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
Trip from Morston to Blakeney Point to see the seals
There are boat trips from Morston during high tide. Book with either of the following:
Beans 01263 740792
Temples 01263 740791
Ptarmigan 01263 740792
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Burn Valley Fisheries
Lake fishing.
- 01328 823790
- www.burnvalleyfisheries.co.uk/south-creake.php