A trip to the seaside was well overdue, so my Mum and I decided to book a last-minute post-Christmas trip to our Rutland by the sea, Norfolk.
In previous years, I usually visit Norfolk at least twice a year, however, in 2022, I didn't manage to make a trip to my second favourite county all year.
I opened up the 'Airbnb' app and searched in the 'North Norfolk' area and found this adorable accommodation that I remembered from my childhood in East Runton.
I used to visit East Runton as a child most summers with my aunt and cousins to the Sea View Caravan Park located on the cliffs and just a stone's throw from the beach, back when this Airbnb used to be a shop, The Kitbag.
The Airbnb has been nearly renovated and sleeps 6 people and is also dog friendly - a real bonus! With 2 bedrooms both with en-suite bathrooms and a 150-metre walk to the beach.
We paid £270 for 2-nights (including cleaning fee) and considering the accommodations sleeps up to 6 people, is dog friendly, close to the beach and local amenities... We could not fault the fantastic value!
The first bedroom is a large room with a king-size bed and a quirky ensuite with a large corner bath and stunning pink tiling.
The second bedroom has a set of bunk beds with a large wet room with a walk-in shower and is also decorated beautifully with stylish green tiles and modern fittings.
In the main living area of the house, there is a large open plan kitchen with a dining table that overflows into the living room area which is complete with a double sofa bed, perfect for extra guests or visitors - as well as another WC area.
The Kitbag is all on one level so it's perfect for families with no step or staircase issues to worry about. The house is also located in the centre of the village of East Runton close to many amenities including the local convenience store (open until 9 pm), the pub, a coffee shop and a chip shop too! With free parking in the village green area of the village, just a stone's throw from the house.
With East Runton beach being just a 150-metre walk from the Airbnb, we started the mornings with a stroll on the dog-friendly beach which the dogs loved, with views of Cromer pier in the distance - you can walk along the beach to Cromer and back which is a lovely walk but don't forget to check tide times.
I literally cannot fault The Kitbag as an Airbnb which lived up to all expectations from the Airbnb Superhost listing and the host was a dream to deal too, which adds to the whole experience and is super reassuring too.
But it's not just the village/beach location that is worth rebooking for... The Kitbag is just one mile away from the coastal town of Cromer where we spent a day of our mini-break visiting all the places we visited in my childhood and on many holidays to the area with my Grandparents throughout my life.
Cromer is a wonderful, traditional English coastal town with so much to offer - and some of the best charity shops I've visited in a long time! But the town has so much to offer with loads of independent shops that are little Tardis' with rooms that appear out of nowhere!
After a 'must' visit to the arcades - where I morphed back into a child immediately - we were peckish and decided to find somewhere to stop for lunch.
We headed to the seafront as lunch with a view was way too tempting! We headed to a restaurant we were familiar with called 'The Dolphin', however, discovered it was now a completely different restaurant, under a new name, Lily Mai's.
Lily Mai's is thankfully a similar layout to The Dolphin so we managed to grab a pier view seat and were welcomed with a lovely menu that did not disappoint. So if you're heading to Cromer and want someone to eat, definitely give Lily Mai's a try - it's dog friendly too!
North Norfolk has so much to offer and its location is perfect if you're visiting from Rutland too as you can almost begin your break right away and get that 'holiday feeling' as soon as you exit the King Lynn area and head through North Norfolk's coastal villages via the coast road where you'll stumble across some of the most beautiful places to stop on your way to your final destination.
The coast road from Kings Lynn with take you by Hunstanton, Thornham, Brancaster & Brancaster Staithe, Turnham Market, Well-Next-the-Sea, Stifkey, Blakeney, Cley next the Sea, Weybourne and finally Sherringham - another town so close to The Kitbag Airbnb that is another lovely town to visit if you're in the North Norfolk area.
From Rutland to: The Kitbag, East Runton, North Norfolk, UK For the Airbnb link click here!
Thanks for reading,
Charlie x charlie@rutlandblog.co.uk
