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What to do in North Norfolk?

20 replies

Magscat · 19/05/2005 09:18

Going to North Norfolk coast soon . Any ideas on where's good for a visit with a pre-schooler & a baby?

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Kelly1978 · 19/05/2005 09:36

Hunstanton is nice, sealife center and fairground etc. Sherringham park is beautiful if they like walks in the park.

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Leogaela · 19/05/2005 10:02

playing on the beach is always good!
Go up to Blakeney and take a boat trip out to see the seals at Blakeney point. The sand flats up there are great when the tide goes out your pre-schooler can collect shells etc...

Take the steam train from Sheringham.

For a wet day there is a swimming pool which is good for children somewhere between Cromer and Sheringham, its along the coast road but I don't remember where exactly.

Norwich Castle is also good. I think it should be interesting enough for a pre-schooler.

Where in NNorfolk are you staying?

Take a day boat out on the Norfolk broads and feed the ducks!

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Kelly1978 · 19/05/2005 10:03

Hunstanton has a big swqimming pool, aquasplash or something. the steam train is lovely. Also wroxham barns if it's not too far - there is crafts, and a children's far and fairground - really nice there.

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Kelly1978 · 19/05/2005 10:04

childrens farm - soz nt good at typing with baby on lap!

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Magscat · 19/05/2005 10:06

We're staying at Hapisburgh.
Swimming & trains is right up our street so thanks for that. DS would like a boat trip too I'm sure - don't know how I feel about handling the baby on board though - might have to leave her ashore with dp.
Have been to Sheringham & Cromer beaches before so will def go back.

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CathB2 · 19/05/2005 10:06

We always seem to end up there (DDs now 5 and 2.5)! The beach at Brancaster is lovely. There is also the North Norfolk railway (Sheringham to Holt if anyone is into trains)

I find Hunstanton faintly depressing in a decaying seaside town sort of way, though it rained all week when we were there, which may explain it! (only week all year they said). There is stuff to do though and the pool in the leisure center is not too bad. Also Norfolk Lavender for cream teas and pricey souvenirs (it has a small playground), though it is often full of grannies on coach trips! There is nice ruined castle down towards Kings Lynn, but I cant remember what it is called. Holkham Hall for stately home type stuff (if you are brave enough)
Wells next the sea is supposed to be nice, but we have not been there yet.
Its a lovely part of the world IMO!

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fisil · 19/05/2005 10:08

Alby Crafts on the road from Cromer to Norwich (I think) is an interesting place to poke around for an hour or so. Nice cakes too. There's a huge car boot sale right next to it (weekends, I think, not sure which day)

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Blu · 19/05/2005 10:14

Wells beach, Holkham beach - the nest beaches in the world, but they are simply miles of sand and dunes, and 'Gruffalo woods' - duney pinewoods with great climbing logs etc.
From the Wells beach car park, you can go on the boating lake or trampolines by the caravan site. Ot hire a beach hut for the day from Pinewoods caravan Site (google it and book in advance) and pretend you are in a colour supplement article - they are amongst the most photographed huts in the U.K!
Shire Horse Centre, Sheringham, ROOTS museum of old village and farming life, Thursford Steam Engine Museum with steam organs and a couple of roundabouts.

The thing about N Norfolk is that it is about the great outdoors, rather than 'attractions'.

A seal trip to Blakeney point would be great (book from Blakeney Quay or the Pub in Morston, boats leave from Morston) but if you want to enjoy Blakeney point at low tide, you will have to walk back, 3 miles along shingle to Cley, or over mudflats to Blakeney - so a trip for the hardy. (actually, I feel I should say that no-one without local knowledge should attempt the route over the mudflats in case future MN-ers end up stranded on an incoming tide)

The Henry VIII pub at Letheringsett has won awards for it's child-friendliness- has a play castle etc.

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Blu · 19/05/2005 10:20

Don't use the Cafe at Holkham hall - British Tourist Facilities at their almost worst - overpriced, mass produced, canteen atmpsphere...

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CathB2 · 19/05/2005 10:24

It is a beautiful beach at Holkham but you have to be prepared as it is a long stretch from the car park if you are carting lots of stuff around and there are no loos etc, which I why I like Brancaster, not so beautiful but loos and one icecream/bucket and spade shop!!

Feeling faintly envious now!!!! We are off in the summer though.

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Blu · 19/05/2005 10:27

That is true, Cath. Brancaster and Wells are the great beaches which also have facilities. Shingle beaches at Cley, Salthouse, Weybourne, Sheringham, Cromer...

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Blu · 19/05/2005 10:30

Just be really really careful of fast running tides. On an incoming tide, children can easily be knocked down in knee-deep channels. Two children were swept away at Holme a few years ago - people just don't realise. But it's only once the tide has turned that it is dangerous - and you will see it happening!

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Magscat · 19/05/2005 10:40

Thanks - will be careful when playing with the sea - ds is quite nervous of it anyway so I think sand & ice cream (not together hopefully) will be more what we're up to.

Lots of ideas here so we have no excuses for being bored. Cheers everyone.

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KatieMac · 19/05/2005 22:11

Thrigby Wildlife park is great as is Wroxham Barns.

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Libb · 19/05/2005 22:19

My best friend lived in Happisburgh - (don't forget it is pronounced Haysborough! that is Norfolk for you), I lived in Ludham. When you grow up there it is dull as dishwater but now I can't wait to go home to Mum and Dad's with DS!

There is the Sheringham Steam Train, Wroxham Barns, the broads (you can hire a dayboat and pottle up and down the rivers and visit St Benets Abbey), all the beaches, Norwich Castle, Pleasurewood Hills, Banham Zoo etc. etc.

Don't forget to pop in on Mum and Dad xx

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vicdubya · 19/05/2005 22:21

Lovely beach between Waxham & Horsey..park in the NT carpark (off the coast road) and walk through the dunes. No facilities but very clean white sand.

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Magscat · 20/05/2005 08:49

Thanks Libb re. the name. I went there as a child so knew it was pronounced Haysbrough but my dh still refusees to believe me. He keeps looking at the spelling and saying 'No that can't be right'!

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Leogaela · 20/05/2005 11:26

magscat - I'm from Norfolk and we used to go to happisburgh every sunday when I was a child, its definitely Haysbrough.

Sea palling (last time i was there) has a big lagoon ideal for kids to play on the water edge. don't forget the beaches are often quite windy, sea palling also has sand dunes that you can shelter in.

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foolysh · 20/05/2005 11:35

Elephant Playbarn in Knapton, Funstop in Cromer, Let off Steam in Sheringham, Wroxham barns (1 mile north of WRoxham), apparently Brewsters in eastern end of Southern Bypass. Nature centre at Neathished (Net-ish-ed)..... Arcade/Funfair places & sea life centre in Yarmouth, beach at Happisburgh is pretty difficult to use, but I think there's a good caff there..
you can tell I'm a local.

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foolysh · 20/05/2005 20:25

Bure Valley (narrow gauge) railway from Wroxham.
Stately homes with grounds for the children to run riot:
Blickling (nr. Aylsham) -- prettiest buildings.
Mannington -- best rose gardens, used to be only open a few weekends a year, though.
Felbrigg - nr Sheringham, most extensive grounds & a bit of everything.
Holt is the snootiest place around here, but Wells next the Sea has posh cafes & shops, too.
Up the hill above Sheringham, on the ridge, is a National trust wood you can run around.

Baconsthorpe Castle ruins are spooky, Castle Acre is the one that Cath meant. That's quite a drive away, though.

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