Holiday rentals in Sheringham

With its wide family-friendly beach, promenade, colourful beach huts, and fantastic seafood, Sheringham has all the trappings of the traditional British seaside resort. This overgrown fishing village, where boats still bring in the daily haul, is caught between two different sides of North Norfolk, with the attractions and pier shows of lively Cromer to the east and the wilder expanses of coast further west, where vast sand dunes and open landscapes are a haven for wildlife. Hiking the 84-mile Norfolk Coast Path is one way to explore the stunning North Norfolk coastline, home to more than 45 miles of beaches. Some, such as West Runton, are the site of significant prehistoric discoveries; others, like Mundesley and Wells-next-the-Sea, possess loads of nostalgic charm.

Sheringham’s own attractions include a museum, steam train rides, and streets full of tea shops and old fishermen’s pubs. For a view of it all, be sure to climb Beeston Bump, a pleasingly grassy hill to the east side of town, formed at the end of the last Ice Age.

Farmers’ markets and food festivals happen often in this produce-rich area, the major one being the Crab and Lobster Festival in May, spread between Sheringham and Cromer, with cookery demonstrations and a seafood trail between superb restaurants and food stalls. The North Norfolk Food and Drink Festival, held in the walled garden of grand Holkham Hall in September, is another. As well as making the most of the beaches and coastal walks, summer visitors can join in the fun at Sheringham Carnival in July and August, where brass bands, fireworks, and traditional puppet shows celebrate in old-fashioned style. More surprising perhaps is the annual Scira Viking Festival in February, with historical reenactments, axe throwing, and a ceremonial boat-burning on the beach. Another reason for a winter trip is the chance to spot grey and common seal pups from November to January in nearby Blakeney, home to England’s largest colony.

Deep History Coast

Sheringham lies within a 25-mile stretch of coast between Weybourne and Cart Gap that’s often called the Deep History Coast. A free augmented reality app for your phone highlights 11 discovery points to learn what the area was like hundreds of thousands of years ago. Stopoffs to explore include natural features created by the movement of glaciers, and beaches good for finding fossils, such as West Runton, where the largest nearly complete mammoth skeleton in Britain was found.

Sheringham Park

Famous for its rhododendrons and azaleas, this huge 1,000-acre landscape park has trails for walking, running, or taking kids on a bike ride. It’s operated by the National Trust, as is nearby Felbrigg Hall, a superb country mansion with impeccable interiors, open to visitors.

Sheringham Museum

This small museum overlooking the Norfolk coast celebrates the town’s maritime and military history, and includes a collection of historical lifeboats spanning 100 years. Hear the folksy stories of local crabbers and boat builders, and see the shell of an undetonated bomb dropped during a German zeppelin raid during World War I.