Wild Retreat

Cawston is on Marriott's Way (a few minutes' walk from site), a long-distance walking and cycling trail that passes through lots of other attractive villages and market towns like Aylsham (10 minutes' drive) and Reepham (10 minutes). After a stretch of the legs, treat yourself to a restorative coffee and cake in the grounds of a 17th-century stately home at the National Trust-run Blickling Estate (10 minutes), or tour the area vintage-style aboard one of the Bure Valley Railway's steam trains (10 minutes). Once you've got a measure of the local countryside, pack up your towels and head off to the coast – Blakeney (30 minutes) beckons with its birdwatching opportunities and seal colonies, while Salthouse (30 minutes) has peaceful marshes and a pebbly beach to explore. For a spot with some sand, try Cromer (30 minutes) or Sheringham (30 minutes), where there's also an interesting local lifeboat museum. Norwich city centre (25 minutes) is another excellent option and is a centre for shopping, dining and sightseeing. The city's fascinating Norman castle and well-preserved cathedral will likely be the highlights for many, but the town has lots of parks, gardens and quieter streets worth wandering down too.