The Owl's Rest

Every second Sunday of summer, the farm owners open up their 389th Memorial Exhibition, paying tribute to the American troops based there during World War II. Guests at the shepherd’s hut have free access to the displays. Fans of war memorabilia can also see armoured vehicles at The Norfolk Tank Museum (20 minutes’ drive, summer only) and fighter planes at The Muckleburgh Military Collection (an hour). There’s a more peaceful heritage to be found in Norwich (20 minutes), where you can visit the Romanesque-style cathedral and its colonnaded cloisters, shop for souvenirs at the Victorian-era Royal Arcade and take a breather in the colourful Plantation Gardens, laid out in a former quarry. Arty types can have their fill of funky sculpture at the contemporary Sainsbury Centre (20 minutes) – and should you feel the need to run amok in the open air for the day, you’d better head for BeWILDerwood Norfolk (35 minutes) to let off steam on obstacle courses and treetop ropes.