Open Water Swimming – Wells Quayside

27/08/2020

The Mousetrap is a great base if you want to try Open Water Swimming. With no pool walls or lanes, you can swim in your own space and at your own pace without the concern of anyone tapping at your heels. There is a great sense of achievement looking back to where you’ve swam from and seeing the fruits of your labour. It is a relaxing yet exhilarating experience to be out there as nature intended with plenty of stimulus to keep your mind occupied.

For beginners, wetsuits are recommended to help adjust to the water’s temperature and can improve buoyancy. It is also a great challenge knowing you have no floor to stand up on or side to hang onto, so it does offer a challenge that isn’t there in a confined pool environment. Cooler water can increase energy levels, nerve endings stand up and your heart starts racing – it is the best possible way to get a natural high!

There are lots of other health benefits – It has been proven by scientists that by being immersed in cold water three times a week increases your white blood counts which helps fight infection and boost your immune system by activating antibodies and increasing metabolic rate. It also helps flush your circulation pushing blood through your arteries, capillaries and veins as well as flushing any impurities giving you a better feeling of wellbeing. It has even been proven cold water can reduce stress levels and even depression.

But most of all its Lots Of Fun!! It’s a great way to push your fitness, meet new people, laugh a lot and it won’t break the bank. However, beware it is addictive and once you try it you might get hooked! Convinced? Check out our video

Do you have any experiences of Open Water Swimming? We would be pleased to hear your stories and receive any photos.

Mousetrap is a spacious, family friendly holiday home with 3 bedrooms, sleeping 6, free car parking and free wi-fi. Check out our: Facebook, Twitter,Instagram and YouTube pages Email: enquiry@mousetrapwells.co.uk Mobile: 07966 191 737

Lets Go Fly a Kite!

15/08/2020

One of my favourite films is Mary Poppins – I’ve been forced to watch it half dozen times over the years by various children. The final scenes, showing the Banks family finding joy in a home-made kite, accompanied by the soooo catchy ‘Lets Go Fly a Kite’ always gets me!

So, this year I prepared for my Norfolk break by buying a ‘Power Kite’. I’d often seen these being flown on Wells beach and always thought they looked great fun – and THEY ARE!

PRICE
Before rushing out to buy your new Power Kite (also known as ‘Stunt’ or ‘Sport Kites’) be aware these are nothing like the cheap ones you buy from gift shops, which may or may not fly and often only last one afternoon after crashing several times. Power Kites have cutting edge design and performance built in. The price reflects this, with most entry level models costing in excess of £50. But the experience is nothing like the kites you may remember as a kid and you don’t have to run down the beach with the kite trailing behind you to get it flying.

RESEARCH
Do your research! Power Kites as the name implies are used by enthusiast ‘flyers’ and to aid sports such as Kitesurfing, Landboarding and Buggying. However the entry level models are not quite that powerful and are designed to learn how to fly and do ‘tricks’: 360, Axel, Backflip, Cartwheel, Cuckoo clock, Black hole, Helicopter, Walking, Pancake , Stall, Yoyo, to name just a few.
After reading up on the subject I settled for a PRISM SYNAPSE 200 https://prismkites.com/product/synapse/

This kite seemed to be a reasonable price, good for beginners, manoeuvrable, but without being too aggressive. I didn’t want to see my 10-year-old flying off across the North Sea! It proved to be a good choice, with just a few minute’s guidance, she was soon fling it and could manage it even in quite a stiff breeze.

SAFETY
Because of the speed and potential power at which these kites fly, some safety measures should be adhered to:
• Don’t fly near people, especially young children, if the lines get wrapped around a small child they can cause serious burns and even lacerations
• Don’t fly close to roads. Landing a kite in a road could cause a serious accident.
• Keep clear of electric power lines, electrical signs, and TV and radio aerials and never fly in stormy weather – wet lines are conductive!
• Don’t fly near airports or military installations, you could find yourself being arrested!
• Be aware of dogs, especially when you land your kite, they’ve been known to grab the kite and run away with it and like children, if the lines get tangled around them and then the kite takes off in a gust, the lines can cause burns and laceration
• Finally, don’t fly your kite in winds stronger than recommended, or leave a small child unattended if they are flying. Strong gusts can lift small flyers off their feet!.
• If in doubt, or danger, crash land the kite and be prepared to abandon it before risking your life to rescue it from trees or telephone poles. In the long run, you’ll be better off buying a new kite

FUN!
Although the safety measures make the kite sound like a lethal weapon, that’s not the case and Power Kites are great fun. Wide open beaches like Wells next the Sea are ideal spots to start to learn how to fly your new kite. Within minutes you’ll be hooked as will any kids and hours will seem like minutes once you get going.
After only a few sessions, you will be practicing tricks and revelling in the joy of the sight and sound of the swooping kite. It’s a good idea when starting, to work in pairs, with one person flying the kite and one person straightening out the lines for a take-off, after an inevitable crash. The ‘assistant’ should stand behind the flyer at all time and not under the kite. You can practice swopping over from one to the other whilst the kite is flying or take a line each and practice tricks together.

ADDITIONAL EXTRAS
Some additional extra’s added whilst ordering your kite are a good investment…Padded wrist straps are a low cost must have buy. They come free with expensive top end kites, but are ordered as an extra with entry level models. But they make flying sessions so much more comfortable, especially when flying in a stiff breeze. Your hands and wrists take most of the force, so the padding saves rubbing and soreness.
Another additional extra is a tail…most Power Kites are shaped like a Parasail Wing, so do not need a tail for stability, unlike a traditional diamond shaped kite. So why add a tail? If you want a break from complicated tricks to just fly and swoop, the tail makes the kite quite magical and majestic. The shapes and patterns are quite mesmerising. When you’ve had enough down the kite, un-clip the tail and start ‘tricking’ again!

Convinced? Have a look at our video…

Do you have any experiences of kite flying on Wells beach? We would be pleased to hear your stories and receive any photos.

Summer 2020 How Has Coronovirus Changed Your Seaside Holiday?

09/07/2020

A weekend away in Wells next the Sea, on the Norfolk coast, has given me a glimpse of how Coronovirus will change this year’s Summer holiday…

Accommodation
Staying at the Mousetrap is ideal whether you are still nervous about Coronovirus, or more relaxed since lock down has been eased. As a holiday cottage, Mousetrap is self-contained, so you can reduce contact with other people. Having a whole house to yourselves and only being in contact with members of your own family is the ideal social distancing situation.
Unlike a guest house, lodge, dorm, hostel and even some hotels, you only have to share bathrooms with your own family. Even better, the Mousetrap has 2 x separate toilets, a large family bathroom and en-suite facilities in one of the bedrooms. Ideal if you are in a mixed family group – for example, visiting with Grandparents.
The Mousetrap also has two car parking spaces right outside the door. So, you can pull up and offload with little or no contact with anyone. You can bring your own groceries, if you are apprehensive about using local shops and cook for yourself all week, again reducing contact with others.

However, if this all seems a bit too severe….

Bars, Restaurants & Cafes
I visited a number of local hostelries to check out their new COVID-19 procedures…

Golden Fleece
One of my faves – I love their burgers. This pub restaurant (more restaurant, than pub) is usually bursting at the seams, so I was surprised at being able to book a table. But then again it is only early July – probably need much more notice come mid-July and August.

Entrance and exit are more strictly controlled, and you have to wait to be shown to your table. You cannot just waltz in through the front or rear doors, as you used to be able to do. Sanitizer is offered and expected to be used, upon entrance.

They have spaced out their tables both downstairs and upstairs and introduced disposable menus, upon which you write your selections. This reduces waitress contact time. Although they still make a separate contact asking if you want drinks while waiting for your food and then again at the end of the meal to process your card payment at your table.
Large tables are no longer catered for – I think the last time there were 12 of us and we pushed several tables together. Not allowed now – tables are not to be moved, to retain social distancing.
All in all though, the experience was not dissimilar to the last time I visited pre-COVID

Globe
Another favourite because it is wonderfully located on the Buttlands. Again, controlled entrance and sanitizer. If you have not booked a table you will not be able to sit inside, only outside in the courtyard. We had not booked, but it suited us because it was a nice evening and we only intended having a quick drink before heading back to the cottage. They had fired up the courtyard pizza oven, so we shared a freshly cooked pizza with our pints.

Don’t expect to simply walk in as you might have done in the past. Book ahead, whether you just want a table in the Courtyard for a drink or want to sit inside and have a full meal.

As I was only in Wells for the weekend, I didn’t have time to check out my other favourites: Wells Crab House, Bowling Green and the Albatros. However, I spoke with Wells Crab House, because they were showing as closed on their website. Kelly the owner, was just preparing for opening and was already, almost fully booked for the whole of July!

Cafes
I visited several cafes and here the experience is a bit more frustrating! By their nature Cafes are not ‘bookable’ and are ‘drop in’ operations. This is where we as a family hit the buffers! Most cafes have tables for two and four, so when we rock up and there are five of us it causes them problems as they have spaced out the tables to provide social distancing. We tried several and eventually gave up because we would have to wait for quite a long time (usually outside on the street). So, if you are a family of five or more you might need a Plan B!

Fish & Chips (& Takeaways)
…and this might be your Plan B? Wells’s two chippies were doing a good trade (as usual), with many people sitting on the quayside wall. Very nice in early July – but it might be a bit too crowded for comfort come mid-July and August, So maybe get your takeaway and take it back to your Holiday Cottage. No problem if staying at the Mousetrap as its less than 10 minutes’ walk from the Quayside.

Beaches
The jewel in North Norfolk’s crown didn’t disappoint – the beaches were wonderful! For a change I decided to take the family over to Burnham Overy Staithe. The walk from the Quayside along the sea defences to the beach takes 20+ minutes. After which, you arrive at the dunes and then the beach opens up in front of you – WOW! No problems with social distancing here. There’s space in abundance. As is the case on Wells beach and all the way around to Holkham.

Summary
Your Summer holiday will be a bit different this year. But not so much it will be spoiled. North Norfolk and Wells next the Sea is an ideal choice, especially if staying in a holiday cottage. You can control your contact with others, dependent on your comfort level. But the constant is the wonderful wide open space of the sea and beaches.

We would be pleased to hear of your experience visiting Wells, or other location on the North Norfolk coast – simply contact us by email or any of our social media – see the links below.

Winner of 2019/20 Subscriber Prize Draw – FREE WEEKEND – Annette W, Slough

12/02/2020

Although a bit later than usual we can finally announce this years winner of our SUBSCRIBER PRIZE DRAW is Annette W, Slough. Annette wins a free long weekend at the Mousetrap. Upon contacting Annette with the good news she said “Thank you so much for this offer. Such a lovely surprise”.

All Mousetrap subscribers are automatically eligible to receive the prize. We draw a name at random from our subscriber base just after New Year for a free Winter/Spring break.

Last years winner Stacey Pallister said “Myself and my family enjoy spending times in Wells because it has something for everyone, young and old. People are friendly. Shops and restaurants are fantastic and the beach is wonderful. The Mousetrap is a perfect location to visit Wells next the Sea because it is central. No need to worry about parking or driving around”. Stacey enjoyed taking her family Alpaca Trekking and enjoying pancakes on the Albatros.

Mousetrap subscribers benefit from:

– Chance to win a FREE WEEKEND
– Being first to receive reduced price stays at the MOUSETRAP due to cancellations
– Receive news of special events worth visiting North Norfolk for…
– We promise to send no more than 12 emails per year, but it’s often less

So please stay subscribed…next year it could be you?!

Mousetrap is a spacious family friendly holiday home with 3 bedrooms, sleeping 6, free car parking and free wi-fi. Check out our: Facebook, Twitter,Instagram and YouTube pages Email: enquiry@mousetrapwells.co.uk Mobile: 07966 191 737

Online Booking, immediate reservation and confirmation

Guest Reviews – MOUSETRAP – HELPING YOU TO MAKE AN INFORMED CHOICE

25/07/2019

Family holidays are important, but they can take up a fair part of a family budget. So it’s important to chose the correct holiday accommodation and be sure of the quality. You also need all the information to make an informed decision on whether the property has enough space and facilities for your particular family.

One way of confirming the information on the property website is to look at guest reviews…we collect reviews at the MOUSETRAP to check on ongoing quality, guest satisfaction as well as using them to communicate with new, prospective guests.

Over the past 12 months MOUSETRAP has been awarded a ‘Certificate of Excellence’ by TripAdvisor and a ‘Guest Review Award’ by Booking.com. Mousetrap works closely with both TripAdvisor and Booking.com and other OTA’s (Online Travel Agents) like Owners Direct/Homestay, AirBnB and receive regular guests who book through these platforms (additional charges apply when booking through these platforms, rather than booking direct). As we have less direct control over these reviews, they do provide an additional level of veracity. You can check our reviews on these channels below:

So next time you are looking to book your holiday accommodation in Wells next the Sea, check Guest Reviews as well as the property website or brochure. To encourage our guests to leave us a review (good or bad!) we send everyone an email at the end of their holiday. But MOUSETRAP goes further and also encourages guests to become subscribers. Everyone on our subscriber list at the end of the year is automatically entered into a unique draw to win a FREE weekend break. See previous blog posts featuring the most recent draw and subsequent interview with winner Stacey Pallister. You can include yourself on our subscriber base by clicking HERE

Click below to see some of our reviews…

Mousetrap is a spacious family friendly holiday home with 3 bedrooms, sleeping 6, free car parking and free wi-fi.
Check out our: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages
Email: enquiry@mousetrapwells.co.uk
Mobile: 07966 191 737

Are You Subscribed? Win a FREE Weekend Break!

11/07/2019

In November 2018, we contacted subscribers of our emails, asking them to participate in a free to enter competition. The prize was a FREE WEEKEND BREAK at the Mousetrap.

The competition was won by Stacey Pallister and we featured the draw in our 15.02.19 blog article ‘…and the winner is…’

Following her stay at the Mousetrap we contacted Stacey and asked what she thought of it – here’s some of the conversation:

Q…What do you like about Wells next the Sea?
A…Myself and my family enjoy spending times in Wells because it has something for everyone, young and old. People are friendly. Shops and restaurants are fantastic and the beach is wonderful.

Q…Why is the Mousetrap a good base for your visits to Wells next the Sea?
A…The Mousetrap is a perfect location to visit Wells next the Sea because it is central. No need to worry about parking or driving around.

Q…What’s on your to do list next time you visit Wells?
A..Try the pancakes at The Albatross and maybe go Alpaca trekking.

Q…Were you surprised when you won your free weekend at the Mousetrap? Who did you share your weekend with and did they enjoy it?
A…I was completely shocked and overwhelmed. I took my husband and other family members.

Q…As well as winning your free weekend, what other offers have you received through being on the subscriber list? A…I have various offers emailed throughout the year. Which include discounted weekends/weeks. Which are very handy because I have passed them onto friends and family.

Mousetrap is a spacious family friendly holiday home with 3 bedrooms, sleeping 6, free car parking and free wi-fi.

Check out our: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram and YouTube pages

Email: enquiry@mousetrapwells.co.uk Mobile: 07966 191 737 Click below for direct access to our online reservation and booking system

Wells Carnival 2019

11/06/2019

One of the highlights of the Summer Season on the North Norfolk coast is Wells Carnival. Wells-next-the-Sea enjoys a traditional summer Carnival for residents and visitors. It’s a week of family fun, culminating in a Carnival Day procession around the town featuring floats and fancy dress.

This year, Carnival kicks off on Friday 26th July leading up to the Carnival Day procession on Saturday 3rd August 2019. Wells Carnival is a not-for-profit organisation run by a team of hardworking volunteers who live in or near the town of Wells-next-the-Sea.

The event has been taking place annually at the beginning of August for well over 90 years. The week sees a whole host of fun activities for all the family and includes:

Sand-castle competitions
Town crier competition
Gillying on the quay
Teddy bears picnic for the little ones
Raft race
Fun run – for the energetic
History walks
The ever popular ‘Screen on the Green’ outdoor cinema
Various workshops
Live music over 6 nights
Crowning of the Carnival Royals

The event culminates with the main Carnival event, including fancy dress competitions, a parade around the town and a spectacular music event in the evening on Saturday 3rd August. For more information: www.wellscarnival.co.uk

Missed out this year? Book the Mousetrap now for Carnival 2020: Friday 31st July to Sunday 9th August – click HERE to book.

And the winner is…

15/02/2019

In November we mailed previous clients who were subscribed to receive our emails and news with a simple FREE to enter competition. Anyone who had previously stayed at the Mousetrap was asked to leave a review on Google’s newly launched Hotel Ads service. This helped Mousetrap’s visibility and compared to the cost of ‘paid for’ advertising was an effective way to become found on increasingly crowded internet search.

https://youtu.be/J8_W6BnOJ_8

In return for the favour, any reviewer published on Mousetraps Google profile by 31st January 2019 would be entered into a FREE draw, with a contributor picked at random, to win a FREE weekend break (Friday to Monday) in March 2019, worth over £350.

The winner was Stacey Pallister, who previously stayed at the Mousetrap with her extended family.

Mousetrap is a spacious family friendly holiday home with 3 bedrooms, sleeping 6, free car parking and free wi-fi.
Check out our: Facebook, Twitter,Instagram and YouTube pages
Email: enquiry@mousetrapwells.co.uk
Mobile: 07966 191 737

Online Booking, immediate reservation and confirmation

TOP TEN UNIQUE FACTS ABOUT NORTH NORFOLK

10/02/2019

Here at the MOUSETRAP we think North Norfolk is pretty special. Breath-taking coastline, nature-rich landscapes and stunning countryside. But don’t take our word for it! Here are ten completely unique things about north Norfolk. Come and discover them for yourself!

1…North Norfolk is home to the Queen’s country retreat, Sandringham. It’s the Royal Family’s only private home and estate in England. When unoccupied by Royalty, Sandringham is open to the public, so you can see where Meghan Markle spent her first Christmas with Prince Harry!

2…Norfolk has 120 Round Tower Churches. More than three times the number than any other county. Built in the 100 years after 1050, it is thought round towers were built for cultural reasons, at a time when Norfolk had strong trading links with the Baltic and North Sea communities.

3…The Chalk Reef, off Cromer and Sheringham, is the world’s longest chalk reef, at over 20 miles. It’s more than 100,000 million years old, created in the Mesozoic Era when dinosaurs roamed. It’s part of the same chalk stream as the White Cliffs of Dover, providing feeding grounds for crabs and lobsters, which is why Cromer crabs are so tasty.

4…North Norfolk is Nelson’s Birthplace. Horatio Nelson was born in Burnham Thorpe, where his father was rector. He learnt to sail at nearby Burnham Overy Staithe. Nelson of course went on to become the greatest naval commander this country has ever seen.

5…It’s quite unusual to find a pyramid in North Norfolk, but you can find one here! The Blickling Pyramid was built as a mausoleum, in 1794 for the 2nd Earl of Buckinghamshire. The pyramid can be seen in the Great Wood at the National Trust’s Blickling Estate, which was the birthplace of Anne Boleyn.

6…North Norfolk has some unique wildlife. Blakeney Point is home to the largest seal colony in England, with the arrival of 2500 pups in recent Winters. The colony is made up of Common and Grey seals. Common seals have their young between June and August, and the Greys between November and January. They are fed on their mother’s milk for three weeks before heading into the sea for the first time.

7…North Norfolk has several official ‘Dark Skies’ sites and is one of the few places in the UK where you can see the northern lights, or Aurora Borealis. Kelling Heath and Wiveton Downs, both have Dark Sky Discovery Status, which means the area is unaffected by light pollution. Both have the highest accolade of being designated ‘two star’ sites – where the seven stars of the Orion constellation and the Milky Way are visible to the naked eye.

8…Norfolk Broads is a National Park unlike any other, as they are man-made. This was discovered by Dr Joyce Lambert in the 1950’s when she found that the banks of the Broads were straight, unlike ordinary lakes. The Broads are a result of medieval peat diggings, which have created over 125 miles of navigable waterways – more than Venice or Amsterdam, and are home to more than a quarter of the rarest wildlife in the UK.

9…The stretch of coast from West Runton on the north coast of Norfolk to Happisburgh on the East, has earned the name the ‘Deep History Coast’ because of three historical, unique discoveries. The largest most complete mammoth skeleton in the world was uncovered in the cliffs at West Runton Beach. Whilst in Happisburgh, a 550,000-year-old flint axe and the foot prints of the first people ever to come to Britain across the land bridge from Europe, were found.

10…The Theatre Pavilion on Cromer Pier, is the world’s last ‘end-of-pier theatre’! It hosts concerts throughout the year, as well as the famous summer and Christmas variety shows.

Credit: From an original article featured on: www.visitnorthnorfolk.com

Mousetrap is a spacious family friendly holiday home with 3 bedrooms, sleeping 6, free car parking and free wi-fi.
Check out our: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube pages
Email: enquiry@mousetrapwells.co.uk
Mobile: 07966 191 737

Mousetrap is a Booking.com Guest Review Award winner

21/01/2019

Booking.com has awarded the Mousetrap a ‘Guest Review Award’ based on property presentation, service, guest communications and guest feedback.

Mousetrap owner Carl Marsh said ‘This is wonderful recognition of the effort we have put into the Mousetrap to make it the best holiday cottage it can be. We will continue to look at ways of introducing improvements to provide our guests with a comfortable, functional holiday home’.

Booking.com is a valuable partner, providing guest introductions for Mousetrap. Although Mousetrap has it’s own online reservation system, it does not have the extensive ‘reach’ that Booking.com has across the internet. Clear, concise presentation of property information combined with immediate booking and confirmation, make Booking.com one of the top performing OTA (Online Travel Agents) platforms.

As with all OTA’s, Booking .com bookings have a commission element and are usually more expensive than booking direct. Click the Book Direct image below for more information…

Mousetrap is a spacious family friendly holiday home with 3 bedrooms, sleeping 6, free car parking and free wi-fi.
Check out our: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram and YouTube pages
Email: enquiry@mousetrapwells.co.uk
Mobile: 07966 191 737