The King's Head Letheringsett

There's something enticing about The King's Head as you head past on the road into the North Norfolk village of Letheringsett. Set back from the main drag, surrounded by meadows, it's the sort of solid Georgian building that shouts to you to pull over and take the weight off in its cosy bar. Maybe even order a drink or two. And you'd be wise to do just that. Part of the excellent Anglian Country Inns group, and with a more famous sister, The White Horse, further up the coast in Brancaster Staithe, it's a great example of a contemporary country pub, serving excellent food and local ales and with a set of comfy rooms upstairs if you want to stay over. The other ACInns are The Farmhouse at Redcoats and The Fox at Willian down in Hertfordshire.

First the rooms, of which there are just four: two at the front and two at the back of the building, but all furnished in the same cosy but up-to-date style that's in keeping with the building and its period, with large comfy beds and en-suite bathrooms with powerful showers and a bath in one of the rooms. The front two rooms are the largest and best proportioned; the ones at the back are smaller (and cheaper), but they're also dog-friendly. Above all it's a peaceful, rather homely place to stay; downstairs, the pub is a welcoming mix of contemporary style and old-fashioned rustic, with a stripped-down look that is enhanced by eclectic furnishings and the knick-knacks on the walls – busts, old prints, farm implements, you name it. It's funky, family- and dog-friendly. There's a snug bar for drinkers on one side, with comfy chairs and an open fire, while the main area is mainly devoted to food, which is served all day. They bake their own bread with flour from Letheringsett's nearby working watermill and source most other ingredients locally, including the Norfolk ales on tap from ACInns own Brancaster Brewery and others, on a menu that is not only reasonably priced but delicious, with a mixture of well-prepared classic pub grub (great fish and chips, lovely burgers, liver and bacon) and slightly more adventurous dishes based on local beef and lamb, fish and seafood; they even have a decent wine list. The garden has an outdoor play area for kids and in summer they have a barbecue out here to keep the adults occupied,

The location too is perfect, just a few minutes from the handsome Georgian town of Holt, and of course the delights of the nearby coast, which you can reach on the North Norfolk Steam Railway that runs from Holt to Sheringham via Weybourne. You're just ten minutes by car from Cley and Blakeney, or just leave the car keys at home and explore the countryside and coast – including the nearby Norfolk Coast Path – on foot. All in all The King's Head is the perfect place from which this to explore this beautiful region.