Explore the great outdoors with a staycation in the Cotswolds or Norfolk

WITH all the Easter airport chaos going on, why not make the most of your days off with a staycation?

Fabulous Editor in Chief Sinead McIntyre headed to the Cotswolds to stay in the village of Bretforton, while Deputy Editor Ellie O’Mahoney and her family took a trip to Cromer Beach in Norfolk.

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Bear’s Cottage, Bretforton

Editor in Chief Sinead McIntyre enjoyed a long-overdue girlie weekend with friends in the idyllic Cotswolds.

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THE PAD This immaculate two-bed cottage in the charming village of Bretforton dates back to 1605 and has been lovingly restored by owners Susan and Phil, who spent two years uncovering Victorian features including stone floors and the stunning fireplace in the living room. Upstairs, the two gorgeous bedrooms overlook a pretty garden and church graveyard. On our girlie weekend away, we thoroughly enjoyed sinking into the huge sofas and drinking wine by the gas burner.

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REFUEL Book into the village pub The Fleece Inn, which is owned by the National Trust, for some delicious home-made grub. We settled into our outdoor heated horsebox and began with warm sourdough served with tomato and tarragon butter, olive oil and balsamic, £4, before choosing a couple of delicious award-winning Fleece pies. The steak and ale was mouthwatering, while we would also highly recommend the sweet potato and lentil veggie option, both £14 (Thefleeceinn.co.uk). Meanwhile, the Round of Gras in nearby Evesham does incredible takeaway (collection or delivery) roast dinners of beef, pork or turkey crown with all the trimmings for £9.95 per person (Roundofgras.co.uk).

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EXPLORE Drive 25 minutes to pretty Stratford-upon-Avon, where you can follow in the footsteps of Britain’s most famous playwright, William Shakespeare. Visit the house he was born and grew up in, which was bought by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in 1847 for £3,000. Tickets cost £20 for adults, £13.50 for children, under-threes go free (Shakespeare.org.uk). After something a little less cultured? Get up close and personal with some of nature’s most fearsome predators at Crocodiles Of The World near Brize Norton. As well as endangered Siamese crocs, Chinese alligators and Nile crocodiles, you’ll get to meet meerkats, otters and Galapagos tortoises in the park. Tickets cost £12.50 for adults, £9.50 for children (Crocodilesoftheworld.co.uk).

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DON’T MISS The Fleece Inn Morris Dancers practise on a Friday night in a barn on the pub’s grounds and then put on a performance in the courtyard on Sundays. We loved it!

BOOK IT Bears Cottage sleep four and a three-night break costs from £602 (Sykescottages.co.uk).

Beach Retreat, Cromer

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Beach life in Norfolk delights Deputy Editor Ellie O’Mahoney, husband Mark and children Elliott, seven, and Molly, five.

THE PAD Online pics don’t do this cosy two-bedroom cottage justice. A former 1800s fisherman’s home, it offers hotel-style luxe with white linen and towels, local lavender soap, and a welcome bottle of wine and chocolates. It’s just five minutes’ walk from stunning Overstrand beach, where you can bring your pooch outside of high season (the cottage also welcomes dogs in low season). At West Runton beach, a 15-minute drive away, the largest nearly complete mammoth skeleton was found in 1990.

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REFUEL After fossil-hunting on Overstrand beach, stop at The Cliff Top Cafe. A former donkey shed with incredible views over the North Sea, it serves big breakfasts and home-made cakes. Wander the two-mile cliff walk to Cromer for fish and chips at Upstairs Restaurant at No.1. The batter on the mini cod and chips, £9.95, is super-light, and kids’ meals are served in a mini bucket with spade that they get to keep (No1cromer.com). For a special lunch, make for The Gunton Arms. No normal pub, it boasts art by Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and David Bailey, a 10,000-year-old elk skull, plus deer ambling by outside. But the real star of the show is the food. We feasted on roast sirloin of beef with Yorkshire pudding, £19.50, and crumble with custard, £6.50 (Theguntonarms.co.uk).

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EXPLORE Take a boat trip from Morston Quay to see the seals basking in their natural habitat. Temples Seal Trips cost £20 for adults and £10 for children (Sealtrips.co.uk). The common seals have pups from June to August, but if you miss them then, come back in November-December when the grey seals have theirs. Check out the pretty market town of Holt, a 25-minute drive away. It’s super-chic and full of amazing independent shops, like Shirehall Plain Antiques Centre, which is jam-packed with gorgeous finds such as vintage suitcases and art deco prints.

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DON’T MISS Beautiful Norwich Cathedral, 45 minutes away, is worth a visit. When you’ve explored the cloisters and labyrinth, you might spy a pair of peregrine falcons (Cathedral.org.uk).

BOOK IT Beach Retreat sleeps four and a two-night break costs from £255 with Poppyland Holiday Cottages (Premiercottages.co.uk).

• Compiled by: Emma Ledger  Photography: Alamy, Getty Images