A short break in a hotel is nice, but imagine waking up in a grand king size bed, slipping on a robe, and walking down to an enormous kitchen to enjoy a coffee with peaceful views onto a tennis court and spacious grounds. Barefoot Retreats in North Norfolk offer the most luxurious holiday experience in their property The Old Rectory in Stanhoe…

It’s always lovely to have a short break, but as hotels are usually limited to just a room or a suite, they never feel as luxurious or as comfortable as a stay in your own home. Barefoot Retreats are working to change that with one of their latest properties the Old Rectory sleeping 20 people. The gorgeous Norfolk manor house is 157 years old and has been refurbished to an unbelievably high standard. Team Pride were lucky enough to experience this lovely place for themselves, blown away by the level of quality and attention to detail.

The drive into the property immediately revealed its grandeur and history, but its ancient façade can be deceiving; inside, this property is beautifully modern. They have managed to retain the Old  Rectory’s original features and charm like the fireplaces, old servant bells and staircase, but have added some fantastic modern features like the Sonos sound system, Rangemaster cooker and three wood burners.

Its modern appliances are just the beginning; the design of this property has been carefully considered, ensuring every room is greeted with a ‘Wow.’ We were welcomed by a Barefoot Retreats Welcome Hamper – complimentary with every stay in a Barefoot Retreats holiday home – filled with everything you need for a weekend away including basics like tea, coffee and milk to treats like Prosecco, cake and chocolate.

It’s a property you would want to stay in on the coldest of winter nights by the log burner in the snug, or the warmest of summer days strolling around the extensive manicured grounds or playing a game of tennis. In fact there is so much to enjoy and entertain in this property that we never left, except for an exquisite meal at the Hoste in Burnham Market on Saturday night, just a 10 minute drive away.

Of course, if you do wish to explore the area, you’re just a short distance from the beautiful coast – go crabbing at Wells-next-the-Sea, stroll down Cromer’s pier or enjoy fish and chips at Hunstanton. Burnham Market is also a location we recommend exploring, filled with independent shops and restaurants in a stunning rural village setting.

Our most honest recommendation however would be to invite all your friends and family for the weekend or a week’s break, play tennis in the property’s own court, have barbeques in the evenings in the fairy-light lit courtyard, spend rainy days in the annexe to the property playing pool and table tennis, and colder evenings playing board games, watching films or reading books – all provided – in the cosy snug. No one will draw the short straw when it comes to the bedrooms either; they are all absolutely stunning.

If you’re looking for a place to spend some quality time with your whole family, we don’t think you’ll find anything better than this Barefoot Retreat Norfolk holiday home just a couple hours drive from Lincolnshire. We would like to thank Barefoot Retreats for allowing Team Pride to experience this beautiful place for the weekend, and we implore our readers to try it out for themselves; you will not be disappointed!

• Barefoot Retreats has hundreds of other properties to select from too, all finished to the same high spec with the same attention to detail in its fittings and furnishings. Just visit www.barefootretreats.co.uk or call 01485 512245 for more information.