Sunday, 23 May 2010

Cranmer Country Cottages

I guess this will have to be the last post on the holiday.  We got back last week, and had a great time.

We stayed in Cranmer, in a place called Cranmer Country Cottages.  Our cottage was Swallow and was an amazing place to stay.  The kids had loads of room, and there were a few board games for them to play with.  In addition, in the garden, there was a playground (a climbing frame/swing/slide and a playhouse) in the enclosed field outside.  There were ants in the cottage, but other than freaking out my daughter, they kept to themselves!  Both kids loved the heated swimming pool as well as playing outside and I even taught my daughter the basics of playing chess!  (Well, only how to move the pawns.)  One important thing with kids is that the television has to have access to Cbeebies, which it did.     



It was a great base from which to explore North Norfolk and from there we were able to do things like take the kids on the Wells to Walsingham light railway.  We had a great time there, and if you want to go to North Norfolk with the kids, that is a place I would recommend!   

The Hoste Arms review

Right, the next post.  


First of all, the Hoste Arms.  My wife and I had eaten here before, many many years ago.  BC in fact (Before Children), and loved the food back then.  Of course, staying in the area, we decided to eat there again.  And loved it so much, we ate twice.  It is a bit posh, but eating there mid week, and getting there at noon, there was plenty of tables for us to feed the kids.  Being in a village, there was lots of places to get the kids to walk while we waited for the food, and one of the two times we ate there, a waitress even came out to get us!


But the food...  I remember that when I ate there, the food was great.  But after several years, we returned, to find that our memories were correct.  The food was brilliant.  Full of flavour and of course with children, they had the right sort of food that a four and a two year old would want to eat.  Great for adults and for children, if you are willing to take the kids out for a walk outside the place.  My only gripe was that I was the drive and therefore did not get to drink!  The wine list went well with the food, though of course, I was more interested in the beer which sadly, I did not get to drink.


But during the week, between the two times that we ate there, we took the kids out to several places.  To the beach of course, they loved that.  The beaches at North Norfolk are amazing.  When the tide goes out, it goes a long distance out.  With beautiful sand, it was great for us, and of course, the two kids loved the sand.  Loads of sand castles made, and of course, we were 'forced' to help them make some!


They got to see a crab on the beach, which considering they had been to a sea life sanctuary earlier on the week (and loved that) my daughter loved.  Instead of seeing one in an aquarium, she got to see it trying to hide from us (in case we were going to eat it).  

Anyway, time for the next post...

 

Ostrich Inn South Creake

Afternoon all.  Right, I have to post a lot now.  Let me see if I can catch up with what had taken place since I last posted.

First of all, another place to eat.  The Ostrich Inn in South Creake.  Opposite a park, it does serve good food.  We stopped there for lunch one day.  The kids had loads of energy, and with a park for the village opposite it, I took the kids there after we had ordered our food.  I did not expect what I thought would be pub food to taste so good!  But it did.  The kids loved it, and the staff there were understanding about our two children which is always nice.

And of course, the kids in the playground.  They love playing on playgrounds. A pretty place, there is a stream running along the main road between the park and the road.  The kids loved watching the ducks as well as playing on the swings and climbing frames.  I did have to stop my daughter from tormenting the ducks though!

Anyway, time to post another update in a moment...