Barsham Barns - Norfolk Holiday Cottages and Barns

Things To Do In Norfolk

To help you make the most out of your stay at Barsham Barns holiday cottages, here are some tips and advice on things to do in Norfolk. Enjoy!

Best beaches in Norfolk
Five ideas for getting out to sea
Best wildlife activities in North Norfolk
Best walks and outdoor pursuits
Top 4 golf courses in North Norfolk
Best horse riding and horse racing
Four places for cycle hire
Great places for fishing in Norfolk

Best beaches in Norfolk

1. Wells Next the Sea: sandy beach that stretches for miles

This is a great beach with beach huts, pools for paddling and endless sandy stretches for long walks. Best to park at Pinewoods Caravan Park.

2. Holkham Beach: long sandy beach great for solitude seekers

Holkham has a really dramatic sandy beach fringed with pine trees with film connections – it featured in Shakespeare in Love. Park your car on Lady Anne’s Drive opposite the Victoria Hotel or walk from Burnham Overy or Wells.

3. Brancaster: family friendly beach

Though this beach is less dramatic than Holkham it’s more family friendly, as the tide doesn’t go out too far.

4. Cley next the Sea: quiet pebbly beach

This is a quiet, pebbly beach with stunning views to either side. There’s good swimming at high tide.

5. Hunstanton: great for sunset photos

The beach and cliffs face west giving perfect spots for viewing spectacular sunsets. When the tide is out there are plenty of rock pools around the groynes.

6. Sheringham: stony beach with rock pools

This is a stony beach but at low tide there’s lots of sand and great rock pools.

Five ideas for getting out to sea

1. Sailing tuition and charter with Norfolketc

There’s private tuition and private charter on offer at this family-run watersports centre in Blakeney Harbour.
01263 740704
www.norfolketc.co.uk

2. Windsurfing & sailing with North Shore

North Shore offers a range of watersports including windsurfing and sailing from their base at Brancaster Staithe.
01485 210236
www.northshoresport.co.uk

3. Day trips on the ‘Juno’ Sailing Barge

Charter this magnificent sailing barge for a day or half-day trip around the North Norfolk coast. May to October only.
01263 740377
www.charlieward.co.uk

4. Nature and wildlife boat trips with Branta Cruises

Two-hour boat trips to Scolt Head island with conservationist and warden Jon Brown.
07775 728904
www.brantacruises.co.uk

5. Kite surfing at Hunstanton Kitesurfing school

Learn to kitesurf on the Norfolk Coast at this kitesurfing school in Hunstanton.
www.hunstantonwatersports.com

Best wildlife activities in North Norfolk

1. Pensthorpe Wildlife Park

Lakes, woods and meadows with hundreds of wild birds, walk-through aviaries and childrens’ activities.
01328 851465
www.pensthorpe.com

2. Seal Trips from Morston and Blakeney.

Trips out to see the seals on the Norfolk Coast depend on the tide and weather. Ring for details or book online. Here are three ways to get to the seals:

• Roy Moreton's Seal Trips
01263 740292
www.roymoretonsealtrips.co.uk
• Bean’s
01263 740505
www.beansboattrips.co.uk
• Bishop’s Boats
01263 740753
www.norfolksealtrips.co.uk

3. Bird Watching at Morston, Blakeney, Stiffkey and Cley marshes

You can see an astonishing number of different birds on the marshes at Morston, Blakeney, Stiffkey or Cley.

• General birdwatching information
01603 625540
www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk
• Expert guided tours from the Bird Tour Company
01263 710203
www.birdtour.co.uk
• Owl & Hawk Trust, Sculthorpe
01328 856788
www.hawkandowl.org/sculthorpehome
• Cley Marshes nature reserve
An excellent reserve with birdwatching hides and boardwalks across the marshes.
01263 740008

Best walks and outdoor pursuits

1. The best website for Norfolk walking routes

There are lots of great walks close to Barsham Barns holiday cottages. This is a great website for more information on walking routes with free maps and guides to download.
www.walkinginnorfolk.co.uk

2. A great activity centre: Hilltop Outdoor Centre

Activity centre for adults and children near the seaside town of Sheringham.
01263 824514
www.hilltopoutdoorcentre.co.uk

3. Holt Country Park

There’s a woodland and play area and seasonal events including guided walks, pond dipping, nightjarring, mountain bike adventure trails and shelter building/survival techniques.
01263 516062

4. Foxley Wood

This is Norfolk’s largest ancient woodland. Open daily, except Thursday 10am-5pm
01603 625540
www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/foxley

Top 4 golf courses in North Norfolk

1. Sheringham Golf Club

Links golf course overlooking the sea.
01263 822038
www.sheringhamgolfclub.co.uk

2. Royal West Norfolk Golf Club, Brancaster

Delightful links course in a marshland setting. Challenging!
01485 210223
www.uk-golfguide.com

3. Hunstanton Golf Club

Championship links course at Old Hunstanton.
01485 532811
www.hunstantongolfclub.com

4. Marriott Sprowston Manor Hotel

PGA Approved championship course
Sprowston, Norwich
t: 01603 410871

Best horse riding and horse racing

1. North Norfolk Riding Centre, Walsingham

The North Norfolk Riding Centre offers lessons for all ages from beginners upwards. It also offers hacking in beautiful countryside. Occasional rides at Holkham for experienced riders only.
01328 820933
www.norfolkhorseriding.co.uk/ridingschools.htm

2. West Runton Riding Stables

This is a farm museum with working horses and British pony breeds. Opt for a lesson in a covered school or go for a ride through the countryside.
01263 837339
www.norfolk-shirehorse-centre.co.uk

3. Blackborough End Equestrian Centre, Kings Lynn

01553 841212
www.beec.co.uk

4. A great website for more information on Riding Schools

This is a good website for details on riding schools in Norfolk.
www.norfolkhorseriding.co.uk/ridingschools.htm

5. Horse Racing at Fakenham Race Course

This is a small racecourse with regular meets and point-to-point.
01328 862388
www.fakenhamracecourse.co.uk

Four places for cycle hire

1. Cycle hire company near Wells: On Yer Bike

Comfortable mountain bikes which can be delivered direct to the barns. Wells and Holkham Circuit Route Maps, pump, puncture repair kit,cycle locks & baskets all inclusive.
01328 820719
www.norfolkcyclehire.co.uk