Still time to spot seal pups at Winterton-on-Sea, Norfolk
We arrived in Winterton-on-Sea, on Norfolk’s exposed east coast, in late December but fortunately the gods smiled upon us and the sun shone as we hosted a pre-Christmas family weekend break. We were also fortunate in the choice of accommodation - Cleveland House, which easily accommodated my family of four plus two grandparents. There is off-road parking for two cars and as you enter the gate you are struck by a stunning double-fronted Edwardian home.
The house has five bedrooms, three of which have en-suite facilities. The beds were incredibly comfortable and two rooms could be set up as super king size or split into twin beds. There was plenty of storage in wardrobes and the heating was all set to keep us toasty and warm without us needing to adjust anything throughout our stay.
The house is beautifully designed with tasteful decor. As we were approaching Christmas, the hosts had lovingly dressed the living spaces with decorations. In the large conservatory we found a Christmas tree twinkling away and a festive dining table laid with runners, lights and place settings that would put the Home Alone house to shame!
Downstairs, one of the main features is the large kitchen in which we cooked Sunday lunch on the range cooker. The cupboards were packed with all the cooking and baking equipment one would need and we had also been generously gifted a welcome basket filled with some local treats such as biscuits, jam and a bottle of wine.
Next to the kitchen is the utility area containing laundry facilities if you need to do any washing and an accessible bathroom with a shower. There are also plenty of hooks for coats and a general space for boots and beach towels which were provided for the hot tub.
The other half of the ground floor is occupied by a very generous living room where, in the evenings, we played board games or watched films in front of the wood-burning stove. There are plenty of books, games and DVDs to keep everyone occupied which illustrated the care and attention the hosts paid to make guests feel at home. In the living room we also found a guest book whose comments showed that we were not alone in the high praise of our stay.
If you fancy a special moment to yourself, ensure you make use of the spacious hot tub in the garden! Don’t let the cold weather put you off - it is heated to a wonderful temperature. Equipped with coloured lights, we made good use in the evening after a day of brisk walking in the chilly air. It was wonderful to sit back and look at the stars feeling content and relaxed.
Cleveland House is located in the centre of this small village. Turning left out of the house and a few houses along the street is The Fisherman’s Return, which serves well-cooked pub food. Picky grandparents and hungry children all found food to enjoy. If only all villages still had friendly pubs like this.
Further along the road is the Late Medieval church that is worth a visit for its enormous 132-foot tall tower that, we were told, guided members of the former fishing community back home from the sea. Facing the Continent it was not surprising to hear that the tower was also used as a lookout station during the war.
Turning right out of Cleveland House is the post office but now, as Poppy’s Tea Room, also serves food, including freshly-baked cakes. Nearby, a convenience store sells essentials from bottles of wine to bin bags, and – if you are ready for a takeaway – the village has a very good fish and chip shop.
But perhaps the biggest draw in Winterton is the long, unspoilt beach, just a ten minute walk from the house. During the seal pupping season, the only residents brave enough to lie on the beach are grey seals that come here in their hundreds if not thousands. The seals lay claim to the beach and even clamber into the dunes. This was a unique experience which stunned us all and we learned a great deal about these amazing animals from the friendly and knowledgeable volunteer wardens. Whether you are a keen photographer, a nature lover or just interested in seeing something breathtaking - you must make this trip!
At the beachfront you will also find a cafe which has a vast array of homemade cakes, milkshakes (cue very happy children not perturbed by winter weather), teas and coffees and as a festive treat they also had hot dogs and a marshmallow toasting fire pit! We were really impressed by the facilities at the beach front.
Travelling south along the coast you will find other quiet beaches on the way to the Pleasure Beach at Great Yarmouth. Or you can travel north to Cromer with its pier. Even further around the coast is the lovely and popular Wells-next-the-Sea.
We had found our ideal multi-generational destination and will certainly return.
Travel facts
Winterton Cottages features over 40 stunning holiday homes in Winterton-on-Sea and nearby villages, stretching further up the Norfolk coast as far as Happisburgh.
Holiday homes range from cosy traditional fisherman’s cottages to large houses with spectacular sea views and quirky properties such as a former village shop and double thatched round house.
Most of the properties are dog-friendly and have fully enclosed gardens. Some welcome two or even three dogs, a handful take up to four dogs and one, with a 2.5-acre paddock, accepts an unlimited number. Many holiday homes are within walking distance of the area’s dune-backed beaches, traditional village pubs, cafes and dog-friendly activities. There are literally miles of walks right on the doorstep without having to drive anywhere and Winterton beach is dog-friendly all year round.
Winterton Cottages’ Cleveland House sleeps ten and takes up to four dogs. A seven-night stay starts from £2,648 and a three-night weekend break from £1,627. (wintertoncottages.co.uk, 01493 800645).