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

Our Guide To Halloween & Guy Fawkes In Norfolk This Year

It’s most definitely worth a visit to our glorious county of Norfolk this spooky season, as we are brimming with activities and events to keep the whole family entertained. Even behind all of the festivities and fabulous attractions, stripped-back Norfolk is well known for its fabulous coastline, boutique coastal towns and plenty of nature to explore. There is something around every turn that everyone can enjoy, whether it's for a romantic trip, a family getaway filled with adventure, or for those who desire to discover historic sites and nature.

If you fancy a ghoulishly good weekend for Halloween

Your little ones will love BeWilderwood this Halloween

Be prepared to be scared at Primevil Scare

• Halloween Phantomine Monster Mayhem @ Kings Lynn Corn Exchange Friday 28th ‑ Saturday 29th October

  “A night filled with singing, laughing, cheering and booing to the very end as you help Prince Ludicrous Blackfeet find his Princess before the crazy Professor Pitfall commands her Monster Creation to steal her away for the evil Skeleton King”

• The Glorious Glowing Lantern Parade @ Bewilderwood Norfolk - Saturday 15th – Monday 31st October

  "A glorious opportunity to see BeWILDerwood by night and meet all your forest friends awaits! Start your adventure at Hazel’s Hideaway, then journey through the WILD woods as lanterns light your way through our enchanting woodland.”

• Primevil Scare @ Roarr Dinosaur Park - Friday 14th ‑ Monday 31st October

  A great event for the teens and the adults who dare to face spooks and scares this Halloween. The event is also back for its 13th year of fear! There will be five terrifying haunts full of scares and twists and turns, street performing actors, and plenty of entertainment. They will have a licensed bar and street food vendors too. Primevil Scare is not suitable for those under 12. Also note that strobe and flashing lights are used.

• Bawsey Halloween Night @ Bawsey Estate & Country Park - Sunday 30th 5pm ‑ 9pm

  “Join us on Halloween night for some spooky family fun at Bawsey Country Park from 5.00 pm to 9.00 pm. Take a walk through the woods, find all the pumpkins and claim a Halloween treat for the kids. With fun and games from BTs Roadshow you won't want to miss this fantastic evening at Bawsey Country Park.”

Where To Watch The Sky Light Up For Guy Fawkes

Enjoy not just the fireworks but the coastline at Hunstanton this November 5th

Can’t get out for Guy Fawkes? Don’t worry, Norwich Autumn Lights has you covered on Saturday 12th of November!

• Hunstanton Clifftop Fireworks Display ‑ Saturday 5th November @ 5 Lighthouse Cl, Hunstanton gates on at 5.45pm

  A great place to watch fireworks this Guy Fawkes is the Hunstanton Clifftop Fireworks Display happening on Saturday 5th November. Gates open at 5.45 pm with fireworks and a laser display to follow at 7.30 pm. Only a 20-minute drive from Happy Valley, then come back to your cabin afterwards and enjoy a bubbling hot tub or unwind around the fire pit with a glass of bubbly to complete your evening.

• Downham Market Fireworks by The Round Table - Saturday 5th November @ Stradsett Hall and Country Park, Stradsett Country Park, Stradsett, King’s Lynn, PE33 9HA Gates open @ 4.30pm
  Fireworks Extravaganza @7.30pm

  This year they have the amazing Jak Ropa Entertainments on stage, with a whole new stage, sound and lighting rig - to create the most amazing festival vibe. They have some amazing LED dancers and fire dancers performing for them
  and more food and drink vendors than ever before with something for everyones tastebuds. The fairground will be on site as always, with rides like the runaway train, dodgems, crazy house, hook a duck and much much more - why not take an aerial view from their big wheel, and really get to see whats happening..

• Norfolk Showground Autumn Lights ‑ Saturday 12th November 4:00 PM ‑ 10:00 PM @ Norfolk Showground Arena, Costessey, Norwich

  If you fancy a further drive out for the biggest fireworks event in Norfolk (and you can’t get out on Guy Fawkes weekend) on Saturday 12th November, Norfolk Showground is hosting it’s Autumn Lights Fireworks Fiesta. With children’s display alongside the main display later in the evening, glowing roaming entertainers, large street food and drink village, DJ’s, funfair and more!

This is just a small selection of the events happening in Norfolk this Halloween and Guy Fawkes, if we had decided to put them all on our blog, you would be here reading for hours! If you would like to browse more events however that are on in the area click think links below;

- Best Halloween Events In Norfolk -

- Best Bonfire Events In Norfolk -

We still have some limited glamping availability for both of these fun filled weekends, so if you fancy an escape into the woodland, click the ‘Glamping’ tab at the top of this page to browse our accommodation and book your stay.

Halloween at Happy Valley

Follow us behind the scenes to a Halloween Week at Happy Valley. As Hallows’ Eve falls on the week of October Half Term, it is no surprise that our mini mascots are employed to take part in the mischief and mayhem.

The sun has dawned on Summer and now the moon, wide eyed in wonder, looks down at the scene unfolding. Tiny dew drops of rain can be seen building up on cobwebs of woven silk; nature plays its part as spiders and bats are ready to take their role in this spooky festival.

As the cold air lingers and a foggy mist descends, Annie and Barnaby step into their positions magnificently by brewing the potions (tea and hot chocolate!) and preparing the cauldron for a family feast (pumpkin cookies!). With no cat or ghost in sight, Timber the dog is roped into the day’s ritual and as pumpkin is going spare, he is happy to oblige.

Our first call to arms, is to find our coats, wrap up in a layer of protection from the howling winds, and step into the woodland of whispering trees to find the perfect chestnuts and conkers for our collection. We place these and the acorn leaves into the magician’s hat and utter a chant or two.

With spoons and (adult-supervised) knives at the ready, we carve out some fun by etching into the round, plump, pumpkins at our feet. Scraping out the fluffy, orange innards, we scoop this into our pot and place to one side (this will be noted on our post-Halloween-pumpkin-blog). Our future architect and nine-year-old carpenter, picks up his drill and creates a fiery sky of stars by drilling holes into the pumpkin’s thick skin.

Adorned with a witch’s hat and magic at her fingers tips, Annie brings a glimmer of sparkle to nature as leaves and conkers are coated in gold. The shimmery glow coming from the puddle below hints at the evening to come and a cackle echoes in the air, reverberating throughout the land. It’s almost time.

The candles are lit, sparklers ignite, pumpkins are placed, with fairies and sprite. Our two, adorable children transform into Witch and Magician. Skulls’ eyes are aglow and to the new, log cabin we go. Come friend, come foe, come ghost, come all, this year’s Halloween will be the best of them all!

If you would like to join us for a weekend of magic and fun, we have some last minute availability due to a local lockdown for our unfortunate guests:

Availability: Friday 30th October – Monday 2nd November 2020

Cabins: Woodpecker (£395) or Denver Rest and Tawny Hut (£320) - NOW FULLY BOOKED

To book, please contact hello@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk / 01485600719

With love,

Katy and Kirsty xx