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 golf courses in North Norfolk
• Best horse riding and horse racing
• Places for cycle hire
• Great places for fishing in Norfolk

Holkham Beach, Norfolk

Best beaches in Norfolk

www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/inspire/top-10-beaches.aspx

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sheringham: stony beach with rock pools

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

Burnham Overy Staithe

Five ideas for getting out to sea

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

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

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

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

Pensthorpe Wildlife Park

Lakes, woods and meadows with hundreds of wild birds, walk-through aviaries and childrens’ activities.

• 01328 851465
• www.pensthorpe.com

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:

Ptarmigan Blakeney Point Seal Trips

• 01263 740792 or 07563 332088
• www.blakeneypointsealtrips.co.uk

Roy Moreton’s Seal Trips

• 01263 740292
• sites.google.com/site/northnorfolksealtrips

Beans Boats

• 01263 740505
• www.beansboattrips.co.uk

Bishop’s Boats

• 01263 740753
• www.bishopsboats.co.uk

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

The best websites for Norfolk walking routes

There are lots of great walks close to Barsham Barns holiday cottages. These are both great websites for more information on walking routes with free maps and guides to download.

• www.walkinginnorfolk.co.uk
• www.visorando.co.uk

Activity centre for adults and children near the seaside town of Sheringham.

• 01263 824514
• www.hilltopoutdoorcentre.co.uk

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

Foxley Wood

This is Norfolk’s largest ancient woodland. Open daily, except Thursday 10am-5pm

• 01603 625540
• www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/foxley

Top 5 golf courses in North Norfolk

Sheringham Golf Club

Links golf course overlooking the sea.

• 01263 822038
• www.sheringhamgolfclub.co.uk

Royal Cromer Golf Club

Originally designed by Tom Morris and sitting proudly as one of the best cliff-top courses in England. The course features spectacular views and boasts all the attributes of a coastal course with a wealth of sandy hills, grassy valleys and abundant gorse and bracken.

• 01263 512884
• www.royalcromergolfclub.com

Royal West Norfolk Golf Club, Brancaster

Delightful links course in a marshland setting. Challenging!

• 01485 210223
• www.uk-golfguide.com

Hunstanton Golf Club

Championship links course at Old Hunstanton.

• 01485 532811
• www.hunstantongolfclub.com

Marriott Sprowston Manor Hotel, Norwich

PGA Approved championship course.

• 01603 410871

Best horse riding and horse racing

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

Blackborough End Equestrian Centre, Kings Lynn

• 01553 841212
• www.beec.co.uk

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

Horse Racing at Fakenham Race Course

This is a small racecourse with regular meets and point-to-point.

• 01328 862388
• www.fakenhamracecourse.co.uk

Places for cycle hire

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

Overland Cycle Hire, Holt

• 01263 713293
  07733 445511

Bircham Windmill Cycle Hire

• 01485 578393
• www.birchamwindmill.co.uk

Great places for fishing in Norfolk

Glen Mere

Private lakes in woodland setting close to Cromer.

• 01263 761303

Bure Valley Fishery, Aylsham

• 01263 235372

Norfolk Fishing Trips

Summer sea-fishing day trips.

• www.norfolkfishingtrips.co.uk

Burn Valley Fisheries

Lake fishing.

• 01328 823790
• www.burnvalleyfisheries.co.uk/south-creake.php