Emily's Retreat at the Great Barn

Emily's Retreat was a perfect choice for our long weekend in Norfolk - spacious annex, very clean, comfortable bed and great shower.

Nicci is very friendly and helpful and had provided everything we could possibly need, including a generous welcome pack with tea, coffee, milk, biscuits and even a bottle of wine. The weather was hot during our stay, but we found the cottage refreshingly cool at night. There are lots of helpful notes around the cottage, which saved having to look up information. The cottage has a cosy, quirky feel, with some period features, which we loved. It is quite remote and rural, but nice and quiet. Pubs serving food are about 10 mins away. The only thing we found a little tricky, was opening & shutting the gate, but a very minor issue. Should we be in the area again, we would have no hesitation in booking here again. Thank you!

very quiet and neat perfect for relaxation and most amenities ie Pubs, Fish and Chip shop a twenty minute drive

Beautiful accommodation with everything you could possibly need provided.

Very quiet which was much needed and Castle Acre Priory close by. Also Hunstanton reachable. We thoroughly enjoyed our time here and highly recommend the accommodation and area. Although the weather wasn't great we found plenty to do and would not hesitate to return.

The accomodation was clean and comfortable situated in a quiet part of norfolk.

Do not be put off by previous feedbacks although reasonably correct it made the whole stay rather interesting and memorable but didnt spoil our few days staying there

Lovely place to stay.

Owner very helpful and nice. Great welcome pack. Could not find any faults. Loved it. We had a great holiday.

This is a quirky cosy cottage full of character.

Comfortable bed and excellent shower. Very well equipped kitchen. Plenty of instructions about the cottage and information of the area. Stacked with books jigsaws and movies. Very generous welcome pack. Friendly helpful owner.

Emily's retreat is a very individual property with eclectic decor.

There is every appliance and gadget available for a very comfortable stay. The owner provides plenty of information on how everything works. The location is off the beaten track with some single track roads to negotiate. We had no problems during our stay and the welcome pack was much appreciated.

This was our first self catering holiday in a cottage for 30+ years and was unsure what to find.

It was very welcoming to find how well equipped this cottage was, so clean and everything you needed and a lovely welcoming pack with a bottle of wine. If there was one small problem and that is the shingle path way to the cottage is not disability friendly . Will be considering going self catering again and hope they will come up to this standard.

Well looked after property with lots of welcoming touches.

Super quiet and peaceful.

Great accommodation, spacious,quiet and well equipped.

Nice private garden. Biscuits, tea,coffand a bottle of wine on arrival make the stay even better.

We had a very comfortable stay at Emily's Retreat.

It is clean, spacious, well cared for and welcoming. Good facilities and plenty of information regarding the premises and surrounding attractions. The garden is a little suntrap and it's so quiet (apart fro RAF manoeuvres occasionally). But that's not a problem. It was a lovely break for a week. The neighbouring cats even came to check us out a couple of times. We hope we receive their approval!

If you like cats this place is perfect for you.

We've stayed here twice and if you can get passed the instruction notes everywhere it is a lovely place to stay. Quiet, clean and comfortable. the only negative is the dripping shower. It dripped last year and it's still dripping. We filled a bucket with the drips over two days. Saying that we had a very relaxing stay and would come again.

We had a lovely week.

Everything you could possibly need in the cottage. Nici left us a more than generous welcome pack. Lots of information about the area too. Thank you.

Generous welcome pack and spotlessly clean.

Inside very suited to people with mobility issues, but gravel pathway, narrow and overgrown paved path, stiff intermediate door made it difficult and impossible to use walker or wheelchair for access. We counted over 61 notes on walls, cupboards, doors and furniture telliing us what we could and could not do. We found this intimidating and it was impossible to relax in case we were doing something wrong. Very concerned about the number of notes about risky electricity. . The excessive bottles of cleaning products (19 in bathroom alone) left us somewhat bewildered. The signs and pictures (cats galore!) meant eyes followed us everywhere. Overall we felt we were intruding in a space that had visitors under sufferance.

GREAT ACCOADATION FRIENDLY OWNER VERY WELCOMING GREAT LOCATION

The cottage retreat was more than expected, if you book this place and forget to bring something along don't worry you will be surprised with what is supplied.

From the generous care package to welcome you to the kitchen, bathroom and other items. From entertainment to information on where to eat, maps of walks, places to visit and things to do. The retreat is clean tidy and has everything you need. There is a lovely little garden to sit in and have a BBQ and you may see the odd cat that may pop by. There is plenty of advice and notes around the Retreat so you can't go wrong, some may think over the top but we thought it is a great touch and quirky, excellent place well equipped and such a lovely lady in charge definitely will be back next time we want to visit Norfolk.

Many notes and instructions left (may be OTT for some but far better to have too many than not enough).

Plenty of room for the two of us and a very good welcome pack (better than we have had in previous cottages/flats/etc). An excellent week overall.

DOG FREE.

AN ESSENTIAL CHOICE.

Hard to fault ER had everything we could wish for , Very quite and peaceful , very clean a credit to the owner and the welcome pack was well very welcome

In a very quiet spot which is what we wanted.

Easy access to lots of places to visit.

Nici takes great care of the property and makes a huge effort to keep it clean and well maintained .

Great place to stay and explore.

Quiet and comfortable.

Lovely cottage Really well equipped.

Great location. Pretty gardens. Excellent parking. Pleasant host.

Very nice well looked after and well equipped

Emily's retreat was well presented with excellent facilities.

The weather was such that we did not need to take advantage of the expansive library of games and dvds. The owner provided an unexpected but welcome selection of extras.

Don't stay here if you're a minimalist.

You could spend a month at the property and not be bored. There are enough books, games, jigsaws and DVD's to keep you busy if it rained every day. We were lucky we had good weather so were able to sit in the lovely garden most days. The property is clean and comfortable with everything and more that you need for day to day living. If you want peace and quiet this is the place for you. We loved it and will hopefully visit again. Definitely the place for cat lovers.

Well equipped cottage in good rural location.

The cottage has grab bars, and a higher toilet plus reclining chairs ideal for those with decreased mobility such as myself ( recovering from surgery on left femur and cannot sit too low.).Great base for nature reserves and national trust properties. The local pubs do good food and can be easily reached in ten minutes by car. We enjoyed our stay.

This is a great place to stay and is very highly equipped .

The facilities were much appreciated for my wife who has some mobility problems . We loved the fact that is was someone's home and it suited us senior citizens very well . To prospective guests I would suggest that you really look at the property and all it entails because some reviews have been pretty ' picky ' in my opinion . The owner has really gone out of her way to cover peoples needs and has gone over and above what you would expect to get with facilities etc . I.E. loads of towels, plenty of toiletries and cleaning fluids etc. Plus , the welcome pack was lovely . Well done Nicola .

Only downside was the weather and it always rains when we go away

We were well pleased with Emily's Retreat.

It had everything we needed and was one of the nicest holiday cottages we've stayed in.

Lovely property, very clean and tidy.

No interference from the property owners. Very peaceful and comfortable stay.

Very homely accommodation.

Superbly equipped, facilities update as required. Best welcome pack we have had anywhere. Wonderful location for exploring Norfolk. Third visit so that says it all.

Great place to be for a nice get away.

The cottage had absolutely everything we needed which made the holiday perfect.

Staying at Emily’s Retreat was thoroughly delightful.

It is a cozy cottage that provides every last thing one could imagine needing or wanting. It is SO thoughtfully put together, & it’s packed with personality & charm. I have stayed in a great many self-catering cottages over the years, & this one really is something special.

Just back from a lovely week stay at Emily's Retreat, very clean, has everything you need and much more,a very thoughtful welcome pack that was much appreciated, great bathroom, comfortable lounge, good kitchen and comfy bed, it was very quiet and lovely to watch the birds in the morning.

This property is handy for Kings Lynn, Hunstanton, Wells and Sheringham the Little Chippy in Litcham is very good and there are plenty of supermarket around, very enjoyable

A really comfortable place to stay.

We spent 2 weeks at Emily's Retreat, and it felt home from home. Vicki the owner is a fountain of knowledge about the area and very helpful at getting WiFi to work! A really lovely person.

This was our second visit to Emilys retreat.

Its lovely, everything you could need and more. Excellent spot to explore Norfolk from.

A bit out of the way but it was a lovely cottage nice and peaceful and was lovely watching the birds and squirrels in the garden like home from home everything you needed

Is a little dark not much light coming and had to have the fire on in the evening.

Otherwise everything you could think of was provided, with many extras.

Having visited many cottages over the years, this cottage proved to be far too personal, it appeared cluttered with personal items that need not be on show.

Also, there was an inordinate number of small information notices in each room that, although informative and amusing, could also be covered within the information file. At the time we visited, the garden area was quite wild and in our opinion could not be used, It had been redesigned from the information online, it showed a small lawned area, this lawn however, had been changed for large ornamental pebbles. In our opinion there was far too much plant growth around the door ways and windows which forced us to keep doors and windows closed, although it was lovely weather, just to keep insects, squirrel's and pigeon's from entering the cottage. To highlight the positives, The owner "Nici" who lives close by, was lovely and a total privilege to meet and talk with. During our stay we were totally left to our own devices the facilities were great, a cottage with everything you could possibly need for your stay, well layed out, super clean and comfortable. The bed was certainly big enough and thoroughly comfortable, and we enjoyed a great nights sleep. There were many superb hospitality touches, such as welcome treats, which were very generous indeed, they certainly stood out from other cottages we have visited. The parking facilities were fine and the cottage location was, in our opinion, central to Norfolk within easy reach of the coast and other inland location's. Finally, We would certainly recommend this cottage if you like a rural location with oodles of peace and quiet.

A nice cottage for two, with the bits to help with ambulatory disability, including the reclining chairs, made it nearly perfect.

It was clean and tidy and had all you could possibly want in the way of equipment. The only slight downside was the access which was gravel and presented difficulties to me with a walking problem, but no problem for anyone who is in average condition. I would recommend it and use it again myself

Second time we have been there will be going back again

Splendid place.

Very clean and comfortable. Bigger than it looks from the photos. No problems or gripes. Will definitely consider again.

My second stay at The Retreat which is a clean, cosy and comfortable home from home in a peaceful and rural location.

Everything has been thought of and a lovely, comprehensive welcome pack was waiting upon arrival. The owner is very friendly, approachable and on hand should any help be needed, but isn’t at all intrusive. I look forward to returning.

Immaculately described and prepared holiday cottage.

Very comfortable and had everything we required. A good central location from which to explore a relatively "non-touristy" area of Norfolk, but still with plenty to do within a 12 mile radius. We enjoyed days out at Oxburgh Hall (very cheap admission fee for a National Trust property), Swaffham (nice market town with very good museum), Dereham (good charity shops and cheap cinema) and Downham Market. Castle Acre, Fakenham and Thetford also easily-accessible by car. Overall, an excellent location and cottage from which to enjoy a peaceful, relaxing and gentle break.

Excellent property.

very comfortable and spacious with everything, and more, that one needs for a week away.

have stayed at property quite a few times allways spotless a nice welcome pack nici very helpfull as usual home from home looking forward to going back again next year all going well thanks first class john

This cottage is more like a home than a holiday let.

The welcome pack was comprehensive and much appreciated. This is a regular spot for us to stay.

Emily,s retreat is a lovely comfortable cottage with everything you could need for a lovely stay, plenty of information everywhere and a nice enclosed garden to relax in after a long day out, we had a nice welcome basket of goodies and a bottle of wine, cheers

The cottage was well equipped and clean, central for exploring the North of Norfolk.

Great restful stay.

Garden very private and secluded. The host is lovely - helpful and approachable. We really enjoyed our stay and would recommend.

I know the gravel drive is on your todo list but wheeling a case along it is not easy .

Although pretty we are not lovers of metal bed heads .reading in bed is uncomfortable . The little extras were way above expected and much appreciated.

We enjoyed our holiday.

The property was very clean and provided all we needed. It is well-situated, though a bit tricky to find and to access. We do not regret staying in it. That is what you should remember from this review. However, there are four factors, as far as we are concerned, which may not be an issue for most people but, taken together, could be summed up as eccentric. They may even be an attraction to some people. The first is the inordinate number of little notices placed everywhere, telling the occupant what is what, what to do, what not to do, where to go, you name it, it is on a notice. Literally dozens of them, including, I counted, about a dozen in the garden, 26 in the kitchen, 13 in the lounge, 11 in the bedroom, 11 in the bathroom. And these numbers do not include the notices inside the cupboards. Irritating. And odd. One notice that no longer applies has simply been turned over and left as a blank notice. The second is the number of mats on the floor. I counted 34, including four doormats. A potential hazard to some. Four rooms, one corridor, one doorstep, 34 mats. The third is the gloominess, despite sun tunnels, with small windows and large bushes growing in front of most, so the garden is invisible, at least in June. Finally, every surface is covered with either coasters and placemats or ornaments, often both. Not very practical and yet, strangely, an attempt to be very practical. I didn't count these; I was counted out. There was so much stuff that it was difficult to find a place to put our own bits. The pictures do not reflect any of this. It all amused our family, who received more photos of this property than any other we have stayed in.

Very clean and well-equipped property in a quiet setting but with easy access to places of interest to visit.

Emily's Retreat proved to be one of the best holiday properties we have ever been to.

Everything was perfect in every respect, the owner has thought of everything. Finding the property was sometimes a problem as it is tucked away amongst a maze of small lanes, it took a few days to get used to the best route. But a superb stay in a lovely rural area.

The owner is very friendly and helpful.

Emily`s Retreat is very generously equiped with absolutely everything you could possibly need.

Welcome pack is more than generous! The standard of everthing is exceptional...a beautiful quilt on the bed, for instance. Highly recomended.

we have stayed here a number of times it is always spotless and a very nice welcome pack nici is fantastic easy to contact this time was the same a really nice relaxing stay 5 star thank you will be back again john and norma

Made so welcome, only short stay 4 days but lovely welcome pack and everything you could ask for, and excellent host, will be back top notch.

This was our second stay at Emily's Retreat and hopefully won't be our last.

Nici, the owner, has thought of and provided everything you could need for a comfortable relaxing holiday. The cottage is spotless and so welcoming and homely. It was a pleasure to get back there after a busy day. The welcome pack was excellent and the thoughtful extras ( including lovely Christmas decorations) made for a superb pre- Christmas break.

Thank you Nici for a wonderful week at Emily's Retreat.

The accommodation was warm, cosy, comfortable and spotlessly clean. It was also extremely well equipped, and the welcome pack was much appreciated. Perfection!

Superbly equipped warm and cosy winter retreat.

Handy for The Brecks ,coast and fens. Every detail addressed. Excellent directions to and at the property.

first class in every aspect

Emily's Retreat was very comfortable and was exceptionally well equipped with everything you could possibly need.

Beautiful cottage very well equipped and more, lovely cosy comfortable cottage.

The owner new how to provide eveverything you needed. The directions were superb we found very easy. Very Clean, loved all the quirky notes that were left which made life a lot easier, without any dramas. Loved the garden and watching all the birds.

This is our 3rd stay at Emily's Retreat.

The cottage is perfect. The facilities are second to none. The owner, Nici is always available if there are any problems (we haven't had any problems on any of our stays, but have had some lovely chats with her). I have deteriorating mobility conditions and this cottage has everything I need to be able to enjoy my stay. It is very well kitted out for the disabled. Thankyou for another great holiday.

Lovely peaceful place.

Very comfortable and clean. A home from home.

My only complaint is that after I had settled the balance of the holiday, I found it impossible to contact you which I would like to have done as I had a few queries I wished to raise with the owner.

I know Covid made things diffiult but I think you should have been contactable. It was impossible to contact you by phone (I tried) and you had withdrawn your email account. Not helpful!

Found the cottage quite easily.

Super clean, welcome pack including a bottle of wine. Could not find fault at all.

This property was really well equipped and comfortable.

We felt really at home with all the ornaments left insitue rather than the stark interiors of some properties. The welcome pack was really good and much appreciated. We'll certainly stay at Emily's retreat again.

A lovely cosy annex to owner's home.

Absolutely everything one could need (and more). Spotlessly clean - nice and warm in the unseasonal cold May weather. Beautiful birds always on the feeders - even a baby rabbit hopping about on the grass. One of the best cottages we have stayed in over the years.

This was the best equipped and most comfortable cottage in our price range that we have ever stayed in.

(been staying in self catering cottages for more than 20 years). We are hoping to return soon.

In 20 years of self-catering experience, Emily's Retreat was the best by some distance.

The attention to detail given to make our autumn break as comfortable as possible was exceptional. This was 'home-from-home' even down to the welcome items of wine, biscuits, tea and coffee etc. We expect to book here again next autumn if circumstances allow. Well done Nici!

The owner has a significant number of cats which wouldn't be an problem for most, however many people like myself do have issues with cats.

Emily's Retreat would have been in my top 3 Sykes stays were I not unable to use the outdoor space or have to run the gauntlet of cats to access/egress the property. Had the property description forewarned me of the presence of all those cats I would have booked an alternative property. All property listings should advise if the owners have pets of any kind which may intrude on the property and or access to it. Apart from the cats issue, this was one of the most comfortable and best equipped properties we've stayed in.

What a gem of a holiday cottage!

Everything you could possibly need was provided in this very comfortable cottage. Nici the owner was a lovely lady who was available for any queries without being invasive. The use of our own private garden complete with bbq was very welcome. We would definitely recommend Emily's Retreat and hope to visit again.

Accommodation was extremely well equipped.

we were surprised and pleased that the owner Nici had thought of everything ,and I mean absolutely everything that was needed, plus extras, we needn't have taken as much with us as everything was there, a true home from home, we thought that it was the best equipped holiday let that we have experienced, so peaceful and quiet ,lives up to it's name a real retreat ' it was nice to have the owner nearby if needed anything ,the furnishings are top grade and a really comfy bed , we shall be returning again and would recommend it ,but not to too many people in case we can't get booked in .

We had an email to say that because of covid a lot of things in the cottage would not be available.

The cottage had every thing we needed. It was comfortable and clean. Lots of videos and board games were available. I would really reccomend Emily's Retreat.

This is our second stay at Emily's Retreat and this stay was just as good as the last one, in the summer.

The cottage is warm, cosy and has everything you could think of and more besides - a real home-from-home! Many thanks again to Nici for making our stay so enjoyable. We hope to return again!

We had everything we needed for a cosy getaway from it all.

The cottage was comfortable and relaxing. It was a perfect retreat. Everything was thought of and provided. We couldn't fault it in anyway.

we stayed at emilys retreat in april which was excellent so we booked for october a little worried about the weather arrived sat lovely welcome pack every thing spotless sunday heavy rain all day so we watched one of nici s dvd s towards end of the film player went blank could not eject dvd or anything so we phoned nici she was soon round fiddled with it no luck she then went and brought a brand new dvd player and installed it and all so taken the old dvd player apart to get the disc so we could finish watching the film that is fantastic service 5 star thank you for alovely holiday rest of week great weather john

the cottage was great and had everything you could ask for and more the only down side was having to put the combination lock and the bolts on the gate every time you come in and out so standing out in the rain was a bit of a pain

Excellent holiday home, you could not ask for more.

It was difficult to find any facility that was not catered for.

Wonderful hideaway, deep in rural Norfolk.

Great for exploring the area. Everything you would ever need provided, comfortable and homely. It was lovely.

Location, directions, comfort, cleanliness and equipment all excellent.

Even the weather was good despite a forecast that suggested we could expect a wet week!

Our holiday at Emily's Retreat was amazing!

Nici has gone well above what you would expect to find in a holiday let. From the welcome pack, including wine, cans of pop, biscuits, cereal, coffee, teabags and milk to a first aid kit and paracetamol - just about anything you could want/need is provided. This is a proper home from home and by far the best place we've ever stayed in. The cottage was spotless and Nici was on hand all week for any problems and to suggest good eating places. It was wonderful to sit each morning and watch a wide variety of birds feeding in the garden. I would recommend Emily's Retreat to anyone, but especially people like me, with mobility problems. A perfect place to stay!

Extremely well-equipped cottage.

Very comfortable and clean. Ideally situated for exploring the North Norfolk coast. Plenty of supermarkets within easy reach.

This was an amazing retreat, good facilities , plus more than you get normally in most self catering accommodation , we have no difficulty in recommending "Emilys Retreat".

The cottage was in a quiet rural area and good for all weather with a secluded patio.

There was plenty of room with all the comforts of home and kitchen equipment etc. Everything was provided (including paracetamol and plasters), and we initially only needed to get some bread. We would definitely recommend this retreat.

very clear instructions on entry etc kept up to date by sykes on arrival found welcome pack and a bottle of wine every thing you need is there nici was only a phone call away if there were any problems nice garden of your own to sit in very quiet and peaceful we were out and about a lot so a very good central base so all in all home from home 5 star thanks

Lovely place to visit, very close to Swaffham which has all the facilities you need.

Cottage very well equipped and comfortable, a real home from home.

Exceedingly quiet which we enjoyed, plus the birds and squirrels coming into the garden space.

The accommodation was beyond expectations, clean, with everything you can think of being supplied.

Bed wasnt to our liking but overall was a lovely set up. The gravel path may not suit all. It's located for good access to Kings Lynn, Swaffham is 15 minutes away just watch out for narrow roads which seem to be typical in the more rural parts of Norfolk.

Apart from the weather everything was just right

This was a last minute booking and we were very lucky to pick Emily's Retreat.

The accommodation was excellent and everything we could want was provided. The north Norfolk coast is an easy drive away and we were very lucky to enjoy the hottest February days on record by the sea! A great week away - thank you.

What a lovely place to have a holiday.

The cottage is very well equipped and the owner has gone to great lengths to ensure that you have a comfortable stay. The garden is full of birds that are great to watch on the feeders. It is very quiet so you get restful nights. Located within easy reach of a couple of towns and about 30 miles from the coast, you can enjoy a varied stay with the many quaint and ancient towns and villages to visit

This is by far the best place we have ever stayed in.

It's absolutely wonderful, and our host Nici has excelled in her hospitality. The standard of service is astounding and far exceeded our expectations. Everything you could ever want is right there for a comfortable and thoroughly enjoyable stay. This cottage is incredibly clean, tidy and well looked after with fantastic appliances including an amazing cooker, washing machine, television with a full complement of DVD's, fully functional Wi-Fi with excellent coverage and an impressive range of reading material. The cottage has ample heating and is warm, pleasant and cosy. The bedroom is elegant and tastefully laid out with surplus bedding and clean towels. A spacious living room is the epitome of comfort living. With two electric reclining chairs, a generous view of the garden, soft carpets, lovely décor and plenty traditional entertainment, it has all one could want. Access to the cottage is via a close, and two parking bays on a gravel driveway provide sufficient and secure storage, that is easy to navigate. The location is ideal for that truly rural experience, yet close enough for shopping (Swaffham is a ten-minute drive). All in all, a memorable experience we can recommend to friends and family alike. Thank you.

The retreat is appropriately named and by far exceeded what was expected.

I wanted a romantic week away and it was achieved. Location was also ideal. We have already recommended this to family and friends and have every intention of returning in the not to distant future. Nici the landlady was helpful and attentive that we settled in ok!... Please note she and her neighbours are somewhat Off with their cats so be warned if you don't like the feline variety of pets

Emily's Retreat was a real home from home.

Everything you could possibly need was provided. Very tastefully decorated and comfortably furnished. Nici was really helpful and couldn't do enough to help if you needed it. It was a perfect location for travelling about or walking. We travelled about as my husband has had a stroke and so walking is not an option but sometimes because the weather was so good we just sat in the garden and listened to the birds. Couldn't fault it in any way and we enjoyed a lovely restful holiday.

We have been to a number of syke cottages and this one was so peaceful and extremely well supplied with items that are usually forgotten.

Niki was always available either in person or at the end of a phone. As mobile pensioners it was good to see that if we had needed a little help getting out of chair or in bathroom the aids were there. Hopefully we will keep in good health and able to drive so we can visit again .