The Malmo & Moss Guide to the North Norfolk Coast

I am the kind of person who, come the 2nd of January, likes to have their holidays mapped out for the year. Places I had wanted to visit in 2020 included Byron Bay and Bali. Places I actually visited: Worcester, Hunstanton and Truro. However, whilst things may not have panned out as originally planned (owing to the small matter of a global pandemic) we still had a great Summer, revisiting some favorite spots in the UK and adding some new ones to the list as well. With restrictions on UK stays looking likely to be lifted later this Spring, I wanted to share one of my favourite places to holiday at home with you: the North Norfolk Coast. We have been coming to this part of the world for over 10 years now drawn by huge sandy beaches, wide open skies, pretty flint villages and a winning combination of nice places to eat, drink and shop.

Where to Stay

There are so many great places to stay and something for every budget. From self catering to great gastro pubs with rooms, chic bed & breakfasts, glamping spots and comfortably grand hotels. If you are looking for all the advantages of self catering with all the luxury touches of boutique hotel then look no further than Ford House Norfolk.

Ford House Norfolk serves up some serious kerb appeal

It is located in the pretty village of Docking, which is located just ten minutes drive from Burnham Market, one of the buzziest places on the coast and within easy access of two of my favourite beaches: Holme Dunes and Brancaster. It has three bedrooms (two doubles and one bunk room) two bathrooms, a gorgeous kitchen diner with an Aga keeping it cosy and living room with brick built hearth, woodburner and the squishiest of sofas. Outside you have the choice of two gardens, lawn to the front with a kid pleasing trampoline or a lovely courtyard garden at the back with table and chairs and a fantastic mud kitchen to keep the kids entertained whilst you are soaking up the sun!

A sunny spot in the rear courtyard garden with a lovely mud kitchen for the kids

Ford House is beyond well equipped. Every single thing you could possibly conceive to make your stay as comfortable, luxurious and relaxing as possible has been thought of. It starts in the kitchen with a welcome hamper waiting for you when you arrive packed with useful basics and delicious extras, jars of sweets for the kids on the counter and a chocolate traybake awaiting you in the fridge. As a dedicated tea drinker I loved the choice of gorgeous ceramic mugs hung above the kitchen counter for your morning tea or coffee.

In every room there are scented candles from Join and bath foam from the same independent Suffolk brand when you want to run yourself a long hot bath at the end of a day on the beach. If you settle down in the evening in front of the fire there are a host of magazine and interiors books to tuck into and plenty of board games and dvds to keep the kids entertained should the Norfolk weather not be on your side. I am not kidding when I say there were days when we struggled to leave the house as it catered to our every need! I don’t know where Amanda (the owner) sources the duvets on the beds from but it was like going to sleep in a cloud every evening.

It is impossible not to sleep well whilst staying in the beautiful bedrooms at Ford House

The cosy living room has plenty of interiors books and magazines to keep you occupied

If Ford House is booked up (as I know it often is!) then why not try one of these great Air BnB options saved to my North Norfolk wishlist which I know had some Summer availability left (if you are quick). There is a handsome townhouse in the beautiful village of Cley, 5 mins from a great beach), the sweetest two bedroom cottage with great rustic industrial interiors near Holkham, a newly renovated barn with a hot tub for 4 guests near South Creake or a Scandi Rustic chic cottage in the beautiful market town of Holt. If camping is your thing then this Summer, in a secluded corner of the Holkham estate, there’s a new pop-up campsite called Camp Elwood with space for grass pitches, bell tents and a dining hall with a restaurant and fully licensed bar.

For relaxed bed and breakfast in a gorgeous grand country house, book into Stay at the Whitehouse . They have spacious suites that offer plenty of privacy and the breakfasts are worth dragging yourself out of bed for.

Beaches

If you can prise yourself away from the house then within a ten-twenty minute drive are two absolutely beautiful beaches. A new discovery for me this time, Holme Dunes is by all accounts a little bit of a North Norfolk secret so I feel slightly bad for sharing it here! From the car park make your way down to the beach through windswept sand dunes to find a gently shingled beach. There is no cafe so pack a picnic and find a good spot in the sand dunes to hunker down and enjoy the view out to sea. If you want a beach with more facilities, Brancaster slightly further along the coast towards Wells is also one of my favourites. There are vast open stretches of sand, and a hut selling ice creams, coffees, buckets and spades. Although it is more popular than Holme Dunes it never feels crowded because it is such a big beach. Also if you wanted to combine the two beaches in a day you could start at Holme Dunes then stop off on the way to Brancaster in Thornham where the legendary Thornham Deli awaits. From hearty breakfasts to amazing afternoon teas they do it all with plenty of tasty options to takeaway as well. There is also a great playground next door and playing field, always good to know if you have kids like mine who need to burn off labrador like energy levels!

The tranquil sands at Holme Dunes

If you want to venture further field then Wells by the Sea has lines of iconic pastel coloured beach huts , a minature railway leading down to the sea, a cafe serving breakfasts and lunches, and ice cream van and even a mini off shoot of Joules! My other favourite has to be Holkham. Norfolk is famous for it’s wide open skies and nowhere is that more true than on Holkham beach. You make your way down to the beach through pine trees and then come out onto great expanses of sand stretching far out to sea. It is impossibly wild and beautiful and once you have blown the cobwebs away you can head back up the beach to the Victoria Inn. A fantastic foodie pub with goregous rustic interiors. My other favourite beach has to be Cley by the Sea. You make your way towards it through a pretty flint village with it’s own Windmill and a new sell out bakery Pastonacre. The road leading down to it gets water logged at high tide so be careful how you time your visit (I ended up with very wet shoes and socks) but it is a lovely place for a walk as the sun goes down.

Places to eat and drink

There are so many great options that it is truly difficult to know where to start! So maybe I will break it down into different categories to make it easier - although several are great whatever meal of the day you are wanting to eat!

Breakfast & Brunch

I have to start this category with Byfords, a Norfolk institution and rightly so! Located in the pretty Georgian market town on Holt inside a beautiful old building with crooked floors and think wooden beams. There are tables hidden away in every nook and cranny and the breakfast/brunch menu will fill you up for the day. I always have eggs benedict whilst the pancakes are a firm favourite with the kids. On your way out stop into the deli section and pic up a home cooked meal for the evening or a doorstep size slice of one of their many delicious cakes. They also have rooms for overnight stays but make sure to pack elasticated waist trousers!

On the road out of Holt is another one of my favourite brunch spots: Back to the Garden. Located in in a converted barn with huge soaring ceilings it is set around a pretty courtyard garden with brunch options featuring lots of delicious local produce. If you want a more casual breakfast then you can’t do better than a trip to Stiffkey Stores for coffee and freshly baked pastries (more on that below).

Casual Lunches

There are so many great places to choose from in this category that it is hard to narrow it down! Here are some of the ones I enjoyed the most on our most recent trip. If you are visiting Holkham beach then add on a trip to Holkham Hall, a grand stately pile up from the beach with an excellent (and free) forest adventure playground for the kids, huge grounds to roam around in and, during the Summer, a outdoor food market on Fridays and Saturdays. In the shadow of the hall there are vintage style vans selling everything from cheesy chips (my fave) to burritos, burgers, wood fired pizzas and much more.

Wiveton Hall is on a smaller scale than Holkham but in amongst fields and a farmyard they have opened a wonderfully colourful cafe serving casual meals using lots of local produce. Even better for those with kids there is a mini recreation of the hall for climbing and playing hide and seek in.

When it comes to delis from which to source the ingredients for a tasty picnic your cup overfloweth. I have already mentioned Thornham Deli and Byfords in Holt but a couple of others which deserve honourable mention include Gurney’s at the Brancaster Village Store and Picnic Fayre in Cley Next to the Sea. The former is next to a playing field, communal tennis courts and picnic tables and the latter is in a beautiful Old Forge within walking distance of a beautiful beach.

Throw the diet out the window when in North Norfolk! There are so many great delis to pick up local produce

Evening meals

If you don’t fancy cooking your own dinner then there are plenty of great options for evening meals ranging from fish and chips through to fully on fancy fare. Erics Fish and Chips just outside Thornham has rapidly become a local institution with it’s modern take on fish and chips. They do all the classics, including gluten free options but also have some knock out side specials like pesto arancini balls that have to be tasted. There is loads of outdoor seating and last time we visited they have also added an ice cream van.

If you want something a little fancier then would really recommend Socius in Burnham Market which offers a British take on tapas with a delicious selection of small plate dishes. We have not yet managed to get a table, but The White Horse in Brancaster Staithe comes highly recommended by others with a stunning terrace overlooking lobster pots, oyster beds and saltmarshes out to Scolt Head Island and the sea beyond. For simple pub fair with boho style interiors (and a huge slide in the middle of the beer garden to keep the kids happy) head to the Gin Trap Inn. Two more great pubs with playgrounds (if you are eating early with the kids) include the Kings Head in Letheringsett and The Victoria Inn, Holkham. The food at the latter is seriously delicious.

Socius in Holt serves up great mini plates of food in British tapas style

Shopping

I could probably dedicate this entire section to my favourite North Norfolk shop: Stiffkey Stores. It is part general store, part cafe part amazing interiors shop in what was once the local post office. The L Shaped building frames a pretty courtyard garden where there are plenty of places to sit with the newspapers, freshly baked croissants and a coffee. My kids love the selection of sweets stocked inside which always buys me a bit of time for browsing in the interiors section of the store. The owners have an amazing eye for display, pulling together a selection of homewares that sits perfectly against the white wash and brick walls, wooden beams and stone floors of the building. In summer they often have plants and flowers to buy displayed in old iron bath tubs outside the front of the store. It’s a truly lovely place to while away an hour or three.

I challenge you to come home from Stiffkey Stores without making a purchase

Burnham Market has a nice selection of independent shops stocking a mix of fashion, jewellery , gifts and homeware and is a nice place to pass a happy hour or two browsing shops like Anna, Norfolk Living, Foras and Barefoot Living.

Another favourite shopping destination of mine is Holt, a handsome market town set slightly inland. It is a great place to stock up on provisions with an Adnams shop for those seeking locally brewed beers as well as butchers, green grocers and delis. There used to be a fabulous vintage store in a converted shop which was great for a rummage but that has sadly closed. A new find for me on our last visit was Sprout offering homewares right up my Scandi Rustic Street.

I loved the displays at Sprout in Holt

Just outside Thornham, another favourite shop of mine is Joyful Living. A treasure trove of gorgeous interiors products, from cushions to candles and everything inbetween that are not outrageously priced. It is great for combining with a trip to Eric’s Fish and Chips which is just next door.

I hope you love North Norfolk as much as we doo.

There is so much more I could share with you about this amazing part of the world but I will leave it there for now!

I received a small discount on my stay at Ford House Norfolk but with no obligation to blog about our stay.

Best Places to Stay UK : Elmley Nature Reserve

Have you ever been on a road trip? The kind where you hire a classic car and head off down a route of impossibly gorgeous scenery with plenty of nice stopping points along the way? Our last big holiday before we became parents for the first time was a road trip down the Big Sur in California which definitely ticked the scenery and nice places to stop boxes. The only thing missing, owing to budgetary constraints, was the classic car. North London’s answer to Thelma & Louise (with Mr Malmo as Louise in this analogy) toured the route not in a convertible Mustang but a sensible Hyundai Hatchback that bore close resemblance to a large toad. The 9 years and three boys that followed have mainly featured roadtrips to visit our parents punctuated by rows about how to fit the mother f#cking travel cot in the boot and stops at Watford Gap services to change horror nappies and wolf down a Chicken Royale meal. However this Autumn, for Mr Malmo’s 40th Birthday( thanks to a kind babysitting offer from my parents -in-law) Thelma and Louise hit the road again and this time in a classic Mustang instead of a #TouringToad.

This would defo look cooler on the school run than our estate car come Variety Club Minibus

Our destination this time? The Isle of Sheppey. The Isle of where I hear you ask. Sandwiched between Gilligham, Gravesend and Herne Bay it is not, at first glance, the most obvious candidate for a scenic road trip I grant you. But bear with me because hidden away in this lesser known corner of Kent is Elmley Nature Reserve. We arrived on Sheppey just as the sun was starting to set on one of those perfect, crisp, Autumn days. Turning off down a bumpy track to reach Elmley Nature Reserve was like driving into the wide open plains of the American Midwest. It is truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. It took us 20 mins to get from the gate to the farmhouse because I must have stopped the car at least 15 times to take photographs

The Isle of Sheppey but could easily pass as the American Mid West

Mustang Malmo

Stopping the car for my 15th photo break

What awaited us at the end of the track was equally special. Gareth and Georgina, who run Elmley, took over the land from Georgina’s parents in 2012 and over the last 7 years have added a small series of Shepherd’s Huts and cabins for guests to stay in across the Nature Reserve. Elmley is the only place in the UK where you can stay on a nature reserve. All of the huts and cabins are in a palette of materials which ensures they blend seamlessly with their surroundings.

The Saltbox, my favourite of the Cabins scattered across the Nature Reserve

You can bath under the stars and roast marshmallows on fire pits

I would love to have cladding like this as part of our renovation

There are also smaller Shepherd Huts to hire with the same amazing views

On the inside they are a cocooning mix of Farrow & Ball colours, silver larch clad walls and reclaimed materials and they have all the mod cons to ensure a truly comfortable stay with bathrooms stocked with delicious Bramley products and a cute kitchenette for making meals in. But the star of the show has to be the surroundings. You can fall asleep to the sound of owls and wake up to the sound of migrating geese flying overhead. It is enough to turn even this townie into a twitcher.

I loved the mixture of reclaimed materials used

The little kitchenette has all you need to see you through a stay

I loved these copper taps like the ones in my old bathroom

Not a bad view to wake up to

With the huts and cabins having proved a runaway success, the couple have turned their attention to renovating the Farmhouse and another cottage on the land so that Elmley now boasts two other exceptional places to stay. We were kindly hosted by Georgina in the Farmhouse which sleeps 14 in 6 truly amazing bedrooms, with an enormous kitchen diner and a choice of three ridiculously comfortable living rooms. The whole things is a masterclass in Modern Rustic Luxe. The kitchen is housed in a contemporary extension to the original farmhouse and combines traditional materials with modern architecture to great success.

The contemporary kitchen addition is a beautiful contrast to the original farmhouse

I loved the view through to the nature reserve from the floor to ceiling glass kitchen window

I think our trip may have been the first time in our entire relationship that I have woken up before Mr Malmo and volunteered to get out of bed to make him a hot drink rather than the other way around! Watching the sunrise over the nature reserve through the huge glass doors in the kitchen was worth going downstairs to put the kettle on for!

The kitchen from the inside is equally stunning

The side window floods the space with lights

A view worth getting up before 7am for

If you are looking for a place to stay for a large family or group gathering I literally don’t think I have ever come across anywhere better! It sleeps 14 in 6 double bedrooms. There are also three different living rooms to chose from ranging from an elegant parlour style room, a sophisticated library and a gorgeous cosy snug with sexy velvet sofas and an exposed brick fireplace

I loved the blend of old features with modern accessories liked this rug in the hallway

Just one of the 3 gorgeous sitting rooms to choose from

Pink to make the boys and Malmo wink

This cosy snug was my favourite of the living rooms

With its exposed brick fireplace and wood burner

But the front sitting room in a rich teal blue gave it a close run for its money

All of the rooms combine insanely comfortable beds with lovely touches like hot water bottles and the kind of bathrooms that belong on a Pinterest board.

Huge comfy beds await

With lots of lovely luxe touches like white robes and hot water bottles in all the rooms

I loved all of the different colours that had been blended together seamlessly

With every room enjoying stunning views over the nature reserve

There are two cosy rooms in the attic with a bathroom which would be great if you were staying as a family of 4

The room we stayed in had a four poster bed and a cast iron bath at the end of bed in which I tried to pull of the insta legs akimbo in alluring fashion pose which ended in me looking less like a graceful swan and more like a dying duck

The stunning bedroom with 4 poster bed where we stayed

Doing my best Elizabeth Taylor impression

I will spare you the photo of me doing the dying duck pose in the cast iron bath that looks out over the nature reserve

If you are a smaller group there is also a freshly renovated clapboard cottage to hire. The black clad exterior belies a light, bright Scandi interior that has more of a coastal cape cod feel.

The interiors in the cottage have a fresh coastal feel

If I were ever to have a pink bedroom this is the perfect shade of blush

I loved the contemporary twist of painting the cladding in two colours

The gorgeous sitting room in the cottage with wood burner

It is often hired for yoga retreats and it is easy to see why

Oh and did I mention there is a fairly light festooned barn with an honesty bar where you can gather for a gin on a hay bale of an evening. Seeing the inside of the barn had me mentally getting down on one knee and proposing a wedding vow renewal to Mr Malmo.

The festoon strung black barn that made me want to re propose marriage to Mr Malmo

Both the cottage and the farmhouse are well set up to self cater but if you are feeling lazy (we were) you can rest your inner Delia Smith for the evening and let the Elmley team rustle you up a relaxed supper, delivered to your door in a hamper. It is basically like staying in the nicest of boutique hotels with all the comfort and relaxation of home. If I were ever to make (an unadmittedly unlikely) switch into agriculture this would be my fantasy farmhouse.

The kitchen is super well equipped but you can also opt to have Supper delivered to your door

Breakfast with a view

This is the kind of farmhouse that could persuade me career change into agriculture

Sadly after 24 hours we had to return both the Mustang and the Farmhouse but this is one road trip we will remember for a very long time.

Thelma and Louise before they reluctantly left Elmley behind

Whole Farmhouse hire is available throughout the year but for certain weeks of the year it is also possible to book individual rooms on a self catering basis (be quick because these get booked up fast!). The Cottage sleeps 10 and must be rented as a whole property. If you would like to enjoy 10% off a stay in the Farm House or the Cottage quote Malmo19 when you phone or e-mail to book.

Stays in the shepherds huts start at just £85 per night and the cabins, which sleep 2 adults with room for 2 children as well, are from £115 per night. So whatever your budget there is a way to stay at Elmley and enjoy it’s magic. For all the details of how to book click here

Our night in the Farmhouse was kindly gifted to us by Georgina

A Weekend Break in The Cotswolds at Bibury Farm Barns

If I had to name my least favourite month of the year it would be a straight shoot out between January and February. January because it begins with a chocolate and cheese hangover and seems to last longer than a Caribbean cruise with Bobby Davro. February because it always just feels so grey and sensible. It is the calendar equivalent of John Major. To get through #MalmosLeastFavouriteMonths the first thing I do on the 2nd of January is start holiday planning for the year ahead.

I often get asked where I get my travel inspiration from so let me let you in only a little secret from my modern rustic rolodex: Sawdays Travel. Long before Mr & Mrs Smith were on the scene Alistair Sawday was searching out and recommending great places to stay in the UK and Europe. From self catering to hotels, bed & breakfasts to pubs with lovely rooms he has it all covered. I honestly cannot think of a more comprehensive guide of places to stay in the UK that caters to all tastes and budgets. So there are simple minimal places for the Scandi like me and more traditional grand properties for a cluttered Gothic like my dad!

Sawday Guides look good on a coffee table but there is also a comprehensive collection online

Having using Alistair as my holiday wing man for well over 20 years I was therefore delighted to be asked by Sawdays Travel to go and review Bibury Farm Barns, one of the new kids on their amazing holiday block.

Bibury Farm Barns

The five newly renovated stone barns are nestled in a particularly lovely corner of the Cotswolds (although to be honest am not sure there are any crappy corners unless Cirencester gets a bit lairy on a Saturday night). They are set on the edge of a working farm but the interiors are definitely more Daylesford than Old Macdonald. The focus of the renovation was apparently “luxurious comfort” and it is definitely a case of mission accomplished.

The exterior of the Cart Shed at Bibury Farm Barns

We stayed in the Cart Shed which sleeps six in three incredibly comfortable double bedrooms all of which are ensuite. The star of the bedroom show (in a non porn film sense) is definitely the ground floor master suite. You could probably fit the entire downstairs of our house into it with a bed so large that you could be sleeping with Eamonn Holmes and his three burly brothers and still feel like you were the only one in the bed.

This way to the master suite!

The enormous bed in the master suite of the Cart Shed

I loved the rattan pendants beside the beds

The spacious garden at the Cart Shed with a big lawn

I loved the rattan style pendants either side of the bed which add contemporary edge and the Roberts Radio is on my bedroom bucket list. There is a separate dressing room area and then a large ensuite bathroom with an enormous freestanding bath and a generous supply of 100 Acres Bath products. The room also enjoys lovely views out to the garden.

The Roberts Radio that is on my bedroom bucket list when we start our renovation

The enormous bath in the master ensuite

With his and hers sinks

And a generous supply of 100 Acres products

However if you lose the race to bag the biggest bedroom (is it just my family who do this on holiday?!) then the two upstairs rooms are equally comfortable and decked out in the same calming neutral tones. One of my favourite features of the house were the copper wash basins in the ensuite bathrooms of both these bedrooms.

Upstairs Bedroom number one

Upstairs bedroom number two

The copper basins that captured my heart

If you can drag yourself out of bed of a morning the kitchen and living space are equally appealing. We visited in December so so enjoyed a cozy Saturday night on the sofa with the log burner blazing, Strictly on the TV and plenty of sheepskin blankets to snuggle under. The boys also enjoyed being able to watch Football Focus on a TV approximately 3 times the size of our ancient number at home.

A view through to the open plan living/dining space at the Cart Shed

The sofa on which we spent plenty of time happily snuggled up!

I think you can probably guess from this picture what the boys favourite feature of the barn was and it wasn’t the ceramic vases.

The log burner waiting to be lit

In the Summer you can shed the sheepskins, slide open the huge glass doors and enscounce yourself instead on one of the dreamy looking sunloungers in the garden. If you are part of a bigger group then rent the Grain Store next door which sleeps 10 and comes with the added bonus of a hot tub.

A view of the large Grain Store barn next door which sleeps 10 and has a hot tub

The kitchen in the heart of the barn was our favourite place to gather. What I really liked about it’s design was that the owners George and Polly had not gone down the traditional country kitchen route (nice as those can be). It was rustic with a contemporary twist - my favourite kind of decor. There are shaker style units but they have been paired with a geometric tile splash back which works brilliantly. It is also super well equipped. My Mum and Dad (the family chef) came with us.. My dad is not one to litter compliments around like confetti but he was praising the pan selection and was basically in #UtensilUtopia.

The contemporary kitchen that is the heart of the Cart Shed

For coffee lovers there is a seriously impressive looking coffee machine

There are several different seating options to choose from ranging from a huge limed oak dining table to more casual seating around the Island and my favourite: a butter soft curved leather banquette build into a corner of the kitchen. It was here I sipped tea and worked my way through the stack of lovely magazines and coffee table books provided.

The rustic oak dining table with statement curved mirror

My favourite corner of the kitchen

Three years on Instagram and still look like I am holding in a fart in most photos

The view from the kitchen through to the living room

I also popped my parents Instagram cherry filming a video about our stay around the capacious kitchen island with them as my co stars. I know they say never work with kids or animals but I think that list might also need to include “your seventy one year old father” after he threatened Mariah Carey style to storm off set after a failed first take.

We got there in the end though with the perfect team teacup boomerang

If you manage to leave the luxurious comfort of the barns then a short walk away is Bibury, the nearest village which is nothing short of picture postcard perfect. Rows of honey coloured cottages, winding streams and frosty fields and a lovely cosy pub in which to warm up your frozen fingers after you have taken 1001 photos of said honey coloured cottages for the gram.

My 6789 photo of these dreamy cottages in Bibury

5 minutes further on is Barnsley House Hotel, home to a delicious spa, gorgeous gardens and a lovely restaurant. It is well worth popping into even just for a drink or a meal at the more affordable Village Pub. On a previous visit to the spa I encountered Mark Owen doing a topless yoga handstand on the lawn. That was in 2014 so he is probably not still on the lawn but the Cotswolds is the kind of place where you are never far from a celeb spot (although you are potentially more likely to see Jeremy Clarkson filling up on diesel than a half naked Take Thatter ).

Half an hours drive from the cottage is Daylesford Farm which offers up next level lifestyle goals although before you enter be prepared to triple the amount you thought you would ever spend on a Scotch Egg. I came away with a new mug, a toy tambourine and a candle in exchange for 34% of my monthly salary. If you can avoid looking at the price tags it is a gorgeous inspirational place to spend a couple of hours.

Poshest Santa’s Grotto ever at Daylesford Farm?

You will come away with lots of inspiration and a large credit card bill

One (okay 3) of these mugs may have come home with me from Daylesford

If I could have afforded or fitted this sofa into the car it would have been coming home with me

Five minutes down the road in Kingham (also owned by Daylesford) is the Wild Rabbit Pub where I would happily pay £70 to eat just one of their Yorkshire puddings again. We had the best Sunday lunch I have ever eaten there and the decor is every bit as gorgeous as the food. Closer to Cheltenham, Winchcombe is also possessed of a very nice pub in the Lion Inn and afterwards you can walk off your lunch with a scootch around Sudeley Castle.

Contender for best bread rolls ever tasted

The Cotswolds hold many more delights too numerous to list here all within easy reach of Bibury Farm Barns. A few of my other favourites things to do include a visit to Tetbury which is stuffed full of gorgeous antiques and vintage shops followed by a walk in nearby Westonbirt Arboretum. For the kids Cotswolds Wildlife Park and Adam Henson’s (of Countryfile rather than the Muppets fame) Cotswolds Farm are both good options.

* Our stay at Bibury Farm in The Cart Shed was hosted. If you would like to find out more about how to book a stay through Sawdays click here *