Dog-friendly North Wessex Downs

Dating back to the 17th century, Meadow Cottage is packed with period charm, while offering all the modern conveniences needed for a lovely holiday. Boasting a lovely garden and a wood burner, this is the perfect year-round choice for your Norfolk break. Featuring two bedrooms and two bathrooms, this pretty little semi-detached cottage is tucked away in a rural idyll with a children’s play area just down the road but is still close to lots of the highlights of this much-loved county.
Head to Wells-next-the-Sea and sit quayside while the little fishing and sailing boats bob on the tide. Or explore Staithe Street, which is packed with artisan and boutique shops, cafés and restaurants. Then go down to the wide sandy beach, one of the best in the area, and see the pretty painted beach huts. If you are a coast lover you will find so many habitats to explore along this coastline from rolling sand dunes and salt and clay marshes to sand and shingle beaches, quays, and fishing available nearby.
History buffs will enjoy visits to the Holkham, Houghton, Sandringham, and Blickling Estates along with a trip on North Norfolk railway and visits to the Muckleburgh and Thursford Collections, the latter of which hosts its famous Christmas Spectacular and is home to Santa’s Magical Journey every year.
Make time to visit the Georgian market town of Holt with its unique High Street. This pretty little town is a firm favourite with locals and is great to just potter around. Nature lovers will find many habitats to explore including RSPB Cley Marshes, Pensthorpe Nature Reserve, and Sheringham Park and you can make a trip to the Norfolk Broads from here too, and be in the heart of them in just 50 minutes. Add in Amazonia Zoo, Cromer Pier, Fakenham races and so much more and you will soon see why this part of Norfolk is so very popular. And then you get to return to lovely Meadow Cottage for a glass of something chilled in the garden or cosy up by the wood burner. Just perfect. Beach 13 miles.

Standing in its own large and secluded garden, this delightful Grade II listed picturesque thatched cottage is very comfortably furnished, spacious, light and sunny. Situated in a small and peaceful hamlet between Salisbury and charming Marlborough, it provides a relaxing base from which to explore the many attractions of this lovely part of the country. Savernake Forest, the New Forest, Cheddar Gorge, Stonehenge, Longleat, Stourhead Gardens, the historic city of Winchester, and the Roman spa and Georgian streets of the city of Bath are all within 1 hour’s drive. Shop 2 miles, pub with restaurant 0.5 miles.

Hatchers Barn is joined to Olivers Barn – also available to rent – a perfect add on for larger groups. They mirror each other and are two beautiful barn conversions in the stunning North Wessex Downs, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. They are the perfect properties for both family and friend groups looking for excellent quality accommodation to reunite and get together in a beautiful part of the country. They can be booked together to sleep up to 16 or as two completely separate houses of 8. It’s a wonderland for walkers with a footpath from the front door which will take you into the beautiful countryside. Cycling is also very popular in this area with plenty of routes to take and discover.
Other local attractions and activities in the area include Barbury shooting school, Lambourn racing stables, Newbury Racecourse, Highclere Castle (also known as the filming location for Downton Abbey), Avebury Stone Circle, Donnington Castle, Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre, and the prestigious Windsor Castle.