Things To Do

We've not been able to try everything but below is a list of suggestions. Try Tripadvisor for reviews of some of the attractions.

www.visitnorfolk.co.uk


Beaches

Local beaches we visit are Sea Palling and Eccles. There are car parks at both. If you just want a walk along the beach then park at the Smallsticks Cafe at Eccles and walk down to the beach from there. On your return go into the cafe for coffee as payment for your use of their parking (see Pubs, Restaurants and Cafes).

When you walk over the ramp on to Eccles beach turn left to walk towards Happisburgh. Please pay attention to the signs on the ramp about the hazards at Happisburgh, don't go paddling once you are past Eccles beach as there are old, degraded sea defences at Happisburgh which are dangerous. Eccles beach is perfectly fine. There are toilets at the car park.

Sea Palling has a great beach for the family, sandy and safe. There are also toilets and food outlets. The sea defences here have created lagoons along the beach (unless the tide is well in) making it very safe for toddlers to paddle and ensuring the sand stays put.

2015 - June/July - Between Sea Palling and Eccles there is an area cordoned off which is a must for bird watchers (or anyone in fact) where Little Terns are nesting. Take binoculars and, if you want photos, a camera with a long telephoto lens or a long zoom lens (on a 35mm camera you need at least 300-400mm equivalent)

A mention should also go to Winterton-on-Sea where you have the sand dunes and a really good beach. There's also a great cafe here, see below.


Barton Broad


Drive through Neatishead towards Irstead and park up in the free car park (with toilets) next to the Old Rectory and take a short walk to the Barton Broad boardwalk (follow the sign out of one corner of the car park near where you drove in). There is a small disabled car park at the start of the boardwalk which you can get to if you carry on through Irstead.

Take binoculars if you have them as there is a viewing area. Terns nest here and we've seen a Kingfisher here too. Little ones may want to take a little bit of bread for the ducks and geese that often drift over to the viewing area (but not too much as that's not good for them).


Hickling Broad

http://www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife-in-norfolk/nature-reserves/reserves/hickling-broad

From Hickling village follow the "brown badger" tourist signs into Stubb road and on to the nature reserve. There is a car park and a small shop and visitor centre with toilets. There is a charge for using the nature reserve. Last time we came here there were a large number of lizards sunning themselves on the boardwalks. Take binoculars as there are a good number of different bird and mammal species here.

It's possible to book boat trips, please see the webpage above for details.


Ranworth Broad and Church Tower


The floating Broads Wildlife Centre is reached by a boardwalk and has a panoramic vista across the water. There are electric boat trips (prior booking advised) and a ferry to and from the staithe. Combine this with a trip up the tower at Ranworth Church for a spectacular view across broadland.


Salhouse Broad

http://www.salhousebroad.org.uk/

We had a nice walk in the spring at Salhouse Broad and it would be a good place for a summer picnic. A great example of a private landowner doing a great job of managing the environment for everyone's benefit. In Salhouse there is Radleys, a cafe in a shop, if you want a coffee and a light bite. Down the road the other way is Woodforde's Brewery and shop. The pub has a good range of beers but the food we found to be average on the day we tried it.


How Hill

http://howhilltrust.org.uk/

Run by a charitable trust and from here you can access How Hill Staithe and Toadhole Cottage visitor centre run by the Broads Authority where you can buy tickets for the nature trail and Electric Eel boat trips.

Toadhole Cottage is a typical marshman's cottage and the Electric Eel boat trip will take you along some of the narrow waterways with a stop off at a bird hide. As usual - take binoculars if you have them. We've done this boat trip and it was really nice as the boat is quiet. Our guide was very knowledgeable and pointed out some of the interesting plants along the way as well as the birds. We were lucky enough to see a Marsh Harrier here.


Liana Boat Trip

http://www.enjoythebroads.com/things-to-do/liana-boat-trip

The Liana is an electric boat which motors down the River Bure from Hoveton towards Coltishall. You leave all the noise of Hoveton and Wroxham behind as you glide serenely though the water. We were lucky enough to have the boat to ourselves when we went and very lucky to see two Kingfishers, one flashed past us as we went down the river, the other was perched on a branch in Bridge Broad and was a perfect sighting.


Museum of the Broads


We came here on a rainy day although some of the exhibits are outside. It gives you a really good idea of what life on the broads was like especially for those harvesting reed, shooting ducks and sailing wherries. It takes you from the broads and rivers being used for work through to the time when leisure became a major broads industry.

Do try to come here on a nice day when the steamboat is running and have a trip down the river, check the website for times.


East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens


2014 - Allow a whole afternoon for these fantastic gardens and a pretty damn good tea room. We visited in late June and the garden was magnificent. If you are a keen gardener or just like visiting gardens then you must go here.

2015 - Visited first week of July. Unfortunately a rainy day but the garden was looking great again, even in the wet. In some areas of the garden you can be almost overwhelmed with the richness of the planting and the flowers but take time to look at some of the detail that makes up this overall picture and you will pick up some great ideas for your own garden.


Radar Museum

http://www.radarmuseum.co.uk/

2015 - Went here on a rainy day and turned out to be very interesting indeed. Previously I thought that it would be a boys thing but I think that the volunteers brought it to life and both ladies in the group would recommend it. Make sure you do the guided tour before looking around on your own, they are quite frequent and included in the price.


Norwich

http://www.visitnorwich.co.uk/

Well, Norwich is our home town so we are biased. If you want to go shopping as a leisure activity then Norwich is the place to go. We suggest that you approach Norwich on the A47 and use the Broadland Park and Ride car park.

There are art galleries, theatres, cinemas, museums, a huge number of restaurants and a city centre which has the large chains as well as small, eclectic independent shops.


Canoeing


Guided canoe trails as well as canoe hire, all ancillary equipment included.

http://www.bankboats.co.uk/

Bank Boats are just down the road at Wayford Bridge on the A149.

2015 - We hired canoes from here and went up the river and canal where motor boats are not allowed, you can also go the other way and go around Barton Broad. The owners and staff are very friendly and accommodating (they agreed to stay open an extra half hour so we had more time to explore). Highly recommended.


Cycling


Norfolk is a great place to cycle with flat roads and great scenery. Sea Palling Cycle Hire have a variety of bikes, trailer buggies, tag alongs and baby seats. Lock, helmet, puncture kit, and hi-visibility jacket are included free of charge and they can deliver and pick up.


Weavers Way


Here you can find links to cycle and walking routes. Among many walks shown there is a circular walk at Briggate/Worstead, a linear walk from Stalham to Hickling and a cycle ride from Stalham to Bengate.


North Norfolk

http://www.visitnorthnorfolk.com/

Difficult to describe in a short paragraph! From Cromer through to Holme-next-to-the-Sea there are great beaches, villages, places to eat, historic sites and plenty of wildlife. Go explore.


Places for the Kids




BeWILDerwood - http://www.bewilderwood.co.uk/

Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens - http://www.thrigbyhall.co.uk/

Dinosaur Adventure - http://www.dinosauradventure.co.uk/

Amazona Zoo - http://www.amazonazoo.co.uk/

Pensthorpe Natural Park - http://www.pensthorpe.com/

Davenport's Magic Kingdom - http://davenportsmagickingdom.co.uk/



















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