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Wagtail

Wagtail

4.6
out of 5
Ratings from 25 reviews
96% of guests
recommend
Cleanliness
4.6
Comfort
4.5
Condition
4.5
Location
4.8
Value
4.4
Customer
Service
4.8

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Wagtail offers a stylish single story family friendly bolthole, close to South Creake & the North Norfolk coast. The barn has a bright open living space with a woodburner for cosy winter weekends. Perfect for guests of all ages, the cottage has glazed doors leading to a private patio and direct access to extensive fenced gardens where children can run and play. On site there’s also an indoor pool, games room and tennis courts to keep everyone amused.

A lovely week away

Review submitted on Tue, 02 Apr 2024
4.7
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
4.0
Condition
4.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
As a family of three with a toddler, we had such a nice week at Wagtail. The games room was great fun, we loved using the pool and we had a great time in the little playground. We thought the cottage was really well located, and easily got to lots of wonderful parts of north Norfolk. Everything was so thoughtful and well set up for young families. Thank you for a lovely stay.



A short winter getaway

Review submitted on Thu, 30 Nov 2023
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Wagtail was outstanding, chosen because of pool, but lights were not on which made life a bit awkward for us early bird swimmers. Apart from that, it was all good. Didn't really want to leave



A lovely cottage and Pool

Review submitted on Tue, 26 Sep 2023
4.5
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
3.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
4.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
The location was great for our purposes being central to the people we were visiting.
The pool was the cleanest we have ever used and we really enjoyed our early morning daily swims.
The staff were very helpful when we asked for information.

Our only criticism was there were cobwebs at high level generally and also low level in the bathroom. The beams in the lounge had a thick level of dust on them .

There were a lot of duplicating emails prior to our stay.-too many .



Late summer break

Review submitted on Wed, 13 Sep 2023
4.8
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Our 5th visit, we love staying here, the location is ideal and the pool is beautiful. The playground and gardens are really good too.



Cranmer Team replied 223 days ago
I'm so pleased you had yet another enjoyable say with us. We appreciate the great review, Thank you! and we really value our returning guests. We look forward to seeing you again soon. Many Thanks from the Cranmer team.

More Airbnb than luxury

Review submitted on Wed, 30 Aug 2023
3.0
out of 5
Guest doesn't recommend this property
Cleanliness
2.0
Comfort
2.0
Condition
2.0
Location
5.0
Value
3.0
Customer
Service
4.0
Wonderful location in Fakenham with short trips to a lot of great beach locations

Cranmer has a great swimming pool and tennis courts.

Advertised as luxury cottages but didn’t feel very luxurious all in all

Wagtail has a tiny kitchen which was uncomfortable when preparing food for a family of 4 coupled with battling a constant barrage of hungry local flies.

It also has the worlds smallest kitchen bin for a luxury 4 person family cottage.

We found Wagtail to not be particularly clean in general.

Quality of sleep for ourselves and young children was poor as we seemed to be on a flight path for low flying warplanes arriving and leaving the local airfield. We can only assume we picked a bad week and cannot normally be that noisy. Coupled with the flies that crawl around your face to wake you up in the night and early morning.






Lynne Johnson replied 235 days ago
Thank you for your review. Hardly Airbnb! - The luxury we offer at Cranmer is a team of staff onsite hence the high level of customer service, an indoor heated pool that is extremely well maintained, we also offer 2 tennis courts, a games room and a well-equipped laundry. There is also nearly an acre of grassy paddock & play equipment where children can play 'til dusk. The properties in courtyards 1 & 2 are 4-star and designed to be child-friendly. Furnishings and finishings are practical for young families and are designed to withstand rigors of everyday family life. It is a shame that you did not report the issues with cleaning during your stay. We could and would have offered you a clean if things had been missed. You don't say what the particular issues were? The kitchen in that property is compact, due to the layout of the building, as you can see from the photographs and description on our website. Our properties are on a farm and are surrounded by farmland, trees hedges, and wildlife. At harvest time there can be flies and apparently, according to a local farmer they have been particularly bad this year. All anyone can do is use the eco fly papers we provide and wipe around surfaces clear up sticky fingerprints mop floor spillages and keep food covered just as you would at home. The flies are part of the ecosystem they are not around because the place is dirty. I will take a look at the bed as we have not had any other complaints and all of our beds are from the same supplier. My in-house team works extremely hard to maintain our high standards of housekeeping. We welcome honest and constructive guest reviews which help us to improve our service for future guests. However, complaining about things like housekeeping after the event is not helpful, we would always rather put things right during a stay. We are not on a flight path, North Norfolk does experience low-flying aircraft and occasionally this is at night. There has been increased activity lately and there is usually a reason. We have been told that night flying is being restricted, however, if military exercises are required for safety and security unfortunately this will take precedence. It is unfortunate and we are never told or prewarned about the exercises. The military base has been decommissioned and is only used for practice only. It can be quite a spectacle in the daytime and some guests actually enjoy it. We have learned that we cannot please all the people all of the time, just some of the people some of the time - Although we'll have a good try!

Excellent standard and facilities (though watch mobile/Internet connection if that critical)

Review submitted on Sun, 30 Jul 2023
4.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
4.0
Comfort
4.0
Condition
4.0
Location
4.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
4.0
Excellent location and facilities on site. Beautiful locations nearby. A repeat visit for us after 5 years, with our son now older - making the most of the tennis courts, games room and swimming pool.

The private slots per property for use of the swimming pool are a star add - enabling three one hour slots in the week for just our use as a family. The last time we did not use the pool as our son was younger and it was regularly in full use with older children.

In the property itself, all clean and tidy. A few notes that would put a shine on the standard - clock had no battery, and bedrooms could do with darker blinds to keep the light out in the height of summer. Separately, the property appears to be supplied by an undersized combi boiler - so hot water pressure for showers was very low... And no other taps could be used at the same time. Recognising spacing and efficiency are probably paramount, believe it would be better supplied with a higher duty boiler... Or one with a pressurised water tank. Ultimately, it was completely adequate, but depending on what you are used to may be of consideration.

Finally, when we came 5 years ago, the location has essentially no mobile signal and we knew had very slow Internet connection.... So we knew what to expect. Since then, the location now has a higher speed fibre Internet connection providing approx. 20 mbps to the property. Obviously the world has moved on in 5 years though, so connectivity for business, work and pleasure is more paramount, especially with no mobile signal. Whilst the connection was sufficient for staying connected by wifi calling, work emails and light streaming, it was incredibly unreliable.

I believe the owners have implemented a Unifi based access point system, alongside a captive portal to login. The whole system failed completely twice, once for 2 days through the weekend and once on a weekday that was resolved that day. Though the owners were prompt in acknowledging and working to fix, during that period, there's no connectivity and obviously no wifi calling.

So two main issues:

1) Increase the reliability/uptime of the Unifi based AP system (believe some work was done later in the week... So this may now be resolved).
2) For some reason, they have used a captive portal for accessing the guest network with a very low expiration time. This means every device needs to be logged back in every 8 hours or so.

On the latter, given I imagine most stays are several days, this is incredibly short (and annoying to have to repeat every 8 hours for all your devices). Would be a relatively simple change to extend the default guest network expiration time in the Unifi settings to e.g. 7 days.

Other than those small and very solvable minor issues, this was an excellent place, location and memory making holiday. We'll most certainly be back. Thankyou.



Lynne Johnson replied 267 days ago
Thaks for leaving your review. We would love to welcome you back and we are pleased that you had a great stay. Your feedback is invaluable in terms of helping us to maintain and improve our standards at Cranmer. We did have a complete outage last weekend which was due to equipment malfunction. the wifi here has been far more stable since we paird to have private fibre installed across our farmland. For guests who need access for business we have a dedicated connection in our Green Room. This can be made available to guests if the guest wifi is down. I have forwarded your comments to my IT provider “The network was fully repaired on 27/07/2023. We’ve taken onboard your suggestions regarding session expiration and have increased this to several days. Both ourselves and the IT company apologise for the inconvenience these outages may have caused during your stay” This should improve your experience next time and will be better for our upcoming guests. Heating is on our biomass district heating system which has been sized to suit the site. The hot water can take a bit longer to come through but is plentiful for all standard use. Given that we are a green business we feel that to go back to oil or LPG would be a retrograde step.

Family break

Review submitted on Tue, 06 Jun 2023
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay on Wagtail cottage. It was the perfect size for our family of 5 (youngest in a cot). It was the perfect set up for the kids with the courtyard backing out onto a huge playing field which the kids loved, including a climbing frame and swings.
The pool was also a huge hit and lovely and clean. It was nice to have our allocated slots to have private swims as well as some open swims with the other residents.
There was also a massive playroom which again kept the kids entertained before and after our trips out in the day. It was very well located, with beaches and other attractions all in a very close distance. We took the kids to Holkham Hall which was a great day out for us and the kids. The beaches are all stunning. Unfortunately we had to cut our trip short due to a family emergency but we will definitely be back again in the future. Many thanks for a fantastic stay in your cottages.




Cranmer Country Cottages replied 266 days ago
Thank you for taking the time to leave such lovely and positive feedback. We are so pleased you had a wonderful stay with us and enjoyed all the on site facilities. There are some wonderful places to visit and explore close by. We hope to see you back soon. Thank you :)

Perfect family half term getaway

Review submitted on Tue, 01 Nov 2022
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
We stayed here with two young children and baby, the site itself is great for kids with the playground, games room and pool. So much to do within driving distance for all ages. Cottage was cosy, homely and very comfortable. The owners were welcoming and quick to respond to our questions and needs. We’ll definitely be returning!



Family Holiday

Review submitted on Thu, 18 Aug 2022
4.2
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
4.0
Comfort
4.0
Condition
4.0
Location
4.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
5.0
We spent 2 weeks at Cranmer Country Cottages with our Son and Daughter and their families. The amenities were all as described and safe for the children. Because of the Covid restrictions the segregation of use of the indoor swimming pool meant that only one family at a time could use the facility and the times strictly controlled. I am not sure if Covid hadn't existed whether the pool would have been open more generally.

The main negative comment related to the number of flies and wasps that were around all the time. Effort was made to discourage the wasps which was appreciated but the flies were more difficult to control. We know that it was a rural setting, it is to be expected particularly in the height of the summer period.

We found the owners to be extremely helpful on the small number of issues raised. Issues such as WiFi connection speeds, radio reception quality and TV signals were outside their control but the advance notice given was accurate.

Overall the experience was positive.



Beautiful farm in North Norfolk for families

Review submitted on Tue, 02 Aug 2022
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
My family and I stayed in Wagtail last week as a last minute holiday and we are so happy to have discovered this gem. Wagtail is a very spacious, clean and comfortable cottage on Home Farm which is incredibly well set up for families with young kids. We loved that the kids could run free and use the games room, open field and tennis courts as this is a very safe and secure farm. The swimming pool is really the selling point; it is modern and clean and the rota meant that we could have sole use of it throughout our stay which we all loved. The location is perfect - you’re only 15 -20 minutes away from some of the most stunning beaches we’ve visited in the UK. The team were really helpful and responsive and we would most definitely be returning.



Autumn Break

Review submitted on Tue, 05 Oct 2021
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
We had an absolutely wonderful stay at Cranmer Cottages. We stayed for 4 nights in Wagtail cottage and certainly wished we had booked for longer. The cottage was immaculate and the on site facilities including the swimming pool, games room and the vast outdoor space were an added bonus. The surrounding area was beautiful and we managed to see so much of Norfolk in such a short space of time.
The owners were extremely helpful and ensured we had everything we needed. I couldn’t recommend the place highly enough and will treasure my cranmer cottage jute bag that was gifted full of local provisions on our arrival.




A beautiful retreat

Review submitted on Tue, 01 Jun 2021
4.7
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
4.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
5.0
We had the most wonderful stay at Cranmer Cottages. Set in the most stunning location with rolling countryside it really was a little slice of heaven. The attention to detail in terms of preparation, guidance and documentation provided before our stay was vast, ensuring we were fully prepared for our stay highlighting the various important Covid safe things we needed to be conscious of.
We will definitely be returning for another stay in the near future. Thank you all very much.



Spring getaway now that we can

Review submitted on Fri, 07 May 2021
4.8
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Better stay than last year, as the house WiFi now included, plus the games room. Pool use a massive bonus also.
Wonderfully relaxing place to stay and in a great location.
We'll be back for another stay later this year.




Another great stay.

Review submitted on Sun, 04 Aug 2019
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
It was our fourth stay at Cranmer Cottages. We had another fantastic stay. The cottage had been painted and a few new soft furnishings had been added which made us feel that the cottages are well cared for. We are always telling our friends to go to Cranmer and would highly recommend it to anyone thinking of going.



Excellent week in Norfolk

Review submitted on Thu, 25 Jul 2019
4.8
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
5.0
This was our first visit to Norfolk as a family and we will definitely be back! We stayed in Wagtail which was immaculately clean on arrival. It was very comfortable for the four us. Our two boys loved the pool and the tennis courts were great fun. The best aspect of Cranmer Cottages for us, as a young family, was the shared space at the back of the properties. The boys made friends and played happily until they were persuaded to come in for bed time each night. The location is excellent for the north Norfolk coast and we only managed to fit about half of the excursions that we had highlighted to do.



Lovely relaxing break

Review submitted on Thu, 27 Jun 2019
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
This was our first stay at Cranmer, the cottage was spacious and clean with a lovely sponge cake waiting when we arrived! We were given a friendly welcome upon arrival, and parking for the site was very easy. The cottage overlooks a field with a nice patio to sit in. The swimming pool was very good and although we didn’t use it there was also a well equipped games room. We had a nice relaxing week at Cranmer and would happily recommend it.



Could not recommend more highly - loved by kids and adults

Review submitted on Thu, 25 Apr 2019
4.7
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
4.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
5.0
We've had such a wonderful stay at Cranmer cottages. We arrived very late on the Friday night in the dark, but a warm and lit-up cottage was welcoming us on our arrival - we loved it from that very first minute! Touches like a (delicious) home-made cake made by someone locally, a small bottle of milk in the fridge and a very cosy, yet modern feel of the cottage made it such a pleasant and cared-for stay. There is lots to do in Norfolk itself, but having stuff to do on-site like the tennis court, warm swimming pool, games room and the large field of grass with playground equipment (which is all very good quality) makes it easy for children (and adults!) to have some entertainment when you're not out and about. The owners and staff are friendly and welcoming and they've done an stunning job converting this place into what it is today. While it is easy to make contact with other guests staying on the site if you like, it was never busy - you can still enjoy lots of peace and quiet if that's what you're after. If we ever would go back to Norfolk, we'd definitely stay again. Everything was clean on arrival, the kitchen is well stocked and equipped and all looks in fantastic, nearly new condition.



Perfect

Review submitted on Fri, 05 Apr 2019
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Our stay was perfect. The cottages are perfectly located for exploring the north Norfolk coast. The cottage itself was great. Our toddler loved the gardens and the games room and we loved the comfort and design.



A great place to stay in Norfolk

Review submitted on Fri, 22 Feb 2019
4.5
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
4.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
4.0
Location
5.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
5.0
We have stayed in Norfolk a few times and this is the best family friendly accommodation we've found. The outside space is safe and the swimming pool is a great way to start or end the day. We loved the green aspects of the cottages and we will definitely return.
Also a special thanks to Zoe for her warm welcome and help.



Another great stay at Cranmer Cottages

Review submitted on Tue, 27 Nov 2018
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
This is the third time we have stayed (our second in Wagtail). Our children love all the facilities available and we love the relaxing and very comfortable accommodation. The location is ideal for trips to lots of wonderful beaches and attractions to keep young children entertained. We will be going back again!



Lovely stay at Cranmer cottage

Review submitted on Sun, 18 Nov 2018
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Lovely stay at Cranmer cottages for my dads 80th. The cottages cater perfectly for our big family and everyone was equally happy with the accommodation and customer service we received from Zoe. Thank you



Great venue, friendly and welcoming staff.

Review submitted on Tue, 06 Nov 2018
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Lovely, well maintained venue, welcoming and friendly staff. Party of 10 adults, 7 kids of varying ages - all had fantastic time. Definitely recommended.



Cosy cottage with great amenities

Review submitted on Fri, 26 Oct 2018
4.2
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
3.0
Condition
3.0
Location
5.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
5.0
We have stayed here a few times and Cranmer cottages does not disappoint. With a fabulous indoor pool, large play area and two tennis courts it is a great place for us and our children. We have stayed in various cottages and all are well appointed and furnished. Wagtail is one of the smaller cottages and perhaps could do with a little updating and a second sofa would be nice. However we had a lovely week and the staff and owners could not be more helpful. We will be back.



A lot of money for what it is

Review submitted on Mon, 17 Sep 2018
3.5
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
3.0
Condition
3.0
Location
4.0
Value
2.0
Customer
Service
4.0
We have stayed at a lot of Premier Cottages and this was not at the top end. It was expensive for really for what it is. It’s really a place for families with small kids. It does not have a high spec finish. And being asked to sweep the floors on leaving is a bit much.



Lynne Johnson replied more than 1 year ago
Dear Mr Corbett Thank you for your review. I am sorry that your experience with us did not live up to expectations. It is true to say that most of our visitors are young families and our accommodation is designed to be family friendly easy to keep clean and to maintain. The luxury of staying with us is our indoor heated swimming pool which is open all year throughout the day. Guest also have access to the large out door area for family recreation and easy access to the north Norfolk coast which is on our doorstep. If you do decide to stay with us again you could take a look at our 5 star properties and Coot designed for 2 plus a child and available at a reasonable rate for 2 people. Kind regards Lynne Johnson

Great set up for young families

Review submitted on Fri, 24 Aug 2018
3.8
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
4.0
Comfort
4.0
Condition
4.0
Location
4.0
Value
3.0
Customer
Service
4.0
Really welcoming, friendly staff and owners. Great set up with the playing field for young children adjoining our cottage. Our 7 year old son made friends with other kids there and they played together all week. Lovely to have an easily accessible pool and tennis courts too. The bathroom at Wagtail is ok and functional; the taps on the shower are a bit sticky and it could do with being made to feel a little luxurious- in keeping with the bathrooms in the other properties. Otherwise, a bit of help combatting the onslaught of flies would have been welcome. However, we really enjoyed our week and will look forward to a return trip. Thank you.



Lynne Johnson replied more than 1 year ago
Thank you for your review. We are pleased you enjoyed the pool and made use of the recently refurbished tennis courts. We'll take a look at Wagtail bathroom as part of our ongoing refurbishment programme. I is great to be able to throw the doors open to the gardens but the wildlife can be a bit invasive at certain times of the year. We look forward to welcoming you back next time. Lynne & John