Directions

How do I get to Spinks Nest by car?

A car is the easiest way to reach Hunworth, and the best way to explore North Norfolk. From London and the south, most people take the M11 and A11 to Norwich, then the A140 (towards Cromer and the airport) and the B1149 towards Holt. From the Midlands and the north, the usual route is the A47 to King’s Lynn, then the A148 through Fakenham towards Holt.

The last few miles are on quiet country lanes. From Holt it’s about three miles: leave town heading south on the B1149 Norwich Road, then turn right onto Holt Road, the lane to Hunworth. Your sat nav will bring you the last mile to Kings Street.

Driving times to the cottage

• London about 3 hours
• Cambridge about 1¾ hours
• King’s Lynn about 50 mins
• Norwich about 40 mins
• Holt 5 mins

Where do we park?

On the quiet country road outside the cottage.

Can we get there without a car?

Yes, with a taxi for the last stretch, as Hunworth is a small rural hamlet. Trains from London Liverpool Street reach Norwich in about two hours, and from Norwich the Bittern Line runs to Sheringham by the sea in about an hour. Sheringham is the nearest station, about nine miles from the cottage; Norwich station is about 23 miles away. It’s best to book a taxi in advance, especially at weekends.

If you’re flying, Norwich Airport is about half an hour’s drive away, and London Stansted about two and a half hours.

What time can we arrive?

Check-in is from 4pm and check-out is by 10am. You can buy an early check-in from 12pm or a late check-out until 12 noon. If you have any questions about your journey, email us at info@spinksnest.com.

What is Hunworth like?

Hunworth is a small, quiet hamlet in the valley of the River Glaven, one of England’s rare chalk streams, about two miles south of Holt. It’s old enough to appear in the Domesday Book, and walks from the door follow lanes and footpaths past St Lawrence’s church and the earthworks of an old castle. There are no street lights, so the night skies are properly dark.

The village pub, The Hunny Bell, is expected to reopen in the next year or so. Until then, The Kings Head at Letheringsett is about five minutes’ drive away.

How close is Holt, and what is it like?

Holt is about five minutes’ drive away. It’s a handsome Georgian market town, largely rebuilt after a great fire in 1708, and full of independent shops, galleries, antiques dealers, delis and cafés. Much of what you’ll find inside Spinks Nest came from the antique shops around Holt. In season, steam trains on the North Norfolk Railway, the Poppy Line, run from Holt to Sheringham.

What is North Norfolk like?

Big skies, salt marshes, pine woods and long sandy beaches, much of it within the Norfolk Coast National Landscape (until recently an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). Within about twenty minutes of the cottage you can take a boat from Morston Quay to see the seals on Blakeney Point, watch birds at Cley Marshes, walk Holkham’s vast beach or follow the Norfolk Coast Path. In winter, huge skeins of pink-footed geese fly over the marshes at dawn and dusk.

From the cottage

• Holt 5 mins
• Blakeney, Morston & Cley 15 mins
• Sheringham 20 mins
• Holkham beach about 20 mins
• Cromer 25 mins

Our local guide has our favourite pubs, walks, beaches and days out, season by season.