Breckland

Breckland takes its name from the sandy heaths and pine forests that stretch across this stretch of the Norfolk and Suffolk border, one of the driest and most distinctive landscapes in eastern England. It is a quieter corner of the region, built around scattered market towns, working farmland and the dense conifer plantations of Thetford Forest, rather than the coastline that draws crowds further east.

Most visitors base themselves in a self-catering cottage rather than a hotel, and Breckland has plenty to choose from, with 92 on our books. Many are converted farm buildings, such as Bradcar Farm Cottage and Bumble Bee Farm, or grouped conversions like the Church Farm Cottages, where Frenchman's, Holy Boys and The Pightle sit together on the same site. Others, like Alder Lodge, Barwick Retreat and Bluebell Bungalow, offer a more standalone base for exploring the area at your own pace.

The appeal here is space and quiet. Thetford Forest offers miles of walking and cycling through pine woodland, while the surrounding heathland and farmland make for slower, more contemplative days out. It is the kind of area that rewards a car and a willingness to potter between villages, rather than one built around a single big attraction.

Staying in a farm cottage or countryside bungalow suits this landscape well. Many of the properties are set back from the road, giving guests a genuine sense of rural retreat, whether you have booked a single cottage or one of a cluster like the Church Farm group, which can suit families or groups travelling together but wanting their own separate space.

Evenings tend to be low-key, built around whatever the nearest village or market town has to offer, with the cottages themselves often the main draw for an evening in after a day spent walking the forest paths or exploring the Breckland countryside.