North Norfolk with teens

[whethertheweather]

After years of holidaying near Holkham, this year we went for a change and booked a cottage in Wales. 2 years ago DC had seemed a bit bored with doing the same old beaches etc. In Norfolk.

Wales made a great change - DC are into history, so we had loads of castles etc to visit and the scenery was wonderful for walks BUT it rained an awful lot.

I am tempted to return to dry Norfolk next year - I've seen a cottage I fancy between Sheringham and Cromer, which would at least be a new area. Am I deluding myself that 3 DC (19, 16, 14) will have things to do? Don't mind travelling around a bit. DS 19 might not come if first year at uni has given him friends he'd rather go away with...

What do you think?

We're heading that way, and have earmarked BeWilderwood - but we have a 3.5 year old, so maybe it's too babyish for teens? I will be following for ideas, if that's okay!

There's lots to do at Fritton Lake but you have to pre book I believe or be eating at the pub there.

www.frittonlakeoc.co.uk/

Fritton and bewilderwood are both a bit far, I would think.
Seal watching from Blakeney is brilliant at any age.
What about fishing? Or boating?

Bewilderwood not far at all. . 35-45 minutes drive max. Depends what your kids are like, they might get bored, though, some teens are so hard to please. Bwood perfect for age 10-14, though.

If they like history, there's
Felbrigg (the controversy over wearing the rainbow bands)
Baconsthorpe castle
Castle Acre (bit further)
Venta Icenorum (Roman ruins, just south of Norwich)
Mooching around Cromer to learn about Shipden
The fossil museum in Cromer
If you're total history anoraks you could go around looking for signs of the Kett's / peasant's revolt, battle of North Walsham, etc.
Blickling Hall (Mary QoS stayed there, I think)

Other possible teen things
Surfing in Cromer (can hire or get lessons)
Bike hire (tour broads, from Bewilderwood carpark)
crazy golf in Mundesley
There is a skate park in Cromer (& one in mundesley, probably others)
Hire a boat in Wroxham & go on Broads

Hiring a day boat on The Broads is fun (there's a bye-law which says under 18s should not take the helm though)

Or tire them out by canoeing

www.thecanoeman.com

Ours have been steering boats around the broads (under supervision) from the age of 11. No one seems to mind!

There is a man who keeps alpacas at the station in Wells. You can take them for a walk over the dunes and it is more fun than it sounds!

Sailing Lessons?
Fishing
Bird watching at Cley.
Best of all is having a mud bath at Blakeney harbour, has to been seen to be believed! Google some images!

My 10 year old nephew was at the helm as we passed the river police on our latest day on broads. He was obviously being supervised closely but no one said a thing!
You can go seal watching at Winterton Dunes.
Paddle boarding
Sailing etc.
The broads are very good for activities.

I'm from Norfolk and we've been to Bewilderwood masses of times and I can confidently say that your DC are FAR too old for it! It's a woodland adventure park and I'd say its target demographic is kids from about age 6-12.

As for what a bunch of teens would do in Norfolk. God I don't know. When I was a teenager I couldn't wait to escape from Norfolk! Having said that, are they into sailing? If so, Brancaster has lots of sailing stuff going on in summer. Norwich is a great city - cinemas, shops, restaurants, museums, gigs, etc. Blickling and Felbrigg are nice, but for teens? I'd have been bored stiff with country houses at that age. Since your DC are all older have you asked them what they'd like to do? There's Go Ape and bowling and that sort of stuff, but you could also find that elsewhere.

YY to a boat on the Broads - that might be fun for teens.

I've just been with young teens.

Muckleburgh Collection www.muckleburgh.co.uk and a ride on a lorry was a great hit with nerdy male members of the family.

Sheringham's vintage and charity shops went down well with the female members of the party.

Boat trip to see seals from Blakeney universally popular.

Check the various towns' carnival dates before you book, there's a variety of stuff for all ages - Sheringham had an enormous pitched water fight in the middle of the high street which was a highlight of the DCs' stay.

Have a sunny day on the beach with bucket and spade for dams and castles and sand sculpture - I defy any teen to be too cool for that.

Sheringham has particularly good ice cream shops, if you happen to be there don't miss the Shell Museum which is tiny but gobsmacking.