WEEKEND WONDERS

Cycle The Norfolk Coastline

The pace of life is wonderfully slow along one of England’s prettiest coastlines, making it perfect for a leisurely cycle holiday. Along with a great variety of seabird species, Norfolk is also home to landmark historic sites, superb sandy beaches and local pubs and cafes serving produce such as samphire and Cromer crab.

Inntravel has created a self-guided route through quiet backroads, stopping at a cherry-picked selection of unusual cultural sites. Stop at the Palladian Houghton Hall, once home to Great Britain’s first Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole, window shop in the tempting stores of Burnham Market and head to pilgrimage site Little Walsingham, where the Virgin Mary is said to have made an appearance in 1061. Take some time to relax on Holkham Beach and give your tired legs a rest by returning inland on the WellsWalsingham heritage steam railway. inntravel.co.uk

Visit The Bressingham Garden

Explore six linked gardens across 17 acres, created by nurseryman and plantsman Alan Bloom, founder of the Bressingham Gardens Nursery, and his son Adrian. Peruse island beds filled with 4,500 different selections of hardy perennials, boasting spectacular summer colour, while the Fragrant Garden is a feast of delightfully scented shrubs, herbs and foliage. Meanwhile, the Dell Garden and Foggy Bottom feature North American plants –a must visit for anyone who wants a mass of plant combination ideas and inspiration.

thebressinghamgardens.com

Delve Into History

The course of British history hung in the balance 340 years ago when a ship carrying royalty ran aground off Great Yarmouth and sank on May 6, 1682. Last year’s discovery of HMS Gloucester revived interest in the story, and for the first time, artefacts from Norfolk’s Mary Rose will be on display at Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery () as part of The Last Voyage of the Gloucester: Norfolk’s Royal Shipwreck 1682 until September 10. Take advantage of the fact Norwich is the only city to be located in a national park, by reserving some time to explore the wider area of The Broads National Park. museums.norfolk.gov.uk

Embrace The Outdoors

Norfolk recently played a starring role in Sir David Attenborough’s Wild Isles series, showcasing the variety of wildlife the area has to offer. This cliff-top campsite is ideally located to experience great sightings. A CoastHopper bus service offers trips to Blakeney to see seals, while plenty of butterflies and birds flutter through the site’s grounds. The Norfolk Coastal Path, stretching 84 miles Hunstanton and Hopton-on-Sea, is also close by. woodhill-park.com

Rocky Bottoms Restaurant

Enjoy the sea views from our beer garden, we have a range of local beer, spirits & wines.

Open daily from 12pm

(Opening hours available on our website) Book your table now to avoid disappointment. www.rockybottoms.net | Contact: 07848 045607