THE LOCAL AREA

Discover the coast, villages and wild places just beyond the door

Barn Drift sits where the North Norfolk landscape does what it does best: wide skies, salt marsh, sea air and little villages that still feel like themselves. You can spend your days on foot from the house wandering along farm tracks to public footpaths, heading into the village for something delicious, or taking the longer route to the beach for a proper dose of coast.

This page is a simple guide to what’s nearby – the places guests return to again and again.

The coastal path, marsh and beach

Some of the best walks in England start here. From Barn Drift you can join public footpaths and the coastal path via the surrounding tracks, with routes that take you across marshland, along big-sky horizons and out towards the sea.

Walk to the beach in around 20 minutes on foot (across the farm, the coast road and the marsh).

What the beach is like beautiful, uncrowded, mostly shingle with sand at low tide, and it gets deep quickly so better for confident swimmers.

Swimming note there can be strong currents and rip tides, so please take care and never leave children unattended in the water.

And yes, you can see the sea from both the house and the gardens, and on certain tides you’ll hear the waves in the distance too.

Cley-next-the-Sea: shops, pubs and easy village life

One of the loveliest things about Barn Drift is that you don’t need to plan everything. The village is close enough to get to easily (roughly 5–10 minutes’ walk) to the shops, pub and church.

Food shops you’ll wish you had at home

Picnic Fayre and Cley Smoke House are properly good. The kind of places you pop into for one thing and come out with a basketful.

Pubs

For a pint, supper, or something unhurried, the village has two reliable favourites: The Three Swallows and The George & Dragon.

Art, pottery and browsing

If you like mooching, Pinkfoot Gallery, Made in Cley Pottery and Crab Pot Books are all easy pleasures.

Parking and practicalities

There’s a large free car park at the Cley Village Hall, and a public loo in the same area. Useful to know if you’re heading off for a long walk or a beach day.

Sea views, wildlife and the nightly soundtrack

From the gardens you’ll look across the marsh and valley, and at night you may hear more than you expect: roe deer, muntjac and red deer, owls, woodcock, marsh harriers, foxes, badgers.

If you’re a birder, bring your binoculars!

Easy adventures: bikes, boats and paddleboards

If you’d like to get out on the water, or explore further afield without driving every time, we can point you towards local hire options for:

bicycles

boats

paddleboards

There are also local taxi firms (including minibuses) for lifts to dinner, longer-haul pick-ups, or moving groups around without needing multiple cars.

A few good day-trip ideas

Some days you’ll want to stay put. Others, you’ll want a little potter.

Stock up and browse: Holt is around 3 miles inland and is ideal for provisions and a good wander.

A classic Norfolk horizon: aim a walk or drive towards Blakeney Point for that long, open, coastal feeling that never gets old.

Bigger supermarkets: Fakenham and North Walsham are the nearest options if you’re doing a full group shop.

Ready to plan your stay? Check availability and choose your dates