things to do / places to go in north norfolk

[notnigella]

we have booked a few days away at great walsingham near wells for the last week of july. we booked it mainly for the beaches, which 18 month ds will love. but just in case this awful weather continues (or we adults get bored of the beach), can anyone recommend anything else to do? are there any soft-play type places in the area? thanks in advance

some ideas here

There is an indoor soft play area just by the quay in Wells. Wells is a charming seaside town / resort, with excellent access to the beach from the car park.

The Thursford Colection is quite good fun - a steam museum with steam engines, steam roundabouts (working - you can go on them) and old dancehall steam organs which they play in turn. It also has an outdoor play area, picnic area and nice duck pond.

Personally I found the Muckleburgh collection dire - and v expensive.

If you are driving on the coast rd from Cley towards Salthouse you could visit the visitors centre ( a free 10 mins stop)...not indoor, but don't forget a trip to see the seals on Blakeney point..times depend on the tide, you can buy tickets on Blakeney Quay - look up times etc here

The pub in Blakeney (The Kings Arms) has a beer garden with swings out the back - the pub in Letheringsett is reputed to be brilliant for kids - a playground - The Nelson at Burnham Thorpe also has a nice garden out the back.

Wells and Brancaster beaches have the easiest access from car parks - Wells has wonderful pine woods backing on to it - Holkham is the best beach in the world (imo!) but the walk to the actual beach from the car park is a bit longer.

Oh yes, Gressenhall as mentioned on this thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=2412&threadid=346929&stamp=070630185105 is great.

Ooo, the pub in Letheringsett used to be brilliant (about 20 years ago) we would go there for a special treat. It was the highlight of our holiday!

Holt is good for window shopping, art galleries and cafes.
Holkam Hall -- it's free to wander around the pretty grounds, have a nice picnic there. Light railway from Wells to Walsingham, may have limited hours (Google it).
Can wander around Cley bird reserve for free, too.

Bit of a drive, but there's soft indoor play at Sheringham (near Steam rail station, steam railway runs from Sheringham to Holt).

Don't eat in the cafe at Holkham hall though - the one up by the Bygones Museum, I mean - it is disgusting and very overpriced. the teashop by the gate on the road is nice though.

Fish and Chips from Frenches on Wells Quay - not the other one.
Best Fish and Chips in Cromer are from ...oooh, now what's it called, something like Daisy Janes - quite pretty blue and red windows on the little road from the town centre to the pier.
Best Fish and chips in Sheringham in Daves Fish Bar - but NOT Daves on the main road diagonally opposite the theatre (that is truly horrible), Daves in a little side street on the right as you walk along the main street from the theatre towards the seafront.

many thanks for all your great tips. to think that i was worried that there wouldn't be enough to do!

lol @ Blu's expertise. I second Frenches @ Wells

Also, you must go crabbing. Use bacon (smoked is best) or, of you are feeling brave, fish-heads from the fishmonger, attach to a bit of string with a weight on it and wait for the crabs. Hours of fun!

Running around on the marshes @ stiffkey is fab.

Boat trip to see the seals @ blakeney point.

The little deli in Cley is delicious and the smokehouse is a good place to stop on the way home.

mama, where should we go for crabbing?

imho (and with 20 years experience), I would say the best place for crabbing is the bridge at Stiffkey Marshes, but anywhere is good. I've seen children catch lots of crabs at Wells Quay and around Blakeney. I think anywhere there is relatively shallow, tidal seawater that you can dangle your line into is good.

ps You need a big bucket. Then, when you are finished, you gently tip the crabs out, count them and let them run back to the water. I think our record was 144 in less than an hour. But we are experts

Am hoping with all this bad weather at the moment, it'll be bright and sunny during the last week in October when we're going to Norfolk.

One can only dream, lol.

Crabbing from Blakeney Quay is good.
Must try the bridge on Stiffkey marshes.
Definiteley try the Smokehouse in Cley for all kinds of home-smoked fish products. If you are a fully signed up foodie you can buy freshly stoneground flour from letheringsett Mill which is one of the few genuinely water-powerd mills in the UK. They do spelt flour and everything.

Trampolines and boating in the corner by the beach car park in Wells.

It is possible to hire beach huts by the day or week on Wells beach - google Pinewoods wells for details. Probably booked up over school hols, but you never know.

My Mum lives on the N Norfolk coast, so I have spent weeks and weeks there, over the years!

Where is your Mum Blu? I have relatives in N NOrfolk too?

hi can anyone help with the location of a family campsite on the very edge of Thetford wood i think the village name began with a C not sure tho a long time since i was there but would love take my daughter

Oh yes, flour from the mill. OUr christmas cakes were always made with Letheringsett Flour And the windmill (can't remember where is is now - somewhere near the glass blowing place) sells fab buns and stoneground flour too.

Can't help with Thetford Forest campsites I'm afraid.

For Thetford Forest campsites check UKcampsite where you get links to the websites as well as reviews or the local council list.

Don't know of any soft play areas - sorry. If you're going to go to Wells beach I would call Pinewoods Holiday Park first and see if they have any beach huts left for the day. You can take the little steam train there and prices for a day's hire are REALLY reasonable. Makes it so much easier if you catch a shower as you've got somewhere to dive inside. Have a look on www.greatlittleadventures.co.uk as this is where I found the info. It's a pretty good site with loads of tried and tested by mums stuff.