Quezi

Sunset over the Norfolk Broads (photo by by rasmithuk CC-BY)

Norfolk has a wealth of things to see and do. Miles of unspoilt sandy beaches; the Norfolk Broads with its boating and wild life; sleepy villages, market towns, and the historic city of Norwich, all steeped in thousands of years of history.

Norfolk is famous for its miles of sandy beaches which are definitely far from the madding crowd. You can easily find a peaceful spot where the family will be safe to play on the gently shelving beaches, or take a walk and do some beachcombing – you might be lucky and find some amber. On Holkham Beach at low tide it can take up to fifteen minutes to walk to the sea, while at high tide a shallow lagoon forms – great for paddling in.

If you’re on Holkham beach, try nearby Holkham Hall. A Palladian stately home set in acres of glorious parkland. Apart the splendours of the house there is a Bygones Museum, and a cruise of the lake, and great places to take a picnic and try and spot the herds of Fallow and Red Deer.

If the family want a more active day out, try the seaside resorts of Cromer, with its pier, entertainments, and crab boats landing their catches on the beach; Hunstanton and Wells are also family friendly resorts.

Take a trip on the North Norfolk railway, known locally as the Poppy Line. 10½ miles round trip on a steam train. Starts at Sheringham and goes to the Georgian town of Holt and returns. Stop off at Weybourne for walks through Weybourne Woods, Sheringham Park, and the Kelling Nature Trail which takes you through Kelling Heath with its varied heathland flora and fauna.

Go and watch the seals at Blakeney Point. Some may say that it is more like the seals watching you. The boat sets out from Blakeney Harbour and goes through Blakeney National Nature Reserve and its landscape of saltmarsh, shingle and sand dunes famous for its bird life. Don’t worry about the boat trip if you’re a landlubber, the boat stays within the estuary and the water’s always calm.

Still on the boat theme, take a boat trip on the Norfolk Broads, a protected area of navigable waterways (over 125 miles) which meander through an amazing wetlands habitat inhabited by a wide range of wildlife. You can hire a small motor boat, a cruiser for large groups, or a yacht, or join a commercial boat with a tour guide. There are miles of paths for walking or try bird watching.

Finally, explore Norwich with its Norman castle and museum with views across the city. Visit the Cathedral or take a walking tour of the city and find out about its thousand year old history. If the weather not kind, there’s still plenty to do indoors with swimming, ice skating, the Norwich Puppet Theatre and the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts.

For more ideas for a day out visiting the delights of Norfolk, try the Tourism in Norfolk website.