4 Park Gates

This red-brick building, on the edge of Blickling's 4,600 acres of parkland, started life in the middle of the 19th century as a pair of estate-worker's homes. Over the years it has been converted into one, more generous building, and is now a large holiday cottage with plenty of room for family and friends holidaying together, as well as a large garden with space for children and dogs to play. Enjoy a warm spot by the woodburner or fire in each of the sitting rooms, and have a special dinner in the dining room or out on the patio. 

All of the Blickling Estate is on your doorstep, and you have free entry during opening hours. Find the National Trust's largest collection of books in the Jacobean mansion and explore its many fascinating rooms and stories. There are 55 acres of gardens including parterre, a kitchen garden and lake, and an RAF museum.You could head to one of two cafés or The Bucks Arms, a country pub (not National Trust) on one of the estate's drives.

For walks, there are a variety of trails to follow from easy to strenuous. Take in landmarks like the pyramid-shaped mausoleum, woodland dedicated to The Queen in celebration of her Platinum Jubilee, and local villages. There's also a 10k trail-run route with an organised run once a month, and cycle hire from the hub in the Old School.

You're 3 miles from Aylsham, a Georgian market town with pubs, restaurants and weekly markets. You can pick up the Bure Valley Railway here, to travel by steam train to the Norfolk Broads. The sandy beaches and cliff top paths of the Norfolk coast are within a 20-minute drive, and Blakeney National Nature Reserve with its large grey seal colony is 15 miles away

There are two other holiday cottages nearby, Blacksmith's Cottage (sleeps four) and Blickling Dairy House (sleeps five), and another four cottages on the estate. They can be booked together for meet up with family and friends.