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Ruston Lodge

Thursford, near Fakenham, Norfolk
Sleeps 6
Bedrooms 3
Bathrooms 3
Change Fri
Dogs welcome 2
4 star
Parking on site / nearby
Highchair available
Towels included
Family friendly
Games / Play facilities
Internet access
Open fire / wood burner
Downstairs bedroom
Decorated for Christmas
Downstairs bathroom
Cot available
Country houses
12 more

At a glance

  • Fabulous modern lodge-style property sitting on a beautiful family farm
  • Extremely spacious open-plan layout that’s perfect for entertaining
  • At the end of the day, enjoy a sublime soak in the double-ended sunken bath

Property code: OC-1315

Sitting on a lovely farm down a quiet country lane on the outskirts of the sleepy village of Thursford (0.5 miles), this gorgeous lodge is the ideal accommodation options for families or groups of friends in search of a stylish rural retreat where they have plenty of room to spread out and relax. Thursford is a small village with a big reputation. It’s home to one of the world's most significant steam engine and vintage fairground museums, The Thursford Collection (0.25 miles), which also hosts a spectacular Christmas show each year. Grab your hiking boots and go for a stroll at Thursford Wood (1 mile), where you can see some amazing 500-year-old oak trees. Alternatively, head to Cley-next-the-Sea (9 miles) to get some photos by its famous 18th century windmill, wander along the shingle beach or go birdwatching at the nature reserve. Or make your way to Morston Quay (8 miles) to take a boat trip to visit the seals in their natural habitat at Blakeley Point.

Step inside this wonderfully-spacious lodge and you’ll find a large open-plan living area with a welcoming sitting area with French doors leading out to the south-facing veranda. Take a moment to make yourself at home and then head to the stylish kitchen/diner to rustle up some dinner for your loved ones. Get everyone together around the large dining table for a sociable meal. A handy utility room, shower room and lovely king-size bedroom with TV completes the ground-floor layout. Up on the first floor you’ll find two more gorgeous bedrooms – one king-size with a TV and en-suite shower room, and a lovely twin. A stylish family bathroom with a sunken double-ended bath rounds off the first-floor layout.

Outside you’ll discover a beautiful lawned garden with a patio. Fire up the gas BBQ and get the whole gang together to dine alfresco at the table on the patio. New for the Thursford Collection is an incredible children's adventure playground with giant slides and an amazing water play fountain.

  • 3 bedrooms - 1 double with TV, 1 king-size with TV and en-suite shower room with shower cubicle and WC, 1 twin
  • 3 bathrooms – 1 family bathroom with sunken double-ended bath, hand-held shower attachment and WC, 1 shower room with shower cubicle and WC, 1 en-suite shower room with shower cubicle and WC
  • Electric oven and hob, American-style fridge/freezer, microwave, dishwasher
  • Utility Room with washing machine and dryer
  • Welcome pack
  • Travel cot, highchair and stairgate
  • Wood burner (starter pack of logs provided October to April)
  • TV with Freesat, DVD player
  • Mobile signal is variable
  • Lawned area to the side and rear of the property with a patio, BBQ and garden furniture
  • Private parking for 3 cars
  • Accessibility – Ground-floor king-size bedroom, ground-floor shower room with shower cubicle and WC
  • Pub 1.5 miles, shop 2 miles, beach 8 miles
  • This property will be decorated for Christmas
  • Arrival: 16:00 onwards
  • Departure: before 10:00
  • 2 dogs allowed. Additional charges may apply

Samantha Van Zyl

This property is personally managed by Samantha.

Reviews

From guests that have stayed at the property.

Based on 16 guest ratings

Overall cleanliness
Overall cleanliness 3.9 starsOverall cleanliness 3.9 starsOverall cleanliness 3.9 starsOverall cleanliness 3.9 starsOverall cleanliness 3.9 stars3.9
Overall equipment
Overall equipment 4.4 starsOverall equipment 4.4 starsOverall equipment 4.4 starsOverall equipment 4.4 starsOverall equipment 4.4 stars4.4
Overall comfort
Overall comfort 4.6 starsOverall comfort 4.6 starsOverall comfort 4.6 starsOverall comfort 4.6 starsOverall comfort 4.6 stars4.6
Overall location
Overall location 4.8 starsOverall location 4.8 starsOverall location 4.8 starsOverall location 4.8 starsOverall location 4.8 stars4.8

Reviewed by Tracy 10th September 2026

Guest rating 2.6 starsGuest rating 2.6 starsGuest rating 2.6 starsGuest rating 2.6 starsGuest rating 2.6 stars

The property location is lovely. It is down a quiet track with several other lodges on the same site. Our lodge felt very secluded and there is no light pollution, so dark skies are easily observed. Every morning and evening we had the sight and sound of House Martins flying around, and the birdsong was wonderful! We had a muntjac deer in the gardeRead moren on our second evening, and every day we had squirrels and rabbits too, and even a Buzzard just outside the parking area one day. The location of the holiday property is lovely and just enough out of the way, but still within easy driving distance to local attractions, nature reserves, tourist spots, and amenities. In terms of the property itself, it looked amazing in the photos online. In reality, it was a different story entirely. We arrived on a Friday around 17:15 after a long 6.5 hour journey in congested traffic. As soon as we entered Norfolk it started pouring hard with rain. Upon arrival we couldn't wait to get the car unloaded and sit down and relax. Sadly, that was not the case. After taking our footwear off, just 5 minutes of walking around the property left our socks dirty and sticky. The wooden flooring downstairs and the bathroom floor tiles were sticky the whole week. You could not miss the numerous spiderwebs and cobwebs hanging from the ceilings in the corners, around the edges of the rooms on the ceilings, all over the curtains in every room, and all around the fireplace. Our two teenage children checked their bedrooms and were horrified by the state of them. Underneath the beds and behind the headboards and bedside tables were what can only be described as Indiana Jones cave type cobwebs and spiderwebs behind them and hanging off the bed slats and mattresses. Our bedroom was the same. The amount of dust piled up under the beds looked like it had been swept there or missed by not hoovering under the beds, and appeared to be months' worth in thickness and quantity. There were spiders crawling on the undersides of the beds too. Under the sofas and all units was the same hideous sight. The amount of food crumbs and chunks of food and discarded chip forks etc under the sofas and units was disgusting. Stupidly, we lifted one of the sofa cushions; there was what looked like months' worth of crumbs and dog hairs and pieces of lego etc. The cleanliness was near non existent. After that long and hard journey we could not relax. We phoned the owner to politely let her know of our despair and also to make her aware of the state of the place so that she could address it with the cleaners. We sent her plenty of photos on WhatsApp and she was very apologetic and offered to rectify it by asking the cleaners to come back and tend to the issues the next day. We agreed but went ahead with cleaning the place with the hoover we found there. Nearly 2 hours of cleaning before we could unpack or even go and eat, and at least we could feel somewhat easier about sleeping there. We messaged the owner and told her not to get the cleaners to come because we had cleaned. She dropped around a bottle of wine and a small box of chocolates with a card apologising again for the cleaning we had to do and left it on the outside table so we would find them when we got back from a day out. We did not tell her about the sticky floors and surfaces. We did not tell her about the true state of things as we found them when properly cleaning. She does not even know that the cutlery and cookware and kitchen utensils were filthy and needed cleaning before use. The whole place and kitchen and bathrooms were sticky and stained and dirty. The white rugs were full of grey and black stains, and the sofas were stained and dirty. The main bathroom was okay apart from the stickiness. The two other bathrooms had mouldy shower cubicles and the shower heads were not to be gone near; dirty and mouldy looking. We simply made sure to be out as much as possible to avoid being there. In fairness to her, she was very apologetic and offered to rectify the problem. She also gave us a gift to show her apology and try to make up for the start to our holiday being poor. In our view, having come on holiday, we should not have had to clean when we got there. A part refund of a few hundred pounds for our time cleaning and the inconvenience and upset would have been more appropriate than wine and chocolates. (We nearly went back home that same evening it was in such a bad state.) Had the place been clean and not neglected in terms of cleanliness and poor quality furniture and mattresses and sofas and rugs in need of replacing, we would have been comfortable and enjoyed our holiday more. Our holiday was lovely in terms of the things we did and the places we visited. But the accommodation was a massive let down and we could not wait to leave and find the comfort and cleanliness of our own home again. If you enjoy catching spiders throughout your stay every morning and evening and throughout your time there, then this is your place! Hide

Reviewed by Teresa 21st July 2026

Guest rating 4.8 starsGuest rating 4.8 starsGuest rating 4.8 starsGuest rating 4.8 starsGuest rating 4.8 stars

Beautiful lodge surrounded by garden with mature trees and shrubs, lived the visiting wildlife. 3 good sized bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Big open plan property with well equipped kitchen. Had everything we needed and more.

Reviewed by Carole 11th July 2026

Guest rating 4.2 starsGuest rating 4.2 starsGuest rating 4.2 starsGuest rating 4.2 starsGuest rating 4.2 stars

Beautiful setting, very spacious accommodation, had everything you needed. Perfectly located for local attractions.

Reviewed by Denis 22nd June 2026

Guest rating 5 starsGuest rating 5 starsGuest rating 5 starsGuest rating 5 starsGuest rating 5 stars

Lovely comfortable property with lots of space and very well equipped. Very peaceful setting with lots of wildlife as previously mentioned, would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing home from home.

Reviewed by George 18th June 2026

Guest rating 3.6 starsGuest rating 3.6 starsGuest rating 3.6 starsGuest rating 3.6 starsGuest rating 3.6 stars

Its good to be left a welcome pack for your arrival, however, I dont regard a tub of popcorn (never opened) and small carton of milk to be a welcome. Similarly, on arrival our first job was to sweep away all the leaves and debris that covered the access into the property and around the outside dining area. Unless you want guests to tread it throuRead moregh the property suggest you advise the cleaners. The bbq was covered in spiders webs. Can be a bit gloomy with all the tall trees that surround the property. Otherwise property had all we needed and was a calm and peaceful place to stay. Hide

Reviewed by Victoria 12th April 2026

Guest rating 5 starsGuest rating 5 starsGuest rating 5 starsGuest rating 5 starsGuest rating 5 stars

Reviewed by Christopher 13th September 2025

Guest rating 4.4 starsGuest rating 4.4 starsGuest rating 4.4 starsGuest rating 4.4 starsGuest rating 4.4 stars

Good location very peaceful & relaxing. Very good for visiting locations in the area.

Reviewed by Martin 6th September 2025

Guest rating 4.2 starsGuest rating 4.2 starsGuest rating 4.2 starsGuest rating 4.2 starsGuest rating 4.2 stars

Reviewed by Julie 16th August 2025

Guest rating 4.6 starsGuest rating 4.6 starsGuest rating 4.6 starsGuest rating 4.6 starsGuest rating 4.6 stars

Would definitely recommend this place. Owner accommodating! Property in a lovely setting but also near to places and facilities we wanted! Very much appreciated the bits left for us it wasnt expected!

Reviewed by Martin 25th July 2025

Guest rating 4.4 starsGuest rating 4.4 starsGuest rating 4.4 starsGuest rating 4.4 starsGuest rating 4.4 stars

Reviewed by Christopher 12th July 2025

Guest rating 4 starsGuest rating 4 starsGuest rating 4 starsGuest rating 4 starsGuest rating 4 stars

Reviewed by Alison 30th June 2025

Guest rating 4.6 starsGuest rating 4.6 starsGuest rating 4.6 starsGuest rating 4.6 starsGuest rating 4.6 stars

Lovely lodge. Well equipped. Owners easy to contact and quick to sort issues out. Great location and very quiet. Would definitely stay again.

Reviewed by Christine 21st June 2025

Guest rating 4.2 starsGuest rating 4.2 starsGuest rating 4.2 starsGuest rating 4.2 starsGuest rating 4.2 stars

Nice property, although quite remote. The beds were very comfortable. Make sure you take everything with you in the way of food and supplies, to last you until you can get to a shop, as there are no shops nearby, and no welcome pack. A very relaxing break.

Reviewed by Paula 20th May 2025

Guest rating 5 starsGuest rating 5 starsGuest rating 5 starsGuest rating 5 starsGuest rating 5 stars

We thoroughly enjoyed spending two weeks at Ruston Lodge. The setting was amazingly quiet, with just the sound of bird song for company. A muntjac deer wandered around most days, as did a pheasant, and two squirrels kept us entertained with their antics. The lodge itself had quality furnishings, comfortable beds and came with everything needed Read morefor self-catering. With plenty to see and do within a 30-35 minute drive, we had a very relaxing holiday and would happily recommend this property. Hide

Reviewed by Kevin 22nd April 2025

Guest rating 4.6 starsGuest rating 4.6 starsGuest rating 4.6 starsGuest rating 4.6 starsGuest rating 4.6 stars

We all loved the cottage, very well equipped. WiFi was excellent. We saw plenty of wildlife, Daily visits from deer and squirrels. Lots of birds to watch. Good location. 9 miles from beach. Went to Pensthorpe. Great day out. I would certainly recommend the cottage to any family or friends

Reviewed by Paul 13th April 2025

Guest rating 4.4 starsGuest rating 4.4 starsGuest rating 4.4 starsGuest rating 4.4 starsGuest rating 4.4 stars

Very comfortable house. Well equipped. Excellent WiFi. Great as base for exploring both country and coast.

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Location

Map
Note: As the postcode is used to identify the general area of the property, it may not always reflect its precise location, therefore please only use this map as a guide.
Original Cottages is a trading name of The Travel Chapter Limited | The Travel Chapter Limited is registered in England and Wales. | Registered office Travel Chapter House, Gammaton Road, Bideford, EX39 4DF. Company No. 02431506 | VAT reg: 143053210.