Surrounded by acres of its own gardens, Driftwood offers views of the sea, Blakeney Point and the Glaven Valley. Grounds here are as organic as they are panoramic, with three walled gardens offering marquee-friendly lawns, doggy delight and tranquil flower beds and fruit trees.
Slip out to the terrace through double doors from the hall, kitchen and drawing room and stock up on steaks and sausages from Graves butchers for the coal-fired barbecue. While away the day over outdoor table tennis. Finish the day around the firepit marmalising marshmallows.
Fond of a party? You’ll love The Hangar at Driftwood. Yes, it’s a 1940s aircraft hangar hidden behind woodland. Perfect for weddings, parties, Pilates, art classes and corporate events, it comes with superfast Wi-Fi, a wedding licence and wild extra accommodation. Be sure to hire our bell-tents when getting hitched in the hangar.
Inside the main house, all is deliciously de-luxe, expertly and sympathetically restored to harness ancient charm with modern convenience. Get a fire going and find a film on the smart TV (bring your login), bag a book from the bookcase, sing with the Sonos, plink the piano. Relax, recharge, restore the settings on your soul.
Driftwood is in Norfolk, but parts of the kitchen seem to extend to Suffolk and Essex. It’s big. Cook on two electric ovens or get the experts from Norfolk’s Edge in for private dining, weddings and events. Eat in the vaulted dining room, outside in the summer sunshine or in The Hangar for celebrations and occasions.
Shop at Spar and Budgen’s, with your breakfast croissants from Picnic Faire, meat from Graves and fish from The Cley Smokehouse. Fill the fridge with fizz from Bakers and Larners. Sample local artisan food and drink from the Holt Sunday Market. Take home Cromer crab from Cooke’s of Salthouse.
Enjoy delicious local fare served with a side of uninterrupted views over the salt marshes at The Dun Cow in Salthouse. Tuck into homemade shortcrust pie or bavette steak at The George and Dragon in Cley. Or book The Three Swallows in Cley for sumptuous suppers and long lunches.
Reserve a table at Meadowsweet in Holt for cuisine that’s a cut above, including turbot brawn, Amalfi lemon and espelette, or kombu mackerel and smoked herring. Head to Michelin-starred Morston Hall for a daily tasting menu at 6pm sharp. Or enjoy porchetta and gooseberry mostarda or sea bass and chorizo at child-friendly The Moorings.
With the North-Norfolk sea sparkling in the near distance and acres of game-rich grazing marsh all around, sleep will come quickly in eight bewitching bedrooms sleeping 16. All rooms offer kingsize or twin beds.
Bedroom one comes with en-suite and balcony, while bedroom two has a freestanding bath and en-suite shower. Both rooms will take a cot. Bedroom three has an en-suite shower room and bedroom four gives you a shared shower room.
Bedroom five offers a sea view with en-suite bath and shared shower room, while bedrooms six and seven on the lower floor both have an en-suite bathroom. Bedroom eight (The Cart Shed) is a ground-floor room with TV and en-suite shower room. This space will take a z-bed or cot.
