North Norfolk is a unique area in Britain. The 45 miles of coastline with huge coastal skies giving magnificent sunsets, the long sandy beaches, salt marshes, the tranquillity, the attractive flint buildings, the slower pace of life in the villages all go to make up the character of this unspoilt region. There is a rich architectural heritage with 81 conservation areas, over 2,200 listed buildings and 100 Scheduled Ancient Monuments. There is a vibrant arts scene with local theatres, art galleries and studios and live concerts, the outdoor ones at Blicking Hall being very popular.
There are museums, steam railways, maritime heritage, military collections, windmills, agricultural and rural history, annual crabbing competitions, golf courses, bird trips and much, much more.
Birdwatching:
The hotel is located a couple of miles from the famous Cley Marshes Reserve where you can see birds such as Avocet, Marsh Harrier, Bearded Tit and Bittern. An environmentally friendly visitors centre was opened in 2007 with wheelchair access to the hides in the centre of the reserve. Also within close proximity of the hotel are Salthouse and Kelling Heaths which in summertime hosts birds such as Nightingales, Nightjars and Woodlark. Further along the coast is Holkham where thousands of geese can be seen in winter and Titchwell RSPB reserve where a host of waders and wildfowl can be seen.
Boat trips:
There are trips all year round from Blakeney Point. Usually lasting an hour you are able to see seals, both Common and Grey Seals at close quarters. In the summer months you should be able to get close views of the tern colony where Sandwich, Common and Little terns all breed.
Steam Railways:
There are 3 steam railways nearby.
With views of the sea, wooded hills and heathland, the Poppy Line runs from Sheringham to Holt stopping at Weybourne and Kelling Heath. Visit their website at http://www.nnrailway.co.uk/
The Bure Valley Railway is further afield and is Norfolk’s longest 15” gauge line. Find them at http://www.bvrw.co.uk/
Closer to the hotel is the Wells and Walsingham Light Railway. This is the longest 10¼” narrow gauge steam railway in the world! Read all about it at http://www.wellswalsinghamrailway.co.uk/
Fossils:
The beach and cliff face at West Runton is nationally recognised as an excellent area for fossil hunting. The discovery of the “West Runton Elephant” which was excavated in 1995 brought this quiet area to national prominence. It is the most complete skeleton of a fossilised mammoth ever found. Winter storms that erode the cliffs regularly expose fossils of animals, birds and insects.
The North Norfolk Coastal Path:
The North Norfolk Coastal Path was developed as an extension of the Peddars Way walk, which follows a track of prehistoric origins, which ran from Thetford north-west to the coast at Holme-next-the-Sea. It extends fora distance of 40 miles eastward along the coast to Cromer,
Here the path is described in its course from Thornham to Weybourne (some 28 miles of its length). Where streams and rivers have an outlet to the North Sea it is sometimes necessary for the track to move inland, sometimes as far as the A149 main road.
Walkers should prepare themselves according to the weather and conditions underfoot are especially important. Whilst some sections follow well prepared surfaces, for much of its course it runs either along beaches, or (after Weybourne, for those going beyond to Sheringham or Cromer) on a grassy clifftop, most of the way is across the salt marshes which characterise so much of this coast. Conditions underfoot can (especially in autumn to early spring, and dependant on recent weather) be very muddy.
Thornham to Brancaster
If you came from Holme, you would have had to turn inland to the village
From Thornham, the path takes you inland across rolling agricultural land. When you reach the A149, cross carefully (the road can be very busy, especially in summer) and turn left for about 400 yards, and then turn right along a metalled road (Choseley Road) which climbs steadily upward to about 150 feet amsl. You will have excellent views behind you out to the sea. In 1 1/4 miles, you turn left by a small copse along a field track. You will cross two country lanes, before after another 700 yards turning left at a 'T' junction in the footpath. The way is now back downhill, until after passing the back of a cemetery you come into Brancaster. Cross the main road (again with care) - you will notice Brancaster church on the far right-hand corner. Just after the houses end, there is a gateway on the right, go through and you follow through onto a boarded walk which leads you after just over 1 mile into a grass field: cross this and come onto Brancaster Staithe.
Brancaster to Burnham Overy Staithe
Keeping past the Sailing Club, keep the general direction to pass along the backs of houses, with marshes on your left. The path turns left, then right in front of fencing, and so on to Deepdale Marsh. The road now follows sea-defences, curving gently right. Just under 2 miles, the path turns diagonally right. Continue along the defence bank and you will until you come to a 'T' junction, cross the river Burn and then in about 200 yards you come on to the A149. The footpath follows a field edge parallel to the road until you come after 1/2 mile to Burnham Overy Staithe, with a grassy bank overlooking Overy Creek (see photo below)
Burnham Overy Staithe to Wells-next-the-Sea
In Overy Staithe walk along the Harbour Way and at its eastern end as the road tunrs away to the right go through a gateway and after 100 yards, left on the sea-defence wall and head out northward. (On your right, the mudflats are rich with bird-life). The path turns right, then left until another paths joins from the right. The following 400 yards are very narrow and in winter very muddy and slippery. Eventually you come on to a boarded way which leads up into high dunes; across them you come on to a wide sandy beach. Walk out towards the water then bear right and follow the water line. After 1/2 mile you will see pinewoods to your right. The beach will curve right until 2 1/4 miles you reach Holkham Bay. Climb up onto the sand dunes and on to the boarded walkway which leads you for 200 yards through the pines on to the end of the Car Park on Lady Anne's Drive. Turn left through the gate, and follow the path along the southern side of the pines and dunes. After about 1 1/2 miles, the footpath comes into an open area. Do not follow it southward; the Coastal Path branches off to the left and passes alongside the Pinewoods Caravan Park on to a Car Park, with adjacent shop and refreshment kiosk.
Cross Beach Road at the end of the Car Park, climb on to the Sea Bank and head right. In 1 mile you come to Wells Harbour. Make you way alongside a Car Park on to the Quayside and turn left. The next 500m yards are along Wells Quayside. At its end bear left on to East Quay (see photo below).
Wells-next-the-Sea to Morston
700 yards along East Quay you come to a group of shacks. Pass the shacks on your left and then onto the Sea Defence and on to Warham Greens, which you enter turning left through a gateway on to a green swathe. At its end (after 2 miles) through the gate and 'Coclestrand Drove' will join from the right. In 1/2 mile you come to an N.T. sign 'Stiffkey Salt Marshes'. Pass an old military camp and then along the sandy track which continues to hug the edge of the marshes. After passing through marsh and gorse bushes, climb the bank over the River Stifffkey and continue across the marshes until after 2 1/2 miles you reach Morston Harbour. (National Trust)
Cross the open space of the harbour, past the N.T. office and on your right is the Coastal Path set on a grassy bank set above the marshes. Eventually dropping down to the level of the marshes (down some steps), bear left as another path joins from the right and follow along on to 'North Granary' which leads on to the quayside at Blakeney (see photo below). Walk along the Quayside until you come to the National Trust Car Park.
Blakeney to Cley-next-the-Sea
The distance by road is just over 1 mile: by the path it is much further. At the far end of the Car Park, back on to the sea-defence bank, but do not turn off over the stile on to the marsh. Follow the bank: eventually a fence will force you right and you will see Cley, with its famous windmill in front of you. The bank heads inland until it bears right at the A149. Stay on the bank if possible. Eventually you will have to join the footpath at the side of the busy A 149 into Cley.
Cley-next-the-Sea to Weybourne
Follow the A149 through Cley. The road is twisting, narrow and busy- so do so WITH CAUTION. At the end of the village turn left into the Windmill Car Park. At its far RH end go up some steps, turn left down a bank, then right along the bottom of the bank. Turn right up on to the bank, along it to where it turns right, then down on to a lower bank. Follow this until it reaches the main sea-defence bank ( a high shingle bank).
The footpath now follows the land side of the bank all the way to Kelling. You may, of course, climb the bank and on to the beach. (This is shingle and makes walking hard work for any distance!) Eventually after 3 1/2 miles you will reach Kelling, having passed Salthouse en route. At Kelling the shingle bank ends at a Car Park. Cross this and continue with the fence of a military installation on your right. Eventually you come to the shingle bank sheltering Weybourne, and come out on Weybourne Car Park. The route ends here: the Coastal Path continues, and if you wish to do so take the path which climbs up, and you will walk along the cliff top across grassy fields. DO NOT GO TOO CLOSE TO THE CLIFF EDGE
The OS maps needed to cover this Path are 'Explorer Sheets' 23,24,25 (2 1/2 inches to 1 mile)
|
