Millview Meadow Glamping

Runham Swim Windmill, three miles from Britain’s most easterly beaches, stands out against Norfolk’s big skies and flat landscape. Whether in winter mists or summer sun it’s a landmark of utter beauty. Tarred blacked bricks rise 30-feet off the ground to its white wooden cap, akin to an upturned boat, and a small fan wheel pokes from the rear like a peacock’s tail. It’s only in the last few decades that the Norfolk Windmill Trust have set about its restoration – they hope to add main sails, too, when funding allows – and even more recently that the mill’s owners began to create a small glamping site in a nearby meadow. For a classic Norfolk view and a whole dose of glamping comforts, there are few places we’d rather be.

Juxtaposed against views of the 200-year-old mill, the three brand new pods, built in 2019 are a thoroughly modern affair and come with all mod cons, including en-suite bathrooms, WiFi, intelligent heating panels and smart televisions. The Siberian Larchwood cladding is like a present day version of the wooden cap on the old mill top and lends the pods excellent insulation throughout the year. Inside it has a seriously sleek, 21st-century feel, while outside it’s a short stroll to some of the most timeless views in the region. Not that you need wander off. There’s a terrace, picnic table and firepit directly outside each pod. You can happily while away the hours here with a glass of wine or a cold beer straight from your pod’s fridge.

From the aptly named Millview Meadow a footpath runs out to the bank of the Rive Bure, where Runham Swim Mindwill stands – so named after the cows that would once be herded down here to swim across to pastures opposite. From there it’s possible to walk east to the river mouth at Great Yarmouth or upriver to the beautiful villages of Acle and Thurne (good pubs along the way). If the water itself appeals then you can hire canoes and boats in Acle too or drive 20 minutes further into the Broads to popular spots like Potter Heigham, Horning and Wroxham. Then there are the myriad of seaside options; Great Yarmouth (10 minutes), Waxham Sands (25 minutes) and Winterton (15 minutes) where a colony of seals hangs out. All in all it means Millview Meadow has not just a stunning view but a convenient location to match. A quiet glamping backwater that still has access to the very best of the Norfolk Broads and the east coast.