Days Out In Norfolk

Explore the wonders of North Norfolk

WALKERS & CYCLISTS

The Norfolk Coast is a walker’s and cyclist’s delight. If you feel particularly energetic, you can walk the entire length of the Norfolk Coastal Path! It’s a challenge to fit in one day, but some of our team have done the whole 45 miles in one go, walking from Holme-next-the-Sea near Hunstanton where Seahenge was discovered in 1999, across to our beautiful seaside town of Cromer.

For those of you who wish to take it at a more sedate pace, you can break it down into chunks and use the Coasthopper bus and plan your journey with the help of the Traveline.

A bit about the Norfolk Coastal Path to whet your appetite: it forms part of Norfolk’s Deep History Coast (the largest and best-preserved mammoth was found very near the park at West Runton), and there are many interesting informational boards to glean some facts about the local history on your walk. You will pass through many beautiful villages en route, including Brancaster Staithe, Holkham, Wells and Blakeney, so there is plenty of opportunity to wet your whistle and refuel your batteries to continue your journey. This trail combines with the Peddars Way (which it joins at Holme-next-the-Sea) to form the Peddars Way & Norfolk Coast Path National Trail, one of 15 National Trails in England and Wales.

There are several smaller circular walks/rides that you can take from the park, and our staff will be happy to give you some hints and tips. You can also explore the routes detailed on the following links:

https://www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/things-to-do/walking.aspx
https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/out-and-about-in-norfolk/norfolk-trails/short-and-circular-walks

Don’t worry if you haven’t brought a bike along, Kelling Heath Park offers a cycle hire service through Huff & Puff Cycle Hire, meaning you can hire with confidence.

WILDLIFE

Norfolk is home to some of the rarest species of UK wildlife, including Nightjars, Slow worms, Adders, Stoats, Weasels, Otters, Cuckoos and Kingfishers – all of which are relatively common in Norfolk. Norfolk is a stronghold for the Nightjar, and at Kelling Heath Holiday Park, they can often be heard making their incredible churring noise – it is the weirdest call of any British Bird, and you will not mistake it!

Cuckoos and Kingfishers are often spotted in Wetlands such as the Norfolk Broads, and Kingfishers can even be seen in Central Norwich along the riverbanks – a spectacular sight with their flash of blue!

In the winter, you will occasionally see massive flocks of geese at Holkham National Nature Reserve returning to spend the night in safety. A third of the world’s population of Pink-footed geese spend the winter in Norfolk, with peak numbers during January and February. The best places to watch them are NWT Holme Dunes, NWT Cley Marshes, NWT Hickling Broad and NWT Martham Broad nature reserves.

Brown Hares are quite common across much of Norfolk countryside, although nationally their numbers have declined. They are fairly easy to spot as they spend more time in open spaces and are usually solitary. In case you wonder if it is a Rabbit or Hare, the Hare is larger, they are faster runners, and don’t show the white underside of their tail when they run. Lookout for hares on arable farmland, grazing marshes, heaths, and on saltmarsh, shingle and cliff-top coastal habitats. The best time to see them is dawn or dusk. You may witness some Mad March hare behaviour when up to ten hares gather together and indulge in madcap chases and furious boxing matches, this can usually be seen in early spring from February onwards, with peak activity in March and April.

Blakeney Point is famous for both its grey and common seals. In the winter (November to December), further along the coast at Horsey, the Females return each to give birth and feed their pups – it is an amazing sight to see hundreds of seals and their pups along the seashore from a safe distance so as not to disturb these beautiful but wild creatures!

So, quite simply, if you wish to see some of these elusive creatures for yourself, you need to come and explore and visit some of our fabulous Nature Reserves

A VISIT TO THE BEACH!

We are blessed with some great beaches in our area of Norfolk. Weybourne, East Runton, Cromer, Sheringham, Wells and Holkham, to name but a few.

It all depends on what you want to do at the beach. Our beaches cater for all tastes, whether you want to relive your childhood with a paddle and building sandcastles, do a spot of beach fishing or just catch some rays, there is a beach perfect for you right here in North Norfolk.

Some of our beaches are sandy whilst others are pebble, some have parking, toilets and cafes for refreshments, and some have no facilities, so it is worth researching before you set off to make sure your chosen destination is the right place for you.

Our staff are always on hand to give you some hints and tips and will be happy to tell you which is their favourite too!

For those wanting to fully immerse themselves in the sea, if you go to Sheringham, Cromer, West Runton, East Runton, Mundesley, Sea Palling, and Wells-next-the-sea, the RNLI in partnership with North Norfolk District Council provides a beach lifeguard service between marked areas of the beach.

If you fancy a trip to a lesser-known beach, read Our Top Five Norfolk Secret Beaches blog.

A TRIP TO TOWN

We have some fantastic towns in the area that cater to all tastes, and we are not too far from the fine city of Norwich, either! Sheringham and Cromer are close by, offering a combination of traditional seaside town life with lots of great little independent shops selling all kinds of products, and some lovely tea rooms too if you fancy a pit stop (we can thoroughly recommend fish and chips followed by a homemade ice-cream from one of the ice cream parlours down the high street at Sheringham!).

You can really make a day of it in these lovely little towns!

 

‘Trip into town’

Catch the North Norfolk Railway Poppy Line from our own Halt on Park to Sheringham, where the main train station is for this line. Enjoy the delights of the seaside town or take a fun trip on a steam train to the interesting Georgian market town of Holt, full of independent shops and great eateries. Then it’s back to Kelling Heath to continue your adventure on Park. Please note, due to the gradient, steam trains can only stop on the return journey from Holt and cannot stop when travelling from Sheringham / Weybourne. However, diesel services can stop in both directions.

 

At Cromer, a walk to the end of the pier is a must, and if you fancy supporting a great national charity and finding out about one of our regional heroes, we can recommend a visit to the Henry Blogg Museum, who is a local legend for his services to the RNLI!

 

Fancy a day at the races? Head to Fakenham, another market town and also home to Fakenham Race Course.

 

If you like the idea of a day out on the Broads, head to Wroxham. It’s a very busy village with its own department store! Wroxham is situated right on the Broads, and you can hire day boats (take a picnic or stop at one of the many pubs along the river for a bite to eat) or for a more relaxing trip take a guided boat trip on the Broads – the choice is yours and we are sure you won’t be disappointed!

 

A trip to Norwich is a safe bet for all. This fine city is home to the medieval Norwich Cathedral, which is a magnificent building and has an imposing impact on the city’s skyline! You will find cobbled streets at Elm Hill, Timber Hill and Tombland with some very ancient buildings and lots of independent shops and eateries, as well as the usual chains. Norwich Castle is well worth a visit. With its art, natural history, archaeology, and regimental history galleries, there will be something to keep the whole family entertained. Norwich has two shopping centres: Castle Quarter and Chantry Place, and very near the train station, you will find Riverside Retail Park, which is home to several of the bigger chain stores.

If you just fancy a day’s shopping expedition, we are sure you will find something to purchase.

Unless you fancy watching yourself, just be aware of when the Canaries (Norwich City Football Club) have a match on, as parking and driving into the city on match days can be tricky.

GO BACK IN TIME

There are some great places to visit in Norfolk if you are interested in history, as our county is full of heritage sites. As well as all the historical buildings in Norwich, Baconsthorpe Castle, Beeston Regis Abbey, Holkham Hall, Walsingham, Blickling and Felbrigg are all worth a visit.

We have a vibrant maritime heritage, which is prevalent in the coastal towns and villages with many museums and monuments around. For a stunning example of a lighthouse, we recommend a trip along the coast to Happisburgh.

Also, along the coast, you can find some remnants of when there were lookouts or ‘Y’ posts when there was believed to be a real threat of invasion in the Second World War.

As well as the two cathedrals in Norwich, the local towns have many beautiful churches in the County, which are worth exploring if their doors are open (this does vary quite considerably from location to location).

If you go down to the woods today…

We are blessed with lots of green space in North Norfolk, and a walk in the woods can be a great way to get a bit of exercise, for the kids to let off some steam or just a way to find some peace and quiet.

We have woods at Kelling Heath with over 6 miles of marked trails.

Sheringham Park, managed by the National Trust and just across the road from Kelling and a bit further up the road from Woodhill, is a beautiful green area with spectacular Rhododendron displays from May to June. Just outside of Sheringham, you will find Pretty Corner Woods, which is a 165-acre patchwork of woodland heathland and forms part of a larger network of woods and heath stretching some 10 miles from Cromer to Holt! Holt Country Park is managed by the council and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with cheap parking, lots of trails, sculptures and carvings, a sensory garden and a café for a cup of tea! Both Felbrigg and Blickling Hall are both National Trust properties and are open all year round with lovely grounds in which to walk, you can easily lose yourself in nature, too, by spotting the squirrels and deer, or maybe even a buzzard in the sky!