When you arrive it's a bit disconcerting that the place is probably closed (the bar/restaurant only opens evenings at 6.30 and for a couple of hours Sunday lunchtime) but fear not. The location is idyllic - on the village green with a beautiful church and quintessential english country cottages (roses round the door, hollyhocks, doves - you get the picture). It's quiet. Very quiet. Well weekdays you maybe get the fighters from Marham flying overhead but otherwise it's silent.
We stayed in the Old Forge annnexe - Room 4 - probably the family room - kingsize bed and a single with the extra mattress that pulls out from underneath (I don't know what they call these things but you know what I mean). En suite with an electric shower. View over the garden/vegetable patch. Perfect? No. Fine? Yes. OK there were a couple of cobwebs that didn't need to be there, the bed linen wasn't the most modern (clean, but well worn) and there's nowhere in the shower to put your soap.
The bar is cosy (and very quiet when we were there) and the restaurant area surprisingly modern. The food is fine - pie, tikka masala, scampi, lasagne, ham and chips - and the house wine was very drinkable.
The do it yourself continental breakfast was much better than I had feared - sliced bread yes, but ham, cheese, hard boiled eggs, yogurt, cereals and fresh fruit.
So, for the price as pleasant night's stay. If you want a place to rest your head in beautiful west Norfolk then I've no doubt that you could do a lot worse.
- Country Inn Swaffham
- Swaffham Country Inn
- Great Danes Country Swaffham
