Help - our summer holiday is by the beach in Norfolk and the forecast is of course rain

[pollypeachum]

I am so worried about our family summer holiday which is going to be in Norfolk. What clothes and especially what shoes do I need to take for an English beach in the rain? (for me that is - the kids have praqctical waterproofs coming out of their ears). Can only think of wellies and jeans and my ancient pacamac but how depressing is that. Thought as well of deck shoes but cant bring myself and anyway they are too flat for my jeans. Any ideas will be most humbly and gratefully received.

where in Norfolk? and when - have you seen a long range forecst?

re what to wear - waterproof jacket, shorts - legs dry much quicker than material - and flip flops?

I know parts of N Norfolk well, will be there first week in August

If you are going on a family beach holiday in the UK then wellies, jeans and an ancient pacamac kind of come with the territory, don;t they?

I'm sure it won;t rain all teh time, when are you going?

Norfolk is one of the driest places in the country

We are going to the N Norfolk coast in the second week of August!! According to the forecast I saw (on Sky?) its more rain - apart from July 15th which will be the only day to have a picnic.....
I used to live right by a beach in Northumberland so am used to biting cold and driving rain. Am hoping it wont be like that! But if its cold I'm a wimp and like warm feet, so flip flops are sadly no good.

Not this week it isn't frayedknot

We have water bubbling up out of drains here and the broads are almost overflowing

Do you want indoors suggestions then? how old are your DC? But hey, long range forecasts aren't worth much are they?

I will be in Norfolk in August, it won;t be raining [shakes fist at sky emoticon]

Katymac if the broads overflow there won;t be anymore Norfolk

Everyone will be sitting on mousehold heath with their toes in the water

There is an indoor play area in Wells next the sea....not been , looks a bit grim, but if you are desparate

Well I live on Flegg Island - it was surrounded by water in the doomsday book

So my house will be OK

We are still almost surrounded by water but we have bridges now

LOl DH always insisted we buy houses on the side of hills when we lived in Norfolk

Sorry to detract polly.

I love going to the beach when the weather isn;t that great...as long as it's not totally incessant rain (like we have been having)

If it was that bad I would look for indoor activities

Otherwise dress appropriately and go & have fun running up & down those huge beaches or crabbing or pulling DC's about ina dinghy with waders on

What's wrong with wellies?

We've been on the beach on Christmas eve on a number of occasions, all in Norfolk wellies and warm jumpers and a kite a football, wear the DC out and help them sleep!

We're going to North Norfolk coast in the first week of August - it's my honeymoon (complete with 2 kids) so I shall be devastated if it rains

which beach in Northumberland? That's where we're having our holiday - at least in Norfolk it will be several degrees warmer!
So they say it will rain all summer do they? I have been rather clinging on to the hope that high pressure will be on the way for the end of July...

oh well wellies it is then. i seem to have lived in them and i do like them really, just fancied a change!
any other ideas for indoor play gratefully received (thank you martianbishop, it might come to indoor play at wells) - DCs are 5 and 1 and a half.
PandaG - you are right: long range forecasts are crap. Forecasts made the night before seem to bear no relation to what happens so I shouldnt get worried about ones made weeks in advance. Thank you!
Jacanne - it will be a fabulous place to honeymoon and even if it rains, well beaches in the rain can be just about the most fabulous places on earth - think Wuthering Heights, all tempestuous weather matching your tempestuous emotions!
elliott - it was Bamburgh beach. Where are you going? It will be fab. Northumberland is gods own country (take a wooly jumper though!!!)

Sheringham has an indoor soft play place, and a lovely sandy beach - check the high tide times, sand covered at high tide. Also Sheringham is the start of the steam railway. You can just buy a platform ticket rather than pay for a ride if you want to.

Is a pottery painting place in Cromer, and a cinema.

Holt is a pretty town to potter round, not much for children though.

2nd week in August will be the end of Sheringham Carnival I think, and the beginning of Cromer carnival perhaps. May be worth checking out the carnival programmes as can be some activities that DC may enjoy - sandcastle building competitions etc.

Norwich castle has some hands on exhibits now I believe, not been back for a fdew years but friend said it was good for DC

Wroxham barns has an indoor play area too

WE were in Bamburgh last year, this yr at the south end of Beadnell bay near low newton. Last year it was idyllic - perfect weather. This year will be a reality check!
We are local though so at least we won't have endured endless slow moving traffic to get there!

Thank you Panda - it is best to be prepared!

Having spent 4 out of the last 5 weekends being rained on at Centerparcs in Suffolk, Bamburgh in Northumberland, Girvan in Ayreshire and finally camping in Cromer in Norfolk, I can safely say I have no intention of leaving home again this (so called) summer. It has taken me all week to dry us and all our stuff out, and there is still sand everywhere.

Having said all that, I did find that I wore a hooded mac, fleeces, T shirts and cropped trousers all the time plus my beloved crocs - I know they aren't to everyone's taste (!) but they are a lifesaver when camping in the rain or walking on the beach. Also needed woolly hat in Bamburgh at times, together with sun cream and sunglasses on other days. All part of the magic of holidaying in the UK I guess!

There are lots of indoor things to do in N. Norfolk:

The Steam Railway that PandaG mentioned is good fun. If the weather is nice, you can get off & do the nature trail at Kelling Heath. There is a light railway at Wells that goes to Walsingham, which is a pretty little town. Not a huge amount to do there, but little shops & the railway back to Wells.

Have a look at www.north-norfolk.gov.uk for more info

Other indoor things:

Muckleburgh Collection Military vehicles (tanks etc) that you (used to be able to) climb on

Letheringsett Watermill, windmills, toy museum, Thursford Collection

Cat Pottery at Wells (but would only take a few mins to wander around

And, even if it is wet, the beach or salt marshes can be fun. You're going to get wet and muddy anyway...

Have fun!

and a leisure centre with wave pool in Sheringham

Thank you ladies for your thoughts, am feeling much cheerier about it now.
Am impressed Madlabowner by the distance you have covered in just over a month. And I think Crocs, which to be honest I have up until now fought shy of, are a damn fine idea for the beach. I will get some.

Polly - we've just got back from a soggy week in north Norfolk, so here are my tips for things to do!

1. The indoor play area in Sheringham (Let Off Steam) is now closed as new owners are taking over. Check the website before you go to make sure it's open again.
2. There are indoor play areas in Cromer (Funstop) and Wells (Playland, I think it's called) but haven't been to these.
3. Try the indoor pool at Splash Leisure & Fitness centre in Sheringham. Get a timetable, as they have lots of different activities. It's a really good, big pool with family changing cubicles to make life easier.
4. Buy a day ticket for the North Norfolk Railway and shuttle between Sheringham and Holt all day in the dry! No idea what you should wear though. I just took my ordinary clothes, which included a waterproof coat. Nothing special.