Traditional and petite camping. And being near the beach, there's plenty of activities, such as spotting a few seals or you could try your hand at sailing.

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Scaldbeck Cottage

UK England East Anglia Norfolk Blakeney

Traditional and petite camping by the seaside, with seal trips, beaches and boating just a stone's throw away

Travel along the main north Norfolk coast road between Sheringham and Hunstanton and, just west of the village of Morston, you’ll pass a very missable hand-painted sign bearing the legend ‘B&B and campsite’. This is Scaldbeck Cottage, which turns out to be a fine-looking traditional Norfolk flint cottage with a small camping field just beyond its garden. It’s a thoroughly informal affair and perhaps one of the best campsites anywhere in Norfolk, let alone the North Norfolk Coast.

Access to the site is around the back of the cottage, under some trees and past upturned rowing boats, while a path off through the garden leads to the loo and shower. Do pop a mallet in with your luggage, because although the grass looks soft enough, the ground beneath it is really quite hard after the first inch and will take a certain delight in bending your pegs should you attempt to ram them in with your foot.

Just a five-minute stroll from National Trust-owned Morston Quay, a vast marshy tract of land where boats bob in and out at high tide, the site is ideal for hikers who want a base from which to walk sections of the Norfolk Coast Path. Simply take the excellent Coasthopper bus to whichever point you want to walk along, then let it bring your weary legs back in the evening. To fuel you up, the bus stops at The Anchor Inn, a 10-minute stroll down the road, too, and you can re-freeze ice-packs at the campsite if you're taking a pack lunch. In the event of fire, famine, pestilence or the sword, the cottage also has a couple of rooms available for B&B.

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Details

Facilities

Maximum occupancy of 12 people. One loo, 1 shower, an outdoor washing-up area, picnic tables and recycling bins. Campfires permitted in designated area (must bring own wood), BBQ and breeze blocks available. No electrical hook-ups but sockets for recharging phones.

Suitable For

Tents, dogs – yes. Campervans, caravans, campers and tents on cars – no.

Nearby

The 47-mile-long Norfolk Coast Path goes right past the campsite and takes in some of the best bits of the county’s coastline, from salt marshes and mudflats to cliffs. Head to Morston Quay (¼ mile) for seal-watching boat trips with Bean’s Boats (01263 740038) or Temple Boats (01263 740791) which take you out to Blakeney Point. The campsite owners are happy to book it for you. There is also a sailing school (01263 740704) at Morston Quay with various courses for children and adults.

Food & Drink

Grab a light bite at the Wiveton Hall Café (01263 740515), famous for its appearance on the BBC cult reality show Normal For Norfolk – the food is excellent and you’ll also be contributing to keeping the stately pile alive. For a good pub, try the Anchor Inn (01263 741392), a short walk away in Morston along the coastal path – excellent food (book ahead). The Wiveton Bell (01263 740101), a couple of miles inland on the other side of Blakeney, also serves great food and has a lovely garden, while The Langham Bluebell is a family-friendly pub and eatery with a pizza oven in the garden.

Open

March–October (or later, if weather permits).

Pricing

£6 per person. (Maximum of 12 people only)

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The Owner Says

Safe camping

We will be using a second field to spread everyone out. Cars may be parked next to pitches this year. We will be asking campers to bring their own cold chests and buy ice from the local shop.

Shower room guidelines

We clean the toilet/shower room between 5-6 times daily. All campers must use the disinfectant wipes provided to wipe down shower buttons, toilet handles, taps and internal and external door handles as they leave. We will provide a bin outside the shower room to dispose of the wipes. So each party leaves the room clean for the next occupant.

We are a tents only campsite (Please note: no hire tents, camper vans, campers, caravans or tents on top of cars) with space for a maximum of 12 people only. £7 per head. A shower, hand-basin and toilet room exclusively for the campsite is attached to the main cottage a few yards away. There is a fresh water sink unit on the camping field. Please contact us directly for availability and to book. Check in at Scaldbeck Cottage when you arrive so we can show you your pitch. Checkout time: 12 noon.

Location

Contact Scaldbeck Cottage, Scaldbeck Cottage, Stiffkey Road, Morston, Holt, Norfolk NR25 7BJ

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Getting There

The campsite is just off the A149 coast road just west of Morston. Look for signs to the Bluejacket Workshop and small handmade signs at the site entrance. Take a train to Sheringham the nearest train station (11 miles away) and then hop on the Coasthopper bus, which stops right outside the site.

Reviews

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Rated ★★★★★ over 16 reviews

★★★★★

Smashing little campsite

If you like getting away from the crowds and listening to the sounds of the wildlife then this friendly place is perfect. Plenty of space for little ones to run around (canine or human). It's all in one open field, so bring some shade if you need it. As well as a fire pit and a large BBQ, there's a tap with drinking water in the field and a picnic bench for each tent (there were four tents when we were there and it was full). The shower / toilet room is very clean. Hosts Roberta and Ned were very helpful. Bring some insect repellent if you go in summer as there were a few horse flies. Georgia, Lenny (8) and Olive (6)

Jul 29, 2019 by Georgia Johnson

★★★★★

Perfect quite spot

Myself and partner stayed on site for one night in early June. We regularly visit the coast but rarely stay over. But that's all in the past! We loved our stay and plan to come back many times in the future (not least because we got engaged just 100m down the coastal path!). The site is quiet and small (although plenty of space for the max. 6 tents). The shower and toilet facilities are basic but clean and the shower is hot. The location is it's selling feature; Mortson is a wonderfully quiet part of the coast to enjoy. The local pub serves very good food and drinks. And the location is close enough to Blakeney if you'd prefer other places to try. Thanks to Roberta for looking after us!

Jun 3, 2019 by Fran H

★★★★★

Lovely quiet site

I was the only camper, so it felt like wild camping with a toilet and shower. Lovely welcome and perfect location, just off the coast path and 10 mins from pub. Will be back.

Apr 18, 2019 by Jo Cohen

★★★★★

small, noncommercial, on the coast

We absolutely loved our stay here over a weekend in May, wandering around Morston Quay out to the marshes early in the morning was magical and walks along the coastal path in both directions were fabulous Best camp site for us, a fairly quiet couple travelling without children

Jul 25, 2018 by Ann

★★★★★

Opportunity to be at one with nature and recharge.

The site was a perfect retreat for me, first time camping solo for a while, I was made to feel welcome, safe and relaxed by friendly proprietors. Clean, efficiently managed and limited (re number of other pitches) my long weekend at Scaldbeck, provided me with opportunity to walk for miles, absorb the colours and sounds of the beautiful saltmarshes, wide open skies/horizons; socialise (if I chose to) or just chill out and decompress (yoga, sketch, live off local fresh produce, samphire/eggs/cheeses etc). Other fellow campers were interesting, kind and respectful - facilities, clean and basic, are all one needs. I’d recommend taking citronella sticks if you sit out late evenings; a mallet does come in handy as due to lack of rainfall, the ground was hard (although grass/pitch fine and level). A creative chef/birdwatcher/artists paradise - and great place to unwind. Fab.

Jun 18, 2018 by Jenny

★★★★★

Em Linford

I stayed in the cottage for a night whilst running the Norfolk Coastal path. The owners are genuinely friendly, helpful and local people. The stay was very comfortable and the quality of food and ambience of the Anchor Inn at Morston very welcome.

Apr 20, 2017 by Anon

★★★★★

Short break to explore

A lovely little site, quiet and very basic (as outlined in the campsite details) We loved it, I didn't want to leave! A couple of minutes walk from Morston Quay, we went down at all states of tide, a walk on the marshes in the light of the full moon was a magical experience. Walk the coast path and get the bus back, catch the steam train from Holt to Sheringham, visit the seals...so much to do with a peaceful haven to come back to. One toilet and shower never a problem with so few people on site and if you are really desperate, there are toilets at Morston Quay which are open late.

Aug 26, 2016 by sharonrushin

★★★★★

relaxing

Just returned from another lovely weekend in Norfolk

Stayed at this site a couple of times and although it's a basic site the loo is always clean and I've met some lovely people

I love this part of Norfolk there's so much to do a weekend is not long enough

The site itself is indeed tiny and in my opinion perfect

Jul 4, 2016 by simon

★★★★★

Perfect in every way

This is a small and quiet site with all the facilities you need for a relaxing break. Its light on showers but with so few people it doesnt matter and its always good to shower with a friend ;-)

Excellent location for hiking along the coast.

I'd certainly return and recommend it to friends...

Oct 21, 2014 by Huddy & Co

★★★★★

The Only Place to Camp

This is where to come if you've had enough of characterless sites, over-priced guest houses in ubiquitous Farrow and Ball colours. It's a beautiful, peaceful site with shower and toilet. It may be a small but there is a great sense of space. Friendly, curious, atmospheric and above all genuine. Informality is the key here. Ned and Roberta are a knock-out team, their breakfasts will set you up for walks, cycling or sailing (at nearby Norfolk Etc), and The Anchor pub in the village will look after you in the evening. Failing that there are trestle tables and barbeque facilities.

Sep 9, 2014 by tonygrisoni

★★★★★

Chill-out camping

My wife and I took our 2 year old daughter to camp whilst the older boys were at a youth pilgrimage in nearby Walsingham.
The site is perfect for those who love the camping side of things rather than the on-site entertainment camping. We were shown around when we arrived and told to just pitch up where we wanted.
The picnic benches were an unexpected bonus and we made good use of the campfire as well to cook so jacket potatoes (once a scout...). The facilities were always clean and supplied with loo roll etc and the shower was good with plenty of heat/pressure

Even with the max number on site there was still no real queue for the shower and toilet which was our one concern with a young child.

Booked again for next year :)

Sep 1, 2014 by paddedcell

★★★★★

Wonderful stay!

My husband and I have just returned from 5 days of camping at Scaldbeck Cottage and we had the most wonderful time. We usually stay further down the coast but decided on a change of scenery and it certainly is some of the most amazing scenery. The campsite is literally a stone's throw from the marshes (and I can't throw!) just the other side of a line of trees. It is the quietest, most serene campsite we have ever been to apart from the birds who start early on their dawn chorus, I can't say this was a bad thing to be woken up by!

We decided to have breakfast cooked for us half way through the holiday and it was really tasty, try the homemade jams as they are amazing! As you will read from other reviews there is only one loo and shower together, however, there were times during our stay that the site was full to their quota of 12 people and I had to wait once for a matter of 20 seconds, I couldn't see this as an issue. There were also times when we had the campsite to ourselves which was bliss.

We weren't really that interested in birdlife but they certainly persuade you to be interested, it's teaming with wildlife on the doorstep. There is a pub in the village, the seal trips on the quay, and it's only just over a mile (you can walk the coastal route or drive) to Blakeney which has a good selection of restaurants/pubs and some shops.

This campsite is certainly on our saved list, a wonderful stay.

Jun 7, 2014 by catherine-83

★★★★★

Scaldbeck Cottage

We stayed in this wonderful campsite for 2 nights at the beginning of April and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. We were the only people on the site and it was great to have it all to ourselves.

Good points:

Only 12 people max - so no crowds.

Brilliant location - right next to the public footpath and Morston Marshes. This is a great place to visit if you enjoy nature.

Ned, the owner, is very friendly and can provide you with lots of information on how to walk to the seals, tide times, kayaking spots etc.

You can have fires, either on the floor or in the large BBQ.

The shower is excellent and is included in the price.

There aren't any rules to adhere to - it is a very informal affair.

Bad points:

The only slightly bad thing is the chickens wake you up in the morning if you are a light sleeper! There is only 1 toilet and shower which are in the same room, so if 12 people were staying on the site then this may be a slight problem.

If you visit this campsite then you are sure to have an amazing time.

Apr 9, 2013 by radiojamaica

★★★★★

Scaldbeck Cottage in Morston, Norfolk

I was in 2 minds whether to post a review because it would be a shame if this little site were booked out continuously but we feel we owe it to Ned the owner - it is truly wonderful, very special, very unique, friendly, cheap, and amazingly located. 2 mins walk from Morston Quay, has ponies and hens surrounding you, and we were there for 4 days with 2 tents, there were only 2 other little tents there and both groups were really nice. We loved it and will DEFF go back again. Stayed in a huge campsite down the road a few weeks previously which was also clean, well run, etc, but if it’s peace and quiet you’re after, go to Scaldbeck Cottage. Thanks to Ned for the loan of his freezer too, and for providing some wood to mend our larder! And to Jane who owns the ponies for giving us a pony-trap ride!!!!!

Aug 15, 2012 by Viz

★★★★☆

Scaldbeck Cottage

Went here with 12 friends (altogether) for a weekend break (we all live in Norwich), a mainly adult group with older teenagers. We were blessed with good weather, apart for a downpour just after we had finished eating and pitching on the Friday eve - the site appeared well drained and no puddles despite a night of heavy rain. We used the fire pit with our dutch oven to bake bread and used their BBQ on the Saturday eve. It was great having our own ’private’ campsite. There is plenty of room and space to play ball and mess around as men/boys do. The toilet/washbasin and shower are all in 1 room which means there needs to be a degree of co-ordination/co-operation, which was no problem as we were all friends - I think it may be a little more problematic if you were sharing with ’strangers’. This is the reason I only gave it 4 stars. The area is lovely with plenty of places to walk, straight from the site. There are trips out to Blakeney point to see the seals, which we have done on prvious occasions which is great fun. We liked it so much we have just booked again for a long weekend in the summer.

Mar 4, 2012 by Elaine Gathercole

★★★★☆

Scaldbeck Cottage

If you want to get away from the crowds and enjoy a laid back atmosphere then this is the perfect site. Since no more than 12 tents are allowed there is a huge amount of space to set up your tent. No feeling of being crammed in here. The location is fantastic. Morston Quay is right out the front of the cottage and from here you can take a boat trip to see the seals at Blakeney Point, well worth the money. This is a nature lovers paradise. Morston is situated in a perfect spot to explore the North Norfolk coast either on foot, by bus on the brilliant coast hopper bus or by car. The owner, Ned, is wonderfully eccentric and was happy to tell us stories of his family, who have lived in Morston for several generations. The facilities are clean and well maintained but very basic. However, this seems to fit with the feel of the campsite. We really felt like we had been camping rather than on a luxury, all mod-cons characterless site. There is no shop in Morston, the nearest being in nearby Blakeney so take your initial supplies with you. It is easy to park outside the shop in Blakeney and the store is well stocked for locals and campers. The fish shop next door is very good. The Anchor pub in Morston does not quite have the charm one expects on first viewing from outside but with so many fine pubs in nearby villages to choose from, this shouldn’t be a problem. If you are going to be their late then make sure you have enough torches as the walk back to the campsite is a little wild. The Dun Cow at Salthouse does great reasonably priced meals with local ingredients. The Picnic Fayre delicatessen in nearby Cley is wonderful if a little on the expensive side. There is so much to do in the local area that it is impossible to fit it all in. I can’t recommend this site highly enough.

May 31, 2011 by Sephius