A LA CARTE DINING IN THE MAIN HOUSE OR TAPAS IN SUNDOWN. THE GROVE CROMER OFFERS FRESH FOOD, COOKED WELL FOR ALL AGES.
Our ‘A-Z of the Seaside’ will take you all around our 90 miles of beautiful coast and give you some tips on how to enjoy yourselves and accompanying that are our guides to crabbing and rock pooling.
While you’re here, don’t miss Norwich – we’ve got ten things to do with the kids when you’re in the Fine City. Talking of anklebiters, we’ve got the ultimate guide to family-friendly attractions, including Roarr!, BeWILDerwood, Banham Zoo, Holkham, Pensthorpe and more.
To relax, take a look at our top gardens in Norfolk, things to do in the Broads and we’ve even given you a guide to where to see the best sunsets!
And here’s a question for you… what part of Norfolk is best?
Eek! There are seven distinct destinations, all very different, all with oodles of things to do and places to visit. Only you can decide… once you’ve visited them all!
And while Norfolk is a great destination for a day trip, it’s even better if you stay and you get to soak up the laid-back vibe we have here. There’s accommodation types for all tastes and pockets, so we’ll give you a helping hand there too.
You’ll find us a very welcoming bunch so have a great time!
Norfolk’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is the place to enjoy our laid-back coast that includes the Quiet Lanes around Kelling Heath on the Cromer Ridge, boat trips to see the seal colony at Blakeney Point, birdwatching at Cley-next-the-Sea and the salt and marshland of Stiffkey.
A lot of destinations have beach huts, but none more striking than Wellsnext-the-Sea. Here there are 200 multi-coloured, higgledy-piggledy huts stretched along the beach, backed by an enormous pine forest. You could even hire one for the day from Pinewoods.
It’s got a great beach. It’s got a pier. It’s got brilliant fish and chips. And it’s got the eponymous Cromer Crab, so tasty because it feeds off the world’s longest chalk reef that’s just offshore. It’s true!
The best marram-topped sandy dunes can be found on the beaches between Great Yarmouth and Eccles. Natural sea defences, they’re great for diving off and playing hide and seek in but watch out for warnings about nesting birds. By the way, marram comes from Old Norse, meaning sea and grass.
Cromer is home to the world’s last end-of-pier theatre, the Pavilion on the Grade II listed Victorian pier. Don’t miss the superb Summer Variety Show – it’s proper old school!
You’re coming to the seaside, you’re having fish and chips. It’s the law. Douse liberally with vinegar, sprinkle with salt. That’s the etiquette. Have them in a chippy by all means, but they’ll taste better for unwrapping them and tucking in when you’re sat on the seafront, looking at the sea. Trust us.
The East coast’s premier seaside resort, it has fabulous beaches, lots of attractions and shows on the famous Golden Mile, the last wooden rollercoaster in the UK and shows at The Hippodrome, the last complete circus building in the UK.
Or Sunny Hunny as we call it, famous for its stripey cliffs and the fact that it is the only East coast resort that faces west… and therefore has spectacular sunsets.
You’re coming to the seaside, you’re also having an ice cream. You could try donuts, or candy floss, but ice cream is the pukka seaside treat. In a cone. With a flake. Get in.
Which is what you’ll be filled with when you have a care-free holiday or day trip to Norfolk’s superb seaside. Play beach cricket, dune dive, go crabbing or rockpooling. All guaranteed to make happy memories. Or ride a Snail at Great Yarmouth’s Joyland!
A blustery day on the east coast at Gorleston-on-Sea is the ideal place for adrenaline seekers who want to surf the waves. Or go to Hunstanton where the water is shallow.
For two days in May Cromer and Sheringham host the Crab and Lobster Festival, a celebration of all things crustacean, including the World Crabbing Championship. We reckon our crabs and lobsters are the tastiest and meatiest because they feed off the world’s longest chalk reef that’s just offshore.
You’ll find some of the plumpest, scrummiest mussels on the north Norfolk coast, where they are bred in the tidal salt marshes and creeks. If you see them on a pub menu, don’t hesitate – you won’t regret it.
Take off your shoes and socks, roll up your trouser legs, head into the briny. Simple as that. The best paddling in Norfolk, we believe, would be found at Holkham and Wells-next-the-Sea beaches with the tide going out.
The National Trust is a national treasure. Most famous for stately homes, here in Norfolk they also look after a lot of our coastline at places like Morston Quay and Sheringham Park, where you can climb the watch tower for fabulous coastal views down to Blakeney Spit. Q is for QUIET
They’re good here for the same reasons as mussels (above). Ignore anyone who says they’re the dustbins of the deep. Instead, relish the plumpness, the creaminess, the salty taste of the sea. Ummmm…
Escape the hullabaloo of Hunstanton and the great din of Great Yarmouth and find yourself a little haven of peace and quiet on one of Norfolk’s secret beaches, like Eccles, Bacton and Sea Palling. But shhhh! Don’t tell anyone!
The Pleasure Beach at Great Yarmouth has the only remaining wooden rollercoaster in the UK, and one of only eight in the world. It’s also only one of two where a brakeman is required to ride the train to control its speed – because there are NO BRAKES on the track. Eeek!
You want to build sandcastles?
You want to bury dad up to his neck?
You’ve come to the right place. With 90 miles of coast, we have A LOT of sand and it’s all brilliant. Just a point on burying dad. Not head first, okay?
Enjoy
So many great places to shop, meet, dine and enjoy!
ChantryPlace.co.uk
After a day on the beach what could be better than letting someone else entertain you and the family? A seaside theatre is what you need. We have five – in Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, Hunstanton, Sheringham and Cromer. Take your pick!
This region has one of the best climates in the UK, with lots of sunshine and long days, but occasionally, just occasionally, the Welsh or the Scots send us some precipitation. Don’t worry though, Norfolk has lots of indoor activities too, particularly our visitor attractions which are nearly all weather-proofed!
You want a holiday or short break by the coast, with fabulous beaches, brilliant family-friendly visitor attractions, great local food and drink and superb value accommodation? Welcome to Norfolk. You’ve chosen well.
Best birdwatching in the UK. Tick? Boat trips to see the country’s largest seal colony? Tick. Crabbing off piers and quays? Yep. Herds of deer in huge country estates by the sea? Got that too.
NOT!!! We’re not a boastful lot, and we do hide our light under a bushel, but you won’t meet friendlier people than us. And we simply love welcoming visitors. Caister-on-Sea had the country’s first holiday camp. And the Victorian railways brought people in their thousands from industrialised cities. Norfolk is also home to the first tourists ever to come to Britain… 850,000 years ago!
Norfolk’s not as flat as Noel Coward implied. In fact, Cromer Ridge is the highest point in East Anglia with a sea view. But you won’t need crampons and ropes when you visit Norfolk. Walkers love the Norfolk Coast Path which stretches the entire coastline.
If you’re looking for something more exotic than migrating birds and waders, we have a plethora of zoos by the coast, like Amazona and Thrigby Hall, all of whom do brilliant conservation work. There are also two Sea Life Centres, in Hunstanton and Great Yarmouth.
The unique Broads National Park are 125 miles of navigable, lock-free waterways that are a haven for wildlife. They’re also the only English National Park with a city in it –Norwich. And, would you believe, the Broads are also man-made, the result of inundated medieval peat diggings. Read on and you’ll discover why…
Who needs Venice when you can take a day boat out from Wroxham or Potter Heigham (other riverside villages are available)? Better still, take one out for a whole week. Enjoy the tranquillity, the birdlife and beautiful countryside of Britain’s largest protected wetland as you slip along. Listen out for a booming Bittern or catch sight of a rare swallowtail, Britain’s largest butterfly, which is unique to the Broads.
Take a trip on a wherry, Norfolk’s very own native boat. Oak and clinker-built with a single large black gaff sail, it’s a wide, shallowdraughted boat with a keel, designed for the Broads and able to take 25 tonnes of goods. Big wherries worked the lower river systems, but smaller, 25-feet boats could extend their reach up-river by slipping their keels and lowering their masts to shoot bridges. On retirement, wherries were often sunk to strengthen riverbanks, but there are still some left, being used as pleasure boats.
> wherryyachtcharter.org
> wherryalbion.com
Visit Wheatfen, famous naturalist Ted Ellis’ nature reserve at Surlingham, south of Norwich and close to the River Yare. There’s a rewarding circular walk where you can learn about the medieval inundated peat diggings that became the Broads. Yes, the Broads are man-made! Didn’t we say?
Learn more about the area at the Museum of the Broads at Stalham Staithe. They’re man-made you know, the result of medieval peat digging for fuel. Yes, really! You can get out on the water from the museum on an electric boat or a steam boat!
Spend an afternoon lazing around Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, a secret hideaway in the heart of the Norfolk Broads. There are wonderful woodland walks, gardens rich in wildlife with an eclectic mix of native and cultivated plantings plus a private broad – if you’re lucky you’ll get it all to yourself!
Head to the fantastic visitor centre at Whitlingham Country Park and try out canoeing, sailing or paddleboarding. Or take it easier on the solarpowered Ra boat – Norfolk is the combined sunniest/driest county so there’ll be plenty of power!
Get up close to one of Norfolk’s bestknown landmarks (although most of these operated drainage pumps so they’re not strictly windmills). Windmills probably came from the East with returning Crusaders – at one time this region had the densest population of them in England. The brick tower mills with movable, boatlike wooden caps and four wooden sails covered with canvas are unique to Norfolk. The tallest on the Broads is the Berney Arms High Mill, built in the 1860s, which you walk to from Great Yarmouth or visit by train – it’s a request stop on the line to Norwich. The National Trust Horsey Windpump has great views from the top.
Quirky holiday accommodation and explore the Broads with our unique “Sparrow’s and Amazons” package. We also hire day launch, canoe, kayak and SUPs.
To find out more visit us at hippersons.co.uk or call 01502 712 166
Hippersons Boatyard
hippersonsboatyard
PERFECTLY
Shop at Roys of Wroxham in the Norfolk Broads – it’s the world’s largest village store! Yes, really! Their range of locally-sourced
Boats aren’t the only way to get around the Broads – you can go by train too! There’s the Bure Valley Railway, a heritage narrow gauge steam railway which operates between Wroxham and Aylsham. Or you could take a regular train on the Bittern Line, operating between Norwich and Cromer-Sheringham with a stop at Wroxham.
Hire a bike and cycle around the villages – don’t worry, your calf muscles won’t be straining. There are lots of cycle routes through picturesque waterside communities, like Ranworth, Salhouse, and Woodbastwick where you can stop for a refreshing pint of Norfolk Wherry. And if you’re in Ranworth, you can climb to the top of St Helen’s church, the ‘Cathedral of the Broads’, and get a superb view of the Broads.
Sip Woodforde’s Wherry outside the thatched Fur and Feathers pub at Woodbastwick. A pond with ducks and sun on your skin… you’ll be in heaven. (They do brewery tours too).
Watch the sunset behind Breydon Water and Halvergate marshes at Roman Burgh Castle near Great Yarmouth. When the Romans were here in the first century AD our famous seaside resort didn’t even exist! Longshore drift and the prevailing north-west tides created the sand spit across the estuary mouth much later.
Guided walking tours in Norwich and the Broads National Park - all year-round
For more information see www.pauldicksontours.co.uk e. paul@pauldicksontours.co.uk
Enjoy unlimited hop on, hop off travel all day with our rover tickets, with extra discounts for advance bookings.
Things to see & do...
Operated almost entirely by volunteers, the Poppy Line has lots to explore:
Steam and Heritage Diesel trains
Historic station buildings
Free activity guides for children
William Marriot Museum
1930s Railway Cottage
Model railways and bookshops
For timetables, fares, dining trains and more see www.nnrailway.co.uk
M o r g an
Visit the junior farm at Wroxham Barns. There are activities every day: you can groom the horses, collect eggs from the henhouses, feed the rabbits and, in Spring, bottle feed the lambs. Be warned: you’ll want to take them home.
Meet the Crocklebogs, Twiggles and Boggles at BeWILDerwood, a huge forest of family fun and adventure. You’ll be entranced by storytelling, boat trips, marsh walks, jungle bridges, treehouses and zip wires.
“Isn’t it time you came’n’saurus,” say the prehistoric creatures at Roarr! Dinosaur Adventure Park. And why wouldn’t you – it’s Norfolk’s number one visitor attraction!
Sure there’s bowling alleys, laser games, rolling skating, cinemas and the like in Norwich, but then every place has got those, right? So, for our top 10, we’ve sought out things that are unique to Norwich…
The ‘box on the hill’ has stood there for coming up for a thousand years when the Normans built it to impress upon the natives who was now in charge. Now, it’s home to galleries of arts and the natural world, a look at Roman Norfolk, and lots more besides. There are regular special attractions and events for youngsters during the holidays. The castle is currently undergoing a £13.5m’Royal Palace Reborn’ redevelopment so check the website for an update.
> museums.norfolk.gov.uk
Combine a trip along the River Wensum with a trip into the Cathedral and its Precinct and you’ll have an adventurous few hours. Look out for Pull’s Ferry, where stone from Caen was brought ashore by the Normans to build their 11th century paean to God. Cow Tower is an interesting feature on the river – a medieval blockhouse to repel attackers. There are lots of kidfriendly restaurants in the Riverside entertainment area, or you could find an independent café in the medieval, cobbled streets in Tombland.
For a second there you thought Millennium Falcon, didn’t you? Admit it. Nope, nothing to do with Star Wars, this is actually a unique space in the heart of Norwich, opposite St Peter Mancroft Church, by the market. Principally the city’s library, it also hosts lots of festivals and events, many for youngsters on the weekends and holidays. Events are also held outside on Millennium Plain.
> theforumnorwich.co.uk
This Norman Foster-designed hangar-like building (used in some Marvel films as their upstate New York HQ) at the University of East Anglia has free admission to the permanent collection which includes work by Modigliani, Picasso and Bacon. There are regular events for families and youngsters. Outside explore the Sculpture Park, which includes works by Henry Moore, and take a walk around the Broad. Nearby Earlham Park has a café and an opportunity to paddle barefoot in the River Yare.
> sainsburycentre.ac.uk
One of the country’s best provincial theatres has shows and workshops for young ’uns, particularly in the holidays.
> norwichtheatre.org
A community outreach organisation just off the city centre they’re all about… yes, you guessed – puppets and puppet performance. Creating magical theatrical performances are just one of the things they do. Oh, and hands-on skills sessions too.
> puppettheatre.co.uk
A cornucopia of city history, from when Norwich was England’s Second City through to its rich industrial heritage. Learn about shopping and trading, take a look at the recreated early 20th century chemists shop and explore The Undercroft!
> museums.norfolk.gov.uk
Cycle or walk around this lovely Broad and pop into the Flint Barn Café. With 280 acres of countryside and water, there’s also Whitlingham Adventure where youngsters can take their first steps to sailing.
For great views of the city skyline, head up to Mousehold Heath. This is the vantage point that Robert Kett’s rebels took in the city in 1549. It didn’t end well. There’s plenty of space to run around, a recreation park and pitch and putt.
Built after the first world war, this 80-acre recreation space near the city is where Norwich congregates 365 days of the year. There’s a pitch and putt, model boating pond, tennis courts, crazy golf, skate park, games area and café.
It’s no secret that Norfolk isn’t the most mountainous in the country, but that does mean you have huge skies to enjoy… as well as stunning sunsets. We’ve looked around the county to find some of the best spots to see them…
Cromer’s Victorian pier has the last end-of-pier theatre in the country with year-round shows, particularly during the Summer and at Christmas.
Cley Marshes at sunset, with Cley Windmill visible on the left. Purchased in 1926, the marshes made up England’s first Wildlife Trust reserve and remain one of the best birdwatching spots in the country.
Count the beach huts and take a stroll through the pine woods. If it’s low tide you could take a walk to find the seashore… it’s about a mile away!
The spot where Lord Horatio Nelson, who was born at nearby Burnham Thorpe, learnt to sail.
Enjoy the view from Mousehold Heath and pick out the landmarks such as both cathedrals, City Hall and St Peter Mancroft Church.
Take a boat trip to see the seal colony on Blakeney Point, the largest colony in the country.
This peaceful valley on the NorfolkSuffolk border is a great place to explore on foot… or hire a canoe.
The flat land of south Norfolk made it perfect for the concrete airfields of the US Mighty Eighth Air Force, including Buckenham where the Hollywood actor James Stewart served as base commander, leading his men into raids over Nazi-occupied Europe.
Hunstanton is the only east coast resort that faces West so you’re guaranteed spectacular sunsets over The Wash.
This is Turf Fen Windmill reflecting in the River Ant at sunset, but pretty much anywhere in the Broads is a great place to enjoy the last of the day.
Thetford Forest is the largest lowland pine forest in Britain, located on the Norfolk-Suffolk border. You may not be able to see the wood for the trees, but you can enjoy a sunset.
Norfolk has lots of family-friendly visitor attractions, many of which are open most of the year. Here’s just a selection…
Run wild in this award-winning outdoor adventure park in the Broads National Park. Enjoy treehouses, wobbly wires, slippery slopes, storytelling, boat rides, marsh walks and meet the Crocklebogs, Twiggles and Boggles. There’s lots of special events to look out for too.
> norfolk.bewilderwood.co.uk
Part conservation trust, part visitor attraction, Pensthorpe does an exceptional job of encouraging people to look after the environment and our wildlife… while everyone is also having a lot of fun! Explore the wild side of nature in this stunning 700 acre nature reserve located within the Wensum Valley, just 11 miles inland from the Norfolk coast. There’s epic indoor adventure at Hootz House and at Wildrootz ecoplay area children with energy to burn can push themselves physically whilst boosting confidence and having fun scaling 30ft towers, swinging from zip wires, venturing into underground tunnels and flying down twisty slides.
> pensthorpe.com
With a stunning location on the north Norfolk coast and at the heart of a thriving 25,000-acre estate, 18th century Palladian Holkham Hall is an exceptional place to explore. Discover the ‘Holkham Stories Experience’, the walks and cycle trails, hit the high ropes course, take a boat on the lake, or a wander around the refurbished Walled Garden. The estate also hosts events throughout the year, including outdoor cinema and theatre.
> holkham.co.uk
Unleash your inner Tarzan by taking to the trees at High Lodge, Thetford Forest. Explore the forest canopy 40ft from the floor on wobbly crossings, giant swings and zip wires. While you’re here, tear up the trails on an all-terrain electric Segway, try your arm at archery, enjoy the adventure playgrounds and much more.
> goape.co.uk
Discover an amazing underwater world on Great Yarmouth’s Golden Mile including the Rockpool Explorer Experience and meet the Humboldt Penguins, blacktip reef sharks, Clownfish, and turtles.
> visitsealife.com/ great-yarmouth
Huge fun for all the family, from white knuckle rides to traditional attractions, including dodgems, fun factory and freefall. Don’t miss the wooden rollercoaster, the last one in the UK that needs a brakeman because there are no brakes on the track. Eek!
> pleasure-beach.co.uk
Major investments over the past few years, not least indoor Dinomite and Dippy’s Theatre, make Roarr! the top adventure park in the region. Head out on the Dinosaur Trail, hit the heights on the Predator High Ropes, play Jurassic Putt Crazy Golf, or zip around Dippy’s Raceway after a frolic in Dippy’s Splash Zone. There’s lots of hot and cold food options and indoor and outdoor picnic areas.
> roarrdinosauradventure.co.uk
Explore the park near Great Yarmouth using the unique network of walkways. Follow the bridges across the lake, climb the Jubilee Tree walk to get magnificent views of the park, and venture onto the Tiger Machan Viewing Platform. Walk through the tree tops with the Gibbons and over the Leopard Enclosures. Animals to be enthralled by are Sumatran Tigers, Red Pandas, Meerkats, Snow Leopards, Otters, Alligators and Crocodiles.
> thrigbyhall.com
The largest all invertebrate zoo in the UK, Bugz UK is absolutely unique… especially if you like creepy crawlies! The venue has hundreds of tropical insects, millipedes, spiders and tarantulas… and there are handling sessions every hour. New in 2023 are a huge jumping pillow, a covered sandpit and extra picnic benches.
> bugzuk.com
Lovable donkey duo Wiggins and Wacko, real-life Black Beauty Maya and resident troublemakers, the Gangsters, are just some of the 50 rescued residents to discover at Redwings Aylsham, while Caldecott, a Visit England Quality Assured Visitor Attraction, is a must-see for all donkey and mule lovers with a herd of over 30 of the adorable, long-eared creatures!
> redwings.org.uk
This zoo in Cromer is absolutely Braziliant! Meet the 200 animals who call Amazona home, get up close and personal with Brazilian wild animals or visit the education yurt to learn more about the wildlife and ecology of South America. Under 12s will love Jumble Tumbles soft play adventure and youngsters will enjoy Rainforest Springs play area.
> amazonazoo.co.uk
The largest indoor modelling attraction in the UK stretching over 10,000 square feet with some of the largest model railways in the world on display. See model railways in various scales, slot car displays and a whole city made from over 130,000 Lego bricks! With model boat displays and toys from across the decades there is something for the whole family.
> wroxhamminiatureworlds.co.uk
There’s great shopping and eating here, but there’s also lots of family fun. Explore the Junior Farm and Fun Park, romp around in the soft play area, and get lost in the Maize Maze. There’s heaps of cute animals to meet including sheep, pigs, rabbits, alpacas, guinea pigs and goats. And pony grooming too!
> wroxhambarns.co.uk
Meet the friendly farm animals and learn more about them from the experienced livestock staff, whilst getting to pet some of them. The animals, not the staff. The adventure playground is a must for all younger visitors, with trampolines, climbing frames, a great pedal tractor trail and the enormous undercover sand pit and straw barn, where children can jump and play in the straw bales.
> churchfarmstowbardolph.co.uk
The entire family will enjoy this fun park – explore all the fun of the farm, in Hemsby. Perfect for youngsters with lots of energy, Hirsty’s has acres of space to discover. Feeling peckish? Pop over to Hirst’s Farm Shop and Café, the family-run farm, offering fresh, locally sourced produce from the fields and network of local farmers, fishmongers and artisan suppliers.
> hirstysfamilyfunpark.co.uk
A conservation hub for endangered species of animals from around the world, Banham aims to spark a lifelong interest in protecting the rich diversity of our natural world through conservation and education. Set in 50 acres of Norfolk parkland and run by the Zoological Society of East Anglia, you can learn about incredible animals including the Amur Tiger, Red Panda, Grevy’s Zebra and the giraffe.
> zsea.org/banham
When you’re at the seaside there’s nothing more magical than exploring the depths of a coastal rock pool or trying to lure an unsuspecting crab onto the end of your line. But you’ve got to do it properly and, above all, you’ve got to respect and protect the wildlife you come across.
The best places to rock pool in Norfolk are at West Runton, Cromer, Sheringham and Hunstanton.
Get a glimpse into the depths for an intriguing snapshot of life under the waves – this is the easiest way to get up close to marine wildlife. You can rock pool (they’re also known as tide pools) at any time of the year but the best time is from late spring to early autumn when the weather is best and the water is still. The water tends to be warmest in September.
1 Make sure you check the tide timetable beforehand - the best time to rock pool is at low tide.
2 The only equipment you’ll need is a curious mind and sturdy footwear with a good grip. Flipflops are useless on sharp stones! Don’t forget sun cream and sun hats too. Maybe even a jumbo magnifying glass.
3 A bucket with some salty water in it is useful if you want to take a closer look at what you catch. Change the water regularly. You can also gently pull the bucket through the water to see what you can scoop up. Don’t use a net, as you can hurt sensitive sea life.
4 The best, clearest rock pools are close to the sea edge – look at these first and move back with the tide. Don’t be afraid to get your hands wet – gently turning over seaweed can reap rich rewards. If you pick up a crab do it from behind, with finger and thumb top and bottom of the
carapace. But beware of redeyed blue velvet swimming crab – they can nip!
5 Sit very quietly and make sure you don’t cast a shadow over the pool – timid crabs and other inhabitants will know you’re there.
6 Look out for transparent common prawns and shrimp (which often swim backwards), starfish, and brightly-coloured anemones waving its tentacles at you, mussels and whelks, as well as limpets, the lawnmowers of the sea which scrape algae off rocks with their large rough tongues. Just under the surface you might see goby, butterfish or blenny. You might also see a shell moving on legs – if you do, it’s a hermit crab that’s made its home in a disused periwinkle shell.
7 When you’ve finished and it’s time to go, carefully return the contents of your bucket, salt water and all, to the rock pool.
Norfolk’s great for crabbing because of its estuarial and creek waters that the little blighters like inhabiting. Top spots are Blakeney and Wellsnext-the-Sea quays and Cromer. Or go for the tidal creeks at Titchwell, Brancaster Staithe or Burnham Overy Staithe. You could also try Hunstanton.
Catching crabs by a line (also called Gillie-crabbing) is as old as the seaside itself, but how to do it hasn’t changed a great deal. So here’s how you do it… step by step. The best way to learn is not by the textbook, but by experience… and a few nips on the fingers.
1 All you need is a piece of string or line, a weight and a bait. Try not to use nets and hooks –they’re very unsporting. Dynamite and blunderbusses are actively discouraged.
2 This is a sport of quality not quantity. The goal is to get the heaviest specimen.
3 Look after them in water-filled buckets until the game is over and they are returned, unharmed, to their natural habitat.
4 Tie the bait (perhaps fish, particularly the heads, or bacon or even dough soaked in whisky) to the end of your string, with the weight tied just above. Lower to the bottom and wait. By all means do the ‘Huckleberry Finn’ and tie the other end of the string to a toe and just lay back and relax. When you feel a tug, pull… but very, very slowly.
7 Be patient. If the crab thinks it’s in the speedy elevator going up The Shard in London it will drop off. And you’ll be left at square one.
6 When you pull one up successfully (and you will!) handle it from the back. The things that pinch are at the front!
7 Once you’ve returned your crabs to the sea water, we recommend celebrating your success with a delicious sandwich or salad… of Cromer crab!
Norfolk has a huge collection of gardens, from small higgledy-piggledy cottage gardens to wonderfully relaxing water gardens and magnificent stately home gardens. Laze around on the grass listening to bird song and gazing up at the sky. Feast your eyes on a riot of glorious colour – tumbling wisteria, clambering sweet peas, rambling roses and delicate hellebores. Rub your fingers over the lavender and mint or stoop to smell the parsley and sage. You can’t beat wandering around someone else’s garden and enjoying the rewards of all their hard work!
The gardens at Felbrigg are a delight, with visitors returning seasonally to see how things have changed. Discover Felbrigg’s widely renowned Walled Garden, as well as the West Garden, home to the orangery, built in the 18th century. Get up close to the double borders and herb beds in the Walled Garden and breathe in the scent of lavender, sage and mint. You can find a good many modern surprises within this traditionally laid out garden, including one of the few octagonal working dovecotes in the country, dating back to the early 1750s.
> nationaltrust.org.uk
Priory Maze and Gardens are set within 10 acres, consisting of various themed gardens, and the hedge maze, based on the ruins of the adjacent Beeston Priory. The natural feel of the gardens, and the diverse plant habitat it provides, in turn creates a perfect habitat for a wide range of mammals, birds, and insects, including resident pheasants, woodcock, snipe, kingfisher and goldcrests, along with many other regulars. You might also see waxwings, firecrest, crossbills and tree creepers. The wildflower meadow provides habitat for countless moths and other insects during mid-summer, and in the early summer there are bee orchids and the common marsh orchid in abundance.
> priorymazegardens.co.uk
Holkham is putting the finishing touches to the rejuvenation of six acres of walled garden which was originally laid out by Samuel Wyatt during the late 1700s. Head through Italian iron-work gates which were brought from Venice in 1908 and into one of the seven sections, known as ‘squares’ and ‘slips’. The walls within the garden act as a windbreak and reflect the sun to create a gentle microclimate. In Victorian times the garden would have provided a constant and varied supply of food and decoration to the hall.
> holkham.co.uk
Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden is a secret hideaway in the heart of the Norfolk Broads. Wonderful woodland walks, gardens rich in wildlife with an eclectic mix of native and cultivated plantings plus a private broad from where you can take boat trips.
> fairhavengarden.co.uk
A hidden delight in the middle of Norwich, behind the Roman Catholic Cathedral, the Plantation Gardens has architectural features that include a 30ft Gothic fountain, an Italianate terrace, rustic bridge and woodland paths. Mature trees and superb planting schemes provide year round colour. Just 10 minutes’ walk from the city centre, this Grade II English Heritage Listed garden has lots of special events.
> plantationgarden.co.uk
One of Norfolk’s hidden gems, this private garden is open to the public so you can see the love and attention that has been put into this wonderful collection of gardens, from exotic to woodland, from desert to prehistoric. Look out for framed views of Happisburgh lighthouse and church.
> eastrustonoldvicarage.co.uk
The gardens at this medieval moated manor house feature a wide variety of plants, trees and shrubs in many different settings. There’s a Heritage and Modern Rose Garden (with designs reflecting their date of origin since the fifteenth century) and a Contemporary Garden.
> manningtongardens.co.uk
The National Trust’s Oxburgh Hall has four main garden areas dating from Oxburgh’s Victorian era, including an impressive French parterre, with its colourful pattern of flowers, a herbaceous border which is a glorious mix of colour and form, woodland trails and kitchen garden.
> nationaltrust.org.uk
There’s nowhere like Norfolk
Immerse yourself in six acres of gardens with a natural trout stream, four ponds, waterways, thirteen bridges, grass paths and nature trails, mature trees and shrubs.
> gooderstonewatergardens.co.uk
The Royal Family’s country residence is set in 24 hectares of glorious gardens, and is perhaps the finest of all the Royal gardens. Every generation of the Royal Family which has lived here has added something of their own times and tastes, from the peace of the woodland walks to the drama of the carrstone rockeries, from the formality of the North Garden with its pleached lime avenues to the intimacy of the Stream Walk.
> sandringhamestate.co.uk
Pensthorpe is home to three delightful wildliferich gardens by award-winning designers, stunning meadow and a lakeside environment with year-round interest and growth. There’s the Wildlife Habitat Garden, the innovative Wave Line Garden, structural beauty of the acclaimed Millennium Garden or you can take a relaxing stroll through the Norfolk countryside in the tranquil Wildflower Meadow.
> pensthorpe.com
The National Trust’s Blickling Hall has 55 acres of topiary, sweeping lawns, herbaceous borders, a temple and a lake. Don’t miss the fragrant beds of the parterre and inspiring double borders. You’ll find hellebores and primroses, daffodils and bluebells, azaleas and rhododendron, wisteria and peonies as well as quiet places to sit and enjoy the view. Afterwards, take a longer walk around the magnificent estate… and try to find the county’s only pyramid.
> nationaltrust.org.uk
At Bressingham there are six distinct gardens across 17 acres, including Alan Bloom’s Dell Garden, 48 beds of hardy perennials with 5000 different species and varieties. There’s also Adrian Bloom’s Foggy Bottom Garden with 500 different conifers and 100 heathers, The Summer Garden, The Fragrant Garden and Winter Garden.
> bressingham.co.uk
Hindringham Hall Gardens has been described in Country Life as being ‘perfect in every detail’. One of only a few complete moats in the county, Hindringham has a walled vegetable and fruit garden with herb parterre, an iris and delphinium walk, daffodil area, a walkwayed bog area, water garden, Victorian nut walk, wild garden, and tearoom by the East Lawn.
Raveningham Gardens, like many great gardens, is the work of one person, the late Priscilla Bacon. Working on it for over fifty years, she created magnificent borders and rosebeds. More recent additions include a herb garden, a refurbished Victorian conservatory in the walled garden, an arboretum, magnificent lake and contemporary sculpture.
> hindringhamhall.org
> raveningham.com
This park was the personal favourite of its designer, Humphry Repton. The Repton exhibition tells the story of his 1812 design during a turbulent period of history. Famous for its vast collection of rhododendrons and azaleas, the last owner – before the National Trust took it on – held rhododendron champagne parties in the 1950s to show them off.
> nationaltrust.org.uk
Well, there are seven distinct parts of Norfolk and all are very different so it’s very difficult to say what’s best. All of them are great, depending on what you want to do. So let’s talk you through them all...
Enjoy walking and cycling in ancient heathland, spotting Deal Rows and Pingoes or red deer, discover market towns such as Swaffham, Thetford and Wymondham. Best of all, explore the massive Thetford Forest. Here you’ll have almost 16,000 acres of pines to play in. Head to High Lodge where you’ll find masses of waymarked walking and cycling paths as well as things to do such as archery and Go Ape aerial ropes.
The best seaside resort town on the east coast, with its unrivalled Golden Mile of family-friendly amusements, attractions and entertainment. There are great things to do, including the water spectacular at The Hippodrome, myriad rides at The Pleasure Beach, amazing marine wildlife at The Sea Life centre, strolling around The Venetian Waterways and you can learn about the town’s maritime history at the award-winning Time & Tide Museum.
Stunning coastline is the highlight of north Norfolk, punctuated by seaside Cromer with its Victorian pier, charming Wells-nextthe-Sea with its 200 higgledypiggledy colourful beach buts, the country’s largest seal colony at Blakeney Point, stunning coastal views at Sheringham Park and the magnificent Holkham Hall and beach. This is also an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Head inland for the lovely Georgian town of Holt, and the National Trust run Blickling Hall and Felbrigg Hall.
A National Park unlike any other… 125 miles of navigable, lock-free waterways that are best explored by boat. You can hire day boats or take one out for a whole holiday. There are great riverside villages to explore, pubs and restaurants to moor up at, amazing wildlife to see and visitor attractions like BeWILDerwood and Wroxham Barns. It’s the only National Park that was part man-made, and it’s the only National Park with a city in it. Talking of which…
You can’t have a better seal of approval than being home for the Royal Family, can you? That’s Sandringham, whose hall and gardens are open most of the year. If you like that, try Houghton Hall as well. On the coast there’s seaside Hunstanton, from where you can take boat trips to see the offshore seal colony, and if you like birdwatching don’t miss RSPB Snettisham and Holme Dunes. Visit King’s Lynn to see the UK town with the most graded buildings, including the stunning Custom House and Guildhall.
Bustling, vibrant and never short of amazing things to do, the bestpreserved medieval city in the country has at its heart the largest permanent covered market in Europe, with superb shopping at High Street brands and a huge range of local independent stores, particularly in The Lanes. Discover the city’s history at The Bridewell Museum of Norwich, take in a show at one of many theatres, and don’t miss the Norman Castle and the magnificent Cathedral.
Studded with picturesque villages and market towns, South Norfolk is set in delightful rolling countryside, best in Spring and Summer when you’ll see swathes of bright yellow rape and wheat fields as well as wildflowers. South Norfolk is perfect for cycling and walking, not least on the Boudicca Way with its highlight of old Roman town of Venta Icenorum, and in the Waveney Valley why not hire a day boat or cruiser and enjoy the Southern Broads.
There are some (uninformed) people who think ‘Norfolk is flat, dull and boring and at the end of the world’s longest cul-de-sac’. Then there are the rest of us who think it’s the best county in the UK and long for the day when we can make it an island and issue visas for entry (don’t worry, they’ll be free and we’ll be as welcoming as ever).
So what do literary giants, and some pop stars and others, have to say about Norfolk? Read on…
“Norfolk would not be Norfolk without a church tower on the horizon or round a corner up a lane. We cannot spare a single Norfolk church. When a church has been pulled down the country seems empty or is like a necklace with a jewel missing.”
John Betjeman“I have lived in Norfolk all my life. It inspires me, the sea, the limitless skies, the mud and the burning sunsets and the freedom of a place where more than 50% of the neighbours are fish..”
Raffaella Barker“You either get Norfolk, with its wild roughness and uncultivated oddities, or you don’t. It’s not all soft and lovely. It doesn’t ask to be loved.”
Stephen Fry“The charm of Norfolk is not so readily definable as that of some other counties. It has the ungrudging roominess of a kingdom. It is littered with villages but uncluttered by towns.”
Reginald PoundThere’s nowhere like Norfolk
“This corner of England which once it holds your heart is more lovely than any place on earth. Beautiful with a hint of secrecy which haunts it, as the memory of a dark and tender sadness clouds the brilliance of a summer day.”
Lilias Rider Haggard Norfolk Notebook“The prevailing wind in Norfolk is onshore; this explains why Norfolkmen invariably speak with their mouths closed.”
Old Norfolk saying Norfolk has been a favourite county since childhood. It provides the “still centre” when all around is turmoil.
Edward Storey“In that country of luminous landscapes and wide horizons where the wind runs in the reeds and the slow rivers flow to our cold sea, a man may still sense and live something of the life of the older England which was uninhibited, free and natural.”
Alan Savory Norfolk Fowler“You see, because [Norfolk is] stuck out here on the east, on this hump jutting into the sea, it’s not on the way to anywhere. People going north and south, they bypass it altogether. For that reason, it’s a peaceful corner of England.”
“What a coast this is, with its salt marshes and lavender, its channels, dunes, bays and crumbling Ice Age cliffs, lonelier and wilder than its Suffolk neighbour, Arctic, melancholic, beautiful, treacherous, with sandbanks and quicksands, storms and floods, and neverending erosion..”
Peter Sager
“If this were the time or the place to uphold a paradox, I am half inclined to state that Norfolk is one of the most beautiful of counties.”
Virginia Woolf
“See the mice in their million hordes. From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads.”
David Bowie
“Norfolk is not simply a word that describes a county. “Norfolk” describes also a language, a humour and a way of life. Spoken Norfolk has a stout and uniquely resistant quality and only people born in the county are able properly to penetrate it and repeat it with their own tongues. Just as their language, so also the people of Norfolk are tough, resistant and impenetrable.”
Dick Bagnall-Oakeley
“You can always tell a Norfolk man, but you can’t tell him much.”
Sidney Grapes
“Very flat, Norfolk.”
Noel Coward (Private Lives)
“Norfolk is not on the way to anywhere, you don’t stop off on the way somewhere else - it’s an end in itself. You have to want to go there.”
Beth Orton
“For the traveller in search of the English Heritage, the county is a paradise. It has great cliffs and chalk downs, a history far older than any written documents, delightful rivers, unique still waters, low-lying fens, captivating towns, a historic roll of famous folk and a group of Saxon, Norman, and medieval churches crammed with beauty that makes England the matchless country in the world.”
Arthur Mee
“Norwich is a very fine city, and the castle, which stands in the middle of it, on a hill, is truly majestic.”
William Cobbett (Rural Rides)
“What a grand, higgledy-piggledy, sensible old place Norwich is!”
“I am a Norfolk man and Glory in being so.”
