2 The Hollies, Chapel Road, Sea Palling, Norfolk, NR12 0UQ

In the lead up to our break at the cottage, Lorraine (the owner) couldn't have been more helpful with lots of local insight and hints and tips so we could get the most out of our week in Sea Palling. When we pulled up to the cottage for the first time, it looked just as it did in the pictures. Beautiful! But the best was yet to come, because when we opened the door to go in, the inside of the cottage was so much more than the pictures on the website showed. It was really lovely. There are a couple of low beams but that's part of the pleasure of staying in a very old property that has bags of character.

Waiting for us were some very welcome essentials, including the most amazing marmalade made by Lorraine. There were loads of little touches that made this so much more than 'just' a holiday cottage.

We spent our whole week wishing the cottage was ours and our two (by now beach-bum) dogs did not want to leave!

If you are looking for a break in a cottage full of character, in a great location and in walking distance of the gorgeous beach then this cottage ticks all those boxes.

I have to say I find this negative review bizarre. I've been going to this cottage regularly and really like it; it's ideal for me because it's quiet and in a beautiful setting. (And I've been holidaying in seaside cottages for years... This is one of the best.) Sea less than five minutes' walk away. The cottage is attractive, comfortable, well furnished and equipped, tranquil and a great place to stay. In fact, I broke the banister on one occasion by accident and the owners couldn't have been nicer about it! They're very concerned that you have a good time and genuinely want to give people the best they can - and they're also unobtrusive. Can't get my head around the other review. I'd ignore it if I were you. This place is great and thoroughly recommended.

The cottage itself was nice enough although very low door ways, my Husband and his Dad hit their heads many times. The open fire was a nice touch but the smoke blows back into the room unless you keep the doors shut,which is hard when you're lighting it! I ended up feeling quite sick with that and the fire had to be abandoned.

We took our two very well behaved (i'm an animal behaviourist!) dogs and there were great walks near by but dont go with dogs as that is where our nightmare began. We left the house clean and tidy, not perfect, but ready for a vacuum and change of sheets/towels etc. We did no damage bar a stain on the oven glove, nothing a wash wouldn't sort.

We stuck to ALL rules regarding dogs (not on furniture or upstairs, which they're not allowed to do anyway at home due to allergies).We recieved an email from the owner (Lorraine Rivet) that day after departing detailing a list of frankly ficticous claims such as us having let the dogs upstairs (again, my husband is allegic so the dogs have to sleep downstairs) and that this would cost 50 pounds (!!!). Then she said the cushions had hairs on then,which anyone who owns dogs will understand that despite my best effort and twice daily grooming they shed and it ends up everywhere, and needed replacing!

She complained the shower was filthy, we had been there 4 nights and I wiped it down each day, how exactly a shower gets filthy so quickly i'll never know!

Basically she wrote a list of claims and used the dogs as a reason to keep our 100 pound deposit. I replied (after recovering from being totally confused and upset at her accusations) and took her email point by point but there was nothing that would make her change her mind and give me back the deposit I am owed. She then days later after I had replied claimed for actual damage as opposed to "cleaning", strange how it took so long when she had supposedly spent hours cleaning after we left.

It's a real shame as it totally ruined our memory of what was a lovely holiday (nice area), it made a resonable cottage very expensive for us and most of all made me very wary. We've stayed in lots of places and NEVER had a complaint, we always leave the place neat and tidy and to be peanalised and insulted by Lorraine was hurtful to say the least. I would avoid it if you wish to keep your deposit.