Wood chippings scatter the path that leads from Birkfield
House into the garden beyond, where Nick and Karoline Gebbett have gone al
fresco with their successful North Norfolk B&B. Fragrant flowers pepper the
colourful borders and daffodils encircle tree trunks like frilly yellow skirts.
It’s here, among a small coppice of trees, that Chez Marguerite is situated – a
traditionally shaped shepherd’s hut with every comfort you need.
Inside, the hut has an air of luxury but also a wonderfully
warm and homely feel, reflecting the couple’s impeccable attention to detail. Most
of the décor and furnishings have been bought locally, from various antique
shops around Norfolk, while the main table and chairs have actually come all
the way from the South of France, after Karoline fell in love with them and
decided to drive them home in the car!
The hut also has a self-contained
practicality. Clever use of space incorporates an en-suite shower and toilet
room at one end, a modern kitchen with induction hobs and a fridge in the
middle and a plush double bed built in to the other. There’s a toasty wood
burning stove if you’re visiting in winter and all the little treats and extras
you could need – tea, coffee, toiletries, a hairdryer, wood for the fire… the
list goes on.
Outside, retrace your steps past the barbeque and down the
woodland walkway to join the local footpaths leading into Holt. Perhaps the
prettiest town in North Norfolk, its centre is characterised by Georgian
buildings lining up along the attractive market place and is awash with
smaller, independent shops. To the north, meanwhile, the patchwork coast of
dunes, marsh and beaches cries out to be explored. Nearby Blakeney is a popular
starting point. A mile to its west you can catch little ferries from Morston and
chug out to see the Blakney Point grey seal colony or head east for pebbly
Salthouse beach and the expansive sands of Sheringham a little further.
