Cley Windmill is about as far as you can get from a chain hotel. Within moments of stepping through the door, we’re chatting with the chef, Wendy, about the evening menu. Not only have we forgotten to book a table but my pesky dairy intolerance makes me something of a tricky dinner guest. “How do you feel about swapping the ice cream for homemade custard with coconut milk?” she beams.

It’s the type of interaction that makes you feel instantly at home. The guest house – which operated as a working mill until the early 20th century – has a cosy, welcoming feel that’s hard to come by. Tucked away in the sleepy village of Cley next the Sea on the north Norfolk coast, with views directly out across the rustling salt marshes, it’s the perfect setting for a restorative weekend.

Why stay here?

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