A Winter Break in Suffolk and Norfolk (Part 2)
Wintery sandblasting..
The best of the weather was behind us. Stopping off at Southwold we took a look at the pier and beach huts as the rain pelted down and the sea was churning into angry froth. The colourful beach huts had been removed from the beach and were looking forlorn in the car park with their backs to the sea.
The north Norfolk coast is a beautiful area but in wet, wintery conditions it can be quite bleak. It wasn't exactly the beast from the east but the easterly wind howled in from over the sea and brought snow flurries to remind us that it wasn't quite spring yet.
Travelling up from Suffolk we had a brief stop to see Horsey wind pump (or windmill), although inaccessible due to renovation work this National Trust landmark, an iconic feature of the Norfolk Broads landscape, was still impressive. Mills like this were used to pump from the dykes that drain the land, raising the water into the broads to eventually flow out to sea.
We also took a look at Blickling Estate, an impressive NT property where King Harold (of 1066 Battle of Hastings fame) used to live before he was king. It was also the birthplace of Anne Boleyn and is said to be haunted by her ghost. Another claim to fame is that this property has the second largest second-hand bookshop in National Trust properties, and we spend a bit of time perusing the bookshelves leaving with a few novels and a cookbook. We thought they might be needed if the weather stayed cold and wet..
Our destination was Big Sky Barn at Ridlington, south of Cromer and just a mile from the Norfolk coast. This newly converted barn is a small 'grand design' with its curved roof and open living spaces featuring a wall of glass streaming the light in, even on a dull day.
From here we explored the north Norfolk coast and surrounding areas, on quiet roads, which I imagine would be very busy in high season, following the coast and marshes. The visitor centre at Cley Marshes is a good place to stop for a coffee. Here you can sit upstairs overlooking the marshes with binoculars available and bird books for reference. Plenty of sea birds and wildfowl could be spotted swooping over the marshland and reeds. The coffee was good too!
Blakeney Point, the four mile long shingle spit that protects the small village of Blakeney is the perfect place to spot all kinds of wildlife, including seals, in the salt marshes and sand dunes. However on the day we visited it was far too windy to head out there, we'll have to return later in the year for that experience.
Blakeney quay looked a little subdued in its winter shades and the air was bitterly cold so we didn't linger long.
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| Southwold beach huts in winter |
The north Norfolk coast is a beautiful area but in wet, wintery conditions it can be quite bleak. It wasn't exactly the beast from the east but the easterly wind howled in from over the sea and brought snow flurries to remind us that it wasn't quite spring yet.
Travelling up from Suffolk we had a brief stop to see Horsey wind pump (or windmill), although inaccessible due to renovation work this National Trust landmark, an iconic feature of the Norfolk Broads landscape, was still impressive. Mills like this were used to pump from the dykes that drain the land, raising the water into the broads to eventually flow out to sea.
 |
| Horsey wind pump |
We also took a look at Blickling Estate, an impressive NT property where King Harold (of 1066 Battle of Hastings fame) used to live before he was king. It was also the birthplace of Anne Boleyn and is said to be haunted by her ghost. Another claim to fame is that this property has the second largest second-hand bookshop in National Trust properties, and we spend a bit of time perusing the bookshelves leaving with a few novels and a cookbook. We thought they might be needed if the weather stayed cold and wet..
 |
| Blickling Hall |
Our destination was Big Sky Barn at Ridlington, south of Cromer and just a mile from the Norfolk coast. This newly converted barn is a small 'grand design' with its curved roof and open living spaces featuring a wall of glass streaming the light in, even on a dull day.
 |
| Inside Big Sky Barn |
From here we explored the north Norfolk coast and surrounding areas, on quiet roads, which I imagine would be very busy in high season, following the coast and marshes. The visitor centre at Cley Marshes is a good place to stop for a coffee. Here you can sit upstairs overlooking the marshes with binoculars available and bird books for reference. Plenty of sea birds and wildfowl could be spotted swooping over the marshland and reeds. The coffee was good too!
Blakeney Point, the four mile long shingle spit that protects the small village of Blakeney is the perfect place to spot all kinds of wildlife, including seals, in the salt marshes and sand dunes. However on the day we visited it was far too windy to head out there, we'll have to return later in the year for that experience.
Blakeney quay looked a little subdued in its winter shades and the air was bitterly cold so we didn't linger long.
 |
| Blakeney quay in winter |
The small village of Cley-next-the-Sea (what a descriptive name) has a windmill, a delightful pottery and a village shop that is a foodie's delight. A couple of the beautifully made pots from Made in Cley pottery found themselves in my shopping bag and are now looking lovely in my kitchen.
Inland, the small town of Holt is well worth a visit. Wander around the old buildings and the many 'yards' with independent shops selling all sorts of interesting stuff and it is easy to while away an hour or so.
On an extremely windy day we set out to see Brancaster beach. Snow flurries mixed in with sand swept across the beach. It was impossible to walk into the wind without suffering a painful blasting of sand and snow and all I managed to do was film the effects (on my phone) with my back to the wind. The beach is a big wide, beautifully golden, sandy expanse and was virtually empty. Just a couple of brave souls were walking along the sand (or being blown along..). It would be a fabulous spot to visit in the summer, I imagine it would be a very popular location too.
In Burnham Market we found an amazing shop. Upstairs it has a number of rooms selling hundreds of hats for both ladies and men, with matching accessories in almost any shade you could imagine (for the ladies). They have signs up telling customers not to take photographs so I can't share the sight with you but take it from me it was impressive!
After a hair-raising reverse along a very icy lane where we had been stopped by a tree, which had blown over across the lane in the high winds, we were glad to arrive at our final destination before leaving our friends to go our separate ways home. This was Oxburgh Hall, near Swaffham. The hall is an impressive 15th century moated country house still lived in by the Bedingfield family although it is now owned by the National Trust. A reviving cup of tea was required in their tearoom before a tour of the main rooms of the hall. At the time we visited renovation work was being done to the roof.
Our East Anglian trip was over but I'm sure we will be returning, hopefully when the weather is warmer...
On a final note, during this trip I put my new Mindshift Gear SidePath camera backpack to the test. This lightweight backpack has a special compartment in the back which safely held my DSLR camera, two lenses, a couple of filters and a spare battery. It is perfect for days out, the top held my gloves, hat, scarf and a spare jumper too. I also attached a Peak Design Capture camera clip to my strap for quick access to my camera when it wasn't in the bag. the combination was both comfortable and practical and I was very pleased.
For a link to the Lonely Planet guides to England and to Great Britain click here.
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| Made in Cley pottery workroom |
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| Cley village shop |
Inland, the small town of Holt is well worth a visit. Wander around the old buildings and the many 'yards' with independent shops selling all sorts of interesting stuff and it is easy to while away an hour or so.
On an extremely windy day we set out to see Brancaster beach. Snow flurries mixed in with sand swept across the beach. It was impossible to walk into the wind without suffering a painful blasting of sand and snow and all I managed to do was film the effects (on my phone) with my back to the wind. The beach is a big wide, beautifully golden, sandy expanse and was virtually empty. Just a couple of brave souls were walking along the sand (or being blown along..). It would be a fabulous spot to visit in the summer, I imagine it would be a very popular location too.
 |
| Brancaster beach in winter |
In Burnham Market we found an amazing shop. Upstairs it has a number of rooms selling hundreds of hats for both ladies and men, with matching accessories in almost any shade you could imagine (for the ladies). They have signs up telling customers not to take photographs so I can't share the sight with you but take it from me it was impressive!
After a hair-raising reverse along a very icy lane where we had been stopped by a tree, which had blown over across the lane in the high winds, we were glad to arrive at our final destination before leaving our friends to go our separate ways home. This was Oxburgh Hall, near Swaffham. The hall is an impressive 15th century moated country house still lived in by the Bedingfield family although it is now owned by the National Trust. A reviving cup of tea was required in their tearoom before a tour of the main rooms of the hall. At the time we visited renovation work was being done to the roof.
 |
| Oxburgh Hall |
Our East Anglian trip was over but I'm sure we will be returning, hopefully when the weather is warmer...
On a final note, during this trip I put my new Mindshift Gear SidePath camera backpack to the test. This lightweight backpack has a special compartment in the back which safely held my DSLR camera, two lenses, a couple of filters and a spare battery. It is perfect for days out, the top held my gloves, hat, scarf and a spare jumper too. I also attached a Peak Design Capture camera clip to my strap for quick access to my camera when it wasn't in the bag. the combination was both comfortable and practical and I was very pleased.
For a link to the Lonely Planet guides to England and to Great Britain click here.
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