Norfolk, 5 October 2016: Congham Hall Hotel (01485 600250; www.conghamhallhotel.co.uk) has launched a winter nature trail to help guests make the most of the wildlife and landscapes of Norfolk during the colder months, including a free, expert-led ramble.

'The Fantastic Five… Norfolk Nature Trails' recommends the area's best seasonal assets, which include one of the UK's biggest wildlife spectacles, the migration of more than 40,000 pink-footed geese to the Wash. The grey seal pups, born at this time of year on the shingle at Blakeney Point, are another highlight.

The free trail, available from Congham Hall's reception and downloadable from the Out & About in Norfolk section of the hotel's website, also includes a complimentary, expert-led, two-hour ramble from the hotel across nearby Roydon Common, the largest surviving open heath in the area. The guided walks are available on Tuesdays, from November to February. A family-friendly deer safari at Snettisham Park and the high-wire antics of red squirrels at Pensthorpe Nature Reserve complete the trail.

The hotel has launched a complementary Winter Nature Offer, which costs from £438 per room for a two-night stay, available Sunday to Thursday, from 1 November 2016 to 28 February 2017, subject to availability, excluding 24 December to 2 January 2017. Guests whose booking includes a Tuesday can take part in the free guided walk to Roydon Common; other guests will receive a free copy of Norfolk Wildlife by Adrian M Riley (RRP £19.99).

Follow developments at Congham Hall Hotel on Twitter: @Congham_Hall and at www.facebook.com/ConghamHallHotel. For information on Norfolk, go to www.visitnorfolk.co.uk

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Notes to editors:

Room rates start from £135 per night, room only, and £219 per night for dinner, bed and breakfast.

Relaunched in May 2013, the 26-room Congham Hall Hotel sits in 30 acres of parkland, including orchards and its renowned Herb Garden, which has 400-plus varieties and attracts visitors from far and wide. The modernised, 2 AA Rosette, bistro-style restaurant features much homegrown produce on its menu and benefits from a sophisticated bar.          

Congham Hall offers five-star service at three-star prices, in stylish but relaxed surroundings. It won Best Hotel in the East at the Best Loved Hotels Awards 2015, and has been recognised several times by the Eastern Daily Press/VisitNorfolk.co.uk Tourism Awards, winning Best Adult Leisure Break in 2015 and Best Independent Hotel in 2013. Congham Hall was also named Best Small Hotel in the UK at the International Hotel Awards in November 2012. 

Nicholas Dickinson and his team took over Congham Hall in March 2012. The hotel relaunched in May 2013 after completing the last phase of a major refurbishment. Nicholas has spent his entire working life in the luxury hotel business. Early on, he worked at the five-star country-house hotel Chewton Glen and Raymond Blanc's two-Michelin-starred restaurant and hotel, Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons. In 1994, Nicholas formed a partnership with Nigel Chapman, who had developed Woolley Grange in Wiltshire. Together, they created Luxury Family Hotels, which soon became the market leader in the UK for luxury family short breaks, and Alias Hotels, for the stylish mid-market corporate and leisure sectors. Both groups were successfully sold, and Nicholas and Nigel went on to develop Martinhal Resort on Portugal's Algarve. This is Nicholas's first independent hotel project.

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