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The Shepherd’s Rest – Norfolk

  • Shepherd's hut for 2

One 6ft by 4ft double bed.


A traditional hut with all the old Shepherd’s clucket bells and whistles! Rural bliss, beach walks and bird watching...

This Shepherd’s hut really is the genuine article, from its original wood stove to its flaking paint, rubbed off by the sheep as they scratched themselves against it all through its working life. The hut is fenced off now, but still shares the field with four legged friends and inside there is exactly what there has always been – clucket bells, smock, lavender and a Norfolk crook (purely decorative, you don’t have to rescue the strays). There are a few tips of the flat cap to modern comfort though. The lambing bed has been removed to make way for a small double bed and there is a gas stove outside, to save having to wait for the wood-burner to heat up if you want a cup of tea. A small summer house about 30ft away holds a modern bathroom with shower and loo, decked out with some classic wash room ephemera. There’s plenty to see and do around the Shepherd’s Rest, from horse riding on the beach and seal watching trips to grand mansions and a tour of the owner’s shepherding antiques.
(The charge for pitching a tent is £15 per night. You will need to bring your own tent, bedding and towels and would be sharing The Shepherd’s Rest cooking and bathroom facilities.)


  • Children welcome Children welcome

Although it is designed as a two person space, a small mattress for a child can be supplied for £10 per night, which can go in the lambing crate under the bed, or on the floor. You are welcome to pitch a small (two man) tent alongside*. Pets cannot be accommodated at The Shepherd's Rest


Our guests say...

"We had a brilliant time! The Shepherd's Rest exceeded my expectations (and I was really excited beforehand, so that says a lot!). Our host was very welcoming and very knowledgeable of the local area. We were given the right balance of space/looking after us."

Anette, 24/06/2011

"It was very unusual and it was lovely to be outside by all of the ducks and chickens. The hosts had put together a really helpful folder with great days out and nice pubs etc which we used a lot and meant that we had a really great time doing things we wouldn't have known otherwise. When we arrived the stove was lit for us and we had a great time in the games room!"

Tess, 17/06/2011

"Simon was extremely welcoming and helpful with the delights of north Norfolk. The Shepherd's Rest was very comfortable and a pleasure to stay in. I'd certainly return, if not for the complimentary homemade chocolate brownies which were fabulous!"

Damian, 16/06/2011

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Everything you need to know about The Shepherd’s Rest

The essentials

The important stuff

  • Check in time is 4-6pm
  • Check out time is 10am
  • Kids are welcome at The Shepherds Rest, but there is only the double bed
  • Pets cannot be accommodated at The Shepherd’s Rest
  • There is an allocated car park which guests will be shown to on arrival
  • Please note - There are owls and a cockerel which can be a little noisy from time to time

Sleeping arrangements

One 6ft by 4ft double bed.

Kids & Pets

Although it is designed as a two person space, a small mattress for a child can be supplied for £10 per night, which can go in the lambing crate under the bed, or on the floor. You are welcome to pitch a small (two man) tent alongside*. Pets cannot be accommodated at The Shepherd's Rest

Cooking

  • Camping gas stove outside
  • Fridge (in washroom)
  • A rechargeable lantern for midnight snacking
  • Woodburner provided is for heating only

Washing

  • There is a modern plumbed loo and hot shower in the wash room.
  • A washing up bowl provided for the sous chef.

Heating, lighting & bedding

  • All linen is provided for guests of The Shepherd’s Rest.
  • Guests camping alongside will need to bring their own bedding and towels.

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Games
  • Cards
  • A wind-up radio
  • In games room (shared with B&B guests):
  • Table tennis
  • Snooker
  • Table football
  • The owners are happy to lend their two bikes when they’re not using them at no extra charge.

Getting there

Norfolk Courtyard, Westfield Farm, Foxley Road, Foulsham NR20 5RH

By train & bus

Norwich is the nearest train station. From Norwich you can get the X29 bus to Foulsham village. This drops you off about 100 yards from the Norfolk Courtyard entrance.

Simon has two bikes which he will happily lend you if they're not being used. Do ask in advance if you know you're going to want them.

By car

From Fakenham & the north
Take the A1067 Norwich road out of Fakenham. Drive for 10 mins – through Guist – take the third turning signed ‘Foulsham’ by the large white water tower. Westfield Farm is the first house on the left as you approach the village.

From London & the south
Take this route M25 – M11 – A11 – Brandon – Swaffham – Fakenham. Simple! 

Eating & drinking

At the Shepherd's Rest

The Shepherd’s Rest is self catering and all equipment and essentials are provided including cooking oil, salt, pepper, sugar, tea, coffee, washing up liquid, fuel for the stove and so on. There will be a welcome tea tray on arrival with home made cake or biscuits, milk and butter in the fridge, locally baked bread, Norfolk honey, home made jam and eggs from their free range chickens to get you started. You can bring your own sausages and bacon etc or call in to the neighbouring Bintree Farm Shop (open Mon-Sat 10-5pm) to stock up on delicious local produce and famous Brays pork pies.

Pubs & restaurants

For good local pub food, try:
The Queen's Head - Foulsham (0.75 miles), 10 minutes on foot

Gastropubs

The Parson Woodforde - Weston Longville (9 miles) Simon says, "Between 6pm – 8pm they hand out homemade pork pies, sausage rolls or whatever delightful snacks the chef has come up with to whomever is in the bar.”

The Hunny Bell – Hunworth (15mins by car) Reputation for excellent food, recently won an award. Highly rated, friendly pub and restaurant, lovely décor and owned by the local landowner/estate.

Coffee shops

The Park - on the road for Norwich (3 miles away) Lovely little coffee shop with everything home made. Turn left at the Water Tower in the direction of Norwich. The Park Café is 2 miles down that road on the right at the turning/junction for Dereham.

V's Café Reepham - Delightful café in lovely nearby village

Things to do

the beach

At Norfolk Courtyard, home of The Shepherd's Rest

A 30-40 minute personal tour pre-booked with Simon, the owner (cost £25) can include lighting up the original shepherd’s horn lanterns (which give a sulphur yellow glow). The tour takes in their impressive private collection of shepherding bygones and rural artifacts and introduces you to the stories behind them. It gives a glimpse into rural life 100-150 years ago and explains why the shepherd was the highest paid of all farm workers. (Some of the items have been used for prop hire for the BBC, the National Theatre and Magazines.)

Out & about

Beach walks

Westfield farm is ideally located near Holkham, Wells Next-the-sea, Blakeney. Miles of sandy beaches, perfect walks and some of the best bird watching in the country.

Seal trips
Book at the Anchor Pub at Moreston. Take a boat trip to see the seals in their natural environment.

Go Crabbing at Burnham Overy Staithe. The owners will lend crab lines. Enjoy a crab race when you let them go!

Hire a boat on the broads or take a trip on the river to Norwich
For boat hire try George Smith and Sons The Rhond, Riverside Road, Wroxham or Barnes Brinkcraft and for trips to the city, City Boats, Griffin Lane, Norwich.

bird

East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens - Ruston 
In the top 50 Daily Telegraph gardens to see before you die! Opening times Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays from 2.00pm to 5.30pm Opening Dates for 2010 Sun 29th March – Sat 24th October.

Titchwell Marshes (25 mins by car)
Titchwell Marsh is one of the RSPB’s most visited reserves. It has something for everyone, from beginners to seasoned birdwatchers on the lookout for a rarity. Walk through the reserve to the far sandy beach with many Oyster Catchers and waders to be seen.The reserve is always open. The centre is open from 9.30 am-5 pm (9.30 am-4 pm from mid-November to mid-February). 

Pensthorpe Nature and Bird Park (8 mins by car)
Open daily from 10am
Home of BBC Springwatch. For all those who love nature, wildlife and the outdoors. There is plenty for all the family; the Red Squirrels, walking with birds in huge free-flight aviaries, the nature trails around seven beautiful lakes and spotting some of the hundreds of wild bird species. 

The Sheringham-Holt Steam Railway
 Delightful steam railway through picturesque Norfolk countryside
The train runs from Sheringham to Holt and can be picked up at either end.

Meet your hosts

The owners

Simon and Catherine moved to Westfield Farm about eight years ago. The house and grounds were so run down when they arrived that it was a few years of constant labour before they managed to transform it into something truly special and begin their B&B business, to which The Shepherd's Rest has just been added.
By moving to the farm, Simon had wanted to give his children something of the experience he had had growing up on a smallholding and the evidence of his love for all things rural is everywhere. Lambing, in particular, was a powerful memory and has led, over many years, to Simon amassing one of the best collections of shepherding artifacts and memorabilia in the country. The hut itself, in fact, is part of this collection and decorated with original items from it too. 

Wildlife & the environment

Westfield Farm is in a conservation area and near to Foxley Woods (some of the oldest natural woodland in the country). There are resident Barn Owls and Tawney owls and Little Owls are often seen. For the last two years there have even breeding pairs of Spotted flycatchers too.

Aside from the extensive preservation of history on the site, Simon and Catherine have done their best to keep their footprint on their land down with the installation of ground source heat pumps in the barns and water treatment plants. All the ingredients in the breakfast hamper are locally sourced, and fantastic!


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