North Norfolk, much of whose coastline is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, has attracted visitors for decades. It offers beautiful golden sandy beaches, marshes and creeks, busy market towns, unspoilt villages, stately homes, glorious gardens, family attractions and masses of wildlife. Below is just a snippet of what is on offer, here in north Norfolk.
Beaches & Creeks
Wells-next-the-Sea is famous for its stunning beach huts (some of which can be hired), and is a perfect family friendly beach with beautiful sands. There’s a large car park and a great cafe.
Holkham - You just might think you’re in the Caribbean at this wide, wonderful bay, lined by a pine forest. There’s parking and a cafe, the Look Out, and it's a great place to walk and sunbathe. You might be lucky and see the Household Cavalry on holiday here - the horses love taking a dip!
Blakeney is as pretty as a postcard. The quay is where you can go crabbing and it’s just a marvellous place to sit and look out at the ever changing landscape. There are some great cafes (try Two Magpies) and head to the village deli for excellent sausage rolls.
Where to Visit
Holkham Hall is an 18th century Palladian style mansion which belongs to the Earl and Countess of Leicester. Explore the Holkham Stories Experience, the Courtyard gift shop and cafe, cycle hire and a high ropes course. There are also many lovely estate walks and cycle ways to enjoy.
Boat trips from Morston hopefully offer you the chance to see colonies of grey seals relaxing on Blakeney Point. There’s a real sense of adventure as you set off through the creeks and some trips, depending on the tide, allow you time on the Point, too. Commentary is usually excellent, with the landscape and its wildlife thoroughly explained.
Fakenham Races take place at England’s smallest racecourse. It is great fun, you can feel the ground shudder as the horses gallop past and who doesn’t enjoy the odd little flutter?
The Norfolk Coastal Exploration Company, based in Wells, offers sailing trips in traditional wooden fishing boats, under sail. Forage, swim, or just soak up all that wilderness - you will experience Mother Nature at her best.
The Norfolk Coast Path runs 83 miles from Hunstanton to Hopton-on-the-Sea, and it is clearly signposted. Do make time to walk a little of it, especially around Burnham Overy Staithe, where Lord Nelson is said to have learned to sail.
Cley-next-the-Sea is a charming spot, with its iconic windmill, good art gallery, pubs, smokehouse and deli. It is also one of the country’s top birdwatching spots, and The Norfolk Wildlife Trust has a 300 hectare nature reserve with hides and an excellent visitors’ centre where you can learn more about the area’s extraordinarily rich heritage.
Where to Eat
The Stiffkey Red Lion, sees former Morston Hall head chef (one Michelin Star) Liam Goldstone now at the stove. Don’t imagine fine dining, though, he’s far more interested in pub classics, using top quality local ingredients, cooked with care.
The Carpenter’s Arms, at Wighton, is our local and we love it. It’s friendly and just the perfect bike ride away. There’s a lovely garden and the Sunday lunch is delicious!
Thornham Deli is almost an institution. If you can get past all the wonderful household goodies (you will be tempted), it is a family-friendly sort of place, with lots of delicious and healthy dishes, all responsibly sourced. You can stock up on foodie provisions, too, with a good choice of locally produced food and drink.
The Parlour at Binham Priory is based in a converted 17th century barn on a working farm and, under head chef Lewis Peck, serves delicious breakfasts, lunches and afternoon teas. Milk is fresh from their own dairy herd and it is a charming spot - be sure to explore the Priory ruins.
Our Village
Little Walsingham is a magical place and definitely worth spending some time in. It has attracted pilgrims to its Anglian Shrine since the 11th century, the Abbey ruins are magnificent and there are many medieval half-timbered buildings that line the main street. Michaels mother has long be the fountain of knowledge when it comes to the history and architecture of the village and has been running tours since Michael was small.
There are two pubs to choose from, a smattering of cafes, including the quirky Read and Digest Tearoom , OBRENNANS Coffee House and Cafe and a very good farm shop, Walsingham Farms Shop. A walk around the village and you could well feel like you’re in a film set!
The Wells and Walsingham Light Railway is a 10¼” gauge miniature railway running between Wells-next-the-Sea and Walsingham. Trains run daily between March and October, with additional services over the Christmas holiday and February half term.