Rooms

The décor of each cottage echoes a different aspect of Norfolk’s land- and seascapes, but all epitomise rustic-chic, with beamed ceilings, huge hearths and wood-burning stoves.

Charming 1-bedroom cottages, Seal and Salt, are wonderfully cosy couples’ hideaways. Both have an open-plan living area and a bedroom with a four-poster, an in-room tub and a chaise-langue or rattan chair. There’s also a separate shower room with large walk-in shower.

The 2-bedroom cottages are ideal if you're coming with friends or older children, but reduced rates are available if there are only 2 of you. Shell is the largest, with an elegant taupe and oyster-pink scheme, conch-encrusted mirrors and shimmering shell-like lights. There’s a big kitchen-diner with a chunky wooden table, a separate lounge, and a landing with a window seat. One bedroom has a four-poster and double doors opening to an ensuite with a cast-iron tub, the other has an ensuite shower room and a super-kingsize bed that can be set up as 2 singles on request.

Similar in size is Sky, which comes in a spectrum of pale blues, moody greys and deep indigos. We loved the spacious lounge with its Starck ‘Ghost’ chair, L-shaped sofa and dip-dyed cushions, and the calming colours in the bedrooms (one a kingsize with a shower, the other a super-kingsize/twin with a tub). Be aware that there are open doorways between the bedrooms and their ensuites (one without an enclosed loo).

Decorated in the delicate grey-greens of the local salt marshes is the smaller but equally enticing Samphire. It has an open-plan kitchen and lounge, 2 bedrooms (one a double, the other a super-kingsize/twin), and a shared bathroom with a tub and separate shower.

All cottages have iPod docks with bluetooth, free WiFi, digital radios, flat-screen TVs and DVD players, plus flower-fringed terraces with a table and chairs. There are lots of littles luxuries, too - scented candles, hot-water bottles, Ren toiletries and brand-new bundles of fluffy towels.

Features include:

• Hairdryer
• WiFi

Eating

The hand-built wooden kitchens have everything you need for taking advantage of Norfolk’s fantastic local produce - Belfast sinks, range ovens, hobs, dishwashers, fridges, snazzy kettles and toasters, cafetières, crockery and cutlery, and utensils galore. There’s also additional freezer space, together with shared laundry facilities, in an outbuilding (particularly useful for guests in Seal, which has no freezer of its own).

On arrival you’ll find tea and coffee for that all-important post-journey cuppa, together with a bottle of wine and basics such as washing-up liquid, dishwasher tabs and bin bags, but you’ll need to stock up on everything else. Just a mile along the road to Holt is a wonderful deli and farm shop called Back to the Garden, which has a huge range of organic meat, cheeses, fruit and veg, plus artisan pasta and sauces. In Holt itself you’ll find a cavernous food hall at family-run department store Bakers & Larners, as well as all the normal butchers, bakers and greengrocers. And in summer you can wander up the lane to Sharrington Strawberries for jams and just-picked fruit.

There’s no shortage of options for dining out within a short drive, either, and Steve and Katie provide a helpful list of their favourite eateries in every cottage. We headed 10 minutes up the road to gastro-pub The Wiveton Bell, where we feasted on freshly plucked Morston mussels, towering gourmet burgers and hand-cut chips in front of a crackling fire. If you’re here in warm weather, it’s worth making a beeline to The White Horse in Brancaster Staithe for local ale and deep-fried oysters, served on a lovely deck with views across the salt marshes to the sea.

Features include:

• Dishwasher
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Hob or stove
• Oven
• Toaster

Activities

• Meander along the North Norfolk coast, just 10 minutes away by car and renowned for its beautiful light and vast horizons. There are plenty of seaside towns to potter around along the way, including Blakeney (a gentrified fishing port with sweeping views), Wells-next-the-Sea (where colourful beach huts line the sand) and Cromer (famed for its crab-fishing and Victorian pier)
  
• Head to Cley, a lovely little village marooned among salt marshes. Practice your camera skills at the postcard-pretty windmill, then browse handmade pottery and jewellery at artisan co-operative Made in Cley
  
• There are more shopping opportunities in Holt and Burnham Market, both packed with delis, art galleries and homeware boutiques
  
• Spot birds around the marshes and creek at Morston. The area is a twitcher's paradise, with owls, egrets, herons, waders and harriers
  
• Or visit grey seals at Blakeney Point. Boat trips run from Morston Quay and Blakeney Harbour between April and October (book in advance). Keep your eyes peeled and you might even spot a head bobbing around in the water from the shore
  
• Pack up a picnic and stretch your legs on the wide, golden sands of Holkham Bay. The sense of space is incredible, and the dunes give way to fragrant pine forest criss-crossed by boardwalks. It’s spectacular at sunset, and after dark when razor-sharp skies make for excellent stargazing
  
• Marvel at the magnificent interiors, gardens and deer park at Holkham Hall, or head to National Trust-owned Bickling Hall (once home to the Boleyn family) for impressive Jacobean architecture and a lake. Both host outdoor concerts in summer
  
• The Norfolk Broads are within easy day-tripping distance for all sorts of watery adventures, from boat hire to water-skiing

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Boat trips
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Plantlife / flora
• Sailing
• Shopping / markets
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Wildlife

Kids

Only children aged 10 and over are accepted, but any of the 2-bedroom cottages (Shell, Sky and Samphire) would make an excellent base for a family with 1 or 2 older kids. All have bedrooms which can be set up as twins on request, and North Norfolk’s sandy beaches and seal colonies are sure to appeal. Note that no extra beds are available, so each cottage can accommodate a maximum of 4 people.

Best for:

Teens (over 12)

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Cartshed Cottages are set in the grounds of Sharrington Hall in the tiny hamlet of Sharrington, in North Norfolk, eastern England. They're a 10-minute drive from the market town of Holt, just under an hour from Norwich, and 2.5 hours from London.

By Air:
The nearest airport is Norwich (40km / a 40-minute drive away), which has some flights from other cities in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, but far more airlines serve London Stansted (140km / a 2-hour drive away).

From the Airport
You'll need to hire a car (see below), as the cottages are remote and you’ll have to drive to shops and restaurants.

By Car:
You definitely need a car to explore North Norfolk. If you’re not bringing your own and want to hire one, see our car rental recommendations.

Off-street parking is available at the cottages, and detailed directions will be provided when you confirm a booking through i-escape.com.

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