Cool Place of the Day: Cley Windmill, Norfolk
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Your support makes all the difference.It was a brilliant idea to turn this old windmill into a B&B – and a very successful venture it has proved too. Fabulously restored by Julian and Carolyn Godlee in 2006, the windmill sits among the reedy marshes on the edge of the village of Cley and the interior is charming, its best rooms set beneath ancient beamed ceilings.
There are eight guest rooms in all – six in the windmill itself and two in various outbuildings, plus the Dovecote, which is a two-bedroom self-catering cottage. It's of course most appealing to stay in the mill, and the rooms are all different, though all are beautifully furnished in a sympathetic yet contemporary style, with rugs, kilim cushions and whitewashed walls, and equipped with en-suite bathrooms.
It won't suit everyone – there are plenty of stairs to climb! – but the upper rooms in particular have spectacular views over the coast and marshes. The two most vertiginous are connected by a stepladder and make for an exciting place for a family of four to sleep. Also, at ground level, the outbuildings – the Boat House with a four-poster and the flint-walled Long House – are equally comfortable and well-appointed, and have access to the mill's comfy ground floor sitting room with open fire, and the dining room, where you eat breakfast and if you wish evening meals too.
The mill is also licensed for weddings, and you can book the whole lot if you want, whether for a wedding or just a rather fabulous house party. The location is sublime, right on the edge of Cley Marshes, and perfectly placed for the delights of the rest of the North Norfolk coast.
Cool Places is a new website from the creators of Rough Guides and Cool Camping, suggesting the best places to stay, eat, drink and shop in Britain (coolplaces.co.uk).
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