Make a left turn at Smugglers Cove, dodge smartly past the cosy front entrance to The Lifeboat Inn and turn sharp right along the wide, grass covered frontage lipping the rolling grey breakers ...and you are there.

The sight alone was enough to silence my chattering children.

Because, filling the pale blue sky, was the vision of the place that was to be our base for the next seven days.

It was a holiday home you normally only read about in Boy's Own adventures - a real life lighthouse, complete with circular tower and a telescope.

And it was ours, all ours!

Norfolk, as a holiday or short break destination, is an absolute joy to explore with its wide, flat countryside pitching up some delightful treasures tucked down narrow, winding lanes.

We uncovered scores of tiny, sleepy villages, complete with beautifully restored churches on our travels inland.

And it came as an agreeable culture shock to make a cross-country journey to Norwich, which, to my mind, must rate as one of Britain's most beautiful and almost unspoiled cities.

Its bustling centre, overviewed by its famous castle museum, is a reminder that this is a very successful and prosperous hub of commerce for the local and international community yet it still is the most complete medieval city in England.

I was particularly impressed by the new multi-million pound Forum, all smoked glass and finely worked brick, which houses a full-scale interactive exhibition tracing the region's origins.

There are a wealth of fine shops, restaurants and theatres too.

And for something really different, you can visit a local factory shop and sample some of the finest mustards.

Further down the coast at King's Lynn we spent an enthralling morning visiting, of all things, the old and lovingly restored, local nick.

But that's Norfolk - quirky, highly unusual and well worth a holiday, particularly if you can stay in a lighthouse!