Days Out - Starfish Investigations review exciting places in North Norfolk

Where shall we go?

Gill Starkie and Karen Fisher, who call themselves ‘STARFISH Investigations’ review the most exciting places to visit in Norfolk.

Gill Starkie (right) and Karen Fisher

Back To The Garden, great food

We are two friends who live in Forncett St Mary and St Peter and we love to explore, have adventures and enjoy special days out. Our very high standards include ‘The Sausage Roll Test!’ – must be firm in the hand and HOT. And fizz – must be COLD. Our first review takes us to the North Norfolk Coast, starting with a walk in the pretty village of Heydon (NR11 6AD). Here you will find a lovely tea shop, a very good pub and a few small shops. But we just walked to the big house and enjoyed the beautiful surrounding countryside. Back to the car and on to ‘Back to the Garden’ in Letheringsett

Beautiful Blakeney (NR25 7JJ), lots on offer, but no sausage rolls!! However, we did enjoy a lunch of Halloumi Fingers and a delicious salad. We sat in the garden where there are plenty of tables, and there’s also lots of room undercover and inside. A very good menu and cakes galore, plus some XXL Scones. The produce market and butchery are well worth a visit. Next – a quick stop off to say hello to ‘Normal for Norfolks’ Desmond, at Wiveton (NR25 7TE), and then on to Blakeney (NR25 7NE), where we joined the North Norfolk Coastal path for a walk and an ice cream. Fabulous views across the waterways and the marshes; the walk to the ‘point’ will never disappoint and seals can be viewed all year round. Plus, it’s a great place to familiarise yourself with the local godwits and even a shank or two. As the sun begins its farewell, we need to be thinking about the journey home. But not before we drive further along the coast road, through all the pretty villages, to Brancaster (PE31 8BY). Here you will find the White Horse pub, famous for its fantastic seafood and a very fine wine list, plus fresh and simple lunches and dinners. Booking definitely advised. Great views across the marshes and waterways, sit inside, on the terrace, or, like us, in the garden to watch the sunset. We didn’t have the food, or the sunset, but it would have been remiss of us not to toast a perfect day with a glass of cold-ish fizz. Oh dear! Time to go home…as the sun disappeared behind Scolt Head Island Reserve – a wonderful view from the pub terrace – we left the beauty of the North to return to our equally lovely South.