Charlotte & Marks Happy Valley Wedding

We felt very blessed to be chosen as Charlotte and Marks Wedding Venue last September. What a fabulous couple. They were so laid back in their approach to their Wedding day and it really paid off as the cheers and laughter were so infectious it was definitely a magical day to remember.  Picture are by The Photography Team

Happy Valley is a flexible Woodland Wedding Venue in North West Norfolk. The perfect blank canvas for you to create the Wedding YOU want. There's luxury Glamping accomodation, a Dutch Party Barn and a large pond with Bridged Island. Extra camping can be added. There's NO restrictions on caterers, bar, music etc. If you're looking for somewhere to create your dream Wedding Day then Happy Valley is more than happy to help make this a reality.  Email - hello@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk 

The Bridal Party getting ready in The Woodpecker Tree Temple. There will also be a new luxury woodland lodge available from March 2018.

Happy Valley is situated on a Norfolk Wildlife Trust site. You don't even need to spend a lot on decoration as natures backdrop is impressive in it's natural state. A few up lighters highlighting the trees and your Wedding Day is complete. 

The Wedding Ceremony took place in front of the pond with the back drop of weeping willow.

I think Charlotte and Mark had great foresight. Wedding Trends for 2018 veer towards a more relaxed Wedding day with celebrations extending over a few days. The Wedding meal was a BBQ for all tastes w Here at Happy Valley we hire the site for 3 days and 2 nights but you can also extend the celebrations if you like. This gives you time to spend quality time with friends and family. 

Guests enjoyed the Wedding Meal in this beautiful Marquee from Castle Acre Canvas before walking over to the Party Barn for evening celebrations. 

Wedding Food is seeing a change and recent trends are veering towards a more laid back approach. Gone are the 3 course set meals and street food, bbqs, sharing plates and food vans. Here Charlotte and Mark chose a BBQ on the back of a VW Beetle - The Smoking Beetle

The party barn was decked out for the evening celebrations. 

Here's a pic I took the morning of the Wedding.

Starry Skies and Cosy Christmas Nights in Norfolk

One thing we can boast at Happy Valley is Dark Skies. Perfect for star gazing in the Hot tub on a cold Winters night. Return to your forest cabin and cosy up by the wood burner, toast a few marshmallows and enjoy a glass of something special in laid back luxury. Scottie's hand crafted all the beds here which are mainly King Size with some really fun bunks for the kiddies in the Woodpecker Tree Temple. All cabins come with a kitchenette, indoor and outdoor seating. Private BBQ Area, Fire pit & enjoy a Woodland garden. 

There's only a few dates left available for a forest holiday over the Christmas break so if you'd like to escape the rat race and enjoy some Christmas spirit then please do give us a call - 01485 600719 or 07739892144 

Take advantage of our blog only deal - Quote BLOGXMAS and receive 20% discount on 3 night stays. - valid until March 18th 2018*

Why Not buy your loved one a Gift Voucher for a Mini break in the New Year? 

Just 5 nights left over the Chistmas Break in our King Nutkin Cabin - 01485 600719

The Woodpecker pictured here is the perfect retreat for a family. Where kids can roam free in the forest. Experience some wilderness culture and take them on a mini adventure. There's all your home comforts without the distraction of TV's and consoles.  Perfect for making memories!

We have availability in our Woodpecker Cabin over Christmas this year. Our newest cabin has been a total hit with families with the bunk beds providing much excitement for the children. You can see the childrens play area from here also.

There's endless walks and beautiful scenery in and around Happy Valley. Bring your bikes if you love riding down the winding back roads of unspoilt scenery. Or,  you can hop in the car and head to nearby attractions in North Norfolk. Some of our favourites include, Sandringham park, Old Hunstanton, Snettisham RSPB, Brancaster Beach, Holkham and Wells-Next-The-Sea.

Stop by at Thornham Drove Orchards for some independant boutiques, childrens shop and sample some local catches at Shucks at the Yurt restaurant, Guerneys Fish Shed or Erics Fish and Chips. Visit Burnham Market or stop by Creake Abbey for some more independant shops.

Wind your way home for a Hot Tub under the stars. Forest Bathing at it's best. 

Feedback from a recent guest - "it stimulates all your senses. The smells from the wood fire and the fir forest. It ALL makes you feel so alive!." 

Forest Bathing has long been a preventitive cure for all sorts of ailments in Japenese medicine. Now you can bath in the forest whilst forest bathing ;) 

Just down the road is the picturesque Village of Massingham. Our Local Pub the Dabbling Duck is the perfect place to find a bite to eat if you can't be bothered to cook. They also do take away pizza on a friday night.

In other news - Winter conditions are testing Scottie & Billy but the new Woodland Lodge is going up a treat. Incredible Norfolk Skies have graced us this Autumn.

There's a small debate happening on site as I want to call it Toad hall & Scottie isn't so keen. I think there will be a little competition going on instagram and Facebook over the next week or so to determine the name so keep an eye out. 

Immerse yourselves in the forest in North Norfolk this Winter. 

View from TOAD HALL ;)

* - exludes School Holidays & Bank Holidays.

Autumn Glamping at Happy Valley

Our newest addition to Happy Valley Glamping is the Woodpecker Tree Temple. She’s been tried and tested this Summer and the feedback has been amazing to say the least.  

If you’ve never been Glamping then this is the perfect start. Ideal for families and couples alike. There’s more space in the calm, round, living space for those not so idyllic days. Complete with games. Dining table and chairs. Wood burner. Radio. Kitchenette - hob, toaster, kettle, cooking utensils, cafetière, plates, pots and pans etc. And basics such as Tea, coffee, salt, pepper and cooking oil. 

Take full advantage of our Norfolk Winter Deals where you can stay off peak for 3 nights for the price of 2 and there's some fab mid week one night deals.

Email - hello@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk or call Katy on 01485 600719 to find out more details.

A beautifully workable space to connect in nature and with each other. 

Everyone loves a room with a view and in the Woodpecker you've got both Woodland & open farmland views. 

The Shower and Toilets at Happy Valley. During the winter months all cabins have their own private shower and toilet room with waterfall showers. All heated. 

All our future builds at Happy Valley will have en-suite facilities.

Take a walk up Troys hill and say hello to the Happy Valley Short Horns. You will then spot the Treehouse in the corner of the Woods. 

It's finally taking shape.  Billy and Scottie have been full steam ahead and our Treehouse is well underway & i'm a little over excited about it all. 

Autumn just seems to get more beautiful year on year. It's becoming my most favourite Month and the perfect time to grab a cheeky weekend away in North Norfolk. All our Cabins are heated so make yourself cosy and immerse yourselves in Nature.

We took a trip to Snettisham Beach to watch sundown. Just 15 minutes from Happy valley it's our Closest Beach. We walked over the dunes and my hairs stood up on end. There were thousands of birds all stood on the seas edge and this incredible sunset. We are so blessed to live in such a beautiful county. RSPB Snettisham is not as well publisised as the other nature reserves and we can share it with you.  

Did I mention we have a wood fired hot tub? It's going down an absolute treat. Excitedly planning private additions to each cabin next year. 

To experience snipits of Happy Valley life, follow us on Instagram - @HappyVNorfolk

Make sure you follow us on Facebook as we sometimes post cancellation deals on here.

Happy Glamping

Katy, Scott, Barnaby & Annie.

xxx

Hot Tubbin, Health & Halloween

Super Excited to announce that our Wood Fired Hot Tub has arrived. We spent some time finding the best spot in the woods. Over looking the pond in a small glade. Surrounded by trees but with a view of the stars. The beginings of our Woodland Spa. 

We've spent the last week Testing, testing and more testing & now she's ready for you to experience. 

We are trialing it here with plans to add a hot tub or similar to each cabin next year. In the meantime you can book hour slots when you come to stay. You can book direct by calling 01485 600719 or emailing hello@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk

HEALTH -

We are taking the art of Forest Bathing to another level - We have experienced the benefits of spending time in the Forest. Natures Therapy is almost instant and are so grateful that we can share this little bit of magic with you. 

 This is the healing way of Shinrin-yoku Forest Therapy, the medicine of simply being in the forest. Shinrin-yoku is a term that means "taking in the forest atmosphere" or "forest bathing." It was developed in Japan during the 1980s and has become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine - taken from http://www.shinrin-yoku.org/shinrin-yoku.html

Now not only can you experience Shinrin Yoku by visiting Happy Valley but you can also experience the health benefits of a Hot Tub in the forest - 

• Improves sleep. ... 
• Reduces stress and anxiety. ... 
• Reduces arthritic and chronic pain. ... 
• Lowers blood sugar. ... 
• Lowers blood pressure. ... 
• Promotes Healthier, Younger Looking Skin. ... 
• Decreases Frequency of Migraines and Tension Headaches.

You can read a full run down on these health benefits HERE

Email - hello@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk 

Call Katy - 01485 600719

Nestled away in a private location you can stoke up the fire, sit back and relax. Forest Bathing whilst Forest Bathing!

There's something very romantic about a wood fired hot tub.  

Wood fired Hot Tub - Primitive

Changing room by night.

As it's such a magical setting we decided to create a Halloween Hot Tub experience this year. We dressed the stage with Pumpkins and fairy lights, hung a pumpkin pinata & called on those friendly ghosts! 

It's safe to say it's gone down a treat here at Happy Valley. We wanted to create a haven for couples and families alike. A place to escape to and feel a milion miles away from the stresses of life. 

The Feedback has been just that. We've had guests who live not too far away say they still feel like they're in another world when they come to Happy Valley. We hope you enjoy it just as much as we do. 

Love 

Katy, Scott, Barnaby & Annie. X

Connecting in Nature

A couple weeks later than planned but here's a wee blog I did on our Nature Walk around Happy Valley.

Today reminded me how beautiful Autumn is at Happy Valley. Annie and I went on a mini adventure complete with minion backpack to collect our treasures from which we were to create a masterpiece. Feelers out! Whats about!

It wasn't long before we stopped to take a picture of the hedge. Yes the hedge, bursting with beauty. The wild berries and ivy waterfalls. Purples, pinks, yellows, who knew hedges could be so beautiful and fruitful. The bracken showing us that Autumn is here and blackberries providing a welcome snack..

We thought this looked like an Ivy Waterfall.

I couldn't tell you what this wonderful pink sea urchin looking plant is. Can you?  Nature therapy worked it's magic and we were in a little heaven of our own. 

Tire swings, hammocks and Den building throughout the woods at Happy Valley.

Awesome Earth

So we sat down and created this for Nanas Birthday Present. 

Sometimes it can be a struggle to get out of the house, especially if the weather isn't ideal or spirits are low. But i've come to realise that as soon as we're out exploring then the therapy starts. It's incredible how just being outside, beauty is everywhere. In abundance. It almost instantly makes me feel better and the benefits are huge for all the family. It's free and it's accessible. 

Very Grateful for this day. 

X

The Happy Valley Wedding Festival

Together with Twisted Melon Promotions & Pia Plum Events the planning and hard work paid off and the first ever Happy Valley Wedding Festival i'm pleased to say was a success.  

I managed to get a few snaps in before lift off and here they are ---->  

The Party Barn at Happy Valley was transformed over the last month. Those special added touches just finished it off nicely. Here we have Flowers from Flowers on the Green. Isla's Illuminations launched Norfolks First suspended light display for the occasion.

Lillian L'Amour - Hair Stylist and Make Up Artist

Vintage Deli - Vintage Wedding Dresses

Alex from Castle Acre Canvas supplied the main Capree Tent which housed many of the Wedding Suppliers - Here he is just after he'd put it up.

No 7 - Boots in Kings Lynn

By Mitre Farm - Petal Confetti

The gorgeous Mock Orange Flowers - Norfolk based Florist

Argentum Design creates beautiful handmade jewellery

The Lovely Katie Matthews Humanist Celebrant

Ashleigh Moore Make Up looked fab at the Wedding Festial

On the Hoof - Fabulous food, great Coffee, perfect Prosecco. You can create anything with Carie at On the Hoof 

Squilla and Squidge showed us how to do fab street food at your wedding. Delicious

Harrison Chocolatiers - Bespoke chocolates and desserts for chocolate lovers for every occasion.

Simply Cake Co with their beautiful Wedding cakes on show

Here's a rare sort of selfie of me, representing Happy Valley Norfolk and Vintage Deli  Vintage Wedding Dresses - Pic taken by the Super Talented Holly from Flora Fairweather - who also did a lovely little blog on our day CLICK HERE to view 

Vintage Partyware exhibited some of their fab props and also provided the arch at the head of the Bridge.

Party Barn at Happy Valley.  Picture by the FAB - Flora Fairweather

Benjamin Mathers Photography exhibited some of his fantastic works of photography Art

Ben also brought along his photo booth which is available to hire for Weddings

The Travelling Bluebird at the Wedding Festival - Highly Recomended. Their food is beautiful, service spot on and it looks a picture to. 

Hattie and Millie Bespoke Milliner

Tropic 

Norfolk Balloon Boutique supplied their 3ft Balloons floating on the pond for our little Festival - Pic by Them

Norfolk Balloon Company

Skyz The Limit - Aerial Video and Photographs from Dersingham The Hex Tent from Morton Event Hire was dressed by Pia Plum Events

Love and Sparkle Event Hire

Inflatabubbles supply inflatables for Weddings and Events

Victoria with her beautiful Gowns from Bottom Draw Bridal in Kings Lynn

Peacock Cake Company loved how you could sample  some of the fab cakes on offer.

Beetroot Dining cater for Weddings and Events.

Hex Tent from Morton Event Hire Pic from By Mitre Farm

Minty's wheels - Station Campers - Marriage Carriage Company ALL fabulous Wedding Wheels

Happy Valley is a Woodland & Open Space Venue for you to create the Wedding You Want.

The Fabulous Sam who plays and Sings in Bear Club also is a photographer - Rook Photography and Video - he took the Shakleton Trio into the Woods for a little ad lib photo shoot and produced these beauties. 

Shakleton Trio were AMAZING - Pic taken by Rook Photogrpahy

The Party went on well into the night - The Beautiful Festoon Lighting and Fire Pyramids were from Dick Ropa Entertainments

BIG thanks to WES at Wesigns for all the fab signage. WES is the perfect man to go to for all your Signage needs.

There's more on Instgarm - @HappyVNorfolk

Find us on Facebook - Happy Valley Norfolk

23-SEPTEMBER-17

Happy Valley Wedding Festival

Wedding fever is sweeping through Happy Valley this September! So assemble your bride tribe and grab your stags - this is one for everyone!

Never one to stick to the norm we are taking the traditional wedding fair and turning it on its head & hosting our very own ‘WedFest’. With all the essential Wedding fair elements and then some not so usual! The magical surrounds of Happy Valley, will give you a taster into your special day and then there is so much more for the whole family to discover! 

Please Join us for a FREE day of relaxed, enjoyable wedding planning, followed by afternoon of scrumptious food at our Street Food Supper, a chance to try the best that Norfolk caterers have to offer and then dance the night away as Twisted Melon Productions present an incredible line up of live local music. (from 5.30pm - late = tickets required)

The gates to our truly unique venue open at 11am for a magical day of wedding planning for which, Pia Plum Events have enlisted the help of over 40 of their favourite suppliers. They will be available to show you their wares and discuss how they can create a day tailored to you.

From Beard Preening to Props, Petal Confetti to Vintage Wedding Dresses. If it's a Hair Artist you need or a cake fit for the queen we have all the little extra’s you didn’t even realised you’d need.

Castle Acre Canvas will be housing the Wedding traders in their beautiful multi peak capree tents. You can peruse the fabulous Norfolk Wedding suppliers and create your bespoke happily ever after or you can discover concierge services who will do all of it for you.

As the sun starts to set over a wonderfully productive day, our venue takes on a new life, so have you dancing shoes at the ready and discover your perfect wedding entertainment as at 6pm the first band will be set to grace our stage. What better way to pick your wedding band than under our woodland canape, surrounded by friends with your favourite tipple in hand.

There is free entrance and all are welcome to the wedding fair during the day 11am - 4pm.

Tickets for the evening of live music are £10 and available from http://twistedmelon.bigcartel.com/product/happy-valley-wedfest

For more information head to www.happyvalley.co.uk or www.facebook.com/NorfolkWeddingVenue

You'll be able to see the Glamping accomodation Happy Valley has on offer thus far before the big tree house build completes at the end of the Year. 

Huge Thanks to WE SIGNS for their sponsorship & wonderful signs you see throughout the roads of Norfolk.

EMAIL - HELLO@HAPPYVALLEYNORFOLK.CO.UK

TEL NO- 01485 600719

WWW.HAPPYVALLEYNORFOLK.CO.UK

XXX

Feeling the Love at Happy Valley

So, a few Sundays ago I awake with a message from a friend to say we've been featured in the Mail Travel Section. Heart palpitations the lot - initially i thought it was online only but then heard we were in the Sunday newspaper on a double page spread. #hysteria 

We've been so overwhelmed with the feedback we've had from our new little site in rural Norfolk. 

Happy Valley holds so much magic that we feel totally blessed that we can share this with everyone else. 

It has been a long old slog with planning permissions and the great Scottie (my husband) building everything you see. Yes, he's the clever clogs with incredible vision and I often play devils advocate & look for possible criticisms that guests may have so it's not been plain sailing for him either.  It's so heart warming to hear the incredible feedback and I have learnt a few things along the way. Everyones ideals are all different. I can't react to every suggestion by redesigning the site & it's contents!

Then to the discover we were in the Telegraph Travel pages last Saturday was the absolute cherry on top. You may have noticed I do bang on a little about Forest Bathing (shinrin-Yoku) - it means taking in the Forest atmosphere and was developed in Japan during the 80s. It has become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese Medicine.  There is lots of evidence showing how it can benefit your health (see previous blog) and Happy Valley is the perfect environment for this. 

So, next news is that our Woodpecker Cabin is complete - I went in today & was blown away. I hope you are to. Here's a little sneak peak - Accepting bookings NOW email hello@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk or call Katy on 07739892144

Taking Bookings Now - 0773989214 or 01485 600719 email hello@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk

Bedroom with a view in the Woodpecker

The Woodpecker has more living space in a beautiful round home with bedroom extensions. A wood burner stove, hot plate, hob, toaster, kettle. BBQ, fiepit, outdoor seating, woodland garden. There's lovely waterfall showers and toilets close by. 

BTW - The hot tubs are on hold as a new idea has taken over.... more on that soon.

The Woodpecker has both woodland and open views, a wood burner, king size bed, bunk beds, hob etc

Bedroom View from the Woodpecker

Below are our other units thus far................. we've also added a childrens play area :)

our Spacious King Bell Tent is an under canvas experience for the whole family. Beautiful dappled light shines throughout and you're surrounded by nature.

no pics today Mum! couldn't leave this one out though. The lights are constantly changing #NaturalLight  

We are lovers of Instagram and you can see all our progress at Happy Valley on there - @HappyVNorfolk our hastag is the same #HappyVNorfolk

Twitter - @HappyVNorfolk @NorfolkGlamping & @NorfolkVenue

Facebook - Happy Valley Norfolk - Venue & Glamping Retreat

A Taste of Summer

Glamping at Happy Valley

We've been getting a little excited this past week as the temperatures have reached 23 and the holidays have hit our household. Grateful for the longer days and warm sunshine.

Happy Valley is evolving as we add family glamping units. Scott has been busy building some very smart deckings for the bell tents this year. We've invested in a new 6m Bell Tent and added a King size bed & 2 singles. The next Tree Cabin is in progress and the Treehouse build soon to start! 

Our Brand New 6m Queenie Bell is up and raring to go. We thought we'd add another King Size Bed as I know we love a big bed and the occasions when the bambinos creep in means you won't be so tight on room. We also added 2 single beds which can be used alone or pushed together.  Camping Plates, bowls, cups, cutlery are included - BBQ, Washing up bowl & Gas camping stove. All with a Beautiful Woodland Garden to immerse yourselves in.

Email hello@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk or call Katy on 01485 600719

We've been eager to open up our site to more families in the holidays as it's a great environment to be in with your children. Raising our family at Happy Valley we spend endless hours in the woods. Creating our own mini adventures at the faraway tree and signature oak. Climbing fallen trunks and absorbing nature has definitely improved our lives. The forest is a magical place and with children it really does come alive with magic.

We also rear our own Short Horn cows on the farm so you can go a visit the cows and will often see the sheep on the surrounding fields. There's some fab off road trails to bike down with rolling routes through idyllic woodland.

We LOVE instagram - please find us @HappyVNorfolk or if you visit then please tag us #HappyVNorfolk - Twitter -  Facebook

Our guests sent us this picture of their alfresco breakfast at Denver Rest

Denver Rest (below) sits with Tawny Hut and is great for 2 couples or if you have an older child that would prefer their own space. Both heated. Tawny houses a Super King Real Bed. Denver Rest has a real double bed, kitchenette, outdoor undercover kitchen. BBQ Area. To sleep 2 from £75 night - 4 from £115 night  hello@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk 01485 600719

Shepherds Huts in woodland surrounding with sheep grazing in the fields nearby. You can take yourself back to the days when the shepherds lived in these huts and tendered their sheep.

Our King Nutkin Shepherds Hut (above) has a King Size real bed, kitchen with fridge, hob, breakfast bar, utensils etc. Decking seating. BBQ area. Fire pit. Woodland Garden. We will be adding a hot tub to this unit May 2017. New toilets & waterfall Showers. Norfolk Glamping in Laid back luxury. 

We rear our own Short Horn Cattle at Happy Valley - here they are enjoying some R&R on the hills. Short Horn are a very docile breed of cows. They produce marbled beef with a great texture. It's nice to know they have a very happy life with little stress. 

i've always found it hard to practice mindfullness and meditate but surrounded by the forest with open views it is starting to get a lot easier. 

Embracing the Seasons

Ever fancied Glamping in Norfolk during Winter? Well We've had some wonderful guests this year who've totally embraced the seasons and visited Happy Valley so I thought i'd share some of their fabulous captures and thoughts. Winter at Happy Valley is just as magical as summer with every day changing. The Wildlife in abundance living in harmony with our little woodland cabins.  

 This blog - dedicated to Budding photographer Corinne Hills  who Captured Happy Valley so well this Winter. 

Here's King Nutkin, Wood burner chuffing away on a cold winters day. We often get comments on how warm the huts are. All our woodland cabins are heated so there's no need to worry about the cold. You can explore the woodland garden and 250 acres of Congham Heath Woods and know you're coming back to a toasty retreat.

The Kitchenette houses a fridge, hob, plates, cups, cuttlery, cooking utensils, tea, coffee, sugar, cafetiere, toaster, kettle etc. 

There's a breakfast bar where you can relax on the old tractor seat stools or you can enjoy your meal outside on the decking surrounded by your woodland garden. 

A pocket sprung mattress sits on the king size bed and has been highly reviewed by all of our guests. 

No Need to Bring cooking equipment and crockery. All provided with King Nutkin.

Pop the kettle on and prepare dinner or there's a large BBQ outside if you'd rather.

Our beautiful Shepherds Huts are made on site by Mr Happy Valley (Scottie). All the little details carefully thought of and they just keep getting better and better. Our Treehouse build is about to commence in the next couple of weeks. We can't wait to get our teeth into that one. Situated with open and woodland views you'lll be spoilt for choice of which way to look. Embracing the beautiful Norfolk skies or enjoying some forest bathing. Natures Medicine to nourish the soul. 

Below is Denver Rest which sits with our Tawny Hut - Denver houses a double bed, outdoor kitchen, indoor toaster and kettle. Breakfast bar. Tawny Hut houses a Super King Bed with a small desk and lamp. Outdoor seating and BBQ. Fire pit and Woodland Garden. Sleeping 4 in total. You can call us on 01485 600719 or email hello@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk find us on instagram or facebook & Twitter.

Thank you Corinne for your beautiful captures and really glad you enjoyed your stay at Happy Valley. Please check out Corinees Website www.corinnehillsphotography.com

Love Katy, Scott, Barnaby & Annie

xxx

We LOVE instagram - @HappyVNorfolk

Please use our Hashtag - #HappyVNorfolk

To Book or View Happy Valley - 01485 600719

Email - hello@HappyValleyNorfolk.co.uk