|
Due to health problems with aged in laws we have been unable to take a holiday so far this year. However we have a week booked in a lodge near Diss starting on the 15th, its not where we wanted to go, but we need to be within a couple of hours drive of home. Not having been to Norfolk any suggestions of places to visit would be much appreciated. Places like Great Yarmouth are our idea of hell, but we like small picturesque seaside towns, also not into stately homes, but gardens are ok.
|
A trip round the coast to Brancaster Beach is called for, stopping off for moules at the Jolly Sailors pub - recommended personally by me.
www.jollysailors.co.uk
(the white horse on the other side of the road is not bad either)
and then off along the coast road, to Old Hunstanton (good craft shop)
And then a bit further on to Norfolk Lavender as mention in another thread on here.
There is the North Norfolk Railway
www.nnrailway.co.uk
And of course there is Sandringham. Nice tea shop and gift shop. The Royal Family Church there is worth a visit.
|
|
Take in a broad or two. If that's your thing. Wildlife, good waterside pubs and laughing at tourists trying to park boats and so on. Whiles away an hour or two. Someone usually falls in.
|
...someone usually falls in...
In this case, it looks like one fell in and one was pushed:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-19471214
|
|
Walk down to the beach at Wells. Take in The Lifeboat Inn at Thornham or go the other way to Stiffkey, especially if birdwatching is your thang on the marshes. If the weather's nice hire a little boat on the Broads - strangely relaxing, very quaint, very English!
|
>> If the weather's nice hire a little boat on the Broads - strangely relaxing, very
>> quaint, very English!
Seconded! A very pleasant way to spend a day.
This place is great if you like steam engines and stuff, plus the gardens are beautiful: www.bressingham.co.uk/default.aspx And it's just down the road from Diss.
If zoos are your thing, then www.banhamzoo.co.uk/ is worth a gander and is only a fifteen minute drive from Diss.
You've got Thetford Forest around half an hour away, which is a lovely place for walks and suchforth. Norwich is 45 minutes or so away, and is a lovely city with a gorgeous cathedral. Elm Hill is very picturesque and the castle is fascinating. There are lovely walks along the River Wensum, and the market is great!
Southwold is a very pleasant coastal town with some cracking pubs that serve fabulous beer and very good food.
I've had many a happy holiday in Norfolk and love the place. I've not been for a few years - maybe it's time for a revisit.
|
>>Take in The Lifeboat Inn at Thornham<<
My brother was landlord there until a few years ago.
Small world.
|
I've had a few enjoyable meals there. They used to do BBQs in the garden as well IIRC.
SWMBO got ratted on a bottle of wine once when we ordered a half and I was driving, I think they only charged for the half. ISTR being driven back after over enjoying the Abbot.
|
First choice for seaside must be Southwold. Picturesque and has an upmarket feel about it (A beach hut cost £50,000to buy!). The harbour is interesting too. Further south is Aldeburgh also worth a visit and Snape Maltings. Avoid Lowestoft and Yarmouth.
Horsey, north of Yarmouth is a nice little village mostly owned by the National Trust. walk form the car park by the mill down to the sea where you sea a colony of seals. Have a pint in the Nelson
Cromer is a Favourite of mine - a proper little traditional seaside resort with a pier lifeboat and lifeboat museum, a lighthouse and nice beaches. Buy some Cromer crabs.
The coast road from Cromer to Hunstanton (A149) is a lovely drive through pretty coastal villages and a lot more enjoyable in September than in the peak season. Walk from Holkham to Wells along the huge white sand beach
Inland you are very near to Bressingham Gardens and steam museum. Wonderful herbaceous borders designed by Alana Bloom - Zero can tell you about the steam trains!
Blickling, Felbrig, Sheringham Park and Oxburgh Hall are all owned by the National trust.
Blickling and Felbrig both have fine gardens and walks. Sheringham Park has lovely rolling scenery more reminiscent of the South Downs rather than Norfolk.
And of course you are very near to Norwich which really is a great city. Plenty of history, theatres cinemas, lot of shops if that's your thing and loads of good restaurants.
Any specific questions will be pleased to help
|
|
Bressingham are nice gardens, the trains there are a bit of a washout tho
|
Very obliging women in Norwich. Well they were about 30 years ago anyway. Probably some primeval instinct need to widen the gene pool I suppose.
:-)
|
>> Very obliging women in Norwich.
Scared of Lorry Drivers now tho.
|
|
I had a Cortina. Couldn't fail.
|
and men in white vans with carpets on board
|
|
Holt and Cley are very pleasant but a bit of a way North of Diss. Sheringham is good and has a preserved steam railway and Blakeney Point is pleasant, good coast walking and loads of seals.
|
|
If you dont mind a trip out and you like history, Norwich Castle is more interesting than I thought it would be and the tours are well done.
|
|
Thanks for the input everyone, some interesting ideas there.
|
|
Adnams and Greene King Abbot. Get someone else to drive!
|
Sandringham.
As a loyal subject, you are allowed to look at bits of it.
A properly maintained estate, as Sandringham is, is a treat for the eye:
www.sandringhamestate.co.uk/
|
|
Norwich Cathedral the star. I used to spend a lot of time in there (truancy, from school next door, rather than worship). Its Close is one of Britains best. Nearby Elm Hill is charming.
|
|
If you go anywhere near Thornham, or the Burnhams, watch out for the Chelsea Tracotr set. Every other car is a Range Rover Sport being driven by a numpty who doesn't want to give way (and they're usually towing a trailer with boat too).
|
"Adnams and Greene King Abbot."
Both foreign ales imported from across the Suffolk border. Try Woodforde's ale for a taste of Norfolk. Better still visit their brewery and the Fur and Feather inn next door at Woodbastwick near Wroxham
|
|
There is an article on North Norfolk in today's Telegraph that may help. Referring to an earlier post, this is Costa Yuppy, hence the number of large, showy vehicles - and hence "mains from £62" in Morston Hall (to quote the article). Prices are high in general and the driving problem is compounded by narrow roads.
|
>> this is Costa Yuppy, hence the number of large, showy vehicles - and hence "mains from £62" in Morston Hall (to quote the article). Prices are high
>> in general and the driving problem is compounded by narrow roads.
>>
If you don't want to pay dopey money like that, then have a look at the Weatherspoons website, they have three pubs in Norwich, one in Dereham and one in Stowmarket.
Steak and a drink, (pint of beer, glass of wine or a soft drink) for around £7. What's wrong with that?
|
>>Steak and a drink, (pint of beer, glass of wine or a soft drink) for around £7. What's wrong with that?<<
The beef will contain traces of antibiotics and the alcohol will contain congeners.
:}
|
>> If you don't want to pay dopey money like that, then have a look at
>> the Weatherspoons website, they have three pubs in Norwich, one in Dereham and one in
>> Stowmarket.
>>
>> Steak and a drink, (pint of beer, glass of wine or a soft drink) for
>> around £7. What's wrong with that?
The steaks are not good, and the cliental are not any better.
|
I have to admit that whilst I am not that keen on spending money on frivolities, if I am going out to eat I really don't get excited about "two for a tenner" meals or whatever. It makes me wonder how much they've paid for the meat, given that they want to make a profit as well, I imagine.
I find the whole idea off putting. I'd rather it was a better product, although you can't guarantee that with a greater price of course.
My comfort zone starts at about £12 a meal I suppose, and stops at about £20!
|
>> Steak and a drink, (pint of beer, glass of wine or a soft drink)
>> for
>> >> around £7. What's wrong with that?
>> The steaks are not good, and the cliental are not any better.
>>
Take yourself to Weatherspoons in Walton on Thames on a Tuesday, have a sirloin steak and a pint of bitter and then come back here and say that again!
|
|
No way am I fighting my way past the drunks smoking on the seats outside. Besides, the Aldi opposite puts me off.
|
Am I the only one, but when I saw this title, a certain 10cc song leapt into my head...
"I don't like Colmans, oh no... I love it!"
|
Norfolk Holiday - Zero
