Special Places to Stay - More than a bed for the night

A perfect Norfolk bolthole: fall under its spell the moment you arrive. Many come primed to tour coast and country – then never step beyond the front door. Half hacienda, half hunting lodge, it's built around a central courtyard. In summer, walls of glass open so you can spin out for ping pong or a dip in the hot tub, then light the barbecue. Cathedral ceilings and rustic walls run throughout, and you get the best of everything: heated floors, wonderful colours, tartan-clad sofas, a vast carved eagle, piles of vintage luggage, and a huge fireplace in the sitting room. Bedrooms are just as good. One has a four-poster seemingly made from branches freshly gathered from the forest, another has saddles hanging from its beams. All have robes in divine bathrooms and there's a bunkroom for kids. In summer, a tipi stands on the front lawn strewn with cushions and rugs. WiFi, hi-fi, TV and DVD will entertain you, while a chef can be arranged if you don't wish to cook. Fighter planes come and go every now and then from Marham Air Base – they don't linger, nor do they work weekends!