Stiltz Hottub/Woodburner Rural Retreat in Norfolk

At the end of an unmade road, a haven, whether dining out, takeout, or cooking in the kitchen. Dedicated to romance, connecting with someone special, escaping the ordinary, and rejuvenating in the hot tub with unparalleled views of the surrounding valley. Stroll in 350 acres of woodlands and wildlife on your doorstep. A luxurious king-size four-poster bed and woodburner, perfect for those cooler evenings. Stiltz is also pet-friendly. Our outdoor BBQ area has a LARGE GAS HOTPLATE, woodburner. The space "We have received fantastic reviews, attracting guests seeking the unique experience Stiltz offers. To ensure you have the best possible stay, we want to be clear about what you can expect. Stiltz may not be suitable for everyone or all tastes as it is a rural retreat designed for couples looking to escape from the daily grind. Stiltz has been likened to a treehouse, and for that reason, it may not be the right choice for everyone. Access to the home is only possible via steps, and the decking can become slippery when wet. Please refrain from booking if you plan to bring young children, older guests with limited mobility, or disabled individuals. However, we have another property, The Lodge, which is child and disability-friendly, it is more secluded as surrounded by 6 foot fencing and can accommodate up to four or five guests; you can also book it through Airbnb. Stiltz is a unique building perched on stilts, nestled into the side of a hill. It boasts dual-aspect decking that allows you to enjoy the sun and shade from dawn till dusk, offering uninterrupted views of the valley and the 12 acres of meadows surrounding our hot tub, so it is not enclosed . This setting has been perfect for couples looking for a special break away. We've spared no effort to make it as comfortable as possible, blending luxury indoors with the pleasure of watching the sunset while sipping bubbly from the warmth of the hot tub, an experience that photos cannot capture. One experience that can't be captured on film is the clear night sky. You can relax in the hot tub under a canopy of stars, a feature that our guests have been amazed and delighted by. We are required to check the hot tub we will send all you need to know about the Hottub and its operation, these checks ensure the hot tub's safety. We welcome dogs, but kindly inform us about your pet's breed. For this property, small and medium breeds work best. Please be aware that after you leave, we expect our cleaners to remove every trace of your pet for the next guests to enjoy their stay, as they may not have pets. The decking on the other side of the hot tub features different levels and steps. Due to these factors, it is not suitable for guests with mobility issues or disabilities. If you have elderly guests, consider booking our Lodge. Stiltz is designed especially for couples seeking a romantic getaway, offering evenings by a roaring fire with that special someone. The French solid oak flooring in the bedroom leads to the ensuite, complete with a shower, basin, and toilet. We provide soft, deep towels, as well as robes for the spa. From the ensuite, step into the lounge, which features a comfortable four-seater gray leather sofa and two-seater couples chair, a contemporary wood burner. You have the option of watching the 40" Smart TV with SKY TV, movies, Netflicks, and a DVD player, along with a selection of DVDs. The building is super-insulated, so you're unlikely to feel too hot or too cold. We provide all the wood and kindling you need for the wood burner, especially important for our winter guests. Exiting the lounge, you step onto your personal decked areas on both sides of Stiltz. Whether it's the sun deck or the covered breakfast area, all areas are fully lit in the evenings. The dining table separates the lounge from the kitchen area, equipped with an Amazon Echo and DAB radio / iPod dock. Both the lounge and kitchen feature white bespoke New England adjustable shutters for maximum privacy and shade. The kitchen is well-equipped with all the comforts of home, including a top-of-the-line bean-to-cup coffee machine, dishwasher, toaster, blender, and kettle. We provide complimentary fresh coffee beans, instant coffee, and a selection of tea bags. All necessary items, such as dishwasher tablets, washing-up liquid, and cleaning products, are also provided. The cooking area features a ceramic hob, an extractor fan, and a large separate integrated grill, oven, and microwave, along with various cooking oils, balsamic vinegar, sauces, herbs, and an integrated fridge-freezer .. At the end of the kitchen, you can exit onto a further decked balcony via the third set of patio doors. This deck has a glass roof, and you can step out onto the sun deck with sun loungers, surrounded by a glass balcony to preserve your view. You can access your very own spa directly from this private area. With external downlighters outside the north-facing glazed wall, as well as extensive external lighting, you can control them from the door by the bedroom, leading you onto the decking. The framed edge of the decked balcony is lined with stainless steel handrails and cabling. The hot tub with twin loungers that can accommodate five people comfortably. With three pumps and a heated blower, the 64 stainless steel jets provide the ultimate relaxation. We also provide 50-watt Bluetooth speakers above the Hottub for you to enjoy your own playlist in the spa, and the hot tub has its own underwater LED lights. On the decking next to the hot tub, you'll find chairs and a table, perfect for breakfasts, as well as a bistro set with chairs and a table for evening Prosecco. Subtle blue uplighters illuminate the area in the evenings. While the south-facing area boasts a corner rattan sofa and a large table. Downlighters on the soffit overhang create a perfect relaxation area, especially when combined with raising the three-meter sails. The BBQ "Chill and Grill Shack" is an outdoor covered alfresco area with a "Dutch Barn Style" barrel-vaulted roof. It offers shelter in various weather conditions and features a three-burner gas Hotplate and a wood burner. Ferns and natural stone paving, flanked by solar lighting and wood chippings, create a cozy atmosphere. We also provide an area for those who wish to smoke with a dining area with a table and chairs,a Bluetooth speaker, and a sofa and chairs. If you want to venture further into the outdoors, you can explore miles of woodland walks, the adjacent campsite has access to the heathland and the camping area can rent bikes, which we can arrange for your stay. Even on long walks, you're unlikely to come across anyone else, as our location offers miles of beautiful scenery without a house in sight. We accept guests with well-behaved pets, but we require information about your pet when booking. To maintain our high standards, we change the hot tub water between every guest, which takes more than 12-15 hours to empty, refill, and reach the correct temperature. We appreciate a prompt departure to facilitate this process. However, if we don't have guests arriving the following afternoon, we can be more flexible with departure times. We offer discounts for weeknight stays and longer stays, as weekends are our most popular booking times. Stiltz typically accommodates a maximum of two adults due to having only one bedroom. Some guests have wanted to bring their children, but we do not recommend toddlers or disabled individuals due to the lodge's layout and safety concerns around the hot tub, steps, and decking. Babies who aren't walking yet are Guest access We have a guidebook, with instructions on where we eat, but many guests never leave Stiltz, but you may miss out, see below and you will find the contents of the local access to Supermarkets, Restaurants and places we like to go, we can email it to you before you come if you need, just ask, or download discover Aylsham app at the store it is free and help inform you on other facts in the local area. The space as described, is set in 50 acres of meadows, and is located between the meadows and a camping and caravan site, School holidays it can be busy, outside these periods and the summer months you can feel totally isolated. The uninterrupted view from Stiltz is your own 12 acres of meadowland and woodlands beyond , and, if this is not enough, you can walk directly into the 500 acres of heathland and woodland further afield or, visit the two nearby lakes. It is unusual to meet many people on your walks, and we often bike on a Sunday around this area seldom meeting anyone! If you wish to cycle to get around, we can offer help organising reasonable hire rates if u require this, just ask, and mountain bikes are recommended! You have your own private car parking space beside the lodge, and it is secure and exclusive for your use during your stay, the outside areas and Hottub are only for your use, no one else has access to these areas without your permission, gates and signage make this clear to public areas. So a bit more about STILTZ, it is located in Marsham and during your stay, you may like to explore your surroundings. You will notice that, like many small Norfolk villages, there are few amenities nearby to support your stay in the village of Marsham. The closest town being Aylsham, a historic market town on the River Bure, about 9.3 miles north of Norwich. Alysham is only a mile and a half away, as the crow flies from our home. The town is close to some large Estates and grand Country Homes at Blickling, Felbrigg, Mannington and Wolterton, which are all important tourist attractions in our area. The town is 3 miles from STILTZ, and is less than 10 minutes to drive and park in the centre, about 15 minutes to cycle and, if you walk via the roads, it is about 50 minutes. Alysham has a host of shops, however, we will focus on a few that we like and feel you may like too, although there are many more! Alysham has a Tesco's Superstore, which you can’t miss as you enter the town. Tesco’s is on the Norwich Rd, and opposite the Bure Valley Railway (NR11 6BW). SHOP before you arrive? Many of our guests complete an online shop with Sainsbury’s, Tesco’s or Waitrose before they arrive. They then contact us to arrange for delivery of their groceries before their arrival. A little further along the Norwich Road, and also on the left, is Budgens, with its own carpark, which is owned and operated by C T Baker of Holt, giving it a nice local produce twist. For that reason, we prefer it to Tesco’s, however, they both keep the same opening hours. Alysham market square also has a small Co-op Supermarket, and the first Saturday of every month, Aylsham holds a Farmers Market in its Market Square, with wide selections of fresh meats, breads, jams, fruit and veg, after lunch, the stalls start to close up. Parking in the town, can be difficult, the town has two car parks which both offer free parking, although Budgens can be a good place to shop, when parking there, you will need to stay within their free hours, or charges may apply. G F White - We like this Butcher! White’s, they do some great prepared BBQ food in the summer, and a fantastic selection of local pies, and fresh meats. Their shop can be found on Red Lion Street, which is just off the Market Square. Some guests have ordered online for delivery from them. (URL HIDDEN) Wed,Sat 8-1 M,T,T,F 8-5. The recommended places to shop, outside of Aylsham, and may be a little harder to find, but well worth a look, is Clarke's Quality Meats. Yes, they are a Butcher, however, they have a lovely Country Kitchen alongside. Their home-made pies are delicious - steak and kidney is our favorite! Norfolk Shortcake is a must too, (my Nan used to make it and we have never seen it anywhere else!) The scotch eggs are a meal in themselves, and so on! They are open Tues, Thurs and Fri 8.00-4.00 Weds, Sat 8.00-1.00, t: (PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN). Low Lane Farm, Hevingham, NR105QY. Places to Eat.................. The closest pub isTthe Plough, situated in Marsham Village and 2 minutes in the car, about 15 – 20 minutes to walk. It is open all day and food is served from 12-2.30pm, Dinner 6-9pm. Good carvery (Booking (PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN)) on a Sunday, and a nice country pub NR10 5PS. (EMAIL HIDDEN) . The Black Boys Inn is our favourite, I describe it as a traditional décor, but Gastro food, doors open at 8am to welcome you for Breakfast. It’s sister pub, equally as good The Buckinghamshire Arms, in nearby Blickling, is also excellent. Real ales from the bar include Adnams and Woodfordes and a selection of wines are available by the glass or bottle. The menus cater for both traditional and more imaginative tastes using local produce. On Sundays there is a choice of Traditional Roast Lunch from £10.95. Table Reservations (PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN) . This is a bit special, so say our top foodie guests, maybe the best for miles is the Walpole Arms. It is in the village of Itteringham, standing on the River Bure, four miles north west from Aylsham. A great place to eat and from Aylsham follow the signs to Blickling Hall (B1354), after passing the Hall (and approx 1½ miles), take the right turn for Itteringham. The Walpole Arms is at the bottom of the hill on the right hand side as you approach the village. (PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN) The Fox is in the opposite direction from Alysham, on the main Norwich Road. You will find it in the next village of Hevingham, postcode for the Sat Nav-NR10 5LY. We have not eaten here, but our guests have said the food is great. The Crown, is 5 miles from Stiltz, and you will find it on the Colby Road in Banningham, (NR11 7DY), this is good place to eat with very good food. Lunch Monday-Friday 12-2pm, Saturday & Sunday all day. Dinner Monday-Friday 6-9.00pm. Saturday and Sunday all day -9.30pm. The Gate of India is in the Market square in Aylsham you will find it in the north west corner, it is an Indian Restaurant and Takeaway. I doubt you will find a better Indian in Norfolk, it is open seven days a week from 12-2pm and 5.30pm - 10.30pm. Highly recommended. The Marsham Arms, is not actually in Marsham, in fact, it is the next village, Hevingham, on the main Holt to Norwich Road (NR10 5NP) and is 4.5 miles from Stiltz - we like to pop here for a bit of family lunch, recently refurbished, our favourite meal is their beer battered cod. Nice food and well decked out family pub . Easy to get to by carwith plenty of parking outside, and a good menu. •Heading to Cromer? Then No1 Cromer is just great, off the high street, New St, NR27 9HP it is the latest restaurant from renowned chef, Galton Blackiston. We love this place with locally sourced produce -our favorite Fish and Chips Restaurant, also ‘Upstairs at No1’, for true Modern British Cooking. Offering unrivalled views of the sea and Cromer Pier. To make a booking (PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN) or email (EMAIL HIDDEN) no booking required for Downstairs. The Pigs at Edgefield, a favourite of ours, the menu is great for those who like Pork, Ham or Bacon, not too far and on the way to Holt, you will find them on the main Norwich to Holt Road, and Edgefield is near Melton Constable (NR24 2RL). It can be busy so you will need to book in advance: (PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN) (EMAIL HIDDEN) Cawston Village is due West, and at 9 High St (NR10 4AE) you will find All Things Nice, we like to have Breakfast here. You will find several places in Aylsham for both afternoon tea and Breakfast, however, we like here as it is close and you can park outside. Also, you can have a light lunch, or just use the Deli, which serves fresh bread, cakes, pies, and other homemade provisions – all local and fresh and just 4 miles from Stiltz. Takeaways?............... Aylsham has a Fish & Chip Shop, Chinese and Kebab/Pizza Places - the Kebab Place you will find a menu in Stiltz, our opinion is the Kebab is ok and does deliver, but the others are not favourites! Fancy a curry? - The Gate of India is excellent – eat in or takeaway. The best Fish & Chip Shop is in Buxton and is excellent, superb fresh fish, good value but not easy to find! 4 miles from Stiltz and on Crown Road, in the village of Buxton, East of Marsham NR10 5EN. This is the best Chippy for miles, next best is in Roughton on the Cromer coast road. With Takeaways It may seem a bit odd, but if we want a Chinese we go to the Hong Kong in Horsford. Chinese food to take away, 77 Holt Road, Horsford, Norwich, Norfolk, NR10 3AB. At the top of the hill you will find Spice of India, a great Indian Takeaway and restaurant, or back in town another Indian, the Naga, next door to the Horsford Kebab & Pizza, and also a good Chippy. Where to go….. Many of our guests love Stiltz as it sits on a cross roads, you can travel to the main places in 11 or 12 miles, pretty much most points of the compass in any direction and you will come across one of the below! Stiltz is 11 miles from Holt, which is a market town, 9.5 miles (15.3 km) west of Cromer. When we visit Holt, we love to have cream tea or a light lunch, here at Byfords (Deli too), just off the main street, 1-3 Shirehall Plain,NR25 6BG. This part of Norfolk has become very expensive, Holt forms a triangle with Wells and Burnham Market (Called Chelsea by sea). Some other nice places to eat and shop too! Stiltz is 11 miles from Cromer, which is perched on the very edge of the North Norfolk coast, and is famous for its tasty crabs and wide open beaches. It has a traditional pier and lighthouse, plus a proud tradition of RNLI service. In Cromer you will find a vibrant Norfolk Town with a wide variety of cafes, restaurants, shops and our favourite you will find Mary Janes Fish & Chip Shop, in the centre of town. Stiltz is 11 miles from Wroxham and Hoveton-two connected villages, split by the River Bure. Most of the village facilities are actually in Hoveton, but are generally known as Wroxham - the capital of the Norfolk Broads. Boats of all kinds are for hire and there are also an abundance of pubs, restaurants, shops and a large department store. Most of the shopping is dominated around the Roys brand, claiming to be the worlds largest village store! Wroxham contains many visitor attractions including a riverside park. The village certainly is a busy spot in high season. Large free car-parks can be found behind Roys Department Store. Also. you can cycle in under an hour via the cycle way which runs alongside the Bure Valley steam railway from Alysham into Wroxham. Stiltz is about 11 miles from Norwich, a city on the River Wensum in East Anglia. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom. Until the Industrial Revolution, Norwich has around 200,000 people living there and the Castle and Cathedrals are just a few of the amazing buildings. From the cobbled Norwich Lanes to the Royal Arcade’s Art Nouveau elegance, you’ll be wowed by the mix of independent shops! Norwich is the only place outside of London's Oxford Street to have four of the major department stores – John Lewis, Debenhams, Marks & Spencer and House of Fraser - and of course, it also has Jarrolds, Norwich's flagship independent department store which has been at the heart of Norwich since 1823. In addition, Norwich is home to the Norwich Lanes, where you will find an array of independent and boutique shops winding through the historic heart of the city. There are also two modern shopping centres – Chapelfield which opened in 2005 and Castle Mall. In the midst of all this, is also the historic Norwich market place which dates back to Saxon times. No wonder Norwich rates sixth in the top 10 of shopping destinations in the UK. Cycle Hire can be organised for you. They are local and can arrange any bike delivered and basic prices per bike start, 1/2 day - £8 (1pm onwards) 1 day - £12, 3 day - £30, 7 days - £45, helmets and lights extra, stockist for Norfolk Coast Cycleway.5Payment arranged direct with usual deposits. Or our Muddy Fox package, two adult mountain bikes, helmets, locks and lights, the bundle is £40 half week or £60 per week. Storage provided even if you bring your own bikes, payment on day of arrival. WHY CYCLE? Close to us is Marriott’s Way (In Yellow) which is a 26 mile footpath, bridleway and cycle route, which follows the routes of two disused railway lines, and runs between the historic market town of Aylsham and the medieval city of Norwich. Or head in the other direction to Wroxham from Alysham along the Bure Valley Railway cycle track (In Green). Marriott’s Way has something for everyone, from families and casual walkers to ramblers, joggers, cyclists and horse-riders. At Aylsham, you will find the entrance on Norwich Road, opposite the Bure Valley Railway station near Tesco’s. If you are not a hard core Cyclist you might want to stop at Reepham Station Tea Rooms, and have a cream tea, then bike on or return? You will end up in Norwich, it ends by the roundabout at Barn Road and Barker Street on the inner Ring Road. Alternatively, there are many other access points at villages and road junctions. Wildlife is abundant near us, much you can see from the hottub without taking a single step, the field can be a sea of Rabbits. You may hear the chatty call of the chiffchaff or the cheery chirrup of the whitethroat, whilst swifts and swallows can be seen swooping and diving overhead, as they return every to the Buildings on the farm year after, they have even nested in Stiltz before it was a holiday home . Look around you and you may be fortunate secretive animals such as foxes, one year there was a den at the bottom of the field and you could see the clubs playing in the sunshine, being watched by mum, but Stiltz is too busy for a return to that den! Many guests say they have seen roe or Chinese water deer in the field from the bedroom windows very early in the morning, or in the Winter then the tracks and prints appear overnight in fresh snow will let you know how close they come during your slumber. The farm and surrounding woodland has some very mature trees, the Chestnut tree behind the lodge has been played in buy generations of our family, the scotch pines above the lodge have marked this location for a hundred years. Butterflies flit among the branches of trees on the farm and dragonflies hover and dart on the “Long Meadow” you can see beyond the tree at the bottom of the field following from the edge of our holiday home . Geese can be seen grazing in nearby fields, whilst kestrels fly for food, During your stay I would be surprised if you do not see the pair of barn owls who have a home in an oak tree you can see from the decking. Walk quietly and with luck you may see the electric blue kingfisher flash by looking for minnows on the Mermaid River, which has a spring on the farm. In the summer guests enjoying the stars in the hottub may also hear the nightjars, they are largely nocturnal and roosts in well-camouflaged cover in the daytime. The characteristically unusual flight patterns and the bright white spots on the male are helpful features when identifying this bird. Habitat destruction led to a major decline in the nightjar population after the Second World War and were heading for extinction. But the nearby forestry plantations and heathlands has enabled a steady rise in numbers. In 2003 a UK population of 4,500 males representing well over 60% of recorded males came from our region. In the Autumn Paths are awash with the reds and browns of falling leaves and squirrels and hedgehogs busy themselves in preparation for winter. Look out for weasels and stoats as they dash across the fields and small birds, (such as tits and finches) attracted by the abundance of berries and wild grass seeds. It’s a good time to see other birds too, including tree creepers as they search the trees for grubs and insects. You can see also and hear noisy gatherings of fieldfares and other thrushes. In the fields, lapwings (A bird closely associated with the Village) feed whilst flocks of geese fly overhead. In the winter sunshine, hawthorn berries and rosehips glisten and rabbits scamper back to the safety of their burrows. For true Foodies Here are some ingredients more readily available, just as traditional to the county, and which are a must-have if you're spending any time here if you want to say you've truly eaten Norfolk food… Cromer crab: It had to be in pole position – it's as distinctively Norfolk as pasties are to Cornwall and champagne to northern France. The reason they're so good is that Cromer crabs thrive in the shallow waters of the unique chalk reef just off the coast, producing the sweetest, meatiest crustaceans. Theoretically Cromer crabs are the same brown crabs that are caught all around the coast of Britain. In practice everyone knows they are unique. The special nature of a Cromer crab isn't a matter of opinion, it's recognised in law. The minimum legal shell span of Cromer crab (115mm) is smaller than any other UK crab – Cromer crabs, with their 'pie crust' shells, really are little bombs of flavour! Cromer crab is revered by foodies, brimming as it is with a high proportion of white meat. It's also very healthy, full of brain-boosting Omega-3 and low in fat. Eat with a little black pepper, a squeeze of lemon juice and a dash of smoked paprika on buttered brown bread, with mayo, cucumber or avocado. They're usually available from around April. There's also a Crab and Lobster festival each May in Cromer and Sheringham. Oh yes, did we mention the lobsters... Samphire: Otherwise known as 'sea asparagus', it thrives in our tidal salt marshes, and is FAB-UUUU-LOUS steamed and eaten with butter. If you're here in Spring, the asparagus is simply stunning too and you can often find it sold from trailers in countryside lay-bys. Both are usually best in May, can be bought in supermarkets, or on the coastal roads between Stiffkey and Brancaster. Brancaster mussels: They're big blighters, tender and juicy. Collected when they're young, they're then moved to lays (beds) in the tidal creeks and left to mature nicely before harvesting. You think the French have the monopoly on cracking moules et frites? Don’t you believe it, but many places along the Norfolk coast has mussels. Stiffkey cockles: Also known as Stewkey Blues on account of their colour, a pale lavender to dark grey-blue, that comes from their habitat a few inches under the mud and sand. They're still harvested with short-handled, broad rakes and nets. Traditionally the cockles are steamed, put in soups and pies, or boiled and eaten with vinegar and pepper. Cheese: Nothing like a Binham Blue, a soft blue veined cheese made by the redoubtable Mrs Temple of Copys Green Farm at Wighton using milk from the Chalk Farm herd of Holstein Friesians and the Copys Green herd of Swiss Browns. Once you get a taste for that (and you will), move on to her Copys Cloud, with a fluffy white rind and melting centre; Wighton, a fresh curd cheese; the hard, matured Walsingham; a supple mountain-type called Wells Alpine; or Warham, a semi-soft available in mustard, tomato and herb, or cumin flavours. Beer: Norfolk produces the best malting barley in the country and that is turned into gorgeous, thirst-quenching real ale. Norfolk also has the most microbreweries of any county in the country - bet you didn't know that. Order a foaming flagon and toast those wonderful brewers. Less than few minutes in the car you will find Panther Brewery, an award winning microbrewery based in Unit1, Collers Way, Reepham (NR10 4SW). They use traditional brewing techniques to create a range of sleek, modern and full flavour real ales which are available in seven different breeds. They supply bottled conditioned and cask conditioned real ale to outlets all over the UK. T: (PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN) or (PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN),. E: (EMAIL HIDDEN) Opening times: Mon to Fri – 9.00 til 18.00. Sat – 10.00 til 15.00 Other things to note airbnb.com/h/theforestlodge Our larger property - on the other side of the campsite - has more outdoor facilities with high fencing which Stiltz does not, ideal for multiple pets with outdoor pizza oven in a purpose built under cover ark with seating for 6 plus guests. This was not originally built to let, Stiltz was originally our private holiday home, we have only decided to share it with others from July 2015 due to constant interest for such stays -which is why the standard and quality is so high We have tried to think of all the things we would need for a hassle free stay - just bring your personal items and yourselves!! Aylsham is the local town 3 miles away, a great curry house (gate of India ), Tesco's or local super market Budgens part of the Bakers of holt business, Holt is 11 miles away, which is the same distance, to Cromer, Norwich and Wroxham.