Easter Staycation in Norfolk

For all you guys looking for a family getaway this easter in an idyllic woodland setting in the beautiful countryside of Norfolk, head on down to Happy Valley! From treehouses to cabins in the woods we do our best to cater for everybody’s needs. Please keep an eye out for late availability as we do not release dates until closer to the time. Take a look at our cabins below and the current availability we have this April for each property.

Please note that we have a minimum of a two-night stay during the week and a three-night stay at weekends and that availability is subject to change due to the number of bookings we receive.

Toad Hall

Toad hall sleeps six with a kingsized bed downstairs, a double bedroom upstairs and extra sleeping space available. This open-plan treehouse property is great for larger families for a place to be at one with nature. Imagine relaxing in the hot tub and watching the sunset with a glass of bubbly!

April 2023 availability for Toad Hall CLICK HERE

The Woodpecker

The perfect cabin for people with young children! The woodpecker sleeps four with a kingsized bed and two bunk beds all on one floor. Equipped with its own kitchen, bathroom and hot tub along with a fold-out cot and highchair.

April 2023 availability for The Woodpecker

The 14th, 15th, 16th, 24th, 25th and 26th.

Keepers Cabin

Keepers cabin is the perfect place to kick back and relaxed by the roaring open fire. This cabin has two floors with a kingsized bed on the ground floor and a kingsized and a single bed on the top floor. Also, with a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom and hot tub to enjoy.

April 2023 availability for Keepers Cabin

The 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 24th, 25th and 26th.

King Nutkin

For a cosy getaway for all you lovely couples out there! King Nutkin sleeps two with one kingsized bed and its own kitchen. A great place to sit outside and relax while toasting marshmallows under the stars.

April 2023 availability CLICK HERE

Denver Rest and Tawny Hut

Please also keep an eye out in the future for our other cabins which can be booked as a pair or individually through the warmer months. Denver Rest has its own outdoor kitchen which they share with Tawny Hut. Both cabins sleep two people each, with a Double bed in Denver Rest and a Super kingsized bed in Tawny Hut.

Things to do with the family in the area:

-Sandringham

Just an 11 minute drive from Happy Valley. On Tuesday the 4th, 5th and 6th of April Sandringham have a variety of Easter activities guided by Nana Lavander. On Sunday 9th of April Sandringham is hosting an Easter egg trail in aid of the East Anglian air ambulance from 10:30am until 2:30pm. Suitable for all ages.

-Bawsey county

Again, an 11 minute drive from the site. On Saturday 8th of April between 11am and 5pm Bawsey Country Park is hosting an Easter fair.

-Castle Acre

With merely a 14 minute drive from Castle Acre enjoy a family picnic and walk this Easter in the beautiful setting of Castle Acre with some stunning castle ruins.

-Beaches

With Hunstanton beach only a 26 minute drive, Wells-next-the-sea a 34 minute drive and Holkam beach only a 42 minute drive from our site, enjoy fish and chips by the sea with the family this Easter.

A Lovely Review For Our Woodpecker Tree Temple

“A beautiful place to stay. So cosy and relaxing. We had lashing rain when we arrived and then bright sun the day after, and The Woodpecker was a lovely place to stay for both. If the weather is rubbish then cosy up with a book and get the wood burner going, and if you get sun then head out on one of the local walks or heat up the hot tub and enjoy the beautiful view. Thank you for a lovely couple of days. We loved staying in The Woodpecker and hope to come back again.”

A huge thank you to Nicola for staying with us and leaving us such a lovely review! Woodpecker is a great cabin for a family of four looking for a woodland escape or even a couple wanting a luxury glamping experience. With a wood fired hot tub to soak the day away in and a sumptuous kingsize bed, you can leave Happy Valley feeling relaxed and refreshed.

Enjoy relaxing in the heart of nature in the wood fired hot tub. To view our other cabins with hot tubs included, click the glamping tab at the top of the page.

The Woodpecker Tree Temple in all it’s woodland glory.

Bring your walking boots and reap the benefits of all the great local area to explore. Picture here is our Willow Island, a renowned wedding ceremony spot.

To book your stay in The Woodpecker Tree Temple or to view what else we have to offer, head over to the glamping section of our website.

What's On In Norfolk This Easter

For the first time in a few years, we can finally have a restriction-free Easter break! We are so looking forward to welcoming our guests this Spring to our woodland retreat, for a well-needed staycation.

Sunnier days have arrived and Norfolk is fantastic for adventures. Sandringham is just a short drive away with plenty of woodland to explore and The Sandringham Estate to soak up some history and grab a tasty treat from The Courtyard. You don’t even need to leave Happy Valley Norfolk, our retreat joins 200 acres of woodland of Congham Heath. Enjoy some blissful relaxation in the hot tub under the stars at night, after a day of trekking in the wild.

The county is bursting with things to do and events this season, right on our doorstep. Join The Pesky Bunnies Easter Eggs-pedition at Bewilderwood (2nd-19th April) where your little ones will enjoy meeting the Easter bunny on the Storytelling Stage, face painting and hunting for eggs on the Puzzling Park Trail.

For a taste of Medieval Britain, the Vikings return to Sheringham on Saturday 9th April for The Viking Festival and Parade. With battles on the beach, Viking cooking and axe throwing, this will make a great family day out.

Moving into May, we will see many returning events such The Crab and Lobster Festival, bringing together Cromer & Sheringham to celebrate the world-famous seafood they produce. Across two days there will be a host of great things to participate in, including heritage demonstrations and street markets packed with local produce. Live music will be performed day and night, fantastic street performers, seafaring crafts and children’s activities.

We have some fantastic glamping cabins available this Easter Half Term, just waiting for you to complete them! Our “Tawny Hut” will also be reopening alongside its sistering Shepard’s hut “Denver Rest”, a great duo for a family of four, looking for an escape into nature. To see our full list of cabins and our availability, head over to the glamping section of this website.

To view the array of events on in Norfolk this Easter, we highly recommend visiting https://www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/whats-on

For a taste of Medieval Britain, the Vikings return to Sheringham on Saturday 9th April for The Viking Festival and Parade.

Join The Pesky Bunnies Easter Eggs-pedition at Bewilderwood for some Easter fun

Enjoy a coastal family day out at The Crab and Lobster Festival

Holiday at Happy Valley

After what feels like a year of emotional and psychological Winter, we tiptoe to the edge of a new, more hopeful season.  The Wildflower Meadow across from Toad Hall reminds us that though we have no control over the harsh elements of life, still we rise and still we must grow. With a boundless energy and free spirit, we roam into Nature but this time, not to seek solace but to embrace the trees as old friends and cautiously celebrate our impending freedom.

Our souls are as wild as the birds overhead, and our imagination soars with all the places we can go, the people we can visit, the friends we can hold. As we get ready to discard our chilly cloak of sadness and envelop the warmth from the Sun, let’s look forward to making plans and sticking to them. Let’s make time for those we haven’t seen for so long. Let’s have a hungry heart for adventure.

Happy Valley has cabins, bell tents, lodges, and treehouses to connect you to the outside this season. As we step, or skip, into Spring, we welcome you to join us and celebrate your newfound freedom. From the beach, the rolling hills to the stretches of woodland, the birds ring out the sound of the new season and we are ready to welcome you to all that is beautiful about Norfolk. Escape the everyday at home. At Happy Valley we are good to go and have social distancing sorted. Gather your loves ones and take them on a holiday at home as soon as restrictions allow.

For more information about our cabins, please contact glamping@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk

With love,

The Little Team at Happy Valley

Happy Valley Believes

We’ve watched the world from our window seat. Seasons have rolled in and out, like waves lapping against the shore. Time has played tricks on our mind, with long stretches of inactivity laid out before us and then a whirlwind of chaos flurrying in. With the uncertainty we all face, Happy Valley is hanging onto the hope of Christmas.

The warmth of hot chocolates and mulled wine by the fire, the enchantment of hearing sleigh bells jangle overhead and the sparkle of lights on in windows, brings this winter season to life. Looking out into the abyss of darkness, the vast landscape rolling out in front of the night sky – just when you think you’re all alone, you see a candle come on, a lantern light up and a fire glow in the distance.

At Happy Valley, we believe in community coming together, we believe in the hopes and dreams of others and we most definitely believe in the magic of Christmas.

Our Happy Valley elves have been busy preparing for the festivities and our cabins have been spruced up, ready to welcome you back this winter. Secret Santas have climbed up on their shelves, angels have taken position overhead, garlands have lovingly wrapped themselves around the beams and the baubles have bounced into position.

If you’re wondering where to go on holiday in the UK this Christmas then why not try beautiful North Norfolk. Surrounded by wide open spaces, beautiful off road walks, stunning award winning beaches and plenty of fresh air to keep you healthy.

What better way to celebrate each other this year than to take a staycation in the beautiful county of Norfolk.

Our cabins:

Toad Hall – a sumptuous treehouse, sleeping four adults and two children. This comes with a private hot tub, wheelchair accessible ramp, wetroom ensuite, open plan kitchenette, wine cooler, and outside decking area.

Woodpecker – a magical bell temple, sleeping either four adults or two adults and two children. This is an open plan room with king sized bed, adult-sized bunk bed, log burner, dining area, DVD player and ensuite shower room.

Denver Rest – a shepherd hut amongst the trees, sleeping two adults. This cosy hut comes with an outdoor kitchenette, a fire pit, and a shower room a short walk away.

King Nutkin – a love nest for two, sleeping two adults. This comes with a log burner, indoor kitchenette with a shower room a short walk away.

Christmas Cabin - yet to be named, our latest log cabin is coming along a treat and will make for the perfect Christmas surprise. Sleeping four adults (with the potential of two children), it comes with an ensuite shower room, open plan kitchen and living room, two bedrooms, a wrap around porch and a private woodfired hot tub.

Our current availability: availability can change quickly as we have instant booking on other sites.

Toad Hall – Monday 7th – Wednesday 9th December, Wednesday 9th – Friday 11th December, Friday 11th – Monday 14th December, Monday 14th – Wednesday 16th December, Wednesday 16th December – Friday 18th December, Friday 18th December – Monday 21st December, Monday 21st December – Monday 27th December

Woodpecker – Friday 4th December – Monday 7th December, Monday 7th – Wednesday 9th December, Wednesday 9th – Friday 11th December, Friday 11th – Monday 14th December, Monday 14th – Wednesday 16th December, Wednesday 16th December – Friday 18th December, Friday 18th December – Monday 21st December, Monday 21st December – Monday 27th December

Denver Rest – Friday 4th December – Monday 7th December, Monday 7th – Wednesday 9th December, Wednesday 9th – Friday 11th December, Friday 11th – Monday 14th December, Monday 14th – Wednesday 16th December, Wednesday 16th December – Friday 18th December, Friday 18th December – Monday 21st December, Monday 21st December – Monday 27th December

King Nutkin – Friday 4th December – Monday 7th December, Monday 7th – Wednesday 9th December, Wednesday 9th – Friday 11th December, Friday 11th – Monday 14th December, Monday 14th – Wednesday 16th December, Wednesday 16th December – Friday 18th December, Friday 18th December – Monday 21st December, Monday 21st December – Monday 27th December

Christmas Cabin - Wednesday 9th – Friday 11th December, Friday 11th – Monday 14th December, Monday 14th – Wednesday 16th December, Wednesday 16th December – Friday 18th December, Friday 18th December – Monday 21st December, Monday 21st December – Monday 27th December

Our safety measurements:

We take your safety very seriously which is why:

·       Each cabin is deep cleaned before and after your stay - no late check outs or early check ins allowed.

·       Christmas decorations are cleaned with covid antibacterial spray

·       Hand santisers throughout the venue and in all cabins, on the Hay Barn door and dotted around on some of the trees.

·       Each guest is required to fill out our Covid health questionnaire prior to arrival.

·       Guests are encouraged to regularly wash hands and are asked to wear masks when out and about in the local area

·       We ask every guest to scan the QR code onto their NHS app

·       There are nine acres to enable successful social distancing

·       Happy Valley has been a super host on Air BnB for five consecutive years due to excellent cleanliness

What 2020 guests have said about us:

“Happy Valley have gone to great lengths to follow COVID guidelines and have done a fantastic job. If you want clean accommodation and easy social distancing in these current times, this is the place for you”

For more reviews, please see:

·       https://www.happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk/glamping-reviews

·       https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g1646534-d12723987-Reviews-Happy_Valley_Norfolk_Venue_Glamping_Retreat-Grimston_Norfolk_East_Anglia_England.html#REVIEWS

·       https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/26943531?source_impression_id=p3_1605182948_DFCeFZM%2FILv6UUl3&guests=1&adults=1

Happy Valley believes in the magic of Christmas, do you?

With love,

Katy, Kirsty and the team at Happy Valley xx

To book our accommodation, please click here or contact hello@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk

Coming Home to the Exclusive Hire of Happy Valley

We are but a web of stories, woven and interlocked through random dates, fleeting moments, and the passing of time. If you saw your life through the eyes of all those who have ever seen you, ever known you, ever formed an impression of you, what is it you would find?

To those who have visited us before, we wonder how you would imagine your life in the snapshots that took you from where you started your journey, to how you ended up staying with us:

The ticket seller at Kings Cross station who wished you safe travels and wondered why you were carrying flip flops and wellies.

The woman sitting next to you on the Great Northern Rail who who listened to you share your plans of adventure on a Woodland Wilderness Retreat.

The taxi driver who picked you up from Kings Lynn station and made you laugh. How she smiled when you arrived at Happy Valley’s gates and said you were in for a ‘real treat’.

The farmer who nodded his head at you behind the wheel of his tractor, as if to welcome you to this happy corner of the world. How you knew you’d made the right decision and felt the first bubbles of excitement, of freedom.

The child squealing with delight as they were pushed on the tyre swing in the grounds and begged their parent to let them melt more marshmallows over the campfire that evening. How it made you think of all the firepit recipes you’d like to try after a long day walking in the woods.

The elderly couple in the local pub at Great Massingham, holding hands, warming themselves by the open fire with a simple meal of fish and chips and a bottle of Norfolk ale. How you thought it would be nice to return to Happy Valley again someday but next time, with all your family and friends.

And now, in the present, scrolling through your Instagram feed, you see the same photos of acres of trees, standing proud and tall, ripples in the lake surrounding Willow Island and you think of Happy Valley, wondering about all of the people you met and wondering if anyone is thinking of you, too.

Well, we are. We remember welcoming strangers and saying goodbye to friends. We remember the arrival of weary souls and the departure of rejuvenated spirits. We’re here, we’re thinking of you and we want to welcome you back but this time, exclusively. We are now open for Exclusive Use Hire of our accommodation and grounds, for up to 20 guests for a three night weekend stay or a two night midweek stay. Please see our Exclusive Hire tab for more information: https://www.happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk/exclusive-hire

We can’t wait to host you and your guests soon!

With love,

Katy, Kirsty and the team at Happy Valley xx

Carry on Glamping...

“Nature itself is the
best source of healing for mental and emotional disorder”

- Paul TP Wong

“A walk in nature,
walks the soul back home”

- Mary Davis

2020 is the year where the world grew silent and its people grew still, where we yearned to touch but remained distant and where the sound of the news broadcast was an unwelcome invasion into our fortress of solitude. We’ve cried, we’ve fretted, we’ve sighed, perhaps we’ve even thrown a thing or two and yet we were the lucky ones. As our doors begin to creek open and we tentatively take our first steps into society again, we wonder what it is we will find and we wonder who it is we will find. Though we are moving forward, we are not moving on and we will not forget the NHS heroes who fought for us, the household members who held onto us or the loved ones who tragically left us.

Pre-pandemic, we were a society who knew the cost of everything but understood the value of nothing. Now, we’ve seen the beauty in the kindness of strangers, we’ve felt national pride watching our community come together and we’ve watched in wonder as the earth has begun to heal and nature has reawakened to the dawn of what we hope will be a new era. How we began 2020 was beyond our control but how we end it, is up to us.

Here at Happy Valley, we invite you to push the reset button and enjoy the simple pleasures in life.

Happy Valley Post-Pandemic

Reflect – curl up on the sofa in our treehouse lodge and look out onto a panoramic vista of nature. Use this time to think about what matters to you, consider how you’ve felt in recent months and how you want your future to look like. Write it all down and then cast it into our log burner and as the fire turns it to ashes, begin to rise up and start again.

Remember – in nature we can bare our soul. Our lake will catch your tears, our trees will hear your cries and our lands will hold you. Nature will remain by your side and will be your quiet companion as you remember those you have loved and those you have lost. There is no right way to think, no correct way to feel; Nature will not judge you, will not report you but it will console you.

Rejuvenate – they say time is a great healer but nothing speaks to us more than walking through the woods and grounding ourselves among trees that have seen a lifetime of loved ones walk our lands and watched every story of our ancestors unfold. It’s here that we feel close to them and here that we feel able to breathe again and ultimately, give ourselves permission to live again.

Reset – we can hurt without having to hide and we can heal in allowing ourselves to find happiness. Embracing the future does not mean forgetting the past. At Happy Valley, we invite families to reconnect and friends to reunite. Hug, sing, dance, laugh.

Hopefully, from the 4th July onwards, our glamping will be open again. Each cabin/tent will have its own private facilities and can only be booked by those who have been isolating in the same house. Extra measures have been put in place so please take a look at our Covid page on the website to see how this may affect your stay.

Our doors will soon be open to welcome you back and we hope we can give you the opportunity to end 2020 in a very different way to how it began.

We can’t wait to see you,

With love,

Katy, Kirsty and the team at Happy Valley xx

A Midsummer Night's Wedding in Happy Valley’s Woodlands

There are some moments in time that hold such an indefinable sense of fragility that we try to capture this fleeting event and bottle it as a memory. We imagine the feelings we felt and grasp them with both hands, clutching at it as if it were a precious butterfly about to escape. Some memories are so pure and so strong that one word, sound, smell or touch can take us back in time and conjure up what once was. Weddings often carry that sense of timelessness and there is something truly magical about encapsulating the day in a series of everlasting moments such as photographs, favours or scraps of material. We imagine ourselves old and grey, holding onto that precious token and looking back on a lifetime of happiness.

There is a feeling of promise that hangs in the air before our weddings at Happy Valley; our lands become restless with excitement as the fluttering of birds’ wings and the dancing of leaves signal its approach. The temperature rises and with it a warm feeling of joy is spread across the grounds as we anticipate our guests’ arrival with each tick and every tock.

The dreaminess of our woodland ceremonies and sense of ethereal wonder of our Willow Island blessings, sets a magical tone to proceedings. With all of the enchantment and mystery surrounding Happy Valley, it’s a perfect setting for a fairy-tale wedding, such as the one in Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The ways to have a Shakespearean Midsummer Wedding at Happy Valley

1. Set the scene  – “I know a place where the wild thyme blows, where oxlips and the nodding violet grows”. Shakespeare knew of the importance of creating the perfect ambience for romance. At Happy Valley, our nine acres of whimsical woodland are bound to inspire you.

2. Add a touch of romance –  “Love's stories written in love's richest books. To fan the moonbeams from his sleeping eyes”. Consider adding a harpist or string quartet to your day, include Shakespearean quotes at the dinner table or perhaps send calligraphy wedding invitations, written on handmade paper and sealed with wax. At Happy Valley we can provide exquisite wedding gift vouchers, romantic, vintage props and timeless, vintage wedding dresses.

3. Add a sparkle of magic – “hand in hand with fairy grace, will we sing and bless this place”. With Happy Valley’s festoon lighting, log burners, Willow Island and star-gazing hot tubs, we add a glimmer and flicker of charm to any occasion.

4. Shakespeare Up the Dress Code – whether you choose to include floral garlands for the bridesmaids, Shakespearean masks for the guests or go all out and fashion some incredible costume pieces, Happy Valley has a stock of vintage clothing items that emulate the Midsummer Night’s Dream wedding theme perfectly.  

5. Make Memories – “Are you sure/That we are awake? It seems to me/That yet we sleep, we dream”. Having your wedding at Happy Valley is an unforgettable event but you can treasure this moment by capturing it with stunning photos, keeping a wedding invitation and favour in a time capsule, by dancing under the stars to your favourite song, or choosing to wear your signature perfume. Whatever it is you need to create an unforgettable moment, Happy Valley has a list of amazing wedding suppliers we can provide you with.

The Bard was a great believer in Love and naturally, so are we. No matter what theme or style you choose for your wedding, Happy Valley invites you to immerse yourself in the magic of our venue.

With love,

Katy, Kirsty and the team at Happy Valley xx

weddings@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk

01485 600719

Instagram - @HappyValleyNorfolk

Facebook - Happy Valley Norfolk

Tribe Norfolk Weekend

Save the date!

22 - 23rd September 2018

So excited to announce that the first Tribe Norfolk Weekend will take place at Happy Valley

Inspired by Norfolk for people who Love Norfolk

#TRIBENORFOLK 

Tribe Norfolk was created in December 2016 to connect individuals, businesses and all who love Norfolk, a county in which we are all spread out but have an abundance of wonderful producers, makers, musicians, crafters, growers.... right on our doorstep that we may not even know about.

Tribe Norfolk Instagram, Facebook & Twitter were created to provide a platform for people to connect, unite, discover, collaborate and celebrate everything about Norfolk. 

A positive vibes only platform welcome to all who want to bring back some community spirit.

Guests will be able to enjoy - 

The Beauty of the Wild, the Splendour of Norfolk creatives, taste fabulous cuisine, dance to an array of Norfolk Musicians, buy local treats at the Norfolk Produce and Makers Market. Enjoy a range of activities for all ages plus enjoy holistic therapies in the nurturing and supportive community in which Tribe Norfolk has become. 

Pic up some beautiful Vintage one offs.

Pic By Emily Jane - Vintage Deli Dress

There will be a fabulous Makers, Vintage and Produce Market at Tribe Norfolk Weekend where you can pick up some local one offs and discover the fab independants on offer in Norfolk. Can't wait to tell you who else we've got coming. 

Enjoy Tribe Norfolk Weekend in laid back luxury with a Weekend Glamping Ticket.

*TICKETS will be released at the end of April*

Glamping & camping at Happy Valley - 

A mix of Shepherds Huts, Tree temple, New Woodland Lodge and Bell Tents. Happy Valley sits on a Norfolk Wildlife Trust site in rural North West Norfolk. Immersed in nature with incredible woodland walks and close to the Norfolk Coast. The perfect place to switch off from the world and to start making memories. Reap the benefits of Forest Therapy. 

There will also be camping options so you can bring your own tents & campervans.

Enjoy Glamping at Tribe Norfolk Weekend - Pic taken from a photoshoot which included 2 posh 2 pitch and Wedding Wheels next to the Sea. Photo Credit - Rebel Heart Team

A chance to make some priceless memories with the whole family. Try Woodcombing, Nature Photography, family yoga, Dance like nobody is watching, sing along if you fancy it. This is a festival where inhibitions are left at the door. Get dressed up and come and have some fun in the wild.

A Wild Woodland Venue in unspoilt Norfolk Countryside. Close to Massingham, Sandringham, Houghton and the North Norfolk Coastline. 

If you'd like to get involved as a trader, musician, producer, performer, caterer etc then please go to the landing page of the website and follow the link.

www.TribeNorfolk.com

If you LOVE instagram, Twitter or Facebook  then you can find Tribe Norfolk - @TribeNorfolk 

Please use the Hashtag #TribeNorfolk so you can be discovered.

We can't wait to celebrate with you all in September

From all of us at Happy Valley,  Tribe Norfolk and Creative Orchard

xxxx