Gardens and grounds
Nestled within the ample acreage of Barsham Barns, The Great East Barn is perfect for free-range roaming. Take dogs for walks through wetland meadows scattered with wildflowers or stroll under the canopies of the woodland trees. If wheels are more your thing, bring or hire bikes and navigate the family friendly cycle tracks within the estate using the oh-so-handy illustrative map.
At gin o’clock, throw open your large barn doors for a spot of tapas on the terrace of your private garden where the views run forever and galaxies of stars shine on you.
Living spaces
The majestic East Barn is built upside-down to catch the views and has a spacious free-flowing, open-plan style between the first floor sitting room, kitchen and dining room. Beneath the magnificent original beams lie big, sociable spaces with underfloor heating throughout.
Immerse yourself in the open vista from the comfort of sizeable chaise sofas around the roaring wood burner of the huge sitting room. Go up three steps from here and you will find yourself in the dual aspect kitchen/dining room designed with entertaining in mind.
Those in need of a moment’s peace can retire downstairs to the light and airy reading room for a spot of reading or headphone time. Browse through the Freeview TV or watch movies on the DVD player. Most of the cosy en-suite bedrooms are downstairs too, each with their own distinct colour palette from pastel shades through to primary touches.
The practical stone floor of the entrance hallway is ready to welcome your wellies, dogs and entourage with a generous storage cupboard and coat hooks. For family friendly all-weather sport, find the shared games room for table tennis and table football. There are board games to be played in the Barn too. Or, if you prefer, bubble your cares away in the large shared indoor spa pool.
Cooking and dining
Grab a taste of Norfolk and fill the generous fridge space with produce from the Walsingham Farm Shop including delicious homemade pies for supper, fine sausages for your barbeque and artisan bread and cheese for your picnic. All washed down of course with the onsite Brewery beers, Congham Vineyard wines or Sandringham Apple Juices from the royal estate. And for pescatarians, you will find the finest, locally caught fish at Gurneys Fishmongers in Burnham Market.
For that special celebration or a decadent treat, one of our recommended private chefs will relish cooking for you and serving their delights in the spacious dining area or al-fresco on the terrace. With two gas ovens and a large gas hob, they will make light work of cooking for your crowd.
You don’t need to travel far for decent pub grub. Treat yourself to a Norfolk Sunday Roast at the country casual Barsham Arms complete with pork scratchings and apple ketchup. If you’re visiting Holkham Hall and beach, be sure to book the dog friendly Victoria to site around a roaring fire or marvel at the views from the spacious Orangery.
If enthusiasm for group cooking or going out has waned, eat in with a choice of takeaways including Plattens Fish & Chips and the Fakenham Tandoori. Whatever’s on the menu, there’s room for everyone to sit comfortably around the dining tables (inside and out) with clearing up a breeze with two dishwashers.
Bedrooms
Crisp white sheets, fluffy towels and coordinating bed throws are order for the day across the seven bedrooms of the Great East Barn.
There are five bedrooms on the ground floor. Bedroom one comes with a kingsize bed and an en-suite with bath with shower over, while bedroom two offers a choice of super kingsize or two singles plus an en-suite with shower. Bedroom three is kingsize with a large en-suite walk-in shower. Bedrooms four and five are on the lower ground floor which is down a couple of steps from far side of the sitting room. Bedroom four is kingsize and has an en-suite bath with shower attachment for hair washing.
Bedroom five is kingsize with the option of two singles. The en-suite also has a bath with shower attachment for hair washing. Upstairs on the first floor, you will find Room six – the Master Suite. This room boasts a kingsize four poster bed with a clawfoot bath in the bedroom. Opposite in Room seven there’s wooden twin beds and en-suite with walk-in shower.
All rooms sleep two. For a little extra flexibility, two Z-beds can be made available at an extra charge, but the guest count mustn’t exceed 16. Whichever bedroom you find yourself in, nod off to dreamland with the sound of owls punctuating the silent dark skies and wake to the soundtrack of bleating sheep and birdsong.
What people say
Sand, steam trains and stately homes
Pack buckets, spades and wellies for trips to the fine beaches of Holkham, Brancaster and Wells-next-to-Sea. Ride the Poppy Line of the North Norfolk Railway and take a trip to Banham Zoo. Horse riding, fishing and golf are all there for the taking while the boutique shops of Burnham Market or the area’s many stately homes may hold greater appeal.
