FAQs

Where?

How far are the Norfolk holiday cottages at Cranmer Country Cottages from London?

North London to Cranmer is approx 110 miles and takes roughly 2 1/4 hours.  Directions

How far are the holiday cottages from Stanstead Airport?

Cranmer Holiday Cottages are approx 86 miles from Stansted Airport and takes roughly 2 hours 9 minutes. Norwich Airport takes approx 1 hour 20 minutes.

Which is the nearest rail station?

Kings Lynn is 44 minutes from Cranmer.  Norwich 1 hour fifteen minutes.  Travelline

How far is it to the North Norfolk coast and beaches?

The magnificent Holkham beach is approximately 7 miles from Cranmer Country Cottages and Wells-Next-The-Sea is 8 miles.

Which are the nearest towns and villages?

The holiday cottages at Cranmer Country Cottages are just south of South Creake, within 2.5 miles of Barsham, 4.5 miles Walsingham, 3.5 miles Fakenham, 6.8 miles Burnham Market and 8 miles from Wells-Next-The-Sea.

Is there a pub within walking distance?

Biking distance maybe but not walking distance.

Where is the nearest place to eat and can we book a table in advance?

There are several pubs nearby and fish and chips from Wells-Next-The-Sea, Walsingham & Fakenham – see Eating Out

How?

When is the best time to call with a booking query?

The office is open 9.00 am – 5.00 pm except for weekends. Telephone enquiries are answered between 9.00 am and 6.00 pm on 01328 6823135 Monday to Friday and 10.00 am – 11.00 am Saturday. For enquiries outside of these times please email us. We will try to get back to you within 24 hours, maybe longer if it is during the weekend.

Where are the prices shown? Can I book online?

To ensure you get the dates you want and to receive rapid confirmation it is best to book online through our booking system. Just enter a start date in the calendar and the system will do the rest. Prices are shown as part of the real time availability chart. If a period is booked you will not be able to see the price. We will need your card details to process the booking. Debit cards are free of charge but we do make a charge of 1.5% on all credit cards excl. Amex which is extra. Sorry.

We are a large family group we are not sure of exact numbers yet?

When your booking is made you need to know exactly how many guests will be using the properties. If you have spare beds that is OK. For insurance reasons we cannot exceed the numbers stated in our details including the number of children and infants. We will ask you to complete a booking form for each property. Each property needs to be covered by an insurance waiver from a person staying in the cottage – this covers liability for use of the swimming pool.

We have a number of children in our party can they sleep in with us or on blow up beds?

All children and infants must have an allocated bed or travel cot – ages must be indicated on the booking form. We can supply one travel cot per cottage. It may be possible to accommodate an additional cot in the second bedroom of Garden House or Avocet only if guests would like to bring their own cot.  We do not supply bedding for travel cots.

Do we ever have any cancellations?

Only very rarely do we have cancellations during peak season. However if you sign up to our newsletter you will be first to hear of cancellations, late availability and special offers.

How do I pay my security deposit? When will it be refunded after my holiday?

We will ask you for card details for housekeeping deposit payments. If you have ticked the box on the booking form for us to take this, you don’t have to do anything. The cottages are checked by our staff after you have left. The money is held by our secure SagePay sytem and is not actually debited. We will only take payments from you if the cottage is left in an untidy state or if anything has been damaged or broken during your stay. We will inform you in advance if we are going to do this.

Do I need to bring bedding & towels?

We provide freshly laundered bedding and towels for your cottage. You will need to bring towels for the swimming pool and  bedding for the travel cot. We do not provide cot bedding due to allergies.

I cannot arrive on the Friday night before 6.00 pm how do I get into my booked property?

Please email us and let us know your ETA if it is likely to be later than 6.00 pm. If we hear nothing we will leave the key in the keysafe adjacent to the front door you will need to give us a call at the office on 01328 823135 to find out what the code is. We will arrange a suitable time to go through things the following morning – usually before 10.00 am or later in the day if more convenient. There is plenty of info available in the cottage welcome folder including pool times and local knowledge etc.

How can I arrange swimming lessons during my stay?

Swimming can be arranged through Faye our swimming teacher. Just send Faye an email and she will try to fit you in.

How can I arrange a babysitter during my stay?

We have several babysitters – please email us for their details. You should  book directly with your sitter.

Can I book a caterer to cook for us during our stay?

Please see our website for our recommended local caterers details and menus or email us and we will email their contact details by return.

What is the size of your travel cots?

We can’t provide detailed information on each travel cot but can confirm that all cots are at least 100 cm long, 60 cm wide and 60 cm deep – ie standard sizes + mattress. We do not provide linen for travel cots and ask that guests bring their own.

Who?

Are we child friendly?

We specialise in holidays for babies & preschoolers to teens with baby friendly extras available on request. Please note the 5 star eco barns have very beautiful solid travertine floors with rugs and underfloor heating and therefore may not be suitable for a family with a toddler. If booking Coot, Avocet or Garden House guests accept any risks involved. Children should be supervised at all times. Other cottages: Owl, Wagtail, Tern, Swallow and Woodpecker have laminate or bamboo flooring except for the bathrooms. The wet room bathrooms in Wagtail and Tern have non slip safety flooring.

Is the pool suitable for infants?

The water is heated to 29 degrees although it is often at 30 degrees. Unfortunately we do not allow swimming in our pool for infants under 6 months. We also ask that infants come prepared with neoprene swim nappies these are obtainable from splashabout.co.uk. We have a small selection in the office for you to purchase if you arrive without one.

Are there children’s plates and cutlery in the cottages?

Yes, you will find cutlery etc but not feeding beakers. We provide travel cots (no linen) and  highchairs. Extras include baby monitors, baby baths and blackout blinds. These can be booked in advance – details on the booking form.

Do we accept pets?

Sorry no, we do not accept pets due to allergies and young children on our main site. However, if you want to bring the dog (or the rabbit!) we have End Cottage – 5 mins down the road which does accept pets. For more details see www.stayinnorthnorfolk.co.uk.

Are our cottages wheelchair accessible?

Full access statements are available on the cottage pages.

Are we a suitable party house venue?

Although we are a suitable location for family and friends to get together – we are not suitable for all night parties. We live on site and we may have other guests staying.

Can we let off chinese lanterns in the grounds?

Sorry. We are an arable farm and there is a high risk of fire particularly at harvest time. We do not permit the use of chinese lanterns or fireworks by our guests at any time of year.

During our stay would we have assured private access to the pool?

It may be possible to book a private hour in the pool subject to availability. The private hours are not available beyond 9.00 pm.  Please see our pool rules

What?

What level of service can I expect during my stay?

Cranmer Country Cottages offers 4 and 5 star quality self catering accommodation and facilities. The independant self catering nature of our business means that you can come and go as you please once you have checked in and are familiar with the site. The cottages are cleaned and checked by our housekeeping team before our guests arrive and we aim to provide all you need for an enjoyable stay in Norfolk. Unlike a hotel we cannot provide a concierge service and we do not guarantee that our office is manned throughout the day every day. The office is closed at weekends. However our friendly team are around on site throughout the week and we are on hand most weekends; if we are away we provide a duty manager number for emergencies. We have all bought up our children in Norfolk and are happy to impart our inside knowledge about this lovely location.

What happens if the owners are away during my stay?

If there any problems please let us know immediately by telephone and we will get back to you. The office is manned Monday to Friday  9.00 am to 5.00 pm – weekend call outs for emergencies only – numbers can be found in the red telephone box in the courtyard and will be handed to you on arrival.

Do you have wifi?

All the cottages have wifi. Garden House, Avocet and Coot also  have a wired connection – lease bring your own cables. Our broadband supply in North Norfolk is quite limited with low speeds. It is provided for internet searching and email connectivity, not for movie downlaods or any activity that exceeds reasonable use as this will reduce the other guests’ access to the internet.

In what state do we expect to find the property when customers have checked out?

The property must be left as it is found; bathrooms and toilets clean, used towels on the floor, clean towels on the bed. Kitchen worktops, fridge, microwave etc clean and free from food products. Kitchen floor free from food & spills (they attract the ants if left). Furniture free from spills and food residue. We reserve the right to make a charge if the cottages are not left in a suitable condition.

What is a security deposit? Will it be refunded promptly? When are charges made?

The security deposit is held as part of your final balance payment. We rarley make charges for small items but we will charge if the premises have been left in an untidy or dirty condition, if keys have been lost or if items are missing or have been damaged or broken. We will inform you if we need to deduct charges from your security deposit.

Are we part of a larger holiday cottage agency?

No, we are an independent family owned business. When you make your booking itis directly with us – no agency fees when you enquire and make your booking through our website.

Is Home Farm  a working farm?

Cranmer Country Cottages is part of Home Farm Cranmer, an arable farm of 165 acres which is run seperately from the cottages. Currently one of the paddocks is home to a flock of Herwick sheep.

Cranmer Country Cottages offer weekly breaks and short breaks out of school holidays. Norfolk weekend breaks Friday to Monday and midweek breaks Monday to Friday. Two night breaks are also  available in low season ie November to mid February excluding Christmas and New Year (arrive Friday, leave as late as you like on Sunday).

When?

When can we use the swimming pool?

The pool is open to Cranmer Holiday Cottages guests:  Monday to Thursday from 7.00 am in the morning to 12.00 am. It is closed for lunch and then reopens between 3.00 pm and 7.00 pm. On Fridays the pool is open until 10.00 am (last entry 9.15 am) and then reopens at 5.00 pm until 8.00 pm. On Saturdays the pool is open all day until 8.00 pm. Sundays it is open 7.00 am – 11.00 am then from 2.00 pm to 8.00 pm. The timetable may differ from this from time to time but only by an hour or so. The pool is closed from 7.00 am to 8.30 am for deep cleaning.

The cottages swimming pool is open to guests of Cranmer Cottages only and not their visitors. Access to the pool is via an electronic key and only once the pool rules disclaimer has been read and signed by the guest. If a key is lost, a charge of £20.00 will be taken from the security deposit.

When can we arrive and depart?

Your cottage is booked from 4.00 pm on arrival day. Departure is 10.00 am. It may be possible for you to arrive earlier but you would need to ring us after 1.00 pm to see if we have finished cleaning your cottage.

What happens if we arrive later than 6.00 pm and the office is closed?

Advance warning of late arrivals would be appreciated. Please ring us on  01328 823135 or email bookings@norfolk-luxury-cottages.co.uk to let us know when you are likely to arrive. Meet and greet is between 4.00 pm & 6.00 pm on a Monday or Friday. The office is closed at weekends. Outside of prescribed meet and times we will either arrange for you to call at the farmhouse or we will leave a key in the keysafe and give you a unique code. If we are unable to greet you because you will be arriving late we will arrange a mutually convenient time to go through everything on Saturday morning once you have settled in. This is usually between 9.00 & 10.00 am. We can only leave the pool key in your cottage if we have received a signed copy of the pool rules in advance of your stay for health and safety reasons.

Can we arrange food delivery from Tescos, Sainsburys or Waitrose?

Please organise this to arrive after 5.00 pm on arrival day or on the following day. We do not have the staff to check your delivery and stow refrigerated food so please ensure that you are here to receive it. Please give the Home Farm address; Cranmer Country Cottages, your cottage name, Home Farm, Cranmer Fakenham NR21 9HY.

We would like to order a locally prepared oven to table meal for our arrival – when should we place the order?

We can arrange local food deliveries but we do need a minimum of 2 weeks’ notice to organise this. Local food delivery

Data Collection?

Do you pass on our data to outside agencies?

We treat any data collected during the course of making bookings or dealing with enquiries in strict confidence. Your data will never be sold. As members of Premier Cottages (a marketing collective of the best four and five star cottages in the UK) we have agreed to supply to Premier Cottages Litd the names, postal and email addresses of all guests booking with us or proposing to book with us durng the previous year in order that these guests/potential guests may be sent a Premier Cottages brochure and promotional emails from time to time. By accepting our terms and conditions you are indicating your consent to receiving these communications from us unless you let us know otherwise. If at any time you would like your details removed from this list all you need to do is to click the unsubscribe link on any of the emails or contact us and we will arrange for your to be removed from the mailing list.

If you cannot find the information you are searching for here please send us an email and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

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Read what people say about us

  • As a shining example of green tourism in North Norfolk – Cranmer Country Cottages are proud to have been selected to feature in The Campaign to Protect Rural England

    www.cprenorfolk.org.uk 
  • We had a wonderful family time in this perfect hideaway

    Cottage guest
  • Lovely cottage and fantastic facilities for the children (aged 3 + 5)

    Cottage Guest
  • We have had a fantastic time and would love to come again

    Toby aged 8
  • Self-catering just got a seriously stylish upgrade

    Marie Claire Magazine
  • If you’re looking for a luxury, family stay in North Norfolk, this is it. If you’re looking for a luxury, ecologically aware  family stay, this is it too.

    Enjoy North Norfolk Website
  • I can’t think of another five-star self-catering accommodation in the UK that is as green as Cranmer

    Richard Hammond – Green travel correspondent
  • Just a word to say how much we enjoyed our stay at the cottages – no one wanted to go home!

    Dave & Wendy Hardaway – and the family!
  • We have just returned from a fabulous weeks cycling based at Cranmer Country Cottages in North Norfolk from which we cycled over 300 miles on the some of the best English lanes you could hope to find. As club cyclists who have enjoyed lots of Great Britain and Europe on a bike we think Norfolk is a real gem.

    Jeanette and Ian Sumler- Hutchinson
  • There is so much more on offer. Quiet lanes linking pretty villages with duck ponds and great pubs, watch out for the wild life on the way, brown hares and barn owls don’t seem very shy as they go about their business.

    Jeanette and Ian Sumler- Hutchinson
  • The two cottages were booked as a surprise for my 60th birthday, and what a surprise. I could not have hoped for a more fantastic celebration. We all enjoyed a brisk walk in Wells-next-the Sea, lunch in a local pub followed by a swim in the great pool here. The cottages are so well equipped, everything has been well thought out. I would recommend the cottages to any group wanting something special! Very relaxing time had by all.

    The Reeves family
  • Wonderful to come back to such a peaceful place, fresh air and beauty. It was very snowy while we were here and although very cold still fantastic. We loved the touch of the welcoming tea tray and fresh flowers – felt very personal. A wonderful haven!

    Worthington family
  • Our first winter stay and it was even better than we had hoped for! A beautiful place to relax in comfort, fill your lungs with fresh air and spend some time with the most hospitable owners, Lynne and John, who have become friends over the eight years we have been visiting. Thank you.

    Jones Family, January
  • Another great Christmas in Tern, Swallow and Woodpecker Cottages. All very welcoming, warm and comfortable – everything we could need. Our Christmas dinner cooked in the Rayburn. All fantastic yet again!

    The Irving Family
  • We very much enjoyed our stay in the lovely warm surroundings of Woodpecker Cottage. Heated pool absolute bliss for early morning swims with the added bonus of splendid views of extensive countryside through those huge windows. Thanks for a wonderful stay, we will be back soon.

    Mark and Jo
  • First Class Accommodation – highly recommended. We have stayed in 3 properties and would not hesitate in recommended them. We take our 2 small children (under 4) and often take my mother-in-law (for babysitting) and we particularly like in heated, indoor, salt water pool and huge fenced off play area which each property backs onto. Compared with other accommodation we have staying in, these are the best by a long shot.

    The Wrench family
  • We booked Garden House, Avocet & Woodpecker for a surprise birthday party for my son. It was such a brilliant weekend and I would like to thank you for recommending Susi; she was marvellous and the food was perfect. Hope to return to Cranmer Cottages in the near future and would thoroughly recommend them to everyone.

    Myra Quick
  • If you are looking for a luxury, family stay in North Norfolk, this is it. If you are looking for a luxury, ecologically aware family stay this is it too. A fabulous holiday with a green conscience, if you will…...

    Enjoy North Norfolk
  • A wonderful week with plenty of memories – and amazingly enough, no rain, even some sunshine. Completely sold on Norfolk and this place – have no doubts we will be back.

    Owl cottage guest
  • Just wanted to say thanks for the Easter egg – what a lovely welcome surprise! We have had a wonderful stay and Coot cottage worked so well for us with Harry – you really do think of everything!

    Eleanor Denton
  • Our family love visiting Cranmer Country Cottages and we have returned for the past 4 years. We all feel like its ‘home from home’ and are always made to feel so welcome by the wonderful staff. The children particularly love the yummy handmade chocolates on arrival and they are so excited to jump straight in the pool after our long journey from Hampshire. It is so worth the drive! It is brilliantly located for fantastic family days out and long strolls on amazing beaches. We have so many lovely memories

    The Bensons – Hampshire
  • We had a brilliant holiday – thanks for providing us with everything we needed.

    Garden House, August 2015
  • An excellent example of how a luxurious accommodation can attempt to be carbon neutral

    Richard Hammond, Green travel correspondent
  • I really loved Norfolk. The cottage is so so so great and the pool was the best. Everyone absolutely loved it – we thought we should have stayed a whole week. I wish I could stay forever. Bye Bye!

    Isla aged 7
  • We have just been here for three nights but so wish we were able to stay a week! Thank you so much and we wish you every success with this venture which is truly excellent

    Mallinson family Norfolk
  • Probably the coldest week in the last 12 months; ice, snow and very cold! Nevertheless we had a good time. It was always lovely to return to the warm welcoming cottage. We experimented by cooking with the Rayburn – great fun and good results. Try it!

    Alan & Jenny Suffolk