Within a short distance of Shamrock Cottage are Salthouse Marshes, a Norfolk Wildlife Trust's reserve containing grass marshes and salt-water lagoons, protected from the North Sea by shingle banks. Look out for black-tailed godwits, ruffs, redshanks and snow buntings as well as several thousand brent geese in the winter months. There are also numerous other locations along the North Norfolk coast, with the NOA bird observatory centre at Holme-Next-Sea over to the north west, round to the North Beach at Gt Yarmouth where the UK's largest tern colony breed each year.

Norfolk has numerous country walks to enjoy, including the 45 mile Norfolk Coastal Path from Cromer to Holme, and from there you can walk the 46 mile Peddar's Way to Thetford. There are many shorter circular routes taking in the beautiful countryside, and we are close to the normal starting point for several circular walks. For cyclists, the National Cycle Network Routes 1 and 13 pass through the heart of Norfolk, and you can also enjoy the Regional Route 30 Norfolk Coast Cycleway which passes through nearby Holt.

At Shamrock Cottage you have the best of both worlds: a traditional, rural community, but with easy road access to most parts of Norfolk. There are ample country estates to visit, including the Queen's in Sandringham, birthplace of Diana, Princess of Wales. Others to visit are Holkham, Blickling, Wolterton Park, Houghton Hall (home of Britains first Prime Minister), Oxburgh Hall and Felbrigg Hall. In central Norfolk is the popular Museum of Rural Life. Built in 1775 as a workhouse, at its peak in 1801 it housed 670 ill or destitute people from local parishes. Today it contains Roots of Norfolk, providing visitors with vivid experience of life in years gone by. Adjacent is Union Farm, still run today in the style of a farm from the 1920s. The Brecks area of South Norfolk is mostly wooded, the vast Thetford Forest contains numerous picnic spots and other attractions such as Brandon High Lodge, which is home to Go Ape. The fine city of Norwich is just 33 miles away, and the pleasant Norfolk Broads are a short trip over to the east of the county. Everyone is sure to find plenty to do in Norfolk, but for further information click Visit Norfolk.

Close to Sheringham is Hoveton Hall Gardens a delightful 15 acre garden mixing both formal and informal planting across the seasons.

In north east Norfolk there is East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens, "it is an oasis of beauty and natural order set in a prairie landscape". If you like lavender then visit "England's lavender garden" at Norfolk Lavender on the north west Norfolk coast at Heacham.

At the Thursford Collection you can enjoy a traditional old-fashioned fairground and listen to numerous mechanical organs. A few miles west of Fakenham is Langham Glass and along the coast, west of Sheringham is Britain's largest privately owned working military museum at Muckleborough.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham extends a welcome to everyone. This fascinating village in North Norfolk has been described as England's Nazareth, it is a holy place held in high regard by Christians.