Starlings over Cley Windmill

A must watch !

A big Thank You to Ray Cordell for this inspiring youtube posting of starlings over the windmill.
They DO seem to love the sails as a landing point.
Enjoy!

Cley Windmill - Still here 'out of season'

Cley Windmill - come and have an old-fashioned country-house party.

We had eighty-six requests to book our windmill weekend between Christmas and new Year, and we are sorry that only one party was able to take advantage of that opportunity.
I write to say that Cley Windmill is very much still here over the winter months. There are some significant advantages to visiting us in the quieter months ahead (not least 10% off between now and February).

This is possibly an ideal time to plan your own house party, taking over the whole windmill and having the whole building to yourself and up to 19 friends, just as we have done on many memorable and happy occasions - its a great way to get together with close friends or family,  in the style of an old fashioned country-house party. Simon & Sarah would be happy to find a slot in our winter callender when we can accommodate your own house party.
You can always pass this email on to a friend so that they can play host, and you can attend as their guest! Forward  to a friend


(Alternatively, just book a single room and enjoy our acclaimed Cley Windmill 'welcome' as a normal B&B guest. 
Either way - we'd love to see you ! Please check our availability:  AVAILABILITY

FatFace photo-shoot at Cley Windmill

We were pleased to welcome a lovely crew from the clothing line FatFace - the cameramen, make up and props and, of course, the gorgeous models have come up with a great, atmospheric sequence featuring the windmill, its rooms and environs. Bicycles, boats, atmospheric reeds and mudflats - Very Norfolk!
Click on the image.
Enjoy !

 

FatFace photo-shoot at Cley Windmill 

http://www.fatface.com/get-involved/fat-films/page/getinvolvedfilms

Host your very own house party over Christmas or New Year, and take the entire windmill as your own.
We have had a cancellation and thus you have an opportunity to take the entire windmill as your own, over Christmas or New Year.
22nd December for 5 nights  - sleeps 20. (£3000 - this works out at £30 per night per person!)
or
Over New Year 27th December for 7nights  - sleeps 20 (£4000 - this works out at £28.50 per night per person)
We only provide this service twice each year, since we normally operate as a B&B/Guest House/ Boutique Hotel (whichever you prefer!)
However, over these two periods, you and up to 20 friends or family can live in Cley Windmill as if it were your own.
You have full run of the whole windmill, with full access to the spacious and characterful kitchen, and can prepare your own meals as well as Christmas or New Years celebrations.
We have had wonderful feedback from those who have booked in previous years. (see picture for a previous happy house party)
Please ring Simon or Sarah on 01263 740209 if this sounds good to you.
or email info@cleywindmill.co.uk

Do feel free to pass this email on to a friend so that they can host you, and you can be their guest! Forward  to a friend

Cley Windmill is to become a star of Childrens' television
We are thrilled to announce that one of the country's favourite actors, James Bolam, is to star in the fourth series of Grandpa in My Pocket.

For those of you who don't know this very popular programme, it features Grandpa (James Bolam) who posesses a magic flat cap -  when he puts it on he shrinks, and in his teeny form, he gets up to all sorts of mischief. (Older readers may be reminded of Mrs Pepperpot.....).  The series has run on CBeebies for over four years, and now,  a new fourth series has been commissioned. In this series Mrs Grandpa (OK - I guess that will be Grandma !) wants to upgrade from her present lovely house in Aldeburgh and has asked if she could move to a windmill. I was delighted to accept the offer from the TV company, which will now ensure all sorts of excitements and adventures will come from our very own windmill. The film crew have visited many times,  and have taken lots of photos, and taken detailed measurements of the windmill. They have now created a dedicated film set in Wales, a reconstruction based on the first three floors of the tower. Much of the action will take place inside this mocked-up version of the windmill which the directors have re-christened 'The Mill-on-the-Marsh'.

Apparently the house where Grandma currently resides has become quite a Mecca for young viewers, as have other buildings that feature in the plots. The imaginary village called Sunnysands is actually Aldeburgh in Suffolk (which will now have a Norfolk windmill attached to its western suburb!) We are expecting Cley to have many more youthful visitors in the years ahead. To date, Grandpa in My Pocket has been sold to more than 104 territories worldwide and is one of the highest rated shows on CBeebies.
James Bolam says: “Grandpa In My Pocket is such a great idea – first class scripts, original and funny, and the kids love it. I’m really looking forward to another series. In a word – magic!”
The first episodes are due to start screening in February 2014 - what fun!
Here's a trailer to whet your appetite  
http://www.grandpainmypocket.co.uk/online/ 

The Hotel Guru lists Cley Windmill in the best hotels in Norfolk

Thank you to Fiona Duncan and The Hotel Guru for listing us in the best hotels in Norfolk.
When Fiona wrote her article in the Sunday Telegraph, after her stay at the windmill she wrote:
Cley Windmill just happens to be one of the most memorable and enchanting places to stay in Britain (in my opinion)...
See the recent listing here 

http://www.thehotelguru.com/best-hotels-in/united-kingdom/norfolk. 
 

Water Colour master act

I have seen thousands of images of the Cley Windmill, but I particularly love this washy effect from Allan Kirk, with his Monday art class.

see Allan's blog:

Watercolour with Allan Kirk at Tarnincolour: Cley Windmill, Norfolk, UK Cley windmill is an iconic symbol of Norfolk and very much painted by artists of all media. With my Monday group we worked from photos to create a sketch and  ... tarnincolour.blogspot.com/.../cley-windmill-norfolk-uk.html

The first Hedgehog at Cley Windmill?

I suspect this is a first.....



Harvey the hedgehog during his stay at Cley Windmill

We were delighted to welcome our most unsual guest to date to the windmill.

A hedgehog stayed in the Wheat Chamber at the windmill - this cute white pigmy hedgehog  - he had the wonderful name of Harvey Harvester Wetnose PoopeyPaws.

Harvey certainly had all the gear with a massive cage/ enclosure and a huge hedgehog wheel for exercise. He took a big chunk out of my jacket, and did a lot of snuffling and sneezing - perhaps we can get Harvey to appear in our forthcoming TV series  (of which more later)





Harvey the hedgehog in the Wheat Chamber



The Wheat Chamber at Cley Windmill

A network of great travel ideas from around the world

AN UNUSUAL HOTEL - CLEY WINDMILL

While our great British road trip had taken us all over the United Kingdom, to all sorts of places and accommodation. The buildings we’d slept in had all been fairly standard. It’s not often you get to stay somewhere different, where the hotel is as much the lure as its surrounding area. One of the last places on our epic 6000 mile road trip was one such hotel with a twist. The Cley Windmill in the town of Cley-Next-The-Sea.

Yes this really is a windmill, built in the early 18th Century, it was once a fully working windmill with wonderful curved walls, sails and all the mechanisms that go with milling grain . Situated near to the coast of Norfolk, driving up to it is where the excitement starts as this was quite unlike anything else we’ve stayed in on our Great British Road Trip.
The hotel now includes bedrooms and self catering apartments both inside the windmill and other buildings surrounding it. We of course had to stay in the windmill itself and were shown to the Wheat Chamber, once used to store the produce milled here, kept dry and away from the elements outside. The room was perfectly round and very cosy. The interior deign suiting an old and unusual building such as this. A large double bed, sofa, television, cute mock fireplace and a cosy but well designed en-suite bathroom. The colours are warm and inviting with some great thought put in to materials and artistic decor. In fact new curtains we fitted during our stay so its great to see the windmill is well maintained. A structure like this takes a lot of love and no doubt a lot of money to keep this 300 year old building in top condition.
The rooms in the windmill are stacked on top of each other so there were occasional creaking floorboards in the morning but generally it was very well presented and the complimentary sherry is the perfect tipple after sightseeing or bird watching, a popular hobby in the area thanks to the marshes nearby. There’s a balcony up one level from our room which clings to the wall and offers great views over the marshes. The views from the bedroom windows are especially good during sunset as well. If the other rooms are not occupied I recommend asking for a tour of them as its not often you get a chance to explore the inside of a Windmill! Seize the opportunity!

Exploring Cley

The village of Cley is a quiet and cosy place to visit. Perfect for walks with a couple of pubs that do great food. The George is just a couple of minutes walk and the Three Swallows is a 2 minute drive to Newton-Green. Both do great pub food, perfect for lunch before you head back to the Cley Windmill for an afternoon Sherry! There’s a few cute local shops in Cley-Next-The-Sea with lots more to visit in nearby villages and towns, especially Holt.
If you’re a nature lover the marshes and beach are a must around here. There’s some great walks right from the windmill that take you down to the beach, along the edge of the marsh where great swarms of birds take off and circle overhead. The beach is a must for some great extended walks and even a chance to witness families of seals sunbathing further down at Blakeney Point. Whatever the weather the windmill is a beautiful sight all of its own so a walk will give you some great views of where you’re staying. Be sure to take your camera.

During the warmer months there are also boat trips that can take you out to see the seals and along the coastline. This can be a real highlight if the weather is good. Saint Margaret’s Church is also worth checking out. You can’t miss it as it sits prominently on a hill overlooking part of the village green. Its the largest church in the Glaven Valley and well worth a look round.

Dinner at the Cley Windmill

Back at our cosy windmill evening meals are served in a suitably quirky fashion to match our accommodation. Sitting is at 7:30pm with drinks served in the gorgeous lounge from 7pm. A roaring fire and a chance to select a wine for our meal. The meal is set with a choice of veggie if required and dietary options available if there’s any issues. It’s a great way to meet your fellow guests and creates a wonderful atmosphere in the small but well presented dining room. The food was very well presented and extremely tasty. Just the right size portions to enjoy every course. We retired to the lounge once more after our meal to relax in front of the fire. We felt well fed and well looked after.
Our stay at the Cley windmill was very enjoyable. The novelty of staying in such an iconic and historic structure really added an edge to the experience. Our room was well equipped and warm. The bed could do without a foot board for tall people like me but I often experience that in hotels. While the stairs in the windmill might be a little steep for some in the top rooms, the chance to stay somewhere so different is well worth it.

Location: The Quay Cley-next-the-Sea, Holt, Norfolk NR25 7RP

Website: cleywindmill.co.uk

Email: info@cleywindmill.co.uk

Phone: +44 (0)1263 740209