Discover North Norfolk

Highly recommended for a day out and suitable for all ages. Pensthorpe is home to a beautiful nature reserve full of plants waterways and wildlife, including flamingos! The park offers various walks through gardens and woodlands, with hides to view the birds, a fabulous, award winning indoor and outdoor children’s play area and a cafe.

Distance from cottage: 5 minutes.

Explore the much-loved country retreat of the British Royal Family. With plenty to see and do including visiting the house and gardens, walking or cycling along the nature trails, eating and shopping, adventures at the woodland children’s play area and various events throughout the year…! Dogs are welcome in the 243 hectares of parkland, the courtyard, the terrace cafe and the shop. Visit their website for information on parking, tickets and seasonal events. Distance from cottage: 25 minutes.

England's premier lavender farm, renowned worldwide with nearly 100 acres of lavender. Set in beautiful gardens, with lavender fields, an animal farm, children’s outdoor play area,  farm shop, lavender products, plants and gifts. Open all year round, with the summer season being the most vibrant when all of the lavenders burst into flower. The lavender distillery can be viewed by the public and visitors can have a guided tour to show them the distillation process from flower to perfume. Distance from cottage: 25 minutes. 

The Hall, surrounded by extensive parkland, is known for its iconic white fallow deer and features notable attractions, including an award-winning Walled Garden, the world's largest private collection of model soldiers in the Model Soldier Museum, a charming Cafe and Gift Shop. Additionally, the Sculpture Park features an impressive permanent collection of world-class contemporary art alongside guest sculpture exhibitions annually. Distance from cottage: 15 minutes.

Holkham hall is set in the heart of a stunning deer park by the coast. Book a tour of the hall to discover more about its architecture and history. The grounds of the hall offer cycle hire around its trails, boat hire on the lake and climbing on the treetops rope course. Keep an eye on Holkham’s website as they often host events and festivals in the grounds including an outdoor cinema in the Summer months. Holkham Beach is located opposite the hall and is a large, dog friendly, white Sandy beach with parking and cafe. Distance from cottage: 20 minutes.

Mallard Cottage has good links to several National Turst locations including Blickling Estate, Felbrigg Hall and Gardens, Oxburgh Estate, Sheringham Park, Blakeney Nature Reserve, Morston Quay, and Brancaster Beach. 

​Indulge in a full pampering experience whilst in the comfort of Mallard Cottage. Diana, a professional beauty therapist, offers the opportunity to book an array of massage and beauty treatments without stepping a foot out of the cottage!  For more information and to book in advance, contact Diana via her social media or website:

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Blakeney National Nature Reserve has been managed by the national trust since 1912 and remains an area of outstanding natural beauty and a wildlife haven for birds and seals! Blakeney Point has one of the largest Grey seal colony’s and thousands of breeding Sandwich terns that migrate there every March until late August. These are best explored on a boat trip - there are several local boat trip companies to choose from. Booking in advance is highly recommended. For those who prefer to venture on foot, the coast path between Morston and Blakeney is a lovely area of the coast path to explore! Distance from cottage: 25 minutes.