"See it soon" Top 5 Page for this destination Norfolk (County) by tissie

Norfolk (County) Travel Guide: 402 reviews and 870 photos

Nature's cycle

The Norfolk coast is under constant threat from the ravages of the sea and much of it, and its villages, is disappearing fast.

It is deemed to be uneconomic to try and hold the sea back (a lot of the land is reclaimed and so things are really going full circle) - so in the near future you will not be able to visit many of the lovely places there.

Sounds a bit glib to say "Go and visit now while it's still there" but we were amazed how much the sea had cut into the sand dunes since our last visit - the path nearest the edge had gone completely.

Where?

Ranworth

The county of Norfolk is in East Anglia in England - that bit that bulges out on the right above London as you look at a map! The north coast is rather fashionable - Chelsea-on-Sea it's known as I understand - but the rest of the county is laid back and waiting to welcome you.

The county town is Norwich - a city with a wonderful atmosphere, great shops and places to eat and a brilliant park and ride system!

You'll find countryside and coast, quiet places and places that bustle, everything you could want. It's a great county.

Broads and St Benet's

Bishop of Norwich arriving at St Benet's Abbey

The area with which I am most familiar is known as The Broads. Land to the east and north of Norwich which sees Broads (man-made rivers created when peat was cut for building and fuel) cutting through fields, a lot of leisure boating, nature reserves and extensive views. Lovely.

I'm just back from a visit during which I was fortunate enough to attend an open air service at St Benet's Abbey. I travelled by boat (organised by Herbert Woods) from Potter Heigham to St Benet's and enjoyed a tranquil hour on the Broads, seeing wildlife, small riverside houses, windpumps and a variety of boats. The ruined abbey lies in the middle of a field and, rather bizarrely, has a windmill built into it. It is accessible by road but it was far more interesting to arrive by water. The abbey was made great by King Canute (him of holding back the waves) in 1020 A.D. after a small beginning in 800 A.D. and the position of the original High Altar is now marked by a large cross given to the abbey by HM Queen Elizabeth and made of oak from her estate at Sandringham in Norfolk. On the first Sunday of August a service is held there, led by the Bishop of Norfolk (who is also Abbot of St Benet's) who arrives on a wherry (a traditional sailing craft). There was a marvellous atmosphere during the service and many more people attended than usually attend local churches on Sunday morning! If you have the opportunity to attend this service next year I'll see you there!

Pros and Cons

Pros:Wide open spaces, a great holiday destination
Cons:People seem to gather like bees around honeypots
In a nutshell:An excitingly gentle county

Last visit to Norfolk (County): Aug 2006
Intro Updated Aug 10, 2006
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Reviews (18)

Forgotten Norfolk Off The Beaten Path (1)

The Norfolk coast south of Cromer and north of the Broads is a pretty much forgotten part of the county. There are some... more travel advice

Poppy Line Transportation (3)

Travelling of the North Norfolk Railway Poppy Line makes a great and nostalgic day out for the whole family. Trains... more travel advice

Sheringham - seaside elegance Things to Do (6)

Sheringham is a lovely seaside town well worth a day's visit if you're staying in Norfolk or you could stay in the town... more travel advice

Oxburgh in Oxborough Things to Do (6)

Another National Trust property to visit in Norfolk but this one has a character all of its own. It is a relatively... more travel advice

Comments (7)

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sirenna Jun 9, 2007 at 4:17 AM

Nice Norfolk page Tissie, I especially enjoyed your pub/restaurant tips. Brings back memories! :)
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BerniShand Jan 2, 2007 at 10:25 AM

splendid page and tips, a really good read and a well deserved 5, thank you
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Sininen Aug 17, 2006 at 11:49 AM

Hello Tissie! Norfolk looks really lovely. Might take my daughter there next month as we'd like to see more than just London. Happy birthday from Finland!
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luckyzen Jul 24, 2006 at 12:34 PM

The food looks absolutely divine, Tissie. Great opening picture too. 'will have to return to this page! Regards.
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RickinDutch Jul 24, 2006 at 11:24 AM

Creme Brulee and long walks - I'm sold! The Duke of Norfolk plays a large role in a novel I just finished - so very curious about the area. And we can't keep crab that small here in Alaska :)
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yooperprof Jul 11, 2006 at 12:04 PM

When I lived in Norwich (years ago) we used to say it was cut off from the rest of England on three sides by the North Sea and on the fourth side by British Rail!
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adelaidean Jul 7, 2006 at 4:27 PM

looks like a lovely place to visit..