Sian’s general guidebook to the area
Gardens
A short bike ride (or decent walk) from the house, there are beautiful gardens and some interesting shops. Good for coffee and cake. Meals also available .
10 yerel halk öneriyor
Alby Crafts & Gardens
A short bike ride (or decent walk) from the house, there are beautiful gardens and some interesting shops. Good for coffee and cake. Meals also available .
Beautiful grounds, famous for the rhododendrons which cover the park in flowers around May-June. There are a few look-out towers where you can get the best view of the flowers, with the coast in the background. There are also plenty of walking trails and a small café.
104 yerel halk öneriyor
Sheringham Park
Beautiful grounds, famous for the rhododendrons which cover the park in flowers around May-June. There are a few look-out towers where you can get the best view of the flowers, with the coast in the background. There are also plenty of walking trails and a small café.
Sightseeing
The hall is set in beautiful estate grounds that span several acres. If you don't want to visit the main hall, there are several carparks around the estate that give you access to the grounds. There is a 7km path all around that has been created for safe cycling and many walking routes throughout the park. Within the park, there are many ancient trees and beautiful views of the Bure Valley. The woods are particularly famous for the bluebells in late spring. The pyramid mausoleum is also worth a visit.
Also a pub (see food scene) and café on site.
239 yerel halk öneriyor
Blickling Mülkü
The hall is set in beautiful estate grounds that span several acres. If you don't want to visit the main hall, there are several carparks around the estate that give you access to the grounds. There is a 7km path all around that has been created for safe cycling and many walking routes throughout the park. Within the park, there are many ancient trees and beautiful views of the Bure Valley. The woods are particularly famous for the bluebells in late spring. The pyramid mausoleum is also worth a visit.
Also a pub (see food scene) and café on site.
Felbrigg Hall
Beautiful hall and estate grounds which also has a café.
Food scene
This bakery/café has changed to a larger premise on the market square in Aylsham. The sell really good sour doughs, ciabattas etc and pastries. An excellent place for morning coffee! They are open early and often sell out of bread so it might be worth pre-ordering if you are a large group (definitely worth doing).
9 yerel halk öneriyor
Bread Source - Aylsham
30a Red Lion StThis bakery/café has changed to a larger premise on the market square in Aylsham. The sell really good sour doughs, ciabattas etc and pastries. An excellent place for morning coffee! They are open early and often sell out of bread so it might be worth pre-ordering if you are a large group (definitely worth doing).
The food is fantastic, though more expensive than other local pubs. The menu changes regularly and focuses on local and seasonal produce. This pub is only about 1 mile from the house. We would thoroughly recommend this pub for a treat - they often have a good lunch time deal on offer e.g. set price for starter and main.
Saracens Head Inn & Restaurant
The food is fantastic, though more expensive than other local pubs. The menu changes regularly and focuses on local and seasonal produce. This pub is only about 1 mile from the house. We would thoroughly recommend this pub for a treat - they often have a good lunch time deal on offer e.g. set price for starter and main.
Good, family pub food with a nice atmosphere if you just want a drink. In the summer, you'll often local teams playing cricket on green. There is also a playpark at the other end of the village green which can make it a good place to stop with kids.
The Aldborough Black Boys
Good, family pub food with a nice atmosphere if you just want a drink. In the summer, you'll often local teams playing cricket on green. There is also a playpark at the other end of the village green which can make it a good place to stop with kids.
Very stylish pub with great food and art work. Set in estate grounds - you'll probably need to book.
120 yerel halk öneriyor
The Gunton Arms
Very stylish pub with great food and art work. Set in estate grounds - you'll probably need to book.
Newly opened, same management team as The Gunton Arms so also very stylish! There is a great cocktail lounge upstairs and giant artwork outside. They have a tapas menu.
20 yerel halk öneriyor
Suffield Arms
393 Station RoadNewly opened, same management team as The Gunton Arms so also very stylish! There is a great cocktail lounge upstairs and giant artwork outside. They have a tapas menu.
Great pub for larger groups/families as plenty of space to eat outside. Usual pub food - big portions! We often bike here through the estate. You can park in the main National Trust carpark but is pricey if you're not a member - there is a pub carpark, 1st righthand turn after the hall if you're coming from Aylsham. You can't always park here if busy. This is a good destination if you want to combine food and a decent walk as you can head into the grounds of Blicking estate for free.
21 yerel halk öneriyor
Buckinghamshire Arms Aylsham
Great pub for larger groups/families as plenty of space to eat outside. Usual pub food - big portions! We often bike here through the estate. You can park in the main National Trust carpark but is pricey if you're not a member - there is a pub carpark, 1st righthand turn after the hall if you're coming from Aylsham. You can't always park here if busy. This is a good destination if you want to combine food and a decent walk as you can head into the grounds of Blicking estate for free.
Neighbourhoods
Calthorpe is a rural location on the edge of the Bure Valley. Traditional houses in the area are brick and flint, with farming still an important part of life. Although we are close to the famous Norfolk coast, this pretty area is a little off the main tourist map, making it a calm and appealing option with plenty of its own attractions.
Connecting the main villages around Calthorpe are lots of footpaths and quite roads which mean walking and cycling are great ways to explore (though, you will have no trouble parking if you choose to drive).
Calthorpe sits between Aldborough and Erpingham which are both bigger villages. In Erpingham (a short walk away) you will find the Spread Eagle pub and a village playing field with a small playpark. The pub has a big garden and since Covid, uses a range of food vans, rather than having its own kitchen. Look at their blackboard outside to see which van visits each night. Thwaite Common backs onto Epringham and is a great place for a picnic or picking blackberries in the Autumn. This is a really pretty area which we often visit for a quick trip out. Just before you get to the first houses, if you look through the trees to the left, you will see a rope swing which is great for adults and kids!
Aldborough is 2 miles away and has more amenities There is a large, central village green with pond at one end and playpark at the other. In summer, local teams still play cricket on the village green and you can enjoy watching them with a pint from the local pub. The Blackboys serves traditional pub food but does have some vegan/vegetarian options. Close to the pub, you can find the village shop & post office which is open until 6pm. They sell a surprisingly good range of everything, considering the size of the place! We often bike down there with the kids to get ice-creams/sweets from the shop - an easy trip out without the car.
To the west of Calthorpe lies Mannington Estate and picturesque village of Itteringham. These are both well worth a visit. Mannington Hall charges about £2 for the carpark and has an easy, circular walk of about 1 mile. There is a tyre swing halfway round for tired kids! The first part of the walk is on boardwalks over a wetland area, leading you to a bird hide. You can have a go at spotting local wildlife and see what other people have spotted - they update their list regularly. This is a lesser known hall then the other big National Trust properties nearby but very pretty and our choice during busy tourist season (Blickling gets very busy). There is also a small ruined chapel that you can explore, opposite the main house.
Just past Mannington, the road drops down into Itteringham. This is a good place to start or end walks/ride as there is village shop/café and a pub. The shop is community owned which has ensured its future as an excellent local resource.
The River Bure runs through the village
Another neighbouring village is Itteringham. This is a very picturesque village
NR11 7QR
The StreetCalthorpe is a rural location on the edge of the Bure Valley. Traditional houses in the area are brick and flint, with farming still an important part of life. Although we are close to the famous Norfolk coast, this pretty area is a little off the main tourist map, making it a calm and appealing option with plenty of its own attractions.
Connecting the main villages around Calthorpe are lots of footpaths and quite roads which mean walking and cycling are great ways to explore (though, you will have no trouble parking if you choose to drive).
Calthorpe sits between Aldborough and Erpingham which are both bigger villages. In Erpingham (a short walk away) you will find the Spread Eagle pub and a village playing field with a small playpark. The pub has a big garden and since Covid, uses a range of food vans, rather than having its own kitchen. Look at their blackboard outside to see which van visits each night. Thwaite Common backs onto Epringham and is a great place for a picnic or picking blackberries in the Autumn. This is a really pretty area which we often visit for a quick trip out. Just before you get to the first houses, if you look through the trees to the left, you will see a rope swing which is great for adults and kids!
Aldborough is 2 miles away and has more amenities There is a large, central village green with pond at one end and playpark at the other. In summer, local teams still play cricket on the village green and you can enjoy watching them with a pint from the local pub. The Blackboys serves traditional pub food but does have some vegan/vegetarian options. Close to the pub, you can find the village shop & post office which is open until 6pm. They sell a surprisingly good range of everything, considering the size of the place! We often bike down there with the kids to get ice-creams/sweets from the shop - an easy trip out without the car.
To the west of Calthorpe lies Mannington Estate and picturesque village of Itteringham. These are both well worth a visit. Mannington Hall charges about £2 for the carpark and has an easy, circular walk of about 1 mile. There is a tyre swing halfway round for tired kids! The first part of the walk is on boardwalks over a wetland area, leading you to a bird hide. You can have a go at spotting local wildlife and see what other people have spotted - they update their list regularly. This is a lesser known hall then the other big National Trust properties nearby but very pretty and our choice during busy tourist season (Blickling gets very busy). There is also a small ruined chapel that you can explore, opposite the main house.
Just past Mannington, the road drops down into Itteringham. This is a good place to start or end walks/ride as there is village shop/café and a pub. The shop is community owned which has ensured its future as an excellent local resource.
The River Bure runs through the village
Another neighbouring village is Itteringham. This is a very picturesque village
Kids/family days out
Outdoor, adventure play - has huge slides, rope swings and range of climbing frame/tress house fun for 3-12years olds. Set in beautiful woodlands, its a good day out for all. With under 10yrs, you can easily spend the whole day here as there is craft sessions and story telling too. Lots of themed occasions e.g. Halloween, Easter etc... May be wise to book in high season to avoid queues and get deals. About 30 minute drive from ours.
168 yerel halk öneriyor
BeWILDerwood
Outdoor, adventure play - has huge slides, rope swings and range of climbing frame/tress house fun for 3-12years olds. Set in beautiful woodlands, its a good day out for all. With under 10yrs, you can easily spend the whole day here as there is craft sessions and story telling too. Lots of themed occasions e.g. Halloween, Easter etc... May be wise to book in high season to avoid queues and get deals. About 30 minute drive from ours.
Urban Clay Norfolk Ltd
35 Red Lion StLovely pottery painting café in Aylsham - very friendly staff!
Local zoo that features range of animals from Brazilian rainforest. Walking distance from Cromer town centre, it also has an indoor play area and café.
39 yerel halk öneriyor
Amazona Hayvanat Bahçesi
Hall RoadLocal zoo that features range of animals from Brazilian rainforest. Walking distance from Cromer town centre, it also has an indoor play area and café.
City/town information
Probably our closest beach (15 mins drive) with a huge range of cafes, shops and activities. Towards the beach are little winding streets lined with old fisherman cottages and grand old pubs/hotels. There are also miles of clean, sandy beaches with designated areas watched by lifeguards.
Cromer Pier is one of Norfolk's top tourist spot, not only is it a marvellous sight and has a long history, it also houses The Pavilion Theatre which is famous for it's "end-of-the-pier" show ( the only one of it's kind in the world).
Stunning views and a unique location make the Pavilion bar the perfect place to take a relaxing break. Meet with friends, sit back, and watch one of those magnificent sunsets that everyone talks about. And on one of those 'wild weather' days, watch from your unique vantage point as the waves roll in towards the shore and sip a steaming cup of hot chocolate.
Our kids always enjoy crabbing off the pier and you'll see lots of families doing this over the summer - buckets and bait can be hired/bought there. To the left of the pier you'll find a few small fairground style rides (younger kids), crazy golf and attractive gardens along the Esplanade which made a good picnic stop if it is windy on the beach.
Older kids/adults can take advantage of the waves with various shops hiring out surf boards or body boards. Our kids have weekly lessons at Cromer but there are also summer school lessons available for surfing/body boarding or paddle boarding. See https://glidesurfschool.co.uk for more information.
Another main feature of Cromer is the lifeboats and their rich history in the town. You visit the lifeboat station at the end of the pier or find out more about the history by visiting the Henry Blogg Museum.
This museum celebrates the most decorated lifeboatman in RNLI history, who served for 53 years on Cromer’s lifeboats. With the assistance of his crew, he saved 873 lives from the North Sea.
For the best food options look at No 1's and The Rocket House Café. No 1's offers gourmet fish/seafood alongside high quality traditional fish & chips. The Rocket House Café is above The Henry Blogg museum, the height meaning that you get excellent views of the beach. This has long been a favourite of ours as the menu has something for everyone and it has a very relaxed atmosphere. Great in colder months to watch the sea & skies as you drink coffees.
Both places are family friendly and well situated to enjoy great views of the beach. It is worth booking at No. 1's but The Rocket House is first-come-first served.
144 yerel halk öneriyor
Cromer Beach
Probably our closest beach (15 mins drive) with a huge range of cafes, shops and activities. Towards the beach are little winding streets lined with old fisherman cottages and grand old pubs/hotels. There are also miles of clean, sandy beaches with designated areas watched by lifeguards.
Cromer Pier is one of Norfolk's top tourist spot, not only is it a marvellous sight and has a long history, it also houses The Pavilion Theatre which is famous for it's "end-of-the-pier" show ( the only one of it's kind in the world).
Stunning views and a unique location make the Pavilion bar the perfect place to take a relaxing break. Meet with friends, sit back, and watch one of those magnificent sunsets that everyone talks about. And on one of those 'wild weather' days, watch from your unique vantage point as the waves roll in towards the shore and sip a steaming cup of hot chocolate.
Our kids always enjoy crabbing off the pier and you'll see lots of families doing this over the summer - buckets and bait can be hired/bought there. To the left of the pier you'll find a few small fairground style rides (younger kids), crazy golf and attractive gardens along the Esplanade which made a good picnic stop if it is windy on the beach.
Older kids/adults can take advantage of the waves with various shops hiring out surf boards or body boards. Our kids have weekly lessons at Cromer but there are also summer school lessons available for surfing/body boarding or paddle boarding. See https://glidesurfschool.co.uk for more information.
Another main feature of Cromer is the lifeboats and their rich history in the town. You visit the lifeboat station at the end of the pier or find out more about the history by visiting the Henry Blogg Museum.
This museum celebrates the most decorated lifeboatman in RNLI history, who served for 53 years on Cromer’s lifeboats. With the assistance of his crew, he saved 873 lives from the North Sea.
For the best food options look at No 1's and The Rocket House Café. No 1's offers gourmet fish/seafood alongside high quality traditional fish & chips. The Rocket House Café is above The Henry Blogg museum, the height meaning that you get excellent views of the beach. This has long been a favourite of ours as the menu has something for everyone and it has a very relaxed atmosphere. Great in colder months to watch the sea & skies as you drink coffees.
Both places are family friendly and well situated to enjoy great views of the beach. It is worth booking at No. 1's but The Rocket House is first-come-first served.
Your closest town for amenities, food & attractions. We often bike there (with kids)- go the back way via Drabblegate for a pretty, quiet route along the river. Details in cycling/walks section. Only a ten minute drive and easy to park in Budgens carpark or one of the side streets.
Aylsham is a traditional unspoilt market town, situated beside the River Bure, and is home to Norfolk's slow food movement, perfect for shopping for local produce. It's historical buildings, traditional market square with regular markets and Jacobean hall, makes an interesting visit.
Aylsham's market place, surrounded by 18th century houses, reflects the town’s prosperity from the cloth trade from that era. The town was famous for its linen and textiles in the 1300s before it went on to become a major wool and textile producing area. Today, the picturesque market place holds markets on Mondays and Fridays and there are plenty of shops, pubs and tea-rooms.
Things for you to know/not miss:
* Co-op & Tesco's are open until 10pm
* M&S garage is 24hour
* Go to Breadsource for excellent bread/coffee
* Newly opened - M's of Aylsham for cocktails and sharing platters
* Blackboys pub & The Bucks (Blickling) for food
* Pharmacy on the market square
* Use Marriott's Way for off road walking and cycling see this link https://www.marriottsway.info/assets/marriotts-downloads/guides/Marriotts-Way-Guide-Book.pdf
* 2 doctors surgeries: Market Surgery (near Tesco's) 01263 733331 and The Surgery (Near The Unicorn) 01263 733693
* The Unicorn for a very local style drinkers pub that has a pool table & often has a range of rock bands at weekend - good fun.
* Hodson & Co - amazing selection of cheese
* Red Lion Street - also has range of chops including: clothes, candles, telescopes, music, flowers and chocolate!
25 yerel halk öneriyor
Aylsham
Your closest town for amenities, food & attractions. We often bike there (with kids)- go the back way via Drabblegate for a pretty, quiet route along the river. Details in cycling/walks section. Only a ten minute drive and easy to park in Budgens carpark or one of the side streets.
Aylsham is a traditional unspoilt market town, situated beside the River Bure, and is home to Norfolk's slow food movement, perfect for shopping for local produce. It's historical buildings, traditional market square with regular markets and Jacobean hall, makes an interesting visit.
Aylsham's market place, surrounded by 18th century houses, reflects the town’s prosperity from the cloth trade from that era. The town was famous for its linen and textiles in the 1300s before it went on to become a major wool and textile producing area. Today, the picturesque market place holds markets on Mondays and Fridays and there are plenty of shops, pubs and tea-rooms.
Things for you to know/not miss:
* Co-op & Tesco's are open until 10pm
* M&S garage is 24hour
* Go to Breadsource for excellent bread/coffee
* Newly opened - M's of Aylsham for cocktails and sharing platters
* Blackboys pub & The Bucks (Blickling) for food
* Pharmacy on the market square
* Use Marriott's Way for off road walking and cycling see this link https://www.marriottsway.info/assets/marriotts-downloads/guides/Marriotts-Way-Guide-Book.pdf
* 2 doctors surgeries: Market Surgery (near Tesco's) 01263 733331 and The Surgery (Near The Unicorn) 01263 733693
* The Unicorn for a very local style drinkers pub that has a pool table & often has a range of rock bands at weekend - good fun.
* Hodson & Co - amazing selection of cheese
* Red Lion Street - also has range of chops including: clothes, candles, telescopes, music, flowers and chocolate!