Postcards from Norfolk

Hello there!

I've been on holiday!  DH, Daisy Dog and I tootled off to Norfolk - an area I haven't explored much - and we had a wonderful time!  I had no idea North Norfolk was so beautiful.  The best thing was it was so quiet!  I know we were outside of school holidays, but even so the beaches were a dream, the roads were a joy to drive along and parking was a breeze.  This photo was taken at midday...

One of our favourite places turned out to be about five miles from our holiday cottage, so we went there three times!  This was Horsey Windpump, a traditional Norfolk icon which helped keep the land drained for very many decades.  The National Trust look after it now and have restored it to its former glory.

We loved it here so much as it was ideal for a walk, a look around the windpump, a visit to the tea shop, or a picnic on the handily provided deckchairs...

The other brilliant thing about Horsey, is the walk from the windpump to the beach at Horsey Mere.  Here you will very often see dozens of seals basking on the beach.  Literally there on the sand in front of you.  Visitors are asked to keep at least ten metres away, so I took this photo on zoom.

The seals were amazing!  On one visit the tide was coming in and when the waves increasingly splashed over them they got very grumpy and growly indeed!

Norfolk is also home to some outstanding National Trust properties.  We visited them all and were blown away by the first view of Blickling Hall.

A lovely surprise was Sheringham Park.  This was an end-of-day visit, to give Daisy a good run.  The house isn't open to the public but this didn't matter a jot as the rhododendrons and azaleas were in bloom and it was spectacular!  The scent was intoxicating too!

We also loved Felbrigg Hall and spent a very happy day there with a picnic, a look around the Hall, and a visit to the tea shop and book shop.  Everyone was so friendly and Daisy was allowed pretty much everywhere, apart from the Hall and Walled Garden.  This makes such a difference as we can sit inside the cafe and have a cup of tea together, or look around the bookshop together.

A visit to Norfolk isn't complete without a boat trip on the Norfolk Broads.  We chose Queen of the Broads, a two deck vessel, and had a very interesting and informative tour around. The homes nestled along the banks were lovely (and very pricey!)

It was a wonderful holiday and we are already planning our next visit!

Donna x