Sheep graze the ancient landscape. A medieval village lies beneath the quiet meadows, watched over by the lonely ruins of a church tower.

We arrive as the sun is setting and it seems especially fitting that our accommodation for the night at this idyllic place will be a shepherd’s hut.

Godwick is one of the best examples of a deserted medieval village in Britain but the picturesque countryside, once part of the Holkham estate, is stirring again.

Our hut is romantically placed facing the setting sun, sheltered beneath a stand of trees, close to nature but rich with luxuries including a wood burner, ensuite shower-room, super-comfy double bed and mini kitchen complete with butler sink, fridge and microwave.

Outside there is a table and chairs, fire pit, barbecue, hooks for the hammock – and soon a canopy of thousands upon thousands of stars.

We are just 35 miles from Norwich but a world away from the city. The Garner family have farmed here for more than 60 years and are now sharing a little of their lovely landscape with visitors searching for a tranquil rural retreat.

Deep in the countryside a few miles from Fakenham they have three cute shepherd’s huts, plus luxury accommodation in a cottage and country house, and host weddings in historic Godwick Barn.

In the gathering dusk we sip a glass of wine and listen to the breeze in the trees, sheep cropping the grass, an owl. We cook in the mini-kitchen, sit by the warming wood-burner, sleep deeply and open the shutters in the morning to glorious sunshine and countryside.

The Godwick breakfast hamper is a thing of beauty – granola, yoghurt, bread, preserves, fruit juice and coffee. Outside the sheep graze and paths lead into a peaceful landscape of meadow and woodland, through the medieval village of Godwick and across farmland to the still-thriving pretty villages of Whissonsett and Tittleshall.

Information boards tell the story of Godwick, which was almost completely abandoned in the 16th century. The original Godwick Hall was surrounded with parkland and formal gardens. Sir Edward Coke, attorney general to Queen Elizabeth I and forefather of the Coke dynasty of Holkham Hall, bought the land in the 1590s and built grand Godwick Barn across the village’s main street. He turned the crumbling church into a folly – one of England's earliest examples of using ruins as a picturesque landscape feature.

But, unlike many of Norfolk’s long-gone villages, the meadow was not ploughed, and its grassy skeleton of streets and homes remains as dips and mounds, punctuated by ponds.

Eventually the old hall burned to the ground, and more of the church tower collapsed but Godwick remains, part of a constellation of Norfolk ghost villages from Alagarsthorpe to Golosa and Jerpestun to Letha, whose names sound like the poetry of a forgotten language.

A stay in a shepherd’s hut is a wonderful way to experience this peaceful, history-laden landscape. The Garner family coined the word “schlamping” for their rural retreats combining shepherd’s huts and glamping, the rustic and the luxurious. Visitors can order a bottle of fizz, a star-gazing package and guided tours of the village. There are walks and cycle rides from the farm, award-winning pubs and restaurants nearby, and the coast and city within striking distance.

The cosy shepherd’s huts start at £90 a night for a couple, with a minimum two-night stay. The Old Stables sleeps six in scandi-style luxury while Georgian Godwick Hall sleeps up to 14 and boasts a grand drawing room and heated swimming pool.

Or do you fancy stargazing from the comfort of your bed? The Garner family has just installed two new luxury star-gazer bell tents, perfect for couples or families.

The night sky is spectacular at Godwick with virtually no light pollution and the spacious tents are kitted out with super kingsize beds and built in woodburners.

godwickhall.co.uk

The lost village of Godwick is open to walkers dawn to dusk daily for free except Wednesdays and Saturday afternoons.

lostvillageofgodwick.co.uk