Greylag Cottage Guidebook

The North Norfolk coast has a varied landscape. In the West, the coastline is a maze of creeks and inlets in a vast expanse of salt marsh and mudflats. It’s a birdwatcher’s paradise and whatever time of year you visit, there will always be plenty to see. Further East towards Cromer, the countryside takes on a more rolling aspect, with steep cliffs rising from the sea. The coast is rich in nature reserves and bird sanctuaries including Titchwell and Cley Marshes, Pensthorpe Waterfowl Park and Fairhaven Garden Trust. There is also the Norfolk Coast Path, which runs from just outside Hunstanton to Cromer. If birds don’t take your fancy, you can also go and see the seals at Blakeney Point. You have to take a boat trip and these are available all along the cost including Wells, Morston and in Blakeney itself. Staying with the coast, there are plenty of pretty villages to visit with traditional flint cottages and quaysides including Blakeney, Cley and Brancaster. Some of these have good access to the brach and most have pay and display car parking during the summer months. Brancaster has a beach road and a car park and the beach is stunning, particularly if you walk away from the busier stretch where you can sometimes have the place pretty much to yourself. Inland, there are a number of attractive village which are well worth a visit. For example, there is the small village of Burnham Thorpe where Nelson grew up. Here you’ll find the Nelson pub and the village church, which has a small exhibition about its most famous son. If you want something more up market, you could visit Burnham Market which has a number of high class shops and restaurants including the renowned Hoste Arms – booking essential. Further to the East and slightly inland is the town of Holt which is another old market town with good shops and restaurants. You could take the scenic route to Holt by travelling from Sheringham on the North Norfolk Railway, the Poppy Line. In the season there is an old double decker bus which will take you from Holt station into town and back again. It’s a fun trip. Norfolk is also littered with country houses, many of which are open to the public. The most famous is Sandringham, a favourite retreat for the Royal Family. Holkham Hall, the family home of the Earl of Leicester is certainly worth a visit and is walkable from Wells. You can visit the Hall itself, the Bygones Museum or just have a snack in the Stables cafe. There are many events throughout the year including drama, concerts, annual Halloween fun and much more. Be prepared to pay though – the ‘young’ Earl is a shrewd business man whose determined to keep the Hall alive and kicking. A good round walk from Wells is a round trip to Holkham, around the grounds and back again. It will take you about three hours but you can always stop for a drink and some food at the Victoria pub and restaurant at the entrance to the Hall on the coast road. Further afield – Norwich and King’s Lynn are both approximately 30 miles from Wells and offer a good day out, be it shopping, museums, theatre, cinema, eating out or dancing. Hunstanton is also worth a visit either for walks along the beach in search of ammonites, or to visit the Sea World Centre – the stingray pool is always a big hit with the children. At the other end of the Coast lie Sheringham and Cromer, two larger resort towns. Sheringham is also home to the North Norfolk Railway. The railway operates both steam and diesel trains. There’s lots of other things as well as the train ride, including meals aboard The North Norfolkman, education days, numerous special events throughout the year including an annual Thomas the Tank Engine Day when you can meet the Fat Controller in person. You’ll pass through some lovely countryside and might want to stop off at the picturesque station at Weybourne which has been recreated as a traditional station and can be seen in Love on a Branch Line starring Leslie Phillips as well as featuring in Dad's Army and the Inspector Alleyne series, amongst many others.