Family holiday in North Norfolk - what is there to do?

[elizaco]

We are going on our hols to Norfolk in under 3 weeks - staying 2 miles from Cromer. We have 2 young daughters, age 6 and 4. Which are the best beaches? What good attractions are there in that area? Any recommendations from people who live in that area or have holidayed there, much appreciated :-)

[sleepyj]

go to wells next the sea lovely beach and nice little town my boys love to crab fish from the harbour...enjoy yourself hope weather stays good

[LoftyLottie]

Actually, I find Cromer town rather shabby, but there are some nice areas. Sheringham is lovely and only a few miles away. Where exactly are you staying elizaco - west or east of Cromer?

If you take the coast road from Cromer and head towards Kings Lynn you will find it a lovely leisurely drive, passing through wonderful countryside and with lovely sea views and taking you through lots of typical Norfolk villages, which are very pretty. You can't help but drive leisurely as the speed limit is 20mph for lots of it? I appreciate that a drive out is not particulary exiting for two little girls, but you will find plenty of places to stop and explore on the route.

Yes, sleepyj, Wells is a nice little town. I worked there for quite a while.

[4getmenot]

and holt is a cute little town

[LoftyLottie]

Funnily enough 4get, I'm not keen on Holt, too many County types and antique shops. Bit snobbish for my like. I agree it's an attractive town though. However, I never choose to visit it.

[Lil O'lady]

All of the above - fantastic countryside and beaches, but be aware that between burnham overy staithe and the next place south - ?cookham? - is a nudist beach!
And the tide goes ever such a long way out.

[LoftyLottie]

'Holkham' actually Lil old Lady (as I have mentioned above) and only a small portion of it is a nudist beach and is a long way off the entrance to the beach so no real worries. The Queens beach hut is in the pinewoods on Holkham Beach, but it's very secluded and unless you know where it is, it's virtually impossible to find. They call it a hut but its actually a rather nice log cabin. I don't think it's used very often these days. Princess Margaret and her hippy friends used to frequent it when they had their wild parties at a nearby house owned by the Pilkington Glass family.

Talking of the Queen and Co, there is always Sandringham to visit. Charlie and his mates are often seen out and about in North Norfolk. Perhaps if you give them a ring they will invite you to tea elizaco!!!

[scorpious321]

Well Next To the sea norfolk your kids will love it boating lake, nice harbour crab fishing,nice pubs, amusement for kids, old fashioned high street town, boat trips to see seals,and the caravan park is called pine wood caters for tents as well. and they have a mini rail way wich will take you to the town from caravan park and it every half an hour and stops at midnight ,so great if you have been drinking.And horse drawn carriages
you can go on from the town and take you round the area to sight see

[shaneystar2]

Nothing wrong with Great Yarmouth at all . I hate it when people say it's tacky ..it isn't .. Everywhere has it's good and bad points. Do visit if you are in Norfolk elizaco ..the council have pumped a lot of money into the lovely new seafront and it's all pedestrianised now with a great heritage trail.There are some lovely museums .Time and Tide ..all about our fishing heritage and which was a Gulbenkian finalist .The Nelson Museum all about Norfolks famous son .The Elizabethan house ..domestic life in the 16th century with plenty of hands on stuff for children .
Yesterdays world which is fabulous
http://www.yesterdaysworld.co.uk/greatyarmouth /index.asp
And if you get the time do visit my neck of woods down the road in lovely Gorleston ..an old Edwardian type hoiday resort .We also have miles of lovely beaches and lots for kiddywinks to do and a Marina centre with a super swimming pool .Thigby Wildlife gardens is not too far away and there is also a Sea Life centre . About time you took a trip down this way 4get and see what a bit of money from the government can do to regenerate our seaside resorts .
By the way Pleasurewood Hills is nowhere near Cromer ..it's down the road from me near Lowestoft .

[LoftyLottie]

I haven't actually visited Yarmouth properly since I was 15 although I have driven through. I have been to Gorleston but only at night. I must go down and have a look round Shaneystar.

[Octavius]

If you go to Wells Nex the Sea, great place, been going there for years. It has a lovely beach and forest + cycle tracks/nature walk to Holkham and quite a pleasant town.

Anyway, if you do go there, say hello to my mum!

[4getmenot]

Gorleston is nice, I just dont have high views on Yarmouth with its boy racers and chavs in arcades :-) Sorry, But Norfolk as a whole of course I love. XX And you're just trying to get me to visit shaney :-)

[4getmenot]

Oct I go to wells all the time, my mate has a beech hut there :-)

[LoftyLottie]

Ah ha, Octavius, I always knew you came from good stock - I suppose Lord and Lady Leicester of Holkham Hall are your parents ;o).

Seriously though, does your Mum live in Wells or nearby? I worked in Wells for quite a while. Lovely little town but very insular!

[Breezy23]

Discovered North Norfolk this year in March, lousy weather, never been so cold in my life, but it was so beautiful we are going back May Bk Holiday.
If you are into walking there are some fantastic walks along the coast. We also found the Norfolk Shire Horse Centre which is only a few miles from you near Sheringham. They have more than just horses and kids will love it. You get given a goody bag full of interesting literature and it seems they do a lot of rescue work as well.

[LoftyLottie]

You must have been really frozen here in Norfolk at March. We had a 'White Easter'. However, the whole country was pretty bleak wasn't it? We have just had a glorious heatwave which has broken up over the last few days. No rain though yet. I came back from a holiday on the Med to an even hotter North Norfolk!

We have a high record of sunshine, in fact, Cromer boasts the record for the resort with the best sunshine record in the UK. We are usually a very dry county too, but last summer was the exception that proved the rule.

Hopefully it will be nice over the May bank holiday for you, Breezy.

[whiffey]

What a lovely thread !

As a kid, I had a holiday at Thornham, staying at the LifeBoat Inn (pronounced LifeBoot). It remains a treasured memory. I want to live up there one day, in the beauty and peace.

[LoftyLottie]

Oh no, Whiffey is coming. Must run out and warn everybody.!!

Only joking ;o)!

Yes Thornham is absolutely lovely as are all the villages along that stretch of coast, but it's all so very expensive now you have to be very rich to live there. So much of that stretch of coast is full of second home owners now. They call Burnham Market 'Chelsea on Sea'!!

[whiffey]

Well it sounds like I had better settle for Scunthorpe or Grimsby. My only requirement is that open countryside is within a 10-minute bike. A Londis stocked with Budweiser would be useful too.

[LoftyLottie]

No, come to North Norfolk there are lots of beautiful places that are not so well known and therefore cheaper, and a real ale shop on a farm not far from me!!

[4getmenot]

Its quite nice so many people have enjoyed Norfolk :-)