Things to do

The coast line of north Norfolk is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the North Norfolk Coast Path is a great way to see it. The Coasthopper bus runs along most of its length and so you can leave the car and walk then catch the bus back to the car park. Or take the bus from Fakenham and then re-join the bus to get you back to town. Ask us for a timetable. Check the wind direction before you start as walking is a lot more comfortable with the wind on your back rather than in your face.

There are many interesting villages to visit in the area and a multiplicity of tea rooms.

Fakenham lies just outside the AONB. It’s worthwhile checking out the weekly market on Thursday and the auction can supply you with bargains or a box of “allsorts” to take home. The Fakenham Museum of Gas & Local History the only surviving museum of the town gas era in England and Wales is worth a visit and The Thursford Collection is a collection of Steam engines, Fairground rides and organs plus shops and in November and December is the location of the fabulous Thursford Christmas Experience which makes a revisit to north Norfolk well worthwhile even when the weather isn’t at its best.

Birders and Twitchers (don’t confuse the two) already know about the huge variety of birds to be seen along the coast and on the marshes and the species change with the seasons. If you have been a fan of Springwatch you can visit Pensthorpe, the home of Springwatch for 3 years and a good day out with its café, shop and play area for children (Awesome!) and the 4 o’clock feed. The Hawk and Owl Trust have an excellent site at the Sculthorpe Moor Reserve which is about a 5 minutes’ drive away or about 25 minutes’ walk. The whole reserve is striving towards disabled access for all but there isn’t a café so take a sandwich and a flask. Your ticket gives the opportunity to pop out for lunch and return at any time during the day. Sculthorpe moor nature reserve is completely accessible to wheelchairs although, having recently bought land to either side of the reserve as we know it and thus tripling it's size, work is ongoing to develop the new fields and marsh areas and give access to them.

The area is a delight to cycle. The hills (if you can find them, remember that we are from Sheffield) are gentle and the roads are quiet except at the bank holidays. There are always quiet lanes to discover even when the roads are busy. The Sustrans cycle route no.1 passes the end of the drive and we have a bike shed (where we store our cycles) should you wish to leave your bike and use the buses for a day or two.

If you prefer the city life as a break from all this countryside then I can recommend Norwich which is a beautiful city with the Castle museum, the Cathedral and theatres and as many shops and restaurants as anybody can possibly need or want and Norwich market is a visual treat. Norwich is about 45 minutes to an hour away by car dependent upon the time of day or take the hourly bus from Fakenham and it will take just over the hour and avoid your having to try to find a parking space. Please ask us for a timetable. The nearest park and ride for Norwich is about 30 minutes drive and is close to the airport.

Click on the links below for details of some of the many places you could visit during your stay with us.