Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
and the famous striped cliffs, you might want to simply head south 10 miles to
San-
dringham,
the Queen's holiday retreat (see review, below), and a little farther for
Castle Rising
(
&
01553/631330;
www.castlerising.co.uk), unassuming yet one of
the country's finest examples of a 12th-century stone keep.
Blakeney National Nature Reserve
NATURE RESERVE West from
Cley Marshes Norfolk Wildlife Trust, take a right-hand turn to Cley lifeboat station
where there's a cafe and walks to Blakeney Point. You can see common and gray seals
and birds at this National Trust reserve. Morston Quay is the base for boat trips.
Cley Rd., Blakeney.
&
01263/740241.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk. Free access daily, but National Trust
pay parking lot.
Holkham Hall
HISTORIC SITE This is the magnificent family home of the
earls of Leicester. You can visit the Palladian-style stately home, take one of the
marked walks around the deer park, and visit the Bygones Museum in the stables to
see vintage cars, steam engines, mechanical toys, and displays on life here over the
centuries. Across the road (A149) is Holkham beach, wild and unspoiled and part of
an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There's a boardwalk along the edge of the
beach, sand dunes, and a huge expanse of sand when the tide goes out (and out).
Holkham (on the A149).
&
01328/710227.
www.holkham.co.uk. Hall and museum admission £11 adults,
£5.50 children 5-15, £28 family ticket. Apr-Oct Sun-Mon and Thurs noon-4pm. Museum only Apr-Oct
daily 10am-5pm. Admission £4 adults, £2 children. Closed Nov-Mar, but the park, with cafe and shop,
is open year-round, free, to walkers.
Sandringham House & Gardens
HISTORIC SITE One of the Queen's
preferred residences with some rooms open to the public, a separate museum, and
extensive woodland gardens with flowering bulbs and rhododendrons in spring and
stunning fall displays. The house retains its Edwardian style with gifts from Russian
and German royal relatives on show, while the museum is a collection of personal
items and gifts from state visits abroad. The house is usually closed for a week in July.
Sandringham (off the A149).
&
01485/541571.
www.sandringhamestate.co.uk. House, museum, and
gardens admission £11 adults, £5.50 children 5-15, £28 family ticket. Late Apr-late Oct daily 11am-5pm
(9:30am for visitor center, café, and shop; 10:30am for gardens). Closed rest of year.
Titchwell Marsh RSPB Reserve
NATURE RESERVE One of the first
places many geese, ducks, and wading birds land as they head south from the Arctic
is this reserve with its salt and freshwater ponds, which you can see from the impres-
sive new Parrinder Hide, a striking architectural retreat where visitors can sit out of
13
NORFOLK
coast
PATH
You can get from Cromer to Hunstanton
on foot, via the Norfolk Coast Path. It
leaves the coast for a short stretch across
the hills to Sheringham, but hugs the
beach and sea all the way to Cley, then
takes a straight line to Wells (to the rear
of marshland but keeping to the sea-side
of the A149), then through the beach-
front pines at Holkham. It's 46 miles, but
passes by or near many excellent hotels
to make a comfortable multiday trip. Or
you can just go for as long as you fancy,
getting the Coasthopper bus back. (If
you're really keen, the trail heads inland,
the same distance again, as the Roman,
rod-straight Peddar's Way to Thetford
Forest.) Visit www.nationaltrail.co.uk for
maps and more information.
