Mill Farm Eco Barns

Situated just on the first bend in the road heading south out of the pretty seaside village of Winterton-on-Sea, Emma and Neil Punchard opened these beautiful barn conversions just under a decade ago, just six months after they moved into the cottage just behind. It's a beautiful place, not just because of the location, looking back across the fields towards West Somerton church and the farmland beyond and out over to the lighthouse and dunes of Winterton, but also because they have put so much effort into making this such a fabulous place to stay, using recycled wood and other material in the conversions, installing low-energy lighting and composting everything that moves. A biomass boiler fed with wood pellets heats the barns, and a rainwater tank provides water to flush the loos and fill the washing machine, so not only can you relax in the lap of luxury, you can feel good about it too.

There are 3 barns to choose from, and each one is different. There's the cosy Hay Barn, which sleeps 2, a beautiful, self-contained living space that's a great mix of the rustic and contemporary, with a Smart TV, wood-burning stove and private garden with barbecue.  The large Threshing Barn next door  sleeps 8 in four large double/twin bedrooms – two upstairs, two downstairs – and also a huge living area, with well-equipped kitchen, seating for 8–10 people around  a large wall-mounted TV and wood burner, and a separate dining area that leads out onto a large patio area with barbecue. Two of the bedrooms have en-suites, plus there's a family bathroom and a wheelchair-accessible wet room downstairs, as well as a handy utility room for muddy boots and coats.

The newest property is the Grain Barn, an 'upside-down' property with a spacious, open-plan living space upstairs and 2 bedrooms on the ground floor, each with their own bathrooms. It's ideal for a family of four or two couples but they can also add an extra bed if you need to accommodate 5 people – there's certainly plenty of space for one!

There's plenty to do nearby, with a footpath leading across the fields behind and the beach and dunes just a short walk away in the other direction, plus you're well placed for the Broads and lots of other places along the north Norfolk coast. The village has a rather good pub, too, the dog-friendly Fisherman's Return, and when the weather is less clement, there are books and games.