CHRISTMAS! Not long to go now. Christmas means different things to all of us. For those of us without 2.4 children but with pets, an escape to the countryside is just the tonic to festivate and rejoice the season of goodwill. Now imagine waking up to the smell of Norfolk air and sounds of North Sea waves crashing on the beach as you welcome Christmas Morning in peace. No this isn’t a dream – this is your yuletide getaway at the glorious Holkham Estate in the aptly named Wells-next-the-Sea.
The Holkham Estate has four unique follies and lodges available to book with Niche Retreats for a festive stay with all the trimmings. We all know the secret to no arguments at Christmas is to not go overboard on time spent together. All the cottages below are for two people plus two pets so it is a great spot for four couples to meet and celebrate Christmas together, yet separately!
In this part of Norfolk, you are well positioned to discover this glorious corner of England. You’ll fall in love with the Holkham National Nature Reserve which covers 9158 acres and comprises a number of rare and precious habitats including salt marsh, sand dunes, pine woodland and of course the beach.
The award winning beach at Holkham (as seen in the film Shakespeare in Love) has four miles of white gold sand and is one of the most unspoilt and beautiful stretches of beach in the UK. Discover just how pet friendly Norfolk is as the woodland and trails lead you into Holkham village, The Burnhams and on to Wells-next-the-Sea.
Holkham Estate celebrates Christmas in a big way. In the run up to Christmas, there are candlelight and champagne tours of the hall, an audience with Santa himself and a singing band of ukulele elves. On Christmas Day, we would suggest lunch at the renowned Victoria Inn on the estate with local seafood and Norfolk turkey (of course!). In between Christmas and New Year, the chapel will be open for viewings of ‘Nativity’, a moving image artwork by Martha Fiennes.
Now that just leaves where to stay. Here are our four hand picked options below:
Palmers Folly
Extravagantly bijou, this Grade II listed folly has been recently renovated. Gloriously grand high ceilings and decorative plasterwork encase a studio apartment with en suite shower and separate loo. Baggsy your favourite deep seated armchair in front of the fireplace then slip into the opulent king size bed.
£1016 for seven nights from 21 December. £624 for three nights from 23rd or 24th December.
Palmers Lodge
Step inside and you’ll be struck immediately by the expanse of the living area. Look up through the beams and exposed brick of the chimney to your vaulted ceiling. A glass lantern over the atrium lets the light pour in and leads to your bedroom. Cleverly created rooms within these once vaulted cellars offer surprise after surprise.
£1426 for seven nights from 21 December. £870 for three nights from 23rd or 24th December.
South Lodge East
This is the newest lodge which has also just been strikingly renovated. The Lodge dates back to 1847 and has been given a contemporary twist with standout wallpapers and a woodburner, perfect for toasting toes after a bracing beach walk. A small but perfectly formed Christmas love nest.
£1096 for seven nights from 20 December, £672 for three nights from 23 or 24th December.
South Lodge West
This property enjoys a more than ample perch on the southern boundary of the Holkham Estate. The little-used back road next to which it resides leads inwards to the Estate’s magnificent obelisk and outwards to glorious North Norfolk villages and the seaside haven of Wells-next-the-Sea. Delightfully tasteful yet exquisitely simple, the lodge provides everything you need including a wood burning stove.
£1096 for seven nights from 20 December, £672 for three nights from 23 or 24th December.
Palmers Lodge, Palmers Folly and South Lodge West are bookable through Niche Retreats: www.nicheretreats.co.uk
South Lodge East is bookable via: www.originalcottages.co.uk
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