ACTIVITIES
My North Norfolk by Andrea Sowerby of Sowerbys Holiday Cottages Andrea Sowerby of Sowerbys Holiday Cottages
Bircham Windmill Overy Staithe
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aving lived in North Norfolk for nearly 20 years I know I’m still not qualified as a “local” but I still appreciate just how lucky I am to be able to live and work in such a beautiful part of the country. Since I started Sowerbys Holiday Cottages just over 10 years ago, I have the enjoyable task of helping people find the perfect holiday cottage to stay in and am always asked an abundance of questions like “Which is the best beach to go to? How can I amuse my children when it’s raining? Where can I take my dog? Where are the best places to eat?” Answering these queries on a daily basis really makes you realise how fortunate you are to be able to do all these things without having to go away on holiday. I don’t think that there can be anywhere better than Norfolk to spend your childhood and our three children (now aged 14, 12 and 10) have been lucky enough to be able to go down to the beach for a swim and a picnic after school and to have the space and freedom to enjoy a proper childhood, messing around in the mud at Brancaster Staithe, rather than being stuck inside watching TV or playing computer games.
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Living in Bircham we hop on our bicycles and cycle to the restored Bircham Windmill which bakes the most delicious bread and cakes. Once stocked up for a picnic lunch, we then head off to one of the many beautiful nearby beaches. We love going down to Brancaster beach and walking to the left of the golf club along to see the seals - it’s magical watching them. If its low tide then we’ll head to Brancaster Staithe or Burnham Overy Staithe harbour and roll up our shorts to wade across the creeks and then out to the gorgeous sandy beach. The beauty of North Norfolk is that there’s so much space, even in the busiest weeks of the summer, if you’re prepared to walk a little, you can soon be away from the crowds. Another favourite activity is crabbing and after extensive research in the area, the Sowerby juniors reckon that Thornham is the best place to go with usual catches of over 100 crabs! We love going to Thornham as we can then pop into The Lifeboat or The Orange Tree for a quick drink and bite to eat. We are so spoilt around here with so many outstanding places to eat. There’s no doubt that one week in North Norfolk is not long enough to try out all the best places to eat - even if you
go out for lunch and supper every day! As a family we love the Kings Head in Bircham for its delicious Sunday lunches, the Duck Inn at Stanhoe for supper - but remember to book as it’s now so popular. For grown-up treats then dinner at Morston Hall is hard to beat and I still remember my pea purée ice cream with quails egg! With my office in Burnham Market it’s so tempting to go and indulge in a spot of retail therapy and for such a small village we have the most amazing selection of shops. There’s no need for a supermarket with a great choice of fresh locally sourced produce: the freshest fish from Gurneys, excellent meat from Howells, a tempting range of deli fare from Humble Pie and freshly baked bread and cakes from Grooms. After a hard day in the office, then a nice glass of wine at The Hoste is much appreciated! It really is no surprise that we see so many of our holiday cottage guests returning year after year to the area – certainly I could never imagine living anywhere else! • Sowerbys Holiday Cottages, Burnham Market 01328 730880 www.sowerbysholidaycottages.co.uk
NORTH NORFOLK LIVING WINTER 2013
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