Half Term escape to the Forest at Happy Valley

As Autumn closes in we couldn’t be more excited for living in a country where there’s seasons and nothing quite beats an Autumn Escape to the forest. Our reviews speak for themselves and it is like living in a painting at this time of year. The smells of the forest, the star gazing from the hot tubs, cosying up by the log fires with a hot choc or glass of wine. Hygge at its best.

Experience a little laid back luxury in the wild.

Book your mini break staycation in the woods HERE

Autumn is the perfect season to reflect on the learnings of the year and evaluate our accomplishments however big or small.

If you’re looking to get back to nature, rediscover your inner child and need a little inspiration on finding art in nature using materials found in the forest or beach then look no further - forage along the woodland paths and you’ll find the perfect ingredients for a leaf mandala or find created cone ideas - HERE

If you’re traveling with your little ones then you can check out what’s on in Norfolk this October half term HERE

We love The Real Halloween (28th & 29th October) where you can book workshops 3- 8 yrs and under 3s enjoy Real Broomsticks, Halloween Lanterns, the Pixie Post Office, Halloween Games, Witches’ Kitchen,  the Fairy King & Queen, Musical Toadstools, plus lots of walkabout entertainers, live music, storytellers, Popcorn Wizards & bonfire, The Real Halloween story plus the dusk lantern parade. Created by the Fairyland Trust this was a firm favourite of ours when the children were little and it’s just 10 minutes down the road - Find our MORE

If you’d rather soak up the forest and create your own mini adventures on site then Leaf or barking Rubbing or you can get creative Pumpkin Carving which are firm favourites on site. Marshmallows and hot chocolate by the campfire after a nice dip in the hot tub and some star gazing. Just divine.

You may just want to come solo and enjoy the simplicity, perhaps have an autumn cleanse or just cuddle up by the fire and we welcome you with open arms.

We watch and learn from nature as the trees show us how good it is to let things go.

Next to the tire swing at Happy Valley

woodland walks go on for miles around Happy Valley

forage and you’ll find the most magical of ingredients for your nature art

Road to Happy Valley - Look out for the Heart Tree

Roydon Common is just down the road from Happy Valley and has spectacular scenery in the Autumn

Easter Staycation in Norfolk

For all you guys looking for a family getaway this easter in an idyllic woodland setting in the beautiful countryside of Norfolk, head on down to Happy Valley! From treehouses to cabins in the woods we do our best to cater for everybody’s needs. Please keep an eye out for late availability as we do not release dates until closer to the time. Take a look at our cabins below and the current availability we have this April for each property.

Please note that we have a minimum of a two-night stay during the week and a three-night stay at weekends and that availability is subject to change due to the number of bookings we receive.

Toad Hall

Toad hall sleeps six with a kingsized bed downstairs, a double bedroom upstairs and extra sleeping space available. This open-plan treehouse property is great for larger families for a place to be at one with nature. Imagine relaxing in the hot tub and watching the sunset with a glass of bubbly!

April 2023 availability for Toad Hall CLICK HERE

The Woodpecker

The perfect cabin for people with young children! The woodpecker sleeps four with a kingsized bed and two bunk beds all on one floor. Equipped with its own kitchen, bathroom and hot tub along with a fold-out cot and highchair.

April 2023 availability for The Woodpecker

The 14th, 15th, 16th, 24th, 25th and 26th.

Keepers Cabin

Keepers cabin is the perfect place to kick back and relaxed by the roaring open fire. This cabin has two floors with a kingsized bed on the ground floor and a kingsized and a single bed on the top floor. Also, with a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom and hot tub to enjoy.

April 2023 availability for Keepers Cabin

The 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 24th, 25th and 26th.

King Nutkin

For a cosy getaway for all you lovely couples out there! King Nutkin sleeps two with one kingsized bed and its own kitchen. A great place to sit outside and relax while toasting marshmallows under the stars.

April 2023 availability CLICK HERE

Denver Rest and Tawny Hut

Please also keep an eye out in the future for our other cabins which can be booked as a pair or individually through the warmer months. Denver Rest has its own outdoor kitchen which they share with Tawny Hut. Both cabins sleep two people each, with a Double bed in Denver Rest and a Super kingsized bed in Tawny Hut.

Things to do with the family in the area:

-Sandringham

Just an 11 minute drive from Happy Valley. On Tuesday the 4th, 5th and 6th of April Sandringham have a variety of Easter activities guided by Nana Lavander. On Sunday 9th of April Sandringham is hosting an Easter egg trail in aid of the East Anglian air ambulance from 10:30am until 2:30pm. Suitable for all ages.

-Bawsey county

Again, an 11 minute drive from the site. On Saturday 8th of April between 11am and 5pm Bawsey Country Park is hosting an Easter fair.

-Castle Acre

With merely a 14 minute drive from Castle Acre enjoy a family picnic and walk this Easter in the beautiful setting of Castle Acre with some stunning castle ruins.

-Beaches

With Hunstanton beach only a 26 minute drive, Wells-next-the-sea a 34 minute drive and Holkam beach only a 42 minute drive from our site, enjoy fish and chips by the sea with the family this Easter.

A Summers Escape For Couples

Norfolk is a fantastic place to get the first taste of summer, and it's even better for couples at this time of year. June and July make great months for romantic getaways because it’s the time of year you can escape before school holidays and before a season of social events go into full swing. In this tranquillity, you can disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with each other. Happy Valley Norfolk could be your answer for a unique first getaway for you and your loved one or a spontaneous change from jetting abroad for those looking for something different. Premarital couples can strengthen their foundation as they prepare for marriage, and long-term couples take their relationship to the next level - all with the help of a little nature.

Our gorgeous bell tents are now available to book. Great for couples looking for a luxe glamping experience in a whimsical woodland.

The great thing about nature is that it’s more than what meets the eye, especially when it comes to couples. By unplugging ourselves from our daily lifestyles, stresses and technology and immersing ourselves in nature, we have precious time to focus one on one - mind, body, and spirit. No distractions, just peace, bonding and strengthening. Studies have shown over the years that time spent in nature reduces anxiety, blood flow improves and also your mood improves. This being said, it’s not only good for bringing us closer it’s also vital for our health. It's almost magical how a couple can become closer and enjoy each other's company more with a little help from Mother Nature.

Woodland and wildlife greet you just outside each cabin and bell tent door. Three of our cabins also have their own private luxury hot tubs, making your stay at our retreat even more special. We are set in 9 acres of woodland and there are an extra 200 acres of woodland adjoining Happy Valley, meaning that there is plenty to explore with your partner without even leaving our retreat. In addition to all of our romantic getaway guests, we have witnessed so many gorgeous marital proposals and woodland weddings throughout the years. We are truly blessed with a retreat constantly filled with love. To book your romantic getaway at Happy Valley Norfolk, head over to the “Glamping” section of our website.

A Lovely Review For Our Woodpecker Tree Temple

“A beautiful place to stay. So cosy and relaxing. We had lashing rain when we arrived and then bright sun the day after, and The Woodpecker was a lovely place to stay for both. If the weather is rubbish then cosy up with a book and get the wood burner going, and if you get sun then head out on one of the local walks or heat up the hot tub and enjoy the beautiful view. Thank you for a lovely couple of days. We loved staying in The Woodpecker and hope to come back again.”

A huge thank you to Nicola for staying with us and leaving us such a lovely review! Woodpecker is a great cabin for a family of four looking for a woodland escape or even a couple wanting a luxury glamping experience. With a wood fired hot tub to soak the day away in and a sumptuous kingsize bed, you can leave Happy Valley feeling relaxed and refreshed.

Enjoy relaxing in the heart of nature in the wood fired hot tub. To view our other cabins with hot tubs included, click the glamping tab at the top of the page.

The Woodpecker Tree Temple in all it’s woodland glory.

Bring your walking boots and reap the benefits of all the great local area to explore. Picture here is our Willow Island, a renowned wedding ceremony spot.

To book your stay in The Woodpecker Tree Temple or to view what else we have to offer, head over to the glamping section of our website.

"The views are out of this world" A fantastic review for Toad Hall

Toad Hall in all it’s woodland glory

A great cabin for not only staycations and getaways, but is widely loved as our wedding suite.

We are so grateful for this review that came in from our recent guests Carmen & Ben.

“Where do i start! What an amazing place! My fiancé and I just got home from a well needed couple of days away for some pure relaxation and this is the place! If you are pondering on whether to book, ponder no more! Do it! You won’t regret it! beautiful surroundings, definitely recommend the 200 acre wood trail, such a beautiful walk and if you keep going it takes you to a lovely little village. Toad Hall was immaculate, beds and pillows sooo comfy we had the best nights sleep. The views are out of this world, everywhere you look when inside the lodge you are greeted with a stunning view, even in the shower! If you are looking for silence, peace and tranquility this is the place. Nothing beats drinking your morning coffee whilst gazing out of a window with endless trees and views, We are already looking online to book for summer but unfortunately it’s all booked up. The communication was five star with Katy, prompt replies and we even had a box of choccies left on arrival. Thankyou :) A lovely little perk of this stay, if you are unorganised like me, was the kitchen amenities, oil, herbs and spices and everything you would need to cook with, also a lovely array of books and games, perfect for a cozy night in whilst watching the sunset through the main window. It really was a breath taking experience. I cannot fault toad hall in any way I only wish we could book again now for the summer! :( The hot tub was all up to temperature and ready to go as soon as we arrived, was very easy to use and hot tubbing surrounded by trees was a whole new experience for us! It was wonderful! We used it so many times. We went in February 2022 and the temperature in the lodge was so lovely and warm and comfortable. Thank you Katy for making it such a memorable stay Carmen and Ben X”

To book your stay at Happy Valley, head over to the glamping tab.

Why You Should Go Glamping This Christmas

During the colder months and around Christmas, glamping is a fabulous idea. It can be even more magical and completely different than in the warmer seasons.

Imagine waking up on Christmas morning in one of our cosy cabins, looking out into the frosty woodland, log burner blazing inside and a steamy hot tub waiting for you - an experience you will never forget.

Get toasty around the log burner in Keepers Cabin

Adorable in-built bunk beds for your little ones in The Woodpecker

Have a romantic staycation in King Nutkin

Christmas dining for the family in The Woodpecker

With an array of eatery options in the area, you could either book a table letting someone else do all the hard work or you could cook up a tasty Christmas dinner in your cabin. Spend the evenings around the outside fire pit, relaxing with a glass of red wine and delve into the bubbling water of your private wood-fired hot tub.

Christmas traditions get passed down through generations - what time you are allowed to tear the wrapping off your presents, who gets to light up the Christmas pudding or a certain festive movie you watch every year like clockwork. However, there is nothing stopping you from creating new traditions, so why not spend your Christmas tucked up with your loved ones in one of our cosy cabins at Happy Valley Norfolk?

To book your festive staycation, check out the glamping section of our website, where you will find all the details of each of our cabins and availability.

Micro Weddings - The Celebration of Love

Unrestrained, uninhibited, free to choose the direction of your life and willing to go with the flow. You take life’s highs with the lows, you don’t sweat the small stuff, you love generously and you laugh raucously. If you embrace laughter lines, positivity and authenticity, it is likely you were born to meet another free-spirited soul and dance to the beat of your own drum. In essence, you were born to be part of the Happy Valley Tribe.

Here at Happy Valley, we don’t care what title you carry, what scars you hide or what expectations society has placed on you. We love you for who you love and for how you want to live and if you’re looking for an adventure, then we’re your kind of people and maybe a micro wedding is your kind of romance.

Reasons Happy Valley’s Micro Weddings are for the Wild At Heart

1. A Happy Valley soul is free to soar - we offer no stereotypes or conventional boxes but instead invite you to be your true, authentic self. There is nothing ‘girly’ or ‘manly’ about our venue, it is simply natural and stripped back so you can focus on what really matters. At Happy Valley, you can marry without the world watching and love without the world judging.

2. We don’t follow trends, we allow you to set them - we love a good Pinterest board like the next person but at Happy Valley, your big day is down to you and you alone. As a dry hire venue, we offer you a beautiful, blank canvas to put your stamp on and express yourself in every colour and style imaginable. This is your chance to go wild and we want your ideas, your creativity and your voice to be heard. Your wedding might be micro but your creativity can be mighty.

3. Choosing the road less travelled means throwing out the rulebook - use this opportunity to invite who you really want to be present at your wedding. We do not insist upon tradition or convention and encourage couples to be different. Transport yourself to another world by crossing over our wooden bridge to the Willow Island and cast every notion of normal behind. In our intimate ceremony location, surrounded by our lake, you are enveloped in love and get the chance to create your new kind of normal. Similarly, our cosy Hay Barn, equipped with log burner will give you all the warmth you need for a tight-knit circle of loved ones.

4. Happy Valley embraces all tribes - there is a confidence that comes with embracing and accepting who you are and all of our Happy Valley couples carry that confidence. Our couples are not afraid to let their true colours show. Guests are welcomed in wellies, heels, tattoos, wide-brimmed hats, pearls or piercings. At Happy Valley, anyone who wishes to encourage and not disparage will always be made to feel welcome, no matter their attire or their number.

Micro Wedding Package

Midweek and weekend availability, 2020 – 2021

Government permitting, Happy Valley can offer a micro wedding package of up to 30 guests, held in our cosy and rustic Hay Barn. Complete with fairy lights, log burner and indoor bar area, we can offer you free corkage, furniture, hot tubs, luxury glamping accommodation for the entire wedding party and exclusive use of our nine acres of ground, including enchanting woodlands and the magical experience of willow island.

A micro wedding will never minimise your love, but it will highlight what matters most. When it comes down to it, Covid will fade into the background and Happy Valley will create your unique lightning bolt moment that only gives space for your love to shine.

If you’d like to hear more about their micro wedding packages, please contact: weddings@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk.

With love,

Katy, Kirsty and the team at Happy Valley xx

All photographs shared are from a real micro weddings held at Happy Valley this year.

Beautifully captured by @auroragreyphoto

Dress - @liribyrikidalal

Boutique - @thewhitegallery

Venue & Glamping - @happyvalleynorfolk

Props - @thelittlelendingco

Hair - @perfectsilhouettehairdressing

MUA - @bryonyhollandmua

Catering - @sallygsafternoonteas . .

Autumnal Woodland Weddings in Norfolk

The season of Autumn at Happy Valley Norfolk is a truly magical one.  With dappled sun lighting up the turning leaves in the ancient woodland and a natural canopy of confetti on the forest floor.  We are set up to host 150 wedding guests and more! A transitional time which marks the end of the Summer Season as we ready ourselves for Winter. October is seasonally temperate with a backdrop of golden leaves, oranges and ever greens – creating a breath-taking palette for your photography scenes.

Reinvent and revolutionise the traditional barn venue at Happy Valley Norfolk. We have two stripped back barns, for those who appreciate a more natural vibe. The rustic nature of the Hay barn, is the perfect setting for your ceremony. Yes… you can legally say ‘we do’ on site too! The wood burner will keep your guests cosy and comfortable, whilst candlelight will complement your deeper, richer florals. The Dutch barn is a boho-inspired space, with panoramic views of the mystical lake and meadowland. The larger of the two, our Dutch barn has hosted many a wedding party, creating the celebratory feels for flavoursome feasts, bands and beats, ensuring all guests find their dancing feet!

The nature-inspired Glamping at Happy Valley, brings your nearest and dearest together in a relaxed Norfolk way.  With an eclectic choice of Handmade Cabins, Shepherds Huts and Bell tents to kick back in.  Each with their own colourful character and stylish comfort. We have taken care of your every need, leaving you and your Wedding party to make the most of your time together.  We love to see our guests connecting with nature in the Whimsical Woodland sheltered by the canopy of pine trees.  The Wood Fired Hot tub is a peacefully picturesque spot to take a dip and drink in the changing hues of the season.

If you would like to luxuriate further as Mr & Mrs, Toad Hall is the intimate yet spacious lodge you will never want to check out of.  Sleeping up to 6 people, with its own Hot Tub and absolutely every detail covered, we ensure your wedding is the kind that dreams are made of.  What’s more?  The entire site is exclusively yours to unravel and re-wild in during your stay.

We still have some limited availability for Wedding Bookings this October, 2019.  If you would like to say ‘I Do’ and make your Wedding wishes come true, we have a super friendly team to support you every step of the way… ensuring your Wedding Party is the one that everyone remembers as the most naturally dazzling day!

E: hello@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk

T: 01485 600719

Instagram: @happyvalleynorfolk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/NorfolkWeddingVenue/

We look forward to co-creating the most magical Norfolk Wedding imaginable with you!

Tribe Norfolk Weekend 2019

The gorgeous family festival that is Tribe Norfolk weekend returns to Happy Valley for the second year on the 13 & 14th July. The perfect day out in Norfolk or make a weekend of it and camp over. There’s a little glamping still available!

Celebrating all that is Norfolk. Guests will be able to enjoy the beauty of the wild, the splendour of Norfolk creatives, taste fabulous cuisine, dance to an array of Norfolk Musicians, buy local treats at the Norfolk Produce and Makers Market. Enjoy a range of workshops for all ages plus enjoy holistic therapies in the nurturing and supportive community in which Tribe Norfolk has become. 

BUY TICKETS HERE

The fab Mim Howell will be doing festival taster photoshoots for the family

Santosha Yoga

Emily will be returning to Tribe Norfolk Weekend 2019 with her hip hop and reggae yoga for all ages. Pre-booking will be available soon and we recommend securing your space (classes are free but spaces limited) and there may be opportunity for drop-ins on the day.

Mumma Wolf

Mumma Wolf is a project which aims to empower families through yoga,  mindfulness and a connection with nature. Working with Tribe Norfolk, we've created a yoga experience for all little people and families: short bursts of yogic story-telling, free for all families throughout the day, surrounded by the sighing stream and whispering willows of a magical little island nestled right in the heart of Happy Valley. For calm, for fun and for connection. We want your Tribe Norfolk Weekend to be as experiential as possible - an opportunity to make memories that will last a lifetime. We have some wonderful workshops for you and your family to enjoy…. grab your tickets now!

BeWILDerwood

The Twiggle Team from BeWILDerwood will be at Tribe Norfolk festival again with some of your favourite curious characters from the woods. Expect games, giggles, storytelling and crafting in true BeWILDerwood style! Fabulous, family fun.

Stitch Me Happy

Grown ups and children can have fun learning how to turn old clothes and fabric scraps into simple and effective jewellery. With a focus on limiting the waste involved in sewing/clothes making, all of the buttons, beads, ribbon, feathers and tassels that can be added to the handmade jewellery are remnants/second hand or made from second hand materials.

Pottery Workshops

Claire of Wayside Pottery and Alice Cary Art will be joining forces to expand on the pottery workshops we held last year. Claire’s stand was booked through Tribe Norfolk 2018 and the feedback from the children was hugely positive.

Alice’s work is inspired by her travels and the Norfolk coastal landscape. Alice creates functional ceramics, some of which are illustrated. Alice also works with various printmaking techniques onto clay using coloured slips, sponges and rollers. She creates her own work from her studio in north Norfolk. At Tribe Norfolk she will be helping with have a go at a throw as well as the primitive clay workshops. 

Pretty Cactus Plants

Donna of Pretty Cactus Plants will be offering simple macrame workshops, making plant holders and beautiful home decor. Email Donna direct to arrange your workshop, drop-in on the day may be available.

Feathers and Futures

Feathers Futures Community Interest Company was set up to empower and enable women to make positive choices about their futures. We have a base in Great Yarmouth where women over the age of 18 are welcome to come and access support, build confidence, resilience and reduce isolation. Currently there are around 50 women accessing our workshops and courses on offer, as well as our peer support groups. Our aim is to offer that safe, supportive place for women to grow.

We have some amazing musical talent in Norfolk and a stellar line-up of bands and artists appearing at Tribe Norfolk Weekend 2019. Buy your tickets before the event to avoid higher prices on the door and to the full list of artists performing, pay a visit to our Bands Page.

Last year’s performers Sam Coe & The Long Shadows will be headlining again with their blend of modern country and we’re delighted to welcome Pirate Joe / The Foreign Locals - an unmissable act with a unique cabaret of travelling stories.

Mengelmoes will delight with a jazz-funk, alternative, indie mish-mash from the band hailing from Norwich and Front Bangs appear with an indie rock sound and energetic stage show. The Magic E’s are a melodic rock ‘n’ roll band with years of music industry experience between them whilst Backwards City are a new up-and-coming trio with an ambient, downtempo sound.

Mengelmoes will delight with a jazz-funk, alternative, indie mish-mash from the band hailing from Norwich and Front Bangs appear with an indie rock sound and energetic stage show. The Magic E’s are a melodic rock ‘n’ roll band with years of music industry experience between them whilst Backwards City are a new up-and-coming trio with an ambient, downtempo sound.