There's so much to do and see in North Norfolk that, whether you're here for a short break or a week, the problem will be what to leave off your itinerary. On this page we'll share a few of our favourite places to eat and drink, with the emphasis on destinations in close proximity to Walnut Cottage.
EAT
Many of our favourite places to eat near the cottage are pubs, so we'll cover those below, but there are lots of other great eateries on the doorstep or a short drive away.
In the heart of Snettisham itself you'll find The Old Bank, a small, family-run bistro serving imaginative food sourced with local ingredients. It's a great spot for lunch, especially when the weather is fine enough to sit on their terrace for lunch. Opening hours vary so check their website for details.
For fish and chips just round the corner you could try the Snettisham Fish Bar, close to the Queen Victoria Inn, and a few miles round the coast in Thornham you should definitely sample Eric's Fish and Chips, run by the Head Chef at Titchwell Manor. Eric's can be found at the Drove Orchards, which is also home to an excellent farm shop, Shuck's restaurant (set in a yurt) and Gurneys Fish Shop (which also has a branch in Burnham Market), where you can buy fresh Brancaster lobsters, Cromer crabs, Thornham oysters and locally smoked fish. There's plenty of outside seating at the Drove Orchards too.
Just up the road towards the village you'll find Thornham Deli, a very popular place for breakfast and lunch, again with tables outside. If you're eating in, the deli has abundant stocks of locally-sourced food and drinks, including a good selection of frozen home made dishes like green chicken curry and fish pie. A little further afield we recommend lunch at Back to the Garden in Letheringsett, a cafe, restaurant and deli - very convenient after a shopping trip to Holt or a walk in Sheringham Park, but we suggest you book in advance.
DRINK
There are many fine pubs around the North Norfolk coast, so this is far from an exhaustive selection, but we'll just mention a handful of our personal favourites located within easy reach of the cottage. Our choices tend to be based on a combination of ambiance, quality of food and welcome for dogs (although generally they're only allowed in bar areas where the full food menu is served).
A 2-3 minute walk from Walnut Cottage is a pub frequently rated as one of Norfolk's very best: The Rose and Crown. It really does deserve its reputation as a superb pub all round - a buzzing local (especially during the cricket season) and an excellent dining pub, with traditional bars at the front with blazing log fires in the winter, a TARDIS-like restaurant area at the back and a spacious garden with children's play area. We're lucky to have it literally round the corner.
A few miles inland you'll find the pretty village of Ringstead and The Gin Trap Inn, a stylish and welcoming pub that's one of our favourites for Sunday lunch. If gin is your thing they offer over 130 varieties, including the pub's own Thai-inspired recipe.
The Ship, at the end of the Beach Road in the coastal village of Brancaster, specialises in fresh, locally-caught seafood and has a lovely courtyard garden that's perfect for a summer lunch.
Thornham has three good pubs, of which the 500 year old Lifeboat Inn is our preferred option, but if possible opt for the old bar at the front (with or without a dog) rather than the conservatory.
A little further round the coast you'll find the charming fishing port of Wells-next-the Sea, with two fine pubs around a leafy Georgian square a short walk from the seafront: The Crown Hotel, an old coaching inn, and The Globe. Like so many pubs and restaurants around the North Norfolk coast, there's a strong emphasis on locally-sourced ingredients.