Do you live or holiday in coastal North Norfolk? Would you like to help me plan a last minute family holiday week in August - yes, this month! - and/or talk to me about UK holiday insurance please?

[HaveYouPackedTheSink]

After thinking we wouldn't be going away this year, at the very last minute we've just been offered, following a cancellation - and accepted and overpaid for from the rainy day fund on the spur of the moment! - a week's holiday in a coastal cottage in North Norfolk not far from Blakeney. The cottage is simple but that's absolutely fine and it has all we want and need by the look of it, including a quiet location near the coast, a garden and parking.

I can only very dimly remember an early childhood holiday in Norfolk so don't really know the area at all. With only a week available to us and after a long drive to get there, can you help me plan it so that we can make the most of the area, justify the cost and most importantly relax and enjoy ourselves after a very tough 18 months? Only part of the family is free to go, so I am mum - overly tired and stressed at the moment - taking typical mid/older teen DS and severely disabled DS of a similar age but who likes being by the sea, animals and things more usually suited to a pre-schooler. We have been shielding DS but are all now doubly vaccinated which mitigates the risk down. We still need to avoid crowded places and queues though, and also for sensory reasons and just personal preference. We live in a landlocked area so the main pull for us is in being by the sea and seeing what the North Norfolk coast has to offer but in the quieter places or at quieter times of the day. I've booked a supermarket delivery as we'll arrive late and not knowing the area, but prefer to shop locally as much as possible, not forgetting holiday essential treats of good fish and chips, crab sandwiches and ice cream.

It feels like a lot is riding on this week, and having taken the plunge and booked I'm now comforting-eating chocolate digestives and comfort-drinking tea and hoping MN can help?

Blakeney Quay is fab and if the children like messing about in a muddy river, they will be made up.

Morston Quay offers a walk through the marshes but an absolute must from here is a seal trip. There are several boats that go out and they all pretty much offer the same thing.

You can park at Holt Station and get the Steam Train into Sheringham. It's a charming trip and definitely worth it.

Wells-next-the-sea is a nice town, with a stunning beach to explore.

For just a beach, you can't beat Brancaster. There's plenty of parking and a beach that is just wonderful.

We love Cley-next-the-Sea. Park for free in the village hall car park. It's just a small village but has a great deli and a renowned smoke house fish shop. The George and Dragon does great pub food, sit in or sit across the road in their garden. You can walk through the marshes to Cley beach, which is pebbles.

We like Cromer. An old fashioned seaside town, with fish and chips and a pier to walk on. There's also a great beach.

That will probably give you something to start with. Enjoy.

One of my favourite places . I assume you have a car? Wells next the sea beach is nice with a beach carpark and facilities , parking is pricey but worth it I think for access to facilities . Good fish and chips all over but a popular trip when mine were younger was the steam train to Sheringham from Holt, fish and chips in Sheringham and then the return trip . Depending on how mobile your are a seal trip from Blakeney is lovely , I might call ahead to check accessibility. Outdoor pizza at Wiveton cafe is nice. And both pubs in Blakeney do good food at a reasonable price.

There are lots of less busy beaches , but be careful of the rip tides if swimming. Holkham is amazing but may not suit from an accessibility point of view , you could also try this website for information

www.visitnorthnorfolk.com/inspire/Accessible_North_Norfolk_Beaches.aspx

Holkham Hall is an excellent day out but again a bit pricey and if you don’t mind the drive Sandringham has a lovely free country park . If they are into tanks and military stuff the Muckleburgh collection as good .

Holkham beach is stunning, and so big, there is plenty of room. There’s a car park.

Seal trips! Beans boats are brilliant, you said about disability though so you’d need to check this out

www.nnrailway.co.uk
North Norfolk railway. Only down the road from you. Lovely old huge steam trains, can get off and maybe spend a couple of hours in Holt for lunch.

Beaches-
Blakeney is more of a bird watching/nature reserve type beach. So you can walk for miles along footpaths out towards the sea. Crabbing off the pathway near the water when tide is in
Cley- just down the road from you. Stoney beach
Weybourne - stoney beach with walk up towards/onto cliffs. Amazing views.

Kelling Tearooms (near Weybourne)
Amazing home cooked cakes and lunches. In an old village hall. Parking is easy. It’s also a bargain. Maybe good idea for a take away picnic one day.

Kelling Heath (Holiday Park)
Is open to public. Quite a few fantastic players areas on site, cycle hire and walks. Shop too. Beautiful woodland and heathland with views of the train line and sea.

Sheringham Park - National
trust. Walks and food. Parking easy

Cromer - typical seaside town! Lovely Sandy beach. Excellent chip shops (Mary Jane’s and Number 1). Cinema too!

Sheringham - stoney beach. Great for swimming. Life guards. Play area at the top. Great chippies and lots of shops. North Norfolk railway stops here.

Oh, well done - it's lovely round there!

Things to consider doing

• seal spotting and exploring Blakeney
• cheesy day at a Victorian seaside town at either Cromer or Sheringham
• see what's on at the pier theatre Cromer and the Little Theatre Sheringham
• crabbing (try Cromer pier) - some rock pools at Cromer too
• heritage steam railway Sheringham
• parkrun at Sheringham park
• nearest NT places are Felbrigg and Blickling, both worth a visit.
• Muckleburgh military vehicle collection
• Holkham is fab
• if you want to go further, you could hire a dayboat on the Broads or hire kayaks or a canoe
• Norwich worth a visit - Castle is an excellent Norman one with good stuff on display (lots interactive last time I was there but don't know if that has changed, covid)
• Dippy the Dinosaur currently on tour and is in Norwich, so various dino themed events dotted around

We like this, as recommended by Stephen Fry - Cookies Crab Shop, Salt House

Norwich is a lovely city.

Norwich Castle
Cinemas
Primark for the teen 😆
Open top bus tour
Chapelfield Gardens for play area
Cathedral (we currently have Dippy On Tour) 🦕🦕
GoGo Dinosaur Trail around the city

Amazona zoo is at Cromer. It’s a small Ish zoo, also has play area. Used to have one of those briliant giant cushion things. Look online. Has a good variety of animals and birds. Crocodiles etc.

Thank you all very much. I'm starting to feel I might be able to slow down on the biscuits now...

We do have a car @Peaseblossum22 . I don't want to drive too far because it's only a week, and I'm doing the long drive to Norfolk and back home, plus the packing, care of DS etc will mostly be down to me.

If your DS is mobile then how about alpaca trekking? We have been out with this guy - it's is quite a long walk - 3 to 4 miles? But we had a really lovely time - alpaca.

If not mobile then you can go and wave at the alpaca in the field?

Oh good , car very useful but you don’t need to drive far . Another interesting visit is Nelson’s Curch at Burnham Thorpe , they gave all the flags from his ships hanging from the ceiling. Burnham Market is also nice for a wander

Thank you everyone. I'm just wondering how busy all these places will be, but as I've booked at this time of the year, I'm guessing some will be very busy?!