Farm Stay East Anglia

North Norfolk Coast - West

BLAKENEY TO HUNSTANTON

When staying in North Norfolk visiting BLAKENEY POINT and watching the seals from a boat can be a wonderful experience. This trip depends on the tides and can incorporate time at the BIRD RESERVE and TERNERY at the point itself. Nearby MORSTON is the best place to catch the boat or at BLAKENEY QUAY. Spend some time watching the many sailing dinghies here and explore the picturesque little town with its flint buildings and splendid church. There are some good specialist shops and a chandlery for you to browse around. There are also a number of craft shops, an adventure playground and a restaurant.

Go through Binham to LITTLE WALSINGHAM, a busy shrine since the middle ages. The Abbey and hostels have been used by pilgrims over the centuries and there is an Anglican shrine built in 1931. A visit to either SHRINE is rewarding. Perhaps follow this by going to the nearby THURSFORD COLLECTION for something completely different - steam engines, a Wurlitzer organ played twice daily, children's play area, refreshments and shops.

If you go west along the coast from Blakeney, you soon come to WELLS NEXT THE SEA, a small but busy port for coasters and the local whelk & shrimp boats. It is another town of narrow streets and flint cottages with interesting little shops tucked away in unlikely places. The vast expanse of sandy beach makes it a children's paradise and there are nature reserves and miles of footpaths too.

Only a mile away is magnificent HOLKHAM HALL with its 3000 acre deer park -  more footpaths -  home to the Earls of Leicester. Coke of Norfolk who lived here was one of the pioneers of modern agriculture and the great agricultural estate continues and is reflected in the history of Farming and Bygones exhibitions. The attractive pottery is for sale and stop for a bite at the tearooms. When you have toured the treasures in the Hall find time to visit the GARDEN CENTRE in the beautiful walled gardens with its original glass houses.

Between Wells and Hunstanton you will find a string of little villages set inland behind the sea wall and acres of marshes where the expanse of sky and calls of the seabirds give this area its unspoilt and wild reputation. The BURNHAMS, BRANCASTER, THORNHAM & HOLME NEXT THE SEA have a sleepy air on hot summer days and a wild beauty in winter storms and you can walk the NORTH NORFOLK COASTAL PATH along the sea wall between them and see the wide sandy beaches and the marshes on either side. The world famous RSPB TITCHWELL RESERVE is the best known of the many places to birdwatch along here and you may see a Bittern or Marsh Harrier if you are lucky.

A day out following the NELSON TRAIL round the BURNHAMS, stopping for lunch in BURNHAM THORPE at the NELSON INN, where Horatio himself frequented, or Burnham Market at the HOSTE ARMS, FISHES or GURNEY'S CAFE, where you choose your fish fresh from the slab. For the ladies there is a marvellous HAT SHOP to browse through, or ANTIQUE SHOPS for the not so frivolous.

HUNSTANTON retains much of its Victorian elegance and is famous for its striped cliffs and for being the only west facing beach in East Anglia. The wide sandy beach has won awards for cleanliness and, to the north, the cliffs slope away to the dunes. At the centre is a large open area known as the Green and the lovely ESPLANADE GARDENS slope down to the sea.. THE SEA LIFE CENTRE on the Southern Promenade brings the underwater environment to life with over 200 species of fish in specially created natural habitats swimming around you as you walk through a tunnel.

Just a mile or two down the A149 you come to NORFOLK LAVENDER which is home to the National Collection of lavenders and offers TOURS to learn about the harvest and distillation process. You can buy many different varieties of lavender and other scented plants and herbs or browse round the Countryside Gift shop which stocks the famous fragrant products. Miller's Cottage TEAROOM has delicious homemade teas & light lunches.

If you enjoy cycling you may like to explore the North Sea Cycle Route which will take you through lovely areas of the Norfolk Coast & Countryside.

We have farms in North Norfolk and near the Norfolk coast at Burnham Thorpe, Little Snoring & Great Snoring, Fakenham, Sculthorpe, Holt, West Beckham, Hempstead, Wells Next The Sea, Melton Constable, Edgefield and Cranmer   

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