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A converted boat which overlooks Snettisham RSPB reserve

Photo gallery for A converted boat which overlooks Snettisham RSPB reserve

A white house with a wooden deck, situated on a grassy area with a clear blue sky.
A cozy room with a striped sofa, a wooden rocking chair, a table with tea set, and a painting of a sailboat.
A bed with nautical-themed pillows and a quilt, a window with a view of the outdoors, and a wall with nautical decorations.
A bed with a teddy bear, a window with curtains, and a wall with a red cushion.
A wooden deck with a round table and chairs, overlooking a grassy field.

Reviews

8.0 out of 10
Very good

Highlights

  • Wake up on the waves
    A rare find — sleep on the water in this unique houseboat stay.
3 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Barbecue
  • Garden
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Barbecue

Explore the area

View map
King's Lynn, ENG
  • Place, Stubborn Sand
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Hunstanton Beach
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Place, Sandringham House
    ‪27 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Cabin (bedroom) one

1 Double Bed

Cabin (bedroom) three

1 Double Bed

Cabin (bedroom) two

2 Single Beds

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Garden

About this property

A converted boat which overlooks Snettisham RSPB reserve

Dating back to the 1870s, The Wild Duck is our most unusual property. A converted boat overlooking Snettisham RSPB reserve, this hideaway is just 200 metres from the beach. Compact, bright, cosy and well equipped, The WIld Duck has three bedrooms (cabins). So, if you are looking for something completely different, intriguing, atmospheric and simply unique, then look no further.

The Wild Duck is no ordinary holiday home. Converted from a boat, the detached accommodation is beautifully presented, romantic and peaceful. Nestling behind the dunes overlooking the Snettisham RSPB reserve on one side and with The Wash estuary and beach just 200 metres on the other, you will fall asleep to the sound of the sea and the rustling of the reeds.The interior has been extremely well thought out with one of the bedrooms built into the bow, giving 180 degree views, and children will be delighted with their special room. Nautically themed throughout, The Wild Duck is bright and cheerful, and retains many of it's original features as well as offering some modern comforts and a well-equipped kitchen.

The location of the 'boat' is very close to the coast, but guests still have modern comforts such as free WiFi and television. With elevated sun decks giving the perfect front row seats to the amazing Wash sunsets, you will leave here with memories that will stay with you forever. A truly unique holiday experience.

History of The Wild Duck:
The boat was built in 1878 at West Lynn for George Cresswell, part of the famous Barclays Bank, Gurney family. She has been dry beached on South Beach Heacham since 1923. Now fully refurbished and enhanced whilst still proudly retaining a wealth of character with may original features.

Heacham has many footpaths to discover, and a great beach side promenade that stretches all the way to the iconic carrstone cliffs of neighbouring Hunstanton. Look out for popular Bordoli's pizza truck that visits the village on a Wednesday evening, and be sure to sample the gooiest of treats from Breakfast and Brownies on the high street. There is also a great antiques shop and cafe to be found next to the Tesco Express. For a larger supermarket, Lidl is located on on the road to Snettisham, and there is a big Tescos in Hunstanton, which also has EV chargers in the car park and a fuel station.


Additional Information:
Three well behaved dogs are welcome (small additional charge).
Strictly no smoking.
Please bring your own pods for the coffee machine.
There is no starter pack (tea, coffee, sugar and milk) or welcome hamper provided at this property.
There is external CCTV at this property.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 8460768
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

King's Lynn

Located in King's Lynn, this houseboat is by the sea. Sandringham House and Princess Theatre are local landmarks, and some of the area's attractions include Norfolk Lavender and Rainbow Park. SEA LIFE Hunstanton and Courtyard Farm are also worth visiting. Make sure you don't miss outdoor adventures like hiking/biking trails and cycling.
View more Houseboats in King's LynnOpens in a new window
Map
King's Lynn, Norfolk

What's nearby

  • Stubborn Sand - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Hunstanton Beach - 11 min drive - 1.7 km
  • Norfolk Coast Path - West - 24 min drive - 5.6 km
  • Princess Theatre - 24 min drive - 5.6 km
  • Sandringham House - 27 min drive - 14.7 km

Getting around

  • Watlington Station - 27 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Old Store - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Hunstanton Ski Cafe & Bar - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪The Lavender Kitchen - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪The Rose And Crown - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Fossilhouse - ‬8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is A converted boat which overlooks Snettisham RSPB reserve pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at A converted boat which overlooks Snettisham RSPB reserve?

As of 8 July 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at A converted boat which overlooks Snettisham RSPB reserve on 26 September 2026 start from NZ$727, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at A converted boat which overlooks Snettisham RSPB reserve?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at A converted boat which overlooks Snettisham RSPB reserve?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at A converted boat which overlooks Snettisham RSPB reserve?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is A converted boat which overlooks Snettisham RSPB reserve located?

Situated by the sea, this houseboat is within 1 mi (2 km) of Stubborn Sand and Hunstanton Beach. Wild Ken Hill and Norfolk Lavender are also within 2 miles (3 km).

Reviews

8.0

Very good

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 6 out of 17 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 17 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 17 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 17 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 17 reviews

Reviews

Archival

8/10 Good

Rosalyn L.

Relaxing weekend

Spent a very nice 3 nights in the Wild Duck , beautiful place, very quirky with the nautical theme. Great location for walking the beach and also exploring the area.
From a partner site

8/10 Good

Wendy S.

Quackers about Wild Duck

This is a quirky but charming place. The location, when you ignore the holiday parks on the way in, is amazing. A piece of special. Hares, Deer,Pheasants, Coots and loads of birds. A minute to the sea and RSPB reserve on your doorstep. The accommodation is not luxury but it has a shabby charm I loved . Would I go back..... Absolutely.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Perfect hideaway.

Really enjoyed our stay at The Wild Duck. Couldn't fault the accommodation. Beautifully clean, well equipped, warm and welcoming. The mix of vintage trawler/beach hut kitsch was a real winner for us. The natural slope of the original boat hull made for some interesting entries into the living area - until we got our 'sea legs' and the hallway is a little cluttered but the decent size 'cabins, comfortable living area and well equipped kitchen more than make up for any slight inconvenience in negotiating the passage to the bedrooms. The weather was not good enough to make use of the two beautiful outside deck areas but I suspect that they would be truly beautiful on a warm Summer evening. The surrounding area was stunning. A short stroll to the sand dunes and a mosey along Heacham Beach was a daily joy. A fabulous circular walk from the door, through the nature reserve and back along the beach were just lovely. The perfect hideaway from a rather stressful world, Already working out when we can revisit.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Wild Duck

Great location for bird watching & beach access. Warm & comfortable, well equipped except for indoor dining table options
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Relaxing holiday

We enjoyed a weeks stay at the The Wild Duck, 4 adults, and we felt so at home. It is surprisingly spacious and a place to really relax in. Some days we just stayed there and enjoyed the immediate surroundings. It's very well equipped with lots of luxury extras, and we can't wait to return here soon. Top of our list of unusual places to stay. Loved it.
From a partner site

4/10 Poor

Wild Duck Heacham

Paid over £700 for 4 night stay and stayed 1 night. We had flies everywhere as there was a full black bin of rubbish and 5 black bin bags. My husband had to put it out for the bin men. In the bathroom a ceiling light was hanging down out of its fitting with bare wires. The accommodation was not clean and very dusty. Decking rotting in places and gate had a chunk missing due to the wood rotting. There was a cracked window in 1 bedroom and the kitchen window had a hole in it. The accommodation needs a good deep clean and the outside needs painting lots of flaking paint on window sills and doors. We booked this accommodation for our wedding anniversary as we thought we were getting something special, how wrong were we. Disappointed doesn’t really cover it...
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

kay b.

Sunny heachem

We have stayed at the wild duck , before, a lovely comfy holiday let, the balcony decking, back, and the front, are ideal, in the morning watching the sun rise, and in the evening at the front seeing it go down, wonderful , beatiful location, looking forward to returning next year
From a partner site

8/10 Good

Heather D.

Fun and quiet place for family vacation.

Great location and fun lodgings, especially for kids. A 3 minute walk to the beach and AMAZING sunsets! The property is closest to the far end of the 'road' and so the beach area was deserted and quiet - away from the crowds, so we loved it! Unfortunately the unit was not very clean when we got there but when we called the rental company and they sent a crew out immediately and cleaned it from top to bottom for us! Very responsive and apologetic. I would stay here again.
From a partner site

8/10 Good

Malcolm G.

Wonderfully Quirky

Wonderfully quirky property in great location with beach on your doorstep. Showing its age in places - but heh - it is over 100 years old. Stay only marginally spoilt by noisy ( loud music ) neighbours one side & the Doris inhabitant, whose dog roamed loose on occasions barking, snarling & pooping as it fancied. Only thing we really missed was a microwave. Also curiously interesting you are provided with dishwasher tablets with the welcome kit - but no dishwasher?
Response from VrboOwner on 26 May 2022
Dear Malcolm, Thank you for taking the time to complete the UpFrontReview following your recent stay at The Wild Duck. Your feedback is invaluable whether constructive or positive as without this we, merely the booking agents, are often unaware of the issues that may arise hence customer feedback being something we look at very closely. It sounds like a microwave would make all the difference. Once again many thanks for taking the time to write to us and we look forward to welcoming you back to North Norfolk sometime in the future.
From a partner site

6/10 Okay

Very relaxing

Lovely location for walks on the beach and surrounding areas. Quirky accommodation though a bit cluttered and I worried about breaking something especially having a dog. Would have like more table space to put our own personal items like makeup and toiletries , keys etc. Kitchen could do with a microwave. There was space for one but again was a bit cluttered with non essential nik naks. Lovely holiday home but just a bit personal for renting out . Great outdoor space and would go back again purely for the location
From a partner site

8/10 Good

Perfect weekend

My children and I had the most perfect weekend in the Wild Duck. The property is in perfect location to spend a great family time. My children loved playing on the beach and having lots of long walks. We will definitely return to this gorgeous place.
From a partner site

6/10 Okay

Querky accommodation but lack of cleanliness

We enjoyed a lovely 3 night stay at the Wild Duck. On a positive side the bedroom was cozy and comfortable with the other rooms being adequate. The location was perfect being close to the beach and plenty of local walks. Negatives were firstly the approach road which was in an awful state. My car sustained damage to it which took the shine off our stay. We really should have been warned about this. the cleanliness of the property was lacking, especially in the bathroom and kitchen. Considering we paid over £700 for the 3 night stay, we expected a higher standard all round and feel this was overpriced for what we got.
From a partner site

8/10 Good

Tracy M.

A splendid weekend "at sea" at Heacham

Our stay was a last minute booking, having had to cancel a long standing trip to Northern Iceland. We were all packed so we thought, let’s go somewhere anyway. Thus, we found ourselves at sea for the weekend in this unique, tranquil vessel. We loved it and it more than cheered us up - we fell in love with the superb Wild Duck. It is cosy, comfortable and really well set out. Love the design, especially the bedroom in the prow. The owners have done a lovely job on the whole place. We were lucky with the weather; cold, dry and clear. We watched lovely sunsets, hares boxing in the field beyond the reeds and flocks of oyster catchers driven in by the rising tide. On Monday morning we woke to a light dusting of snow. It was beautiful. Made it very hard to leave, but we would very much like to return. The only downside is the truly shocking state of the road up to Wild Duck - 300 yards of suspension-mangling pot holes.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

kay b.

The wild duck, is a lovely place to stay, for a tranquil and peaceful location, a beautiful beach,

The wild duck is a lovely place to stay, so tranquil and peaceful, with a beautiful beach very close, will stay again
Archival

6/10 Okay

Wild Duck Break

We arrived at the Wild Duck looking forward to our break. We were not impressed. There had clearly been people staying previously who had left without bothering to clean up after themselves. I contacted Norfolk Hideaways who arranged for the cleaning company to address the situation. The 2 ladies that attended commented that the situation was not acceptable and described it as disgusting. A full clean was carried out throughout the property, the two cleaners carrying out a first class job. We enjoyed the rest of the stay at this location, but will not be returning again.
Archival

6/10 Okay

Would suit 4 rather than 6

Rather small and very uncomfortable seating. Would suit four rather than six. So pleased that we decided against taking our dog and that our men folk had to return home after the first week end. Very peaceful location. Rather expensive for what we had.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Peter M.

A brilliant venue for 2 small boys, their Mum, Dad and Grandparents, and a small energetic Terrier!

A brilliant venue for 2 small boys, their Mum, Dad and Grandparents, and a small energetic Terrier! This was exactly as we had hoped - quiet, cosy, and different - with a large play area outside and the beach 2 mins away! We recommend this to anyone with small children (aged 3 and 6) and a dog - the unexpected surprise was free WiFi and Internet connection.

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