Cool Places
Bircham Windmill
Great Bircham Norfolk PE31 6SJ
The fields in Norfolk used to be dotted with windmills but there are very few left, and even fewer like this one, family-owned, beautifully restored and open to visitors. There's a bit of something for everyone at Bircham. The mill itself is kept much as it was a century ago and boasts marvellous views from the top. There's a bakery selling wonderful fresh bread and cakes, and you can even bake your own bread while you're here. Children can pet the resident pony and donkey, follow a treasure hunt around the garden or play with the cogs on the magnetic cog wall. They also show short films on the history of the windmill and its restoration. Finally there's a gift shop and very popular tearoom serving lunches and cream teas.
The meadow beneath the windmill has also been set aside for campers, with a couple of cosy shepherd's huts you can stay in as well as a traditional campsite space for pitching tents. It's lovely place to camp (and glamp), no question, and guests here have access to the windmill garden and grounds, with a discounted rate to climb the mill. You can also stay in the owners' very cosy self-cottage nearby – Apple Tree Cottage – which is a great base for the area.
