NORFOLK BROADS & COAST WALKING HOLIDAY

Today is our travel day as we make our way to beautiful Norfolk for the start of our Big Skies adventure.

Guests will be collected from Daventry in the very comfortable mini-bus (or make their own way) to Sprowston Manor Hotel near Norwich.

After checking in and settling into our rooms, we’ll head out for our first relaxed evening meal together — the perfect chance to get to know one another and begin our Norfolk adventure properly.

After breakfast, we travel to the beautiful North Norfolk coastline for our first full walking day together.

Leaving at 0915, we transfer the 45 minutes journey from our hotel to Cley-next-the-Sea on the northern coastline, stopping enroute for a packed lunch before beginning our circular walk with spectacular coastal marshes, charming villages and sandy beaches in this area of outstanding natural beauty.

From the pretty village of Cley-next-the-Sea, our route initially takes us through the village, past the famous Cley Windmill and onto the coastal footpath.

We amble towards the sea on raised walkways (due to surrounding low lying marshes). This unique environment, managed by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust is host to large numbers of bird species including frequently seen Marsh Harriers and if lucky we might hear the rare boom of a Bittern! Upon reaching the sea, we walk along the beach before our route takes us back inland around the Cley Marshes Nature Reserve.

Walking back into this pretty village, we will have time to stop for a refreshment at the RSPB cafe before joining the Peddars Way trail which takes us alongside the Riven Glaven and onto the Blakeney Marshes. This section is again on raised walkways towards the Marram Sand Dunes that stretch out towards Blakeney Point, where we will find a lovely spot for our packed lunch. Eventually, we return to the busy village of Blakeney. Know for its flint cottages, tidal harbour, trendy Art Galleries and numerous cafes and pubs, we will have time for a wander around before we continue back to Cley-next-the-Sea.

An easy walking route with plenty of opportunity to take in the stunning scenery, environment and to spend time in these two charming Norfolk villages

👣 Approx Distance: 7.8 miles / 12.5 km
⬆️ Terrain: Mostly flat with good paths, raised walkways and short beach sections

Today we don’t leave until mid-morning to the beautiful Blickling Hall Estate, so why not use the hotel spa facilities or a swim after breakfast.

Ater stopping off for a packed lunch, we head off to Blickling Hall, a Jacobean stately home situated in 5,000 acres of delightful parkland in a loop of the River Bure. The mansion was built on the ruins of a Tudor building in 1616 and the library contains one of the most historically significant collections of manuscripts and books in England, containing an estimated 13,000 to 14,000 volumes. The property passed into the care of the National Trust in 1940. Between 1499 and 1505, the property was in the possession of the Boleyn family!

Our walk takes us around the Estate Grounds, enjoyable walking and sights enroute will include the lake, grade 2 listed triangular Mausoleum, the Tower and some beautiful walking through the deer park and deciduous woodland.

👣 Approx Distance: 6 miles / 10 km
⬆️ Terrain: Easy walking on good estate paths and woodland trails

Early start leaving the hotel at 0800 as this morning, we transfer to Stalham and go out on the Broads on a self drive boat!

This is a lovely way to spend a few hours and although the boat trip is optional, it’s certainly not worth missing (£10pp for the share of the boat hire) – Two boats have been hired, so there will be plenty of opportunity for everyone to take a turn at the helm whilst cruising along the gentle and serene manmade waterways.

Safely back on dry land, we head back to the hotel and transfer a short distance to the Park and Ride to go into Norwich on the bus (£3 Return or £2 for concessions) for a walk around this medieval city, stopping off somewhere for lunch, hopefully alfresco!

Norwich is a wonderful city to explore with history, architecture, the arts and nature, boutique shopping and artisan cafes. Our riverside walk will take in a few of the sights, including Pullmans Ferry, Cow Tower, Ethelbert Gate, Jarrold Bridge and Hooks Walk. Exploring the cobbled streets, cathedral quarter and our walk alongside the river Wensum will take a couple of hours before allowing for some free time into the city centre to explore at your leisure, enjoy some shopping or just find somewhere to people watch with a refreshing drink or two!

An interesting city tour taking in a number of Norwich’s famous landmarks, the walk follows the Wensum riverside walk and explores the older cathedral quarter which is an architectural delight.

👣 Approx Distance: 3 miles / 4.8 km
⬆️ Terrain: Easy city walking on pavements and riverside paths

Leaving the hotel at 0930 and stopping enroute for a packed lunch, we travel towards the coast at Winterton-by-Sea to walk in the Broads National Park and along this lovely coastline – a national Nature Reserve and passing the Broads best known Windmill, the Horsey Windpump.

Todays starting point is Winterton-on-sea, know for its stunning dunes and the 100’s of seals who lie along its long expanse of beachline. Our route takes us inland through the hamlets of East and West Somerton, passing the ruins of St Marys Church, where a witch is buried, and an oak tree grew from her wooden leg! Heading off through West Somerton towards Martham Broad, with its drainage mill and protected reed bed habitat for the local bird population.

The walk follows a raised walkway towards Horsey Wind Pump, one of the most iconic windmills in Norfolk, now owned by the National Trust…

Horsey Windpump’s history │ Norfolk | National Trust

There is cafe and shop near the mill, so this will be a good place to have our packed lunch beside the water with a hot drink from the small cafe kiosk (and a loo). We carry on toward the coast with a small detour through the tiny hamlet of Horsey, we pass All Saints Church, a rare, thatched example and well worth a quick visit. We reach the coast at Horsey Gap, normally with a population of 100’s of Seals below us on the beach, where our route returns us back to our starting point via this rare and protected dune environment.

A walk with a little bit of everything, broads, historic sites, wildlife and coastal dune walking.

👣 Approx Distance: 10.4 miles / 16.5 km
⬆️ Terrain: Mostly flat with countryside paths, sandy coastal sections and quiet lanes

After breakfast, we are back in the mini-bus for the last time as Ken drives us back to sunny Daventry where we say a fond farewell.

From peaceful waterways and seal-filled beaches to cosy pubs, big skies and scenic walking trails, we’ll leave with plenty of special memories, new friendships and stories to share.

We hope you leave feeling refreshed, recharged and already looking forward to your next Adventure Geek adventure.