Swift Cottage

Horning is a working boating village on the Norfolk Broads, and Swift Cottage puts you on the water itself. The Ferry Inn stands within walking distance, a proper riverside pub with food. The house is built upside down—living spaces and the main bedroom are on the upper floor with a balcony overlooking the river, while three further bedrooms occupy the ground floor. Each bedroom has its own bathroom. The ground floor opens onto a terrace with direct access to the river basin and a private 16ft mooring, making this the sort of place where you can bring a boat or simply watch the wildlife and passing vessels from a chair outside.

The upper floor holds the kitchen, dining and living area in open plan, along with a super kingsize bedroom and its ensuite. Downstairs you'll find another super kingsize and two twin rooms, all en-suite. The essentials—electricity, heating, bed linen, towels and wifi—are included. There is private parking for two cars on site. The river is unfenced, which matters if you're bringing young children. No smoking throughout.

This is a place for people who want to be genuinely on the water rather than near it, with the independence of a whole property to yourself and enough bedrooms to bring family or friends. The Broads themselves are ideal for walks, cycle rides and boat trips, and Horning's quiet moorings and boat hire mean you can be as active or as still as you like.