This complex of cottages and converted Victorian farm barns in Norfolk offers some of the most ec0-friendly luxury accommodation available in Britain…
In the wilds of the North Norfolk countryside, near the market town of Fakenham just a few miles from the heritage coast, sits the ‘flock’ of Cranmer Country Cottages – ‘flock’ due to the cute naming of each self-catering cottage; choose from ‘Coot’ (sleeps 2), ‘Tern’ (sleeps 4), ‘Wagtail’ (sleeps 4), ‘Owl’ (sleeps 4), ‘Woodpecker’ (sleeps 5), ‘Swallow’ (sleeps 6), ‘Avocet’ (sleeps 6), plus ‘Garden House’ (sleeps 6).
[gdl_gallery title=”Cranmer” width=”115″ height=”110″ ]
Family-friendly accommodation and facilities
Whichever cottage you choose you’ll be treated to stylish, contemporary interiors, whether the cosy one bedroom ‘Coot’ or the larger 3 bedroom cottages. Each is kitted out with eco-friendly, energy-efficient facilities (kitchen, washing machine etc).
And children, from babies to active kids, are positively encouraged with an outdoor fenced play area (visible from each cottage), two all-weather tennis courts, a timber playhouse, solar panel-heated swimming pool, fully-stocked games room and lots of safe outdoor space to run around and play games. Cranmer are also more than happy to provide child-friendly extras such as bed guards, booster seats, baby listeners, baby baths and steam sterilisers. To make your holiday even more relaxing they can also provide food delivery and baby-sitting services!
Things to do
This is rural Norfolk so you can truly get away from it all and explore the wilds of the coast or countryside. Guests are encouraged to enjoy the open spaces around Cranmer – staff regularly post notices of wildlife spots (many areas of the surrounding Home Farm are managed to preserve local wildlife). A stay here requires at least one trip to some of the award-winning beaches (Wells-next-the-Sea, Holkham, Blakeney, Salthouse, Sheringham) along the heritage coast not too far from Cranmer. North Norfolk is perfect for cycling, walking, bird-watching and exploring the coast, plus the area is awash with top class country pubs serving locally-sourced food and local ales.
Strong eco credentials
The site is a mix of renovated Victorian farm barns, and new build cottages and the owners have gone to great lengths to create a ‘super eco’ site which goes above and beyond the regular eco-friendly credentials of much green accommodation. This complex of cottages uses 100% energy from its own on-site renewable energy sources including a wind turbine and solar panels. The new builds boast heat-saving Argon-filled glazing, underfloor heating and very high levels of insulation, while all of the cottages are fitted with low-energy lighting, water-saving devices and energy-efficient white goods.
A commitment to sustainable living is evident throughout Cranmer, including Home Farm which houses the holiday complex. Staff encourage guests to reduce, reuse and recycle wherever possible, and local businesses are used and promoted wherever possible.
Recommended for… Those who love the truly rural, wild outdoors.
Be aware that… Although there are a number of small towns (with pubs, shops, restaurants etc) within easy driving distance, this is a rural area so not for those wanting busy nightlife on their doorstep.
For prices, availability and booking visit www.holidaycottagecompare.com
‘Good’ credentials:
- Installation of 20KW wind turbine
- Use of green electricity supplier Ecotricity for imported power when needed
- 40KW solar panels on south facing slate roofs
- 16kw heat pump with in-ground installation 80 meters below ground
- Installation of energy saving under-floor heating in new cottages
- Argon filled glazing installed in the new cottages to minimise heat loss
- Very high levels of insulation in all barn conversions and new build Garden House
- Energy saving lighting systems and light bulbs in all cottages
- Exterior lighting set on PIR system reducing light pollution at night
- Installation of 80m borehole and UV water treatment system
- Installation of irrigation system fed by our borehole to water tubs and hanging baskets – timed to irrigate early morning and evening
- Communal laundry provides energy efficient gas powered tumble driers at a nominal charge – monies go towards an ongoing tree planting programme
- Toilets are fitted with flush restricting devices to reduce water consumption
- New larger cottages are supplied with energy efficient washing machines and line drying facilities
- Swallow cottage Rayburn converted from oil to electricity with instant switch on and off. Now powered by the wind turbine.
- Composting facilities in place
- Recycling and waste management – glass, metal, plastic, paper and card
- All timber FSC sourced and where possible locally grown e.g. oak cladding and structural timber
- Recycling of building materials i.e. bricks, slates and timber and use of lime free mortar as original buildings
- Swimming pool water and air temperature heated by Calorex heat exchange unit – maximising energy use
- South facing solar panels heat pool water in summer and supplement heating throughout the year
- Pool water treated with UV and salt chlorination system reducing the amount of chlorine in the pool water and reducing the amount of chlorine pumped out as waste on to the land
- Guests are supplied with eco friendly cleaning and washing supplies
- Locally sourced welcome hampers and fair trade tea and coffee
- Recycled chlorine free paper toilet rolls. Bio cleaning products reducing dispensing of harmful surfactants into water course
- Staff share lifts to work
- Local purchasing and promotion of the local farm shop in Walsingham, local bakery in Fakenham and local pubs and restaurants
- Converted two existing cottages – Swallow & Woodpecker heating systems use alternative green energy sources of a ground source heat pump and solar panels
- Good quality carbon neutral accommodation in the three converted Victorian barns
- Sponsorship of the local community nature reserve at Sculthorpe Moor –part of the Hawk and Owl Trust
Please note: Google Map does not indicate the exact location
[google-map-v3 shortcodeid=”TO_BE_GENERATED” width=”500″ height=”500″ zoom=”12″ maptype=”roadmap” mapalign=”center” directionhint=”false” language=”default” poweredby=”false” maptypecontrol=”true” pancontrol=”true” zoomcontrol=”true” scalecontrol=”true” streetviewcontrol=”true” scrollwheelcontrol=”false” draggable=”true” tiltfourtyfive=”false” enablegeolocationmarker=”false” enablemarkerclustering=”false” addmarkermashup=”false” addmarkermashupbubble=”false” addmarkerlist=”Fakenham, Norfolk{}cabin-2.png{}Cranmer Cottages, Norfolk” bubbleautopan=”true” distanceunits=”miles” showbike=”false” showtraffic=”false” showpanoramio=”false”]
