It’s early June, and while your Insta feed might currently be clogged full of can-swigging hordes on London Fields and shaky videos of the Beyoncé tour, you’ll know that summer has really arrived when the first snaps of Durdle Door, Brighton Pier and the Margate seafront begin to appear, first in a trickle, then in a flood.

When it comes to a British summer staycay, these enduring faves are so tried and true that you’re almost guaranteed to bump into Heidi from brand strategy as you line up for a punnet of harbourside scampi and a glass of natural wine. Nightmarish stuff, truly. So how can you treat yourself to some wholesome seaside action without falling into the same trap as everybody else? Head to North Norfolk, of course.

Roughly a three-hour drive from London, with trains available to Norwich and Kings Lynn, this stretch of coastline still seems relatively undiscovered, which feels odd, since it’s a strikingly beautiful part of the country, all rolling wildflower meadows and skies that go on forever. Make the most of this by basing yourself right in the heart of it, in the peaceful green haven of Barsham. A 2,500-acre estate about a 20-minute drive from the sea, it’s home to Barsham Barns, a collection of six chic, rural boltholes of varying sizes, from a cosy couple-friendly cottage to a party-ready, 14-person space in a former granary.

Here’s why this under-the-radar stretch of British seaside should be your next staycation destination