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The Lost Norfolk Brickyard

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· Wells Next The Sea, England
15 acres hosted by Tim Z.
4 glamping pitches
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tim is a Star Host
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Secluded camping in the semi-wilderness of a former brickyard, right next to Holkham Hall on the North Norfolk coast.

The last bricks were fired on the Holkham Estate in 1951 and, after more than 200 years, the old brickyard fell into disrepair. It wasn’t until hosts, Tim and Catherine, had their wedding in an old barn here, half a century later, that it was rediscovered. As friends raved about their night in the wilderness the couple struck upon the idea of opening a campsite. And today, the ivy-clad brickworks, under a cloth of moss and greenery, has become the centrepiece of Norfolk Brickyard Campsite.

This is a Hipcamp that has something for everyone but never feels overcrowded. At its heart, the brickyard is a family site. You can park by most pitches, hire bikes, use the homemade pizza oven and there are even a couple of safari tents for glampers. Pitches each hold three or four tents (you won't be asked to pitch with people you don't know) and a few hold six or seven tents for larger groups.

Head for one of the secluded spots deep in the woods, like “Keepers Camp”, and it feels like you have the place entirely to yourself. And you can live as wild as you want: There are composting toilets and bucket showers you heat over a campfire. But there are also proper flushing loos, a covered washing-up area, and hot showers with beautiful beach-pebble floors.

Holkham Hall, Holkham Bay, and Burnham Overy Staithe make for spectacular walks no matter the time of year. Arguably, the best experiences here are had outside of the usual camping season, when thousands of pink-footed geese overwinter on the local marches and flood the skies at dawn and dusk; the campsite is even quieter, the pubs have ample space, and bucket showers have some added winter frisson.

Activities
Biking
Wildlife watching
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Forest
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6 Ratings · 6 reviews
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Jane N.recommends
August 26, 2024
Keeper's Hide
Absolutely amazing campsite. We stayed in keepers hide which sleeps 8 and was so beautifully done. Tim and Catherine are incredible and the site is so peaceful but yet there’s cocktails in the barn in the evening. Perfect
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Samantha Jayne L.recommends
July 23, 2024
The Bothy
Quirky and cute.
Firstly the brickyard is not easy to find, the sign is quite small and you need to watch out for it We stayed in the bothy which is close to the entrance of the brickyard, it has a large parking spot to the left of it. The bothy itself is small and cute, perfect for a couple to spend a couple of nights. In the main room you have 2 easy chairs, a wood burner stove (with plenty of wood and fire starters), a kettle with two mugs/glasses/wine glasses, a bottle opener, tea, coffee and sugar, a small fridge that is big enough for a couple of bottles of wine, a table and chairs and good WI-FI. We also found a few games in the drawers so explore and look around! The bathroom has a rainfall shower (that was intermittent with hot water but it was fine) a sink and a toilet. Towels and bedding were provided. The bed is on a mezzanine platform up a steep ladder. With it being on the mezzanine there isn’t much headroom. Also the mattress is more of a memory foam topper so is very firm but we slept well. The site is very large and we spent quite a while exploring. It was very quiet which we appreciated. There is a communal pizza oven and a large barn where there was a sign that stated you can get drinks. Although we didn’t go into it other than when we first looked around. There is also a large communal chest freezer that you can use for ice blocks ect. The host was very friendly and showed us around and explained how to use the stove etc.
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Emily G.recommends
April 20, 2024
The Bothy
Lovely bothy and perfect location!
We loved our stay in the bothy at Norfolk Brickyard. The owner was so welcoming and friendly when we arrived. The bothy itself is very cute and we loved the mezzanine bed! There was plenty of firewood to keep us cosy throughout our stay. Norfolk Brickyard is perfectly located for a weekend exploring the North Norfolk coast. We brought our bikes and cycled to Holkham Hall and to Holkham beach - it was a lovely cycle and you could walk it too. Burham Market is only a short drive away and has a selection of nice cafes and shops. Overall, it was a perfect stay and combined both country and coast all in one stay. We will definitely be back!
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Jens M.recommends
April 17, 2024
The Bothy
Just what we were looking for
Amazing. Great hosts, plenty of space, everything you need, comfortable, but in simple elegant way. Tim is a lovely man. Highly recommend.
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Madison H.recommends
April 2, 2024
The Bothy
Wonderful bothy experience!
The bothy, host and location was perfect! Tim was very helpful and kind. There is a communal space on the land which has a beautiful restored barn and a pizza oven which was a huge perk! Firewood, tea, coffee, bedding and towels were provided. Very close and easy walk to Holkham Estate and then a very nice 10km loop through the estate to the beach and back. It was a peaceful and pleasant stay will definitely be back!
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Becca T.recommends
April 1, 2024
Brickmaker's Retreat
What a wonderful quiet tucked away spot for a few days away. So lovely to have space and hear so many birds singing. Really well located for the beach too. Thanks!
Location
Wells Next The Sea, England, United KingdomTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Tim Z.

Joined in June 2022
From the host
The Norfolk Brickyard Campsite is an old brickyard on the Holkham Estate. The last brick was made here in 1951, and since then the land was largely forgotten until the current tenants moved in 20 years ago and began to clear almost 50 years of wilderness. All pitches offer unrivalled seclusion from the rest of the site, most being completely shielded from other pitches by trees and shrubs. The pitching areas each hold three or four tents but you won't be asked to pitch together with people you don't know. There are also pitches that hold six or seven tents for larger groups. If you're bringing the family or you just fancy space, furnishings and the comforts of home, try The Brickmaker's Retreat, Keeper's Hide or Abbott's Rest. These all offer a hassle free getaway with beds and futons provided, furnished interiors, facilities close by and a campfire for those stary nights.
Food and drink

There’s a small clutch of pubs and cafés in Burnham Market (a little under two miles away and with a reputation for being on the pricey side), while The Hero in Burnham Overy Staithe is not quite harbourside but it’s only a matter of yards and none the worse for it. Wells-next-the-Sea has the most options, including simple fish and chips on the quayside.

Nearby attractions

Holkham Hall is on the doorstep. It’s a gem for those interested in history and country piles—don’t miss the walled garden, the agriculture-themed Thomas Coke Monument, and the beautiful estate church—but it’s also a boon for families. The adventure playground will keep kids entertained for hours and there are bikes for hire to explore the estate. Then there’s vast, dog-friendly, Holkham Bay: The beach is backed by a pine forest with good walks and the odd bird hide, to the east, it merges into Wells Beach. Walk the coastal path from Burnham Overy Staithe (a tidal harbour with free parking) to Holkham Bay. Or walk from Holkham to Wells-next-the-Sea. The Coast Hopper bus service makes either work well in a single direction. The town of Wells-next-the-Sea is worth time mooching around and is a great spot to grab some fish and chips.

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