Shane's Guidebook to West Norfolk
Beaches
Heacham started to become popular as a seaside resort with the Victorians due to the opening of the railway line between King’s Lynn and Hunstanton in the early 1860s. Today the north Beach has an amusement arcade, café and fish bar and beach huts for hire. South Beach has its own café/gift shop and both beaches have public toilets.
Both North and South Beach face West, looking across a huge bay area. This is shallow, sheltered water - not open sea - giving the beaches a safe, sheltered feeling and providing a perfect area to see impressive sunsets.
South Beach
South BeachHeacham started to become popular as a seaside resort with the Victorians due to the opening of the railway line between King’s Lynn and Hunstanton in the early 1860s. Today the north Beach has an amusement arcade, café and fish bar and beach huts for hire. South Beach has its own café/gift shop and both beaches have public toilets.
Both North and South Beach face West, looking across a huge bay area. This is shallow, sheltered water - not open sea - giving the beaches a safe, sheltered feeling and providing a perfect area to see impressive sunsets.
The wide sandy beach at Old Hunstanton is backed by dunes, and is a popular spot for holidaymakers and kite surfers. Near the entrance to the beach is a cafe, Hunstanton Lifeboat Station, a RNLI shop, the Ancient Mariner Pub, Le Strange Arms Hotel and the Old Barns Antiques, Arts and Crafts Centre. There are public toilets near the RNLI shop.
The nearest public car park is Cliff Car Park, Lighthouse Close, off Lighthouse Lane, PE36 6EL.
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Παραλία του Old Hunstanton
The wide sandy beach at Old Hunstanton is backed by dunes, and is a popular spot for holidaymakers and kite surfers. Near the entrance to the beach is a cafe, Hunstanton Lifeboat Station, a RNLI shop, the Ancient Mariner Pub, Le Strange Arms Hotel and the Old Barns Antiques, Arts and Crafts Centre. There are public toilets near the RNLI shop.
The nearest public car park is Cliff Car Park, Lighthouse Close, off Lighthouse Lane, PE36 6EL.
It’s a fair old trek to Thornham Beach, but you won’t mind one little bit. Passing through a bucolic landscape of saltmarshes and creeks on one side and grazing marshes on the other, clambering through an expanse of grassy dunes and finally arriving at the fine sandy beach, is an absolute joy.
Finally, while North Norfolk isn’t a well-known shopping destination, there’s some seriously good shopping to be found with an emphasis on local produce and independent boutiques.
Drove Orchards, on the outskirts of Thornham, houses an impressive farm shop and invites visitors to ‘pick their own’ fruits. You can also find a fishmonger, plant nursery and Eric’s fish and chip restaurant
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Thornham
It’s a fair old trek to Thornham Beach, but you won’t mind one little bit. Passing through a bucolic landscape of saltmarshes and creeks on one side and grazing marshes on the other, clambering through an expanse of grassy dunes and finally arriving at the fine sandy beach, is an absolute joy.
Finally, while North Norfolk isn’t a well-known shopping destination, there’s some seriously good shopping to be found with an emphasis on local produce and independent boutiques.
Drove Orchards, on the outskirts of Thornham, houses an impressive farm shop and invites visitors to ‘pick their own’ fruits. You can also find a fishmonger, plant nursery and Eric’s fish and chip restaurant
Holme beach is one of those Norfolk beaches that very few people know about. That’s great news for you as it means that even in the height of the holiday season, it’s pretty much empty.
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Holme-next-the-Sea
Holme beach is one of those Norfolk beaches that very few people know about. That’s great news for you as it means that even in the height of the holiday season, it’s pretty much empty.
Sightseeing
Norfolk Lavender
Lynn RoadThe royal Sandringham estate is the much loved country retreat for her Majesty The Queen. Sandringham has been the country retreat for British Monarchs since 1862. Sandringham Estate offers a tour of the house, museum and the royal gardens.
The house is situated in Sandringham woods, a perfect place for a day out and picnic. Also remember to visit nearby Wolferton and it’s 1863 Royal Train Station
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Έπαυλη Σάντριγκχαμ
The royal Sandringham estate is the much loved country retreat for her Majesty The Queen. Sandringham has been the country retreat for British Monarchs since 1862. Sandringham Estate offers a tour of the house, museum and the royal gardens.
The house is situated in Sandringham woods, a perfect place for a day out and picnic. Also remember to visit nearby Wolferton and it’s 1863 Royal Train Station
The village of Castle Acre lies on the River Nar, 15 miles east of King’s Lynn. It is best known today for the twin ruins of Castle Acre Castle and Castle Acre Priory, which lie immediately to the east and west of the village respectively. Both were founded soon after the Norman Conquest by William de Warenne the first Earl of Surrey.
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Castle Acre
The village of Castle Acre lies on the River Nar, 15 miles east of King’s Lynn. It is best known today for the twin ruins of Castle Acre Castle and Castle Acre Priory, which lie immediately to the east and west of the village respectively. Both were founded soon after the Norman Conquest by William de Warenne the first Earl of Surrey.
Beautiful Palladian Mansion in West Norfolk built for Britain’s First Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, in the 1720s. Now home to the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley and his family - a descendant of Sir Robert Walpole. Houghton Hall is set in parkland, with white fallow deer, an award-winning Walled Garden, a Soldier Museum, Stables, Cafe & Gift Shop. An impressive permanent collection of contemporary sculptures is displayed in
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Houghton Hall & Gardens
Bircham RoadBeautiful Palladian Mansion in West Norfolk built for Britain’s First Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, in the 1720s. Now home to the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley and his family - a descendant of Sir Robert Walpole. Houghton Hall is set in parkland, with white fallow deer, an award-winning Walled Garden, a Soldier Museum, Stables, Cafe & Gift Shop. An impressive permanent collection of contemporary sculptures is displayed in
Χόλκαμ Χολ
Holkham RoadThe Palladian Hall and Walled Gardens are a must see!
Oxburgh Hall is a beautiful Tudor house with a magnificent gatehouse, moat and beautiful gardens. Oxburgh hall has been beautifully conserved by National Trust. Oxburgh also has a perfectly preserved Priest hole!
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Παλάτι Οξμπεργκ
Oxburgh Hall is a beautiful Tudor house with a magnificent gatehouse, moat and beautiful gardens. Oxburgh hall has been beautifully conserved by National Trust. Oxburgh also has a perfectly preserved Priest hole!
Bird Watching
Wildlife observation hides give panoramic views across the saline lagoons, salt marsh and the vast expanse of mudflats that make up The Wash. On the biggest high tides from late summer onwards, tens of thousands of wading birds take flight as the incoming tide pushes them off the vast mudflats. We call this the 'whirling wader spectacle'.
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RSPB Snettisham
Beach RoadWildlife observation hides give panoramic views across the saline lagoons, salt marsh and the vast expanse of mudflats that make up The Wash. On the biggest high tides from late summer onwards, tens of thousands of wading birds take flight as the incoming tide pushes them off the vast mudflats. We call this the 'whirling wader spectacle'.
Located on the north coast of Norfolk, between the villages of Titchwell and Thornham, Titchwell Marsh is blessed with diverse habitats that include reedbeds, saltmarsh and freshwater lagoons where avocets, bearded tits and marsh harriers nest. There's also a wide sandy beach here, which offers extensive views across The Wash.
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RSPB Titchwell Marsh
Main RdLocated on the north coast of Norfolk, between the villages of Titchwell and Thornham, Titchwell Marsh is blessed with diverse habitats that include reedbeds, saltmarsh and freshwater lagoons where avocets, bearded tits and marsh harriers nest. There's also a wide sandy beach here, which offers extensive views across The Wash.
The NOA’s small Observatory building is set in a 13 acre (5 ha) reserve of pine and scrub-covered dunes between the shore and the Broad Water at Holme-next-the-Sea. The Observatory reserve lies immediately to the east of The Firs, the Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Holme Dunes visitor centre. The Observatory is well situated owing to the change in the line of the north-facing coast, which drops away to the southwest and into the Wash, leaving the pines and dune scrub as a prominent magnet for migrating birds. The reserve is in close proximity to several different habitats, with the sea, beach, dunes, pine woods, scrub, salt marsh and fresh marsh all contributing to an incredibly varied wilderness.
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Holme-next-the-Sea
The NOA’s small Observatory building is set in a 13 acre (5 ha) reserve of pine and scrub-covered dunes between the shore and the Broad Water at Holme-next-the-Sea. The Observatory reserve lies immediately to the east of The Firs, the Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Holme Dunes visitor centre. The Observatory is well situated owing to the change in the line of the north-facing coast, which drops away to the southwest and into the Wash, leaving the pines and dune scrub as a prominent magnet for migrating birds. The reserve is in close proximity to several different habitats, with the sea, beach, dunes, pine woods, scrub, salt marsh and fresh marsh all contributing to an incredibly varied wilderness.
walks
This short and charming walk snakes through the mixed woodland of the Ken Hill Estate.
From the western tip of the route there are fine views over the estate’s farmland and The Wash beyond. The walk can vary in length depending on your choice and if you’re in for a longer walk, you can walk from Ken hill woods to the beach however allow yourself roughly 2 hours for this walk to the beach.
Ken Hill has started a re-wilding scheme and has been reintroducing native grazing animals to the area. If you’re lucky you may catch sight of some of the wild pigs, ponies or if you’re really lucky Beavers
Snettisham Woods
Common RoadThis short and charming walk snakes through the mixed woodland of the Ken Hill Estate.
From the western tip of the route there are fine views over the estate’s farmland and The Wash beyond. The walk can vary in length depending on your choice and if you’re in for a longer walk, you can walk from Ken hill woods to the beach however allow yourself roughly 2 hours for this walk to the beach.
Ken Hill has started a re-wilding scheme and has been reintroducing native grazing animals to the area. If you’re lucky you may catch sight of some of the wild pigs, ponies or if you’re really lucky Beavers
This walk averages 3 miles
This is a circular walk
Dersingham Bog NNR is part of the Sandringham Royal Estate and includes the largest, most intact example of an acid valley mire in East Anglia. It is also one of the last remaining fragments of lowland heathland in south east England.
To prevent disturbance to rare ground nesting birds and the grazing herd of Black Galloway cattle, dogs must be kept on a short lead (not more than 2 metres in length) at all times.
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Dersingham Bog
This walk averages 3 miles
This is a circular walk
Dersingham Bog NNR is part of the Sandringham Royal Estate and includes the largest, most intact example of an acid valley mire in East Anglia. It is also one of the last remaining fragments of lowland heathland in south east England.
To prevent disturbance to rare ground nesting birds and the grazing herd of Black Galloway cattle, dogs must be kept on a short lead (not more than 2 metres in length) at all times.
The Norfolk Coast Path stretches from Hunstanton in the west to Cromer in the east and runs through Norfolk’s heritage coast within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Check out the below link for more information
http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/peddars-way-and-norfolk-coast-path
Norfolk Coast Path
Norfolk Coast PathThe Norfolk Coast Path stretches from Hunstanton in the west to Cromer in the east and runs through Norfolk’s heritage coast within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Check out the below link for more information
http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/peddars-way-and-norfolk-coast-path
Water Activities
Like its neighbour, New Hunstanton, Old Hunstanton is situated in The Wash.
The various sand bars mean that at various states of tide it features excellent flat water, making it ideal for beginners or freestylers.
Hunstanton Watersports offer lessons for kitesurfing, you can also rent paddleboards and kayaks.
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Hunstanton Watersports
North PromenadeLike its neighbour, New Hunstanton, Old Hunstanton is situated in The Wash.
The various sand bars mean that at various states of tide it features excellent flat water, making it ideal for beginners or freestylers.
Hunstanton Watersports offer lessons for kitesurfing, you can also rent paddleboards and kayaks.
Food Scene
The West Norfolk Pub
91 Station RdThe pub at the end of the road. pub grub and dog friendly.
The Rose & Crown