in the late summer. Fortunately normal service was soon resumed. We have also spruced up the bathroom in no.4 and installed a new power shower during the autumn. With a fresh coat of paint on the walls and windows after completing external decs in October we are all 'fired up' and ready to welcome old and new guests for 2010. It's going to be another a great year in North Norfolk with the latest developments on the North Norfolk Railway generating a lot of interest. The first steam hauled service from Liverpool Street to Holt is scheduled for the 11th of March. The arrival of the first spring migrants will also soon be with us. Best wishes Paul & Sue (Photo courtesy of the NNR)

Norfolk Calling

First post for a while. (Special apologies to Maria's mum!) Not much time for rambling of late. Both cottages have been very busy and we only have very limited availability between now and the end of August. Still getting some great feedback from guests which is reflected in the number of repeat bookings. (25% of bookings year to date). It really does make the time and effort put into keeping the cottages clean and well maintained very worthwhile. It just gives us a really good feeling to know that our guests have enjoyed their holiday. Have managed a couple of rambles down to Salthouse and back up from the coast via the Pheasant Hotel at Kelling. No mega sightings for me but locally Pallid Harrier, Red Rumped Swallow, Collared Pranticole have all been seen within the last couple of weeks (Citrine Wagtail at Cley as well) The Mudd family (making a second visit to Bridge Cottages) bagged 116 species over their two week stay earlier this month including nightingale on Salthouse Heath. Hoping to get out onto Kelling Heath when I have a week off in mid June to find a churring nightjar or two. Prospective guests please note the photo attached to this post is of the 'montana' climbing the garden shed behind no.3 Bridge Cottages. It is not a picture of the accommodation for let!!

Happy Holidays

Judging by the number of enquiries received at Bridge Cottages HQ since Xmas North Norfolk is going to be a very popular destination for 2009. The number of repeat bookings we have taken has been really gratifying. Here are a couple of the recent comments from the Bridge Cottage guestbooks-: K&J Dec 2008 -: Thank you for providing the perfect getaway. The cottage is beautifully thought out and the finishing touches make it perfect. We look forward to coming back again. The D family Dec 2008-: A great base for a family Xmas in Norfolk. Clean warm and very comfortable. Thank you very much we shall definitely recommend others. Very little opportunity to ramble of late. We did enjoy a walk from the cottages at New Year. Down to the coast at Kelling via Kelling Heath and then back up via Salthouse and Salthouse Heath. Before Xmas our Bessingham ramble turned up a new bird for our own patch - a Red Kite. Excellent view. Busy decorating at Bridge Cottage HQ since Xmas plenty of wildlife to distract me from the making good and painting. Barn Owl floating by. Good sized flock of Fieldfare in the field opposite. Nuthatch a regular on the feeders. Sue bought me a new feeder for my birthday and a supply of niger seed. Result - Goldfinches and Siskins in abundance just feet away from the kitchen window. Spring cleaned at the cottages this week and watched the resident Sparrowhawk (who seems to regard the feeders in front of the cottage as his local supermarket) put another dent in the local tit population.