The Little House on the River
Traditional waterside bungalow on the River Thurne, Potter Heigham, Norfolk Broads
The Little House on the River
Idyllic holiday cottage in the Norfolk Broads
This popular holiday cottage (65 North East Riverbank) is situated on the bank of the River Thurne, just five minutes' walk upriver from the ancient arched bridge at Potter Heigham, where several cafés, shops (including fishing tackle) and boat hire are available. The location is peaceful with uninterrupted south facing views from all the rooms, over the river and water meadows beyond. There is a spacious sun deck for alfresco dining. There is a 60 ft river frontage, your own mooring and free car parking in a reserved space a short walk away. Enjoy fishing, boating, walking and bird watching directly from the property. Hire a boat or bring your own. Stunning views over the river and water meadows. Peace and tranquility. Norfolk coast and blue flag beaches 20 minutes away by car and the historic city of Norwich 30 minutes away.
Prices and availability
Prices and availability
£50 deposit required on booking with the balance to be paid no later than 4 weeks before the holiday start date. For late bookings full payment at time of booking is required. Up to two well behaved pets welcome at no extra charge.
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Amenities at the Little House
The kitchen is well equipped, with a dining area facing the river. There is one double and one twin bedroom, both with river views. Duvets and bed linen are provided. There is a good sized family bathroom with corner shower. Electricity is included in the rental price.
There is a large porch for storing outerwear and an outside WC, especially useful when fishing. There are two boat mooring dykes - one for your use (with the owners' boat kept in the other). A secure fisherman's shed with bait fridge completes the picture.
A selection of books, maps and travel guides are provided.
With so much to see and do, the Little House on the River is ideal for families. However, because of the unfenced river frontage, parents must judge the suitability for their children. There is no direct access to the house by car; although this adds to the peace and quiet and sense of seclusion, it does mean that cars must be parked in a free reserved spot near Potter Heigham bridge and all luggage transported either by water taxi, hire boat or a walk of approximately 5 minutes along the towpath (luggage cart provided).
Contact us
- The Little House on the River, 65 NE Riverbank, Potter Heigham Norfolk NR29 5NE
Things to see and do
The house's location is idyllic and peaceful, with uninterrupted views over the river to the water meadows beyond. While away your time sitting on the sun deck watching sailing boats and cruisers go by, or enjoy the sunset over the water meadows.
Fish directly from the garden, with its 60 ft key-headed river frontage (season begins mid-June and permits are available locally). Hire a boat, for the day or the week, to explore the rest of the Norfolk Broads, or bring your own, and moor it in the mooring dock. Have fun feeding the ducks and swans from the garden or go bird watching across the marshes. The Hickling national nature reserve, famous for swallowtail butterflies, is nearby. Take the Weavers' Way footpath from right behind the house or enjoy a network of other walks and cycle rides. There are a number of historic houses and gardens within easy reach.
Potter Heigham is one of the major boating centres on the Norfolk Broads, with many boating holidays or day trips starting from here. The medieval bridge gives access to the Upper Thurne, Hickling Broad and Horsey Mere, but only for smaller craft and at low tide! The famous Lathams store is located here, as well as a pub, two café/restaurants, chip-shop and gift shop/newsagent. The main village is located the other side of the A149 road and is mainly residential and quite separate from the boating centre, but it has a lovely village church. There is a pub near the medieval bridge, with good food and excellent take away pizza, (there is another pub further out of the village centre on the road to Ludham). If you prefer a cafe, a mobile one is situated on the opposite side of the road, and there are two other licensed cafes serving good quality food. Shopping in Potter means one thing ... Lathams! ... a famous Norfolk discount store. No visit to Potter is complete without a visit to Lathams ... they stock discount items from clothes, toys, household items and even have a garden centre.
The Weavers Way passes through Potter and is a good place for a walk. Along the path you will find bungalows, one of the few places on the Norfolk Broads where the Broads Authority have allowed buildings directly on the riverbank. They are only accessible by the footpath behind, or by boat. The Little House on the River is one of these.
Fishing on the Broads
Besides the abundant shoals of roach and slab-sided bream, good numbers of perch and specimen pike are amongst the species traditionally associated with Broads angling and can be caught throughout the freshwater areas. Rudd have become increasingly rare throughout the country, but are still commonly caught in various areas of the Broads, especially the Upper Thurne.
Fishing on the River Thurne
Situated on the quieter stretch of the River Thurne, upriver from Potter Heigham bridge, the Little House on the River is a fisherman’s paradise. The 60 ft river frontage allows up to four anglers onto the river and the ‘fisherman’s shed’ with bait fridge provides the necessary secure storage for all your tackle. A separate outside WC is convenient when fishing, and a side entry porch is useful for storage of outside clothing. The opposite bank is free of buildings, giving you your own private stretch of river.
Hiring a dayboat, preferably electric, enables you to access the quiet reedy backwaters of the Upper Thurne, which offers superb summer fishing prospects. Bumper catches of bream from Deep Dyke, between Heigham Sound and Hickling Broad, specimen rudd from the reedy margins of the system and large tench from the Thurne in the vicinity of the Martham Broads have all added to this area’s reputation as an angler’s paradise. Of all the rich landscapes of Broadland, the Upper Thurne system is probably the one which captures people’s image of the Broads most accurately.
Fishing from a small dinghy in this landscape of reedbeds, stark drainage pumps and distant sand dunes is a lasting memory for many that visit the Broads. Marsh harriers soar over the beds of sedge and reed, which provide thatch for so many local dwellings. Great crested grebes dive for the small roach and rudd that abound in the shallow bays of Hickling Broad, Heigham Sound and Horsey Mere. Coots dive and feed on the rich reedbeds that give cover for young fish. In winter, the sight of a bittern can add so much to a day’s pike fishing. Away from the boat channels in shallow reed-lined bays, rudd can be caught alongside the reeds as can large tench and bream. The angler can find true solitude in such bays.
Please note, if you are 12 years old or over you must have a valid Environment Agency Rod Licence – available online and from Post Offices. For telephone sales call: 0870 1662 662.
A copy of the Anglian Region Fisheries Byelaws can be found at: www.environment-agency.gov.uk
The annual coarse fish closed season is 15 March to 15 June INCLUSIVE each year, and applies to the Broads and all its rivers.
The information in this section is adapted from the Environment Agency publication ‘Angle on the Broads’ (http://www.environmentdata.org/archive/ealit:219). Each fish type requires various angling techniques and baits employed for their capture; this publication describes in some detail the six main species likely to be encountered along with tips which may aid the visiting angler put together some worthwhile catches.
Further afield
The Broads reach the sea at Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth, two busy seaside towns with something for everyone. Travelling north up the coast there are a range of different seaside resorts, including dunes and nature reserves (Winterton), blue flag beach with offshore reefs ideal for water sports (Sea Palling) crumbling cliffs and landmark lighthouse (Happisburgh) and classic Victorian seaside and crabs (Cromer).
The historic city of Norwich is the 'capital' of Norfolk, with its 900 year old Cathedral, Norman castle, museums, theatres, market place and superb shopping centres.
Farm shops and farmers' markets are a feature of everyday life, with small scale farms preserving rare breed herds, native fruit varieties and micro breweries making local beers and ciders.
There are so many things to visit locally, but to give a few examples:
Bewilderwood - fifty acres of wild outdoor adventure, with treehouses, zip wires, jungle bridges, boat trips, marsh walks and a good cafe.
Wroxham Barns Craft Centre - Craft workshops, children's fun fair and farm
Waxham Barn, vast 16th century barn open to the public
Horsey windpump, National trust owned restored windmill, where the Broads come closest to the sea. Walk from here to see the seals on Horsey beach.
Stalham - Museum of the Broads.
Hoveton Hall Gardens - beautiful woodland and walled gardens, woodland and lakeside walks.
Fairhaven Water Gardens, South Walsham - visit in June to see the vast expanse of candelabra primulas.
East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens, near Stalham - exciting, eclectic, come away with new ideas for you own patch, plus some rare and unusual plants from the plant sales area.
The nearby City of Norwich has a splendid Romanesque Cathedral with the second highest spire and largest monastic cloisters in England. Guided tours are available from June to October.
City of Norwich Aviation Museum in Horsham St Faith, near the airport, 5 miles from Wroxham, the museum features many historic aircraft including the Vulcan Bomber plus many aircraft which flew from the numerous Norfolk airfields during the second world war.
Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery - a superb collection of paintings of the Norwich School, plus archeology, natural history and geology.
Blickling Hall - Magnificent Jacobean house with garden and park. Famed for its long gallery, fine tapestries, paintings and rare books. Parkland and lakeside walks.
Great Yarmouth Sea Life Centre - all kinds of sea creatures, from sharks to stingrays, otters to octopus, tropical fish to turtles.
Somerleyton House - originally a Jacobean manor remodelled in 1844 into the fine example of an early Victorian Hall in the Anglo-Italian style.
Reviews
Brenda and Ron, Kent. Sept 2022
We have stayed in4 different houses at Potter Heigham and this is definitely the best. Fishing great, wildlife brilliant.
Al and Jan, Sept 2022
Wow, second time around. We love your Little House. Seen otters, kingfishers right on the doorstep. Hired boat fro a couple of weeks, been everywhere, fishing ok. Loving your new bathroom.
Steven and Carol, W. Yorks, July 2022
Another fabulous holiday in The Little House. Have been staying hre for many years and love it more each time. Fishing good and weather superb. Great property with everything you need.
Pete and Jean, Lincs. June 2022
We found the property clean, well equipped and pleasant. We have stayed at many properties over the yearsand this rates among the highest. Weather was superb.
Jim and Pam, Leics. August 2021
Second visit to this great cottage. And once again a wonderful relaxing holiday. Already booked for next year....
Sue and Derrick, Lincs. July 2021
Our second visit and enjoyed it every bit as last time.... A great location.
Steven and Carol, Yorks. July 2021
So wonderful to be back. Fabulous time in great house on the river. Everything we needed and more.... Dogs loved the beaches nearby. Roll on 2022.
Nicky and Ian, Cornwall, June 2021
The most wonderful and relaxing time. Hired a day boat for the week and out every day on it. So much wildlife! Saw a bittern in flight!! Loved it all.
Sandra and Darren, Suffolk, April 2021
4th visit to the cottage and as per normal, clean and tidy.... Peaceful and just what we needed after working through lockdowns. Thank you Gill for letting us once again stay in what I call my haven.... There has been a mummy duck backwards and forwards to the bushes by the shed, we wonder if she is nesting....
Jim,Pam,Linda and Neil July 2020
Just had a week in Little House on the River July 2020. We had a fantastic week can’t fault a thing about this lovely River side cottage.
Ginger7Buddha Little House for wildlife 4/5 Nov 2019
The cottage was in a fantastic location right by the river. Swans and ducks feeding just outside and an Otter even came up onto the decking. The cottage had everything you needed….
Stephen and Michelle, Lincs. Oct 2019
Great location and fantastic wildlife. The otter even joined us on the decking one morning! Great food at The Greyhound, Hickling.
Breammanuk Lovely place 5/5 Aug 2019
Really nice well equipped property!! Very comfortable stay and will be returning soon. Fishing was very good after dark with bream around 4lb on corn. Saw the local kingfisher several times too.
mezzamit little jem on the river 5/5 Aug 2019
Loved everything about the house, lovely surroundings so peaceful, and has everything you need .hired a boat to get around but we were just as happy to sit by the river fishing
nspire50927319010 Clean comfortable bungalow well equipped 5/5 Jun 2019
Nothing to complain about as the property is well looked after with everything you could possibly want and the fishing is good too. Have booked for next year!
sandradobbs7 Lovely little hideaway 5/5 Jun 2019
Great little house, you can literally feed the swans from right outside the door. The house itself is clean and comfortable and has everything you’d need. Secure as well for the dog. Tow path behind the house seems to go on for ages so excellent for dog walks too. Would definitely go again. Excellent.
Derrick B Comfortable 4/5 Aug 2018
A great location with shops restaurants and pub all at hand, no need to go anywhere. All the other seasides in a 10 mile radius. The property was in a fab location although the estimated walking time was a bit under estimated as took at least 10 min when carrying luggage. The green cart was essential and much appreciated. There were lots of nice touches at the property. The outside toilet was useful when fishing and we did lots of that with success. Would definitely go again and have already recommended.
GeoffandSandra2014 Fishermans Paradise 5/5 Aug 2018
Cannot praise the cottage highly enough. It was very clean, spacious and the location is great. Everything you can imagine is either in the cottage or the separate fisherman's shed. Very quiet and peaceful with lots of wildlife outside. The fishing is from the front lawn and is very good. Would highly recommend and have already booked for next year.
Steven V 2nd Home 5/5 Jul 2018
We arrived this year to find this perfect retreat improved further with new decking etc. The owners are genuinely concerned that its clients are comfortable and enjoy their holiday. The fishing is good as well as the cottages amenities. Situated not too far from the car park and shops a cafe and a pub. Coming back in September, next year and can’t really think of anywhere else we would prefer to be. A perfect break!
890jennaw Fantastic place. Really dog friendly and relaxing 5/5 Jun 2018
Really loved our stay at The Little House on The River. Very well equipped cottage in a really relaxing setting. I really like there being enough essentials…. Games, DVDs and books also there for guests to use. Absolutely dog friendly, they're fully enclosed in the garden and I really enjoyed that we could relax and have the doors open without having to constantly watch the dogs. Lots of swans and ducks visiting, which I loved. Can't wait to come back, perfect place for us….
dyson180 Marvelous 5/5 Oct 2017
This is our second holiday in the property, we find the location tranquil but not too isolated. We complemented our stay this time by hiring a boat to get our luggage to and from the property and travel to Hickling broad, Ludham, Martham, Thurne mouth etc. As usual we found the cottage neat clean and tidy home from home. Plenty of wild life to observe, great fishing (once the swans, ducks and gulls had been fed) all in all a totally enjoyable relaxing holiday, even the dogs enjoy it. Thanks Gill.
Wanderer737326 A wonderful warm dog friendly home by the side of the river, set in a great location 5/5 Oct 2017
The little house on the river was warm, very clean and comfortable, and was equipped with everything you could imagine you had back home. Even the shed had lots of extras. This was a perfect property for the angler as you was not fishing opposite another bungalow, just fields. As for the shops, cafe ,lathams ,car etc it was a short walk .Great relaxing holiday with plenty of wildlife, we actually saw an otter on the 2nd day then kingfishers flying past daily, and a huge crane flying low. We will come Again!
jason h a little piece of heaven 5/5 Oct 2016
Cosy riverside cottage with lovely views in every direction you look,great outdoor area excellent evening fishing,(even has an outdoor loo in small shed!)grab Paul the river taxi guy to take you and your luggage to the cottage.(usually find him near potter bridge). warm,well appointed and tranquil chuck 5 or 6 good size balls of groundbait in before you go off to the pub for dinner,come back,cast out a cage feeder and catch bream all evening!! arrived back today and have booked again for july 2017! been staying at various riverside properties in potter heigham twice a year for 7 years or so and this has been the most peaceful,for you fisherman out there,this cottage is upstream of the old bridge which cuts out 80% of boat traffic as they can't pass under the low bridge,less noise,less disturbance,more fish!!
PhilipB2809 excellent stay 5/5 Aug 2016
Loved this cottage. Location is spot on been close to village and lovely views both front and rear. Everything you need in the cottage to make the stay comfy. Fishing was good and bigger fish caught after dark. Went with my teenage son and we loved the weeks stay there. We met the owners and they were lovely people with information about the area if you need any. I would definitely stay at this cottage again.
ejbeard You wont be disappointed 5/5 Sep 2014
Best holiday we have ever had.If you want peace and tranquillity this is the holiday for you. We had 2 weeks, usually after 10 days i am ready to go home but this time could have stayed a lot longer. Saw otter outside the cottage, swans were so tame would eat out of your hand, one took up residence. Sea Palling is only a few miles away great for walking dogs, saw seals so close could make out facial features. Can’t wait to go back again. The cottage is like home from home, has all amenities Thank you for a wonderful holiday.
BillandDiana2014 Sail in the day, comfort and relaxation in the evening 5/5 Jun 2014
Very welcoming on arrival, clean and spacious. Marvellous to be able to moor our boat in the dock. Very enjoyable to sit in the garden and watch the boats and wildlife. Secure for our little dogs, they loved watching the river too.
MART582013 One glorious week Aug 2013
Stayed in little house on the river Aug 13. The setting is idyllic with garden looking direct out onto the river thurne. The fastidious owners have made sure your stay will be very comfortable, having kitted the bungalow out with everything you will need. Fishing direct from garden is great. Wildlife abounds in this lovely area with nice walks from the doorstep. Pub and shops 400mtrs .For a lovely relaxing 1 or 2 weeks or more this is for you.