Nestling in the embrace of the Royal Estate of Sandringham is the Norfolk village of Dersingham, surrounded by woods and countryside.

A place of ginger bread houses ( constructed of carstone and flint ) complimented by many modern day properties. 

A stones throw away from the village is the Royal Estate of Sandringham, one of the Queens country estates, purchased in the spring of 1882 from the Hon Charles Spencer Cowper as a country estate for the Prince of Wales.

Charles Spencer Cowper was a gambler and had the knickname of "Expensive Cowper". At the age of 30 he had inherited two Norfolk estates, Beachemwell and Sandringham.

When his debts increased he sold the estate of 7,000 acres to the future King Edward VII who brought his new wife Princess Alexandra of Denmark to it in 1863. King Edward is said to have paid £220,000 for the estate, three times its actual value at the time. A hotel in the village had as a guest in its past some of King Edwards VII mistress' including Lilly Langtree.

On the estate is Park House which was leased by the Spencer family and was the birthplace of Lady Diana Spencer. Sandringham Country Park is open all year an area of 250 hectares (over 600 acres) of carefully managed woodland and heath. When The Queen or members of the Royal Family are not in residence, the house is open to the public. Sandringham Estate hosts craft fairs and country shows throughout the year. The name of Sandringham comes from a shortened version of 'Sant Dersignham' meaning the sandy part of Dersingham. 

Dersingham Nature Reserve is managed by English Nature a reserve of three distinct habitats, mire, heath and woodland. Birds such as redpoll, crossbill, long-eared owl, Tree Pipit and sparrowhawk are attracted to Dersingham Bog as it is sometimes called.

Nightjars who spend the winter in sub-Saharan Africa nest on the dry heath land at Dersingham reserve filling the air with their eerie call and nocturnal habits.  According to an article written by English Nature Nightjars have long been the object of folklore and superstition and were once thought to be responsible for stealing goat’s milk and their Latin name Caprimulgus actually means ‘goat-milker’.

For those seeking the beach, Snettisham on the coast is only 2 miles, here is also the Snettisham RSPB Reserve with its hides and flooded former gravel pits.

Five miles away is the busier seaside resort of Hunstanton with its sandy beaches, indoor swimming pool and other sporting and leisure facilities.  Lots of entertainment for the children here with a fair, donkey rides and Sea Life Sanctuary containing displays of life under the ocean waves.

Dersingham village has a good range of amenities with a supermarket, butcher, Chinese take-away, fish & chip shop  and two pubs offering restaurant and bar meals. The church of St. Nicholas at Dersingham is a listed building which dates from the 15th century. From Dersingham visitors can enjoy extensive woodland, beach and countryside walks.

Inland is Castle Rising managed by English Heritage which boasts one of England's finest Norman keeps, set amid huge defensive earthworks. It was once the prison of Queen Isabella, the infamous 'She Wolf of France'.

Park Farm at Snettisham with its herd of red deer on its 329 acres where you can experience a 45 minute safari, around the farm to the deer park by tractor & covered trailer or Safari Landrover. View the magnificent stags, see the new born deer calves and hand feed the mums. 

At nearby Heacham is England's oldest lavender farm with nearly 100 acres of lavender, gift and plant shops and tearoom. During the months of July and August minibus trips take people out to see the harvesting of the Lavender fields. 

Dersingham is served by half-hourly buses operated between King's Lynn and Hunstanton by Eastern Counties with timetables available in the Dersingham Library or the Post Office. King's Lynn is also well worth a visit.  A historic medieval port dating back to the 12th century, situated on the River Great Ouse..