Brig Cottage

Dogfriendly Magazine Review

Read our comprehensive review of this listing printed in our bi-monthly magazine.

Brig Cottage, Scratby
Review by: - Jenny Green

The coastal village is home to several holiday parks and has everything from arcades to a bakery and dog friendly milkshake bar in summer. But during our stay in February, all of those things were closed, which was fine by us as we like it quiet. It was a pleasant surprise to discover how many pubs and cafes were open within a 15-minute drive, though. And while we had done a food shop before we arrived, having the village Premier within easy walking distance was handy, especially when we ran out of wine!

We were staying at Brig Cottage, a lovely two-bedroom property close to Scratby beach. It had everything we needed for a relaxed, dog friendly stay, including a secure garden. Downstairs, there was a compact yet well-equipped kitchen, a spacious lounge with large dining table and an airy conservatory, where we could keep an eye on Ernie and Stan as they explored the garden. There was also a shower room and an alcove – quirkily called the games room – which was packed with board games, cards, and books.

Upstairs were two spacious bedrooms – a double and a twin – an on-trend grey bathroom and a large landing area, complete with dressing table. There were lots of nods to the seaside around the cottage too, in the cushions, ornaments and bedding. I also loved the retro rail posters featuring Norfolk towns and attractions.

The boys were thrilled to find a pack of treats waiting for them in the kitchen and were invited to dip in and out of the dedicated Doggy Cupboard in the hallway. This was packed with more edible goodies, bowls, blankets and even spare leads. The welcome pack for us humans was just as much of a treat too, with Prosecco, some delicious homemade brownies, fresh bread and eggs. Once we had unpacked, we quickly tucked in to the first two items while devouring all the helpful local information leaflets provided. As it had already started to get dark, we promised the boys we’d take them to the beach in the morning and headed out for dinner at the Smokehouse in Ormesby a short drive away, where we parked next to a monster truck and US Sheriff’s vehicle.

Of course, when you’re this close to California, it makes perfect sense for there to be an American-style diner – and if you like burgers, ribs and steaks, the Smokehouse is a real must-visit. Veggies and vegans are also well catered for, but make sure you go hungry as the portions are enormous. The staff (and other customers) made a real fuss of Ernie and Stan and were fine with us sitting in the main restaurant, which was a nice surprise. They also brought over a bowl of water for the boys without us having to ask – and didn’t mind us sneaking them a few pieces of beef brisket under the table! Outside the Smokehouse, which is housed in a grand old building, you’ll find the Smoke Yard with outdoor bars and seating adorned with fairy lights. In the summer months, it has regular live music, barbecues and biker meets so I imagine it can get pretty lively of an evening. But before we headed back to the cottage to slip into our elasticated PJs, we popped into the nearby California Tavern for a nightcap. By this point, we couldn’t possibly have eaten another thing, but I hear the Sunday carvery comes highly recommended. Dogs are always welcome in the bar area too.

It’s easy to get down on to the beach from the California Tavern, which is where we headed early the next day. The stretch of sand in the area runs for miles, with Caister-on-Sea to the south and Hemsby and pretty Winterton-on-Sea to the north.  As it was February, the beach was very quiet and the boys loved chasing their ball around, while we took in the views of the sandstone cliffs and the Scroby Sands Wind Farm in the distance. After a good hour of walking, we headed back to the cottage and jumped in the car to visit Great Yarmouth and enjoy some chips on the seafront. The beach here is just as good as at Scratby and there are no restrictions for dogs out of season.

Pets are welcome on the resort’s Britannia Pier (which is unusual for UK piers) and a visit to the genteel Venetian Waterways, just north of the seaside resort’s ‘Golden Mile’ is a must. Once upon a time, tourists were ferried around this network of canals and ornamental gardens by gondoliers as classical music played. But these days, it’s just a peaceful place to walk and reflect. You can still hire boats, though, and dogs are also welcome in the Thatched Island Cafe, in the middle of the boating lake. We were hoping to snap a few pics of Ernie and Stan looking like giants in Merrivale Model Village too, but it was sadly closed when we visited. It’s a popular place in season, though – and even caught the attention of street artist Banksy, who left a little calling card when he visited last summer. He also spray-painted a seaside shelter in nearby Gorleston-on-Sea, which is where you’ll find the Doggy Diner. This quirky cafe, which also sells locally made doggy crafts and gifts, is a great place to refuel after a run on the nearby beach. It serves everything from egg rolls to Thai green curries and has a great choice of treats for dogs, from meatballs to sausage. The cafe only accepts cash, though, so make sure you have plenty of pennies before you visit.

We spent the rest of the afternoon and evening relaxing back at Brig Cottage to let the boys catch up on sleep and plan our next adventure – to the Norfolk Broads. I was thrilled to discover you could still get out on the water in February and after doing a bit of research online, we decided to go with Herbert Woods in Potter Heigham, around a 15-minute drive away.

Nick doesn’t have very good sea legs so we left him to relax at the cottage while Chris, the boys and I headed out to pick up our day boat. Most companies rent them out for a minimum of two hours, but it was just one at Herbert Woods, which was perfect for us as I wasn’t sure what the boys would make of it. Ernie has been on boats before but it was Stan’s first-time sailing. After paying our £22, we were given a brief introduction to the boat and then we were on our way. Chris was happy to do all the driving while the boys and I chilled out at the back. The boat was noisier than I expected, which I don’t think they particularly liked, but they relaxed enough to sit with me and take in views of the surrounding fields, mills and cute waterside cottages.  One little Westie even came out to bark hello as we passed!

The boys were glad to get back on dry land after an hour, though, and even happier to be reunited with dad back at the cottage. And we were spoilt for choice when it came to places to enjoy our last meal of the holiday. Special mentions must go to The Lion at Thurne, which has the biggest selection of beer, lager and cider in the Norfolk Broads, and Hirst’s Farm Shop, which serves fantastic breakfasts, afternoon teas and fish platters. But to be honest, we found it really hard to tear ourselves away from Brig Cottage, as the boys were so comfortable there and we had everything we needed.

Up to four dogs can stay for free at the cottage, which can be booked via East Ruston Cottages. The company specialises in dog friendly Norfolk breaks and has more than 30 properties on its books, ranging from romantic boltholes for two to detached houses that are perfect for large groups. We really hope to return to the area one day and sample more of its dog friendly delights. And that’s not just

California Dreamin’…

Brig Cottage, Scratby review by Jenny Green and appears in DogFriendly magazine issue 73.  For more information on the DogFriendly magazine visit  https://www.dogfriendly.co.uk/magazine