Mousetrap Awarded Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence

2nd June 2018

Mousetrap has been awarded a Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence 2018 for outstanding performance.

It’s acknowledgement of the work that has been put into the Mousetrap to make it the best holiday home that it can be. Not only in terms of the physical property but also the service in managing our guests.

Since taking over the Mousetrap, owners Carl & Andrea Marsh, have invested by installing a modern, easy to use kitchen, a clean modern bathroom as well as ‘heavier’ renovations such as re-roofing and landscaping.

Owner Carl Marsh said ‘Mousetrap has been renovated to be clean and easy to use, with all the conveniences guests would find in their own homes. I’m very mindful that holidays and family time are very important and want everyone who stays at the Mousetrap to have the most relaxing time possible.’

Mousetrap works closely with Tripadvisor and receives regular guests who book through the platform, where Mousetrap’s listing now proudly displays the ‘Certificate of Excellence’ rosette. Guests should be aware that platform booking fees are added when booking through OTA’s (Online Travel Agents) booking directly is cheaper as we do not have to add commission charges. If you have dates in mind click here to be taken to Mousetrap’s online reservation platform.

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

Mousetrap is ready for Summer 2018

5th May 2018

Mousetrap has had a makeover during the Winter – a new bathroom has been installed – featuring a bath, electric shower, basin, toilet, under-tile heating, vanity unit and illuminated dressing mirror.

The latest renovations mean the Mousetrap is now ready for Summer and we look forward to welcoming guests; old and new. Improvements to the garden will be carried out over the Summer period, with more focus on the front garden area, which receives late afternoon sun and is a lovely place to sit and watch the world go by.

If you would like a quick tour of the Mousetrap – have a look at this video on our YouTube Channel:
Mousetrap Tour Video

Availability and prices can be found on our online reservation system: Online Reservations

Mousetrap – a great base for Sea Fishing in Wells

25th February 2018

The Mousetrap is a great base for Sea Fishing trips from Wells next the Sea.

Several operators offer short trips, ideal for Mums and Dads to bring the children and introduce them to the joys of sea fishing.

All Sea Fishing operators are fully insured and usually go no further than a few miles offshore.
Target species are Bass, Tope and Cod with Mackerel being plentiful in the summer months.
In addition to the challenge and joy of fishing, it’s also a great way to see the area from a different perspective and gain an appreciation for the beauty of the area.

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 for more information email: enquiry@mousetrapwells.co.uk
Mobile: 07966 191 737 bookings: Click Here

Mousetrap Bookings & Reservations – Now Easier Than Ever!

23rd July 2017

Mousetrap Bookings & Reservations – Now Easier Than Ever!

Like a lot of small businesses the Mousetrap has always relied on cumbersome and time consuming ‘paper based’ systems.

Being a seaside holiday cottage the booking and reservation process, usually required between 7 to 12 steps, including bits of paper and disparate emails to successfully process a guests request.

That’s all changed! We’ve just taken a huge leap forward…in conjunction with a new booking partner (freetobook.com) guests can now find out what dates are available, reserve them and pay a booking deposit, all from the website – in minutes! Try it out now by clicking the ‘Book Direct, Best Price’ logo below:

Guests will appreciate the benefits:

Less emails to send back and forth
Real time booking Calendar showing dates free and already reserved
Simple reservation form
Online payment of reservation deposit
Immediate confirmation showing dates reserved and deposits paid

Guests are seamlessly transferred from our website to our partner site, when clicking on the ‘Book Direct, Best Price’ logo. They are then presented with a simple RESERVATION page. Different dates can be entered, which will show if the dates are available and the price of those dates:

Mousetrap Online Reservations Page

Once satisfied with their selected dates, guests just click the orange BOOK button and are taken to a simple BOOKING FORM page. The guest completes all required information:

Mousetrap Online Booking Form

Once all the necessary information has been entered the guest clicks a button at the bottom of the page and is taken to a DEPOSIT PAYMENTS page. This allows a reservation deposit to be paid – securing the guests selected dates.

Mousetrap Online Payment System powered by Stripe

In 3 simple steps a detailed reservation receipt is automatically emailed to the guest, arriving within seconds. It contains a unique reference number, Mousetraps contact details and confirmation of the paid deposit. Mousetrap also receives a copy, so everyone has the same information.

The whole process is simple and takes just minutes – but best of all guests are reassured they have reserved their preferred dates – one less thing to think about! Although the system has only just gone live, it is already proving to be of value to Mousetrap’s new and returning guests. The first booking was received within 5 minutes of the system being ‘switched on’. Early feedback is very positive, with guests stating “It’s very straight forward, and easy, the booking went through quickly and the receipt email came through immediately. The supplied Discount Code also worked well”.

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 for more information
email: enquiry@mousetrapwells.co.uk mobile: 07966 191 737 bookings: Click Here

Pirates spotted in Wells next the Sea

29th August 2016

Pirates spotted in Wells Next the Sea

Luckily today’s Pirates are more intent on having fun. But the Wells next the Sea Pirate Festival (9-11th Sep) is borne from a more nefarious heritage…

Wells Pirate Festival The entire coastline of 18th century England was ruled by major smuggling barons and their private armies recruited from coastal villages. By the 1780’s, smuggling had reached such unprecedented heights that the Government was forced to take a stand, not only to protect its revenue, but also to quell the revolutionary posturing of the smuggling gangs.

North Norfolk was particularly lawless, and was in the control of ruthless operators determined to protect their illicit activities. In 1783, Army Regiments and Naval Warships, returning from the American war, were pitched headlong into a domestic war against the smuggling gangs. A decade of bloody confrontation, violence and death ensued.

The Pitt Arms (now The Hoste) in Burnham Market played a prominent role in suppressing the smuggling gangs, by providing accommodation and stabling for detachments of soldiers and horses from the Light Dragoon Regiments. These disciplined cavalrymen were drafted into the area to assist officers of both The Customs and The Excise to confront the well-armed smuggling gangs on equal terms. The landlord of the Inn was allowed a miserly 4d per day by the War Office for each soldier and horse, and included accommodation, food, small beer, stabling and hay.

Interested in North Norfolk’s lawless coastal heritage? The Mousetrap is a perfect holiday base for visiting Wells next the Sea, with 3 bedrooms, sleeping 6. Contact us now for information: enquiry@mousetrapwells.co.uk Or call us: 07966 191 737

(Credit: Soham Grammarians & Neil Holmes, author The Lawless Coast )

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 for more information
email: enquiry@mousetrapwells.co.uk mobile: 07966 191 737 bookings: Click Here

It’s Official – Beach of the Year – Wells next the Sea

10th July 2016

It’s official! The ‘Beach of the Year’ is Wells next the Sea

The Sunday Times (10.07.16 edition) stated:

“If you haven’t yet been to the runaway winner of the first Sunday Times Beach of the Year award, you should clear your diary. North Norfolk’s prettiest little town is having a moment. What you’ll find is an immensity of flat sands stretching away towards an often distant sea, backed by a fragrant forest of Scots pines and fringed with the cutest beach huts in Britain.”

Beach Huts

This comes after a number of awards and nominations over the past few years for Wells and Holkham, such as: Kennel Club Be Dog Friendly Awards Beach of the Year, Best Seaside Resort in Britain Holiday Which magazine, amongst others.

This is not new news to anyone living or working in Wells. But for those that have yet to experience the delights of Wells and the wider North Norfolk coast…come and visit and see for yourself what all the fuss is about.

The Mousetrap is a perfect holiday base for visiting Wells next the Sea, with 3 bedrooms, sleeping 6. Contact us now for information: enquiry@mousetrapwells.co.uk Or call us: 07966 191 737

Sea, Sand and … Tarzan Swings?

8th June 2016

There are some things kids just love on holiday..! The beach, the sea and … Tarzan swings?

Yes, those home made swings, where some brave soul shins up a tree, ties off a rope, then hangs a chunk of wood on it, to sit, or stand on. But where do you get them all in one place?

Magical Wells, of course!

I can’t think of any other place where kids can play on the beach, splash about in the sea and have a great time swinging in the trees. The Pine forests which fringe the beach at Wells next the Sea are a natural playground. Most days whether rain or shine, there are kids and their parents playing games in the forest. Hide and seek? Back to base? What about making dens? whether you can remember how to play them or not – ten minutes on the Tarzan swing will be the highlight.

It says a lot about the spirit of the place, that such simple pleasures can consume whole families – usually battling over whose turn it is to go on the iPad. It’s probably why Wells is a firm favourite holiday destination with families.

Try it! You’ll love it!

The Mousetrap is a perfect holiday base for families visiting Wells next the Sea and the wider North Norfolk coast. Contact us now for information: enquiry@mousetrapwells.co.uk Or call us: 07966 191 737

Canoe the Creeks

1st June 2016

Wells next the Sea has a unique topography.

Discover it with the Mousetrap…

The combination of sand, tides and salt marshes creates a unique habitat. One of the best ways of understanding it and experiencing it is by canoe or kayak. Exploring the creeks, sand banks and marshes is an amazing experience, especially when guided by someone with local knowledge. So when someone offers to do it and even lend you a kayak, you should jump at the chance!

salt marsh stiffkey

Wells Harbour Maritime Trust are running a Kayak Safari on 26th June at 10:00.

So if you have ever wanted to go around the creeks but don’t own a kayak – now is your chance, you can borrow a Trust kayak for free!
The trip will last around 1 ½ hrs and there are limited numbers so it’s essential to book.
If you have your own kayak and just want to join in on the fun you can come along too.

Call in at the Harbour Office or ring 01328 711646

The Mousetrap is a perfect holiday base for exploring Wells next the Sea and the wider North Norfolk coast. Contact us now for information: enquiry@mousetrapwells.co.uk Or call us: 07966 191 737

How do you get a 200 tonne Albatros out of the water?

13th May 2016

How do you get a 200 tonne Albatros out of the water?

It’s not a joke, and we’re not talking about a bird either…The beloved Albatros, a former Dutch cargo ship built in 1899 as a North Sea clipper needed a hull scrub and re-paint. One of the oldest sailing ships still afloat, the Albatros no longer sails the high seas, instead she is now permanently moored alongside the Quay of Wells-next-the-sea and used as a bar, restaurant, music venue and B&B. She’s become a major tourist attraction and known to many tourists as the ‘Pancake Boat’.
albatrosview01

Like all sea going vessels it has to be taken out of the water every few years for vital maintenance. So how do you lift a 200 tonne Albatros out of the water to have its ‘bum’ scrubbed? Watch this and find out: https://youtu.be/MBQc7qLsiHo

Booked your summer holidays yet? We still have a few weeks free in July and August 2016. Contact us now for information: enquiry@mousetrapwells.co.uk Or call us: 07966 191 737

A Healthy Harbour Starts Here

9th May 2016

Ask anyone who has visited Wells, what their favourite activity was and there’s a good chance they’ll say ‘catching crabs’. Kids love it and it’s long been one of the cheapest, simplest forms of entertainment and enjoyment that Wells offers. The popularity has now caused its own problems though.

The Port and the Wells Harbour Maritime Trust estimates that 30,000 plastic buckets and reels are sold in Wells during the summer season, with many ending up in the harbour. Polluting the sea where the plastic degrades due to solar radiation and oxidation into smaller and smaller pieces. Marine life mistakes it for food and strangle on the ingested plastic. Marine animals also get entangled in the Plastic nylon line.

Shore Crab catching or Gillying is popular in Wells next the Sea

A novel solution has been funded by local authorities and community groups – a quayside ‘Gilly Hut’.

The hut will feature information on the environment and rent metal buckets, lines just long enough to reach from the quayside to the estuary bed and bait. It’s hoped that education and rental will provide choice to visitors, who will respond positively, to help improve the environment and reduce harm to marine life. The Harbour authority is not banning plastic buckets or longer lines, but hopes this initiative will vastly reduce the number of plastic buckets finding their way into the sea.

We hope guests of the Mousetrap and other holiday cottages will support this initiative and we’ve included details of the Gilly Hut in our house information file. Want to know more? Contact us: enquiry@mousetrapwells.co.uk Or call: 07966 191 737 Alternatively contact The Port and the Wells Harbour Maritime Trust: harbouroffice@wellsharbour.co.uk