There’s Nowhere Like Norfolk Winter 2022/2023

There’s nowhere like

Norfolk

The e-magazine from Visit Norfolk Winter 2022/23

o t e c a l p e ... th brate winter ce le

Seven Natural Wonders | Wild things to do | Christmas | Festivals in 2023 | East coast beaches | Dog-friendly parks and woods | Why Norfolk is so awesome | Do our quiz!

@meetyouatsix bookings@meetyouatsix.com www.meetyouatsix.com

r e t n i W n Norfolk i Illuminate at Sandringham 11 Nov – 18 Dec 2022

Inside Seven Natural Wonders It’s Christmas!

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Twelve Wild things to do 20

A dog’s not just for Christmas, and Norfolk’s not just for the Summer – we’re open all year and we have fabulous reasons to visit in Wintertime, as you’ll discover as you explore this latest There’s Nowhere Like Norfolk e-magazine.

We’ve packed it out with great things to do, places to stay and destinations to visit, whether you’re here as a family, as a couple or group, or you’ve brought your four-legged friend along.

Top 10 Natural Life

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Plan your Festival!

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Explore the Unexplored east coast beaches

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Dog-friendly parks and woods

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Quiz: How Norfolk are you?

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Why Norfolk is so… awesome!

And for those long Winter nights, we’ve got a lengthy compilation of Norfolk facts for you to learn and disseminate to your startled family.

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Finally, let us wish you all a Happy Christmas and a fabulous New Year. Keep yew a troshin’!

Cover image: Cromer New Years Day fireworks ©Kenneth Freeman

In your festive downtime, we’ve given you a list of the fabulous festivals and events taking place in Norfolk throughout the year so you can plan your 2023 visit around one of those. Or maybe two, or three.

Try our quiz to see how Norfolk you are – if you don’t get too many right then you’re just not spending enough time here.

We’re also telling you why Norfolk is so awesome. Okay, we live here so we’re biased, but so does Royalty and you can’t get a better recommendation than that!

There’s nowhere like Norfolk

Se ven

l a r Natu s r e d n o W

Norfolk’s dynamic coast and countryside has been shaped over millions of years. Did you know a terminal moraine created the highest point in East Anglia and longshore drift made the home of the largest seal colony in the country?

And let’s not forget the importance of flint and chalk.

Here are the seven natural wonders of Norfolk…

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Blakeney National Point Nature Reserve Beach ©National Trust – Justin Minns

There’s nowhere like Norfolk

1 BLAKENEY POINT AND ITS WILDLIFE Managed by the National Trust since 1912 and within the North Norfolk Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Blakeney Point is a 4-mile spit of flint-derived shingle and sand dunes, created by longshore drift across the River Glaven.

Designated as Blakeney National Nature Reserve, the area includes tidal mudflats, salt marshes and reclaimed farmland, known as Blakeney Freshes, as well as a host of wildlife. It is an import site for breeding birds, especially Sandwich, common and little terns, migrating birds in the Autumn and Winter, a favourable spot for samphire, or sea asparagus, and is home to the largest seal colony in England, with over 1000 Grey seals and pups on the shoreline in Winter.

The best way to visit the seals is by boat from the quays at Morston and Blakeney so you can get close to the inquisitive mammals without disturbing them. Boats go at high tide once a day in the Winter and often twice a day in the Summer, sometimes allowing passengers to go ashore.

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There’s nowhere like Norfolk

2 THE BRECKS Described by Charles Dickens as ‘barren’ in David Copperfield, and by an observer in the 1760s as ‘sand, and scattered gravel, without the least vegetation; a mere African desert’, the Brecks looks very different now to most of its history.

The word Breck is medieval, meaning an area of sandy heathland and gorse that was broken up for farmland and then allowed to revert to wilderness once the soil was exhausted. Sand storms were a regular occurrence in centuries past.

The Brecks are home to unique Pingo lakes, caused by collapsing dome-shaped mounds of soil covering a large core of ice, and Deal Rows, single rows of Scots pine trees originally planted as hedges which, untended, have grown out and now exhibit twisting and contortion. They are the most distinctive feature of the Brecks landscape and give the impression of acacia trees on the African savannah.

The creation of the Scots pine Thetford Forest in 1914 helped make better soil, and modern farming methods mean the free-draining soil is perfect for rearing pigs and growing onions. Corsican pine was added later, for its resistance to diseases and pests, tolerance of thin soil and high volume of timber. There are also narrow roadside fire-control belts of hardwood oak, red oak, beech, lime, walnut and maple.

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An eerie, dimpled lunar landscape marks the only Neolithic flint mine in Britain that’s open to the public.

Grimes Graves, the oldest industrial site in Europe, was worked for around 1000 years from 3000BC to 1900BC and today you can see the depressions in the ground created by 400 pits. Visitors can climb 30 feet down through the chalk surface in one shaft to see the jet-black flint that was used for making axes and starting fires. ©Mike Page

There’s nowhere like Norfolk

3 FLINT Flint is an inescapable and indelible part of Norfolk’s history and landscape. Found naturally in chalk, with layers in various shapes and sizes, flint is almost pure silica, but any impurities give different colours: brown field flints eroded from the chalk around Fakenham; black flint around Thetford and Swaffham; chalk-covered grey flints north of North Walsham; light grey around Holt; rounded beach flints near Wells-next-the-Sea, Sheringham and Cromer.

Norfolk has become famous for its evidence of early human occupation. Among the finds have been a selection of black flint tools left behind 60,000 years ago near Lynford, in the Brecks, where flint tools were found with mammoth bones. Likewise, a 500,000-year-old flint axe was found at Happisburgh on Norfolk’s Deep History Coast.

4,500 years ago Neolithic people were mining flint from the chalk 57 feet below ground at Grimes Graves near Thetford, where there are more than 400 digs – this is one of Europe’s earliest industrial centres and a unique source of hard black flint.

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There’s nowhere like Norfolk

4 BRITAIN’S GREAT BARRIER REEF Dubbed ‘Britain’s Great Barrier Reef’ the Cromer Shoals Chalk Bed, created when dinosaurs ruled the earth, has been found to be the longest in the world – and it’s so close to the shore you could skim a stone out to it.

At over 20 miles long, the 100-million-year-old reef is oneand-a-half times longer than the Thanet Coast chalk reef in Kent, the former record holder.

Discovered less than ten years ago, the reef is just 25ft under the sea’s surface and has now been made a Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs. With an area of 315sq km it’s larger than the Broads National Park.

And it’s part of the chalk seam that stretches across England and includes the White Cliffs of Dover and the White Horse Hill Carvings in Wiltshire.

5 DEEP HISTORY COAST/ CROMER FOREST BED The Cromer Forest Bed Formation, aged between 500,000 and 2 million-years-old and stretching from Weybourne on the north Norfolk coast to Kessingland in north Suffolk, is rich in fossils, including the 650,000-year-old West Runton Mammoth, a 500,000 year old flint axe and the 850,000 year old footprints of early man – the first humans to enter Britain.

This area is called the Deep History Coast because it has pushed back archaeologists’ understanding hundreds of thousands of years and also because, like Deep Space, we don’t yet know what else might be out there.

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Much of the Forest Bed is now obscured by coastal defences, but in some areas it continues to be eroded, revealing more fossils, such as mammal bones and teeth, jaw bones and deer antlers. If you know what you’re looking for, you might even find a mammoth tooth on the shoreline.

Where windswept walks meet roaring fires With bracing beach walks on the doorstep and delicious local food in the dining room, The Victoria is the cosiest place to stay or dine this Christmas, New Year and spring.

Book your stay or table at holkham.co.uk/victoria

Here for Everyone Home to a year-round programme of free events and festivals.

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There’s nowhere like Norfolk

6 RIVER WENSUM In the country’s driest and flattest county you’ll find a series of springfed chalk rivers that are a fertile home for birds, plants, insects, mammals and fish. They rise in woods and water meadows, the chalk made of billions upon billions of microscopic, single cell sea creatures called coccoliths.

There are only 210 chalk streams in the world, 160 of which are in the UK, and most of the lowland ones are to be found in Norfolk.

Chalk streams in Norfolk include the Rivers Bure, Glaven, Stiffkey, Burn, Heacham, Ingol, Hun, Babingley and Gaywood, but the longest, biggest and most significant is the River Wensum, the most protected river in Europe – it has Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation status for its entire length.

The Wensum has its source between the villages of Colkirk and Whissonsett, flows through Fakenham and the Pensthorpe Nature Reserve, through Swanton Morley, Taverham and Norwich, before meeting the River Yare at Whitlingham.

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7 CROMER RIDGE You do wonder if Noel Coward had ever visited the county when he wrote in his play Private Lives: ‘Very flat, Norfolk’.

Anyone who has walked or cycled on the Cromer Ridge will know otherwise!

The ridge is the highest area of East Anglia at over 100 metres, is 8.7 miles long, with the tallest point behind West Runton at Beacon Hill, otherwise known as Roman Camp. When the ice age was at its zenith, one third of the world was covered in ice and much of Great Britain was hidden under vast glaciers.

The glaciers and ice sheets moved huge amounts of debris, ranging from boulders to fine rock particles, and as the ice melted this rock debris, known as till or boulder clay, was deposited, forming new landscapes. That’s how the Cromer ridge came to be – the result of a terminal moraine, the furthest advance of a glacier before it lost momentum and the material dredged up from what is now the North Sea poured out to form what we see today.

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There’s nowhere like Norfolk

I t ’s

! s a m t s i Chr Noël, Nativity, Xmas, Yule or simply Christmas… whatever you call it, it’s coming down the line with the speed of a Santa Special steam railway. And we can’t wait, particularly as here in Norfolk there are so many fabulous events and activities to enjoy.

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There’s nowhere like Norfolk

THURSFORD CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR 8 Nov – 23 Dec Thursford’s Christmas Spectacular has attracted over 5.4 million visitors to date and is the largest Christmas show of its kind in Europe.

It’s set in the magical surroundings of mechanical organs and fairground carousels, with a cast of 130 professional singers, dancers and musicians – many of whom are West End performers. The three hour performance delivers an extravaganza of non-stop singing, dancing, music, humour and variety.

It’s a fast-moving celebration of the festive season featuring an eclectic mix of both seasonal and yearround favourites, with famous and much-loved chart toppers being performed alongside traditional carols. There’s also the Enchanted Journey of Light and Santa’s Magical Journey to look forward to.

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There’s nowhere like Norfolk

HOLKHAM HALL

BY CANDLELIGHT 4-29 Dec Come December, Holkham will have decked the halls and lit the hundreds of candles in readiness for you to celebrate Christmas and tour the hall by candlelight. This is a truly magical opportunity to relish the magnificent state rooms adorned with opulent Christmas decorations and beautiful flickering candlelight.

NORTH NORFOLK RAILWAY CHRISTMAS LIGHTS EXPRESS The Norfolk Lights Express is an immersive, wintertime experience that is fun for the whole family!

Arrive after dark at Sheringham Station and you’ll be greeted by the magical site of a steam-hauled train illuminated by thousands of tiny lights. The Old Luggage buffet will be open for you to purchase hot soup, hot drinks, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, delicious homemade cakes and savoury refreshments. A licensed bar will also be on board each train and can be visited before departure and during the intermission. Since its debut in 2019, The Norfolk Lights Express has become firmly established as a favourite seasonal treat.

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BEER OF NORFOLK

Tickets £10

BREWED WITH PASSION AND PRIDE

AVAILABLE ONLINE, INSTORE AND IN BUSINESSES ACROSS THE COUNTY

www.puppettheatre.co.uk

@NorwichPuppetTheatre | Tel: 01603 629921 Norwich Puppet Theatre, NR3 1TN | Reg. Charity 271041

Norfolk Lights Express Nov 11 - Jan 2 Enjoy an immersive, wintertime experience that is fun for the whole family!

See colourful dioramas along our lineside and discover the countryside in a whole new light.

Begin your journey with the magical sight of a steam-hauled train illuminated by thousands of tiny lights!

Refreshments avaliable from the onboard bar and Old Luggage Buffet.

Advance booking is essential.

See nnrailway.co.uk for more details on pricing and how to book.

There’s nowhere like Norfolk As well as pantos, there are many other festive events and shows going on. Check out the What’s On page on visitnorfolk.co.uk for the latest details.

CINDERELLA Hunstanton Princess Theatre 3 Dec – 1 Jan Cinderella has always dreamed of leaving her dull life as a servant to meet a handsome Prince. After the announcement that Prince Charming is going to hold a royal ball, it seems she may get her wish after all, but with the Ugly Sisters around, who knows what will happen. Maybe with the help of Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother and a generous helping of fairy dust, and a glass slipper, perhaps Cinderella’s wish could come true and she will live happily ever after?

SNOW WHITE Sheringham Little Theatre 10-31 Dec The Evil Queen thinks she is the most trending topic on Instagram, but Snow White’s beauty stands in her way. Snow White, along with her hilarious Nurse Jolly Jabs, must escape into Sheringham Woods to get away from the Queen and her bumbling henchman Igor.

Snow White will be spectacularly brought to life with an apple full of comedy, sensational song and dance numbers, fabulous costumes and stunning effects. This year Sheringham returns to full scale family pantomime with a big ensemble of characters.

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JACK AND THE BEANSTALK Norwich Theatre Royal 10 Dec – 7 Jan Playing Jack is Joe Tracini, who won the hearts of the Norwich Theatre Royal audiences as Tommy the Cat in last year’s pantomime.

Rufus Hound, best known for making people laugh as a stand-up comedian, his stretch on Celebrity Juice and the voice behind Waffle The Wonder Dog, will be taking on the role of King Nigel of Norwich.

They will be joined by Casualty star Amanda Henderson who will be taking on the role of Pat the Cow, and comedian Sally Hodgkiss. Be prepared to boo and hiss Dayle Hudson from EastEnders in his role as Nightshade. Linda John-Pierre from Britain’s Got Talent will bring her amazing vocal talent to the part of Fairy Fullobeans.

For the 22nd year at Norwich Theatre, panto favourite Richard Gauntlett will return as Dame Trott.

SNOW WHITE King’s Lynn Corn Exchange 7–31 Dec Here’s a truly WICKED panto!

Journey to meet Dame Dotty, Herbie Vore the (vegetarian) Huntsman and the magnificent seven on a magical adventure for the whole family.

HANSEL & GRETEL Wells Maltings 16–28 Dec Join Hansel and Gretel as they journey through the forest on a daredevil adventure that’s a sweet treat for families. Featuring fun songs and puppetry with a distinctive Norfolk twist on the classic tale, Wells Maltings and fEAST Theatre are proud to present Nick Lane’s funny, festive show for families. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll never look at Gummy Bears the same way again.

GOLDILOCKS Norwich Maddermarket 16–30 Dec Roll up, roll up, as Norwich’s mustsee festive extravaganza returns to the Maddermarket Theatre! Dame Betty Barnum and her daughter Goldilocks’ circus is under threat from the Evil Ringmaster. They’re busy battling to rescue their big top from ruin with the help of their madcap circus friends. Will they succeed? All seems lost until three brilliant bears join the gang…

ADULT PANTO BIG DICK AND HIS PUSSY Norwich Maddermarket

8 Dec – 7 Jan Guided by the magical Fairy Blue Balls on an adventure that sends him through the streets of Soho and out across the sea surrounded by sea-men, you won’t want to miss this filthy festive treat that’s just for the adults!

ARTS, HERITAGE & COMMUNITY

WHAT’S ON THIS WINTER...

WED 2 NOV

TALK - ANNIE TEMPEST – LIFE, ART AND APPS

FRI 4 NOV

LIVE MUSIC - SOUL ALLIANCE

SAT 5 NOV

THEATRE - I, AMDRAM

TUE 8 NOV

QUIZ - THE SQUARE EYES FILM AND TV QUIZ

WED 9 NOV

COMEDY - WITCH HUNT

FRI 11 NOV

LIVE MUSIC - CLAYSON SINGS CHANSON

WED 16 NOV

WORKSHOP - LINOCUT CHRISTMAS CARDS

FRI 18 NOV

FILM & PARTY - NORTHERN SOUL NIGHT

SAT 19 NOV

CLASSICAL - GEORGE HARLIONO (PIANO)

SAT 26 NOV

KIDS WORKSHOP - CHRISTMAS CRAFTING

SAT 3 DEC

LIVE JAZZ - A SWINGING CHRISTMAS

SUN 4 DEC

WORKSHOP - JEWELLERY DESIGN AND MAKING

THU 8 DEC

ROYAL BALLET - THE NUTCRACKER

TUE 13 DEC

QUIZ - DING DONG! FESTIVE TRIVIA QUIZ

WED 14 DEC

BIODIVERSITY TALK - WILD KEN HILL

THU 15 DEC

SOCIAL CHANGE TALK - HOMES FOR WHOM

FRI 15 WED 28 DEC

FAMILY THEATRE - HANSEL AND GRETEL

SUN 18 DEC

CLASSICAL - ELIZABETH WATTS

WED 21 DEC

FREE BINGO - FESTIVE BINGO

CLASSIC FAIRYTALE WITH A HILARIOUS TWIST

Full programme including film listings available online wellsmaltings.org.uk Staithe Street 01328 710885 Wells-Next-The-Sea

Santa Specials Nov 26 - Dec 23 Experience an extra special journey this Christmas!

Relax and enjoy complimentary festive refreshments on board a traditional steam-hauled train.

Travel the whole length of our line before stopping off at Santa's Grotto and receiving a special gift.

Get into the festive spirit with special activity packs for each child and elves onboard to help keep you entertained!

Advance booking is essential.

See nnrailway.co.uk for more details on pricing and how to book.

This year experience winter at Reserve•Gardens•Café•Play

BEN LANGLEY JACK JAY

10 Hippodrome

There’s nowhere like Norfolk

CROMER PIER CHRISTMAS SHOW 26 Nov – 30 Dec The Christmas variety show will warm your hearts and get you in the mood for the Christmas season with a whole heap of festive fun. It’s fast becoming one of the ‘must see’ family Christmas shows in Norfolk, not only in production values, laughout-loud comedy, amazing dance routines and glitzy costumes but also as an exceedingly good value for money experience, strengthening the county’s excellent festive entertainment offering.

Cromer New Year Fireworks ©Gary Pearson

GREAT YARMOUTH HIPPODROME CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR CIRCUS AND WATER SHOW 10 Dec – 8 Jan The Christmas Spectacular, with Jack Jay and Ben Langley plus an incredible international circus cast, combines the festive spirit with the breath-taking magic of the circus.

There’s no Christmas show quite like this one and a completely new alternative to the traditional pantomime.

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There’s nowhere like Norfolk

d l i Wthings to do…

Twe lve

Magical countryside, tinged with sparkling hoar frost, beautiful empty coast, nature reserves, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a National Park, all under those huge, never-ending skies. Winter is a wonderful time to explore the wild side of Norfolk, when you feel as if you’ve almost got the county to yourself.

Remember there’s no such as bad weather, just bad clothing. Afterwards find a welcoming pub with a roaring fire or a café for a hot chocolate.

It’s a great time to…

1 GO ON A DEER SAFARI Book up on a wild deer safari at Holkham Hall – hundreds roam the estate and woods and they are an amazing sight! Or take a buggy tour at Watatunga Wildlife Reserve.

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©Jonathon Casey

There’s nowhere like Norfolk

2 ENJOY BIG STARRY SKIES Norfolk is famous for its big blue skies, but it’s at night when it gets interesting. With little light pollution on the coast, away from Great Yarmouth and the other resorts, you can enjoy dark and wide skies – perfect for stargazing. Wait for a cloudless night, wrap up warm, and get set for a magical natural experience. Enjoy Norfolk’s Dark Sky Discovery Sites at Wiveton Downs and Kelling Heath in north Norfolk and Great Ellingham in the Brecks, or head for the deep countryside of the Broads or Happisburgh cliffs.

3 WALKIES! Wrap up warm and brave the great outdoors for a bracing walk. Head to the Norfolk coast and it’s likely it’ll just be you, the shoreline, the sea and sky – and perhaps your partner, the kids and a dog or two!

Find the big beaches at Brancaster, Holkham and Wells-next-the-Sea or all along the east coast from Mundesley down to Gorleston-onSea. Afterwards find a welcoming pub with a roaring fire for a wellearned pint and a hearty meal, or a friendly café for a warming mug of hot chocolate or a cream tea. Or take on the Norfolk Coast Path – it can be done in manageable chunks.

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There’s nowhere like Norfolk

4 WATCH THE SUN RISE WITH THE BIRDS Get out early and watch the sun rise – this is the sunrise coast, after all!

See fabulous migratory birdlife in the Winter at Snettisham on The Wash – watch them leave their overnight roost and fly overhead inland for breakfast! There’s more than 100,000 of them from their breeding grounds in the Arctic.

5 NESTLE IN THE DUNES Hunker down in the sand dunes on the coastal stretch between Hemsby and Happisburgh and watch the sea whip up a swell and unleash its power as giant waves explode on the shoreline.

On the eastern coast you’ll get a real sense of the elements.

6 TAKE A BOAT TRIP TO SEE THE SEALS Take a boat trip from Morston quay to see the seals at Blakeney Point.

When the Greys are pupping in the Winter you’ll marvel at the largest seal colony in the country. Honestly, you’ll simply be cooing at their cuteness!

7 DISCOVER SOME DEEP HISTORY Discover the Deep History Coast between West Runton, where a 600,000-year-old mammoth skeleton was found, and Happisburgh, where 850,000-yearold human footprints were found.

Discover the story at the digital information boards.

8 FEED THE WINTER BIRDS Head out into the Fens to feed the swans on their annual migration from the Arctic! At WWT Welney on the Ouse Washes there’s activity every afternoon – the sight of hundreds of white swans punctuating the inky black of twilight is something you won’t forget. There’s twilight feeding at Pensthorpe too.

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There’s nowhere like Norfolk

9 EXPLORE THETFORD FOREST Take a bike out into Thetford Forest – it’s a great time for a gentle pedal or a more lungbusting adrenaline thrash through the woods. Or you could just pull on your hiking boots and take a walk in the woods. You might see wild deer or horses along with great birdlife.

10 BRACE YOURSELF & GO FOR A SEA SWIM There are Boxing Day swims along the coast, notably at Cromer and Hunstanton. You don’t have to attend an organised event of course – just jump in the briny!

11 TRY SURFING! Okay, Norfolk’s not Hawaii, but we still have ample waves to try surfing.

You can learn to surf at Cromer or head out on your own at West Runton, or down the east coast at Winterton-on-Sea or Gorleston-onSea. The coast here is also perfect for kitesurfing.

12 GO ON THE BROADS Take a boat trip out on the Broads in our National Park and get a heron’s view of the world. The birdlife is great and with the vegetation died back, you’ll get a better view than during the summer. There are organised trips from Wroxham or hire a day boat – many of them come with heating, galleys and toilets.

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PAUL DICKSON

TOURS

Redwings

Horse Sanctuary

mily A fun fa day out Dog friendly!

We have two centres in Norfolk!

Meet friendly rescued horses and donkeys at Redwings Aylsham, nr Norwich, NR11 6UE or Redwings Caldecott, nr Gt.Yarmouth, NR31 9EY Open 10am to 4pm every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday Please visit our website for more information and to book tickets www.redwings.org.uk/visiting | 01508 505246

Guided walking tours in Norwich and the Broads National Park - all year-round

For more information see www.pauldicksontours.co.uk or call 07801 103737 e. paul@pauldicksontours.co.uk t. nch_tourguide

Wish you were here?

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WALKS | EVENTS | GARDENS PARTIES and WEDDINGS

WWW.RIVERSIDE-RENTALS.CO.UK | 01493 368300

WALKS open every day of the year dawn to dusk Boardwalk & Arboretum GARDENS reopen Spring 2023 For events please check website for new winter programme January to March 2023 Events: Sunday March 26th | NGS day Sunday May 14th | Little Vintage Lover Fair For updates please see website: www.manningtonestate.co.uk admin@walpoleestate.co.uk 01263 584175 NR11 7BB

There’s nowhere like Norfolk

0 1 p o t s ’ k l o f r o N

e f i L l a r Natu nter in wi

Norfolk has some of the best natural life in the country, and Winter is the best time to see some of it! Why not head out on a trail to see how many you can spot…

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There’s nowhere like Norfolk

©Nick Appleton

1 SNOW BUNTINGS Snow buntings are special! These small birds breed further north in the Arctic than any other small perching birds (passerines) and they seem to bring a touch of arctic wildness to Norfolk shores each winter. In flight they look mainly black and white with large white patches on their wings and tails, with dark wing tips.

The shingle ridge between NWT Cley Marshes and NWT Salthouse Marshes is one of the top spots to see them.

2 GEESE One of the great winter wildlife spectacles to enjoy is huge skeins of pink-footed geese. More than a third of the world’s population of this species spend the winter in Norfolk with peak numbers present in January and February. These geese are very noisy both in flight and on the ground. They roost together at night in huge numbers on remote parts of the coast and their dawn and dusk flights between inland feeding areas on farmland and these coastal roosts are an amazing wildlife sight. You can enjoy watching pink-footed geese at NWT Holme Dunes, NWT Cley Marshes, NWT Hickling Broad and NWT Martham Broad nature reserves. As well as the pink-footed geese also look for migratory brent geese on the saltmarshes as well as the resident greylag, Canada and Egyptian geese.

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There’s nowhere like Norfolk

3 ROOSTING BIRDS The coldest days of winter are also the best times to enjoy the spectacle of birds gathering to roost communally. NWT Hickling Broad nature reserve has a wonderful sunset wildlife spectacle which can be viewed from near Stubb Mill. Up to one hundred marsh harriers fly in at sunset to roost on the reserve and with luck you will see hen harriers, barn owls and perhaps even Chinese water deer while you wait. This is a top site for spotting common cranes which also regularly roost on the reserve. An unrivalled wildlife spectacle and unique to Norfolk!

Norfolk has other roost spectacles: starling flocks which put on amazing aerial displays before roosting in reed beds, pied wagtails roosting in trees in busy shopping streets in the heart of Norwich, and the noisy spectacle of more than 10,000 rooks and crows which roost in the Yare valley at Buckenham Marshes – the largest regular winter corvid gathering in England.

Another noisy, roost spectacle can be enjoyed at the other end of the county: Bewick’s and whooper swans roosting in thousands on the Ouse Washes at Welney where they can be viewed under floodlights at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust centre.

4 WINTER DUCKS Sunny winter days between November and February are the very best times to enjoy drakes flaunting their finery. Not only are wildfowl present in their highest numbers at this time of year, they are at their brightest and best, with a bigger range of species to discover than at any other time of year. Cold spells may bring in rare species such as smew and goosander and along the coast look for scoter and red-breasted mergansers. All those bright colours on the drakes are there for a serious purpose, to attract a mate. Winter is the time when, with much head bobbing, tail waggling and frenzied swimming around, these bright colours are flaunted. On the coast enjoy some winter colour, teal greens, the warm rufous browns of wigeon, smart black and whites of dapper ‘tufties’, golden yellow eyes of – you guessed it – goldeneyes and the shining blues on mallard wings. The rainbow nation of ducks is one of Norfolk’s great winter wildlife spectacles, so wrap up warm and enjoy some winter colour.

28 Images ©David Featherbe

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COUNTRY PUB WITH 8 BEDROOMS 5 in the pub and 3 in the garden 4 MORE IN BARRACK HOUSE NEXT DOOR Quirky and fabulous

GREAT PUB FOOD SERVED ALL DAY A la carte and daily specials PIZZAS IN THE BARN

Friday & Saturday Evenings

There’s nowhere like Norfolk

Great tit ©Elizabeth Dack

5 MISTLETOE One of our strangest and most mysterious of plants! It produces milky white berries from December.

Look for the evergreen leaves of mistletoe amongst the branches of apple and pear trees in orchards. It also favours poplar, lime and hawthorn trees but does occasionally grow on other trees.

Can you find an oak tree in Norfolk with mistletoe growing on it?

It has not been recorded on oak for over a century in Norfolk.

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6 WINTER FLOWERS We don’t usually associate flowers with mid-winter but you can enliven any winter walk by seeing just how many plants in flower you can spot.

Even in December you are likely to spot species such as red and white dead nettle, dandelion, daisy, yarrow, chickweed and ground ivy with flowers. By January the very first snowdrops, celandines and even marsh marigolds may start to flower if the weather is mild. It is cheering that even in the depths of winter there is still so many signs of life and new growth to spot. Look for hazel catkins along hedgerows or in the garden golden yellow aconites.

Winter is full of surprises, including many out of season flowers, if we keep our eyes open.

7 WINTER WOODLANDS Woodlands are brilliant places to visit in winter. The woods are laid bare and it is time to explore the architecture of trees: the twisted, deeply grooved trunks of sweet chestnut, the smooth elegance of beech and the wiry tangles of hawthorn. As you walk through the woods you may be accompanied by a mixed flock of tits and finches.

Long-tailed tits are often the core members of the group, and the noisiest, though usually there will be blue tits, great tits and chaffinches too. Treecreepers, nuthatches and marsh tits are all still common in suitable habitat across the county.

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8 MARVEL AT MAMMALS

There’s nowhere like Norfolk

With the trees bare of leaves, the fields ploughed and crops still low, winter is the best time to spot many species. Grey squirrels will be active on sunny winter days retrieving their autumn nut and acorn caches.

Hares if they choose can cast their cloaks of invisibility even in a bare ploughed field, but on the move they are easy to spot loping across open farmland. Woodmice and voles may be attracted to bird feeders in hard weather, look for them foraging on spilt seed beneath your garden feeders.

9 GREY SEALS Grey seals have their pups in the middle of winter – December and January are peak times for females to give birth in Norfolk. Unlike the smaller common seals which give birth in the summer, grey seal pups are suckled for three weeks by their mothers and remain on the beach for much of this period.

Should you come across grey seal pups please view from a distance and don’t disturb them – they may appear deserted but the mother is usually nearby out at sea. Norfolk has nationally important numbers of this exciting marine mammal and all around the Norfolk coast you may be lucky enough to spot a seal’s head appearing as they surface from diving for fish.

©Norman Wyatt

10 SIGNS OF SPRING…

32 Hare and pheasants ©Mark Ollett

February can be a very cold month yet there are always signs that spring is around the corner. Along hedgerows and road verges the first primroses and celandines may be seen. As the days lengthen, birds begin to sing. In the garden listen for song thrushes, great tits and dunnocks and perhaps even the drumming of great spotted woodpeckers. In the countryside cock pheasants begin to gather their harems and you may spot the males fighting noisily; this is also a brilliant time to look for the first hares boxing.

There’s nowhere like Norfolk

n a l p Time to your

! l a v i t fes

There are festivals, events and activities throughout the year when you visit Norfolk.

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There’s nowhere like Norfolk

Yes, we know it’s Winter, but now is the time to plan your visit to Norfolk based around one or two of these beauties. As well as these look out for seasonal events at Cromer Pier, including the famous Summer Show, and at Great Yarmouth’s Hippodrome, as well as venues such as Sandringham and Blickling Hall.

Spring Take a look at this lot… there’s something for everyone!

NORFOLK & NORWICH FESTIVAL Norfolk’s biggest arts event, held every May, offers a culturally diverse programme of music, dance, theatre and visual arts.

HOUGHTON INTERNATIONAL HORSE TRIALS A four-day May festival of showjumping and eventing in the beautiful setting of Houghton Hall.

CROMER & SHERINGHAM CRAB & LOBSTER FESTIVAL A long weekend of food, fun, art, music, heritage and entertainment every May.

FOLK ON THE PIER Norfolk’s largest festival of its kind, you’ll find folk rock and acoustic acts at the Pavilion Theatre and across the town in May.

ROYAL NORFOLK SHOW BURNHAM MARKET HORSE TRIALS Gaining international status in 2003, this April event attracts some of the best national and international riders.

FAIRY FAIR Two days each May that features workshops, live music, entertainment and lots more for a magical day-out where families with young children can connect with nature.

Two days in late June when it seems as if all of Norfolk descends on the showground outside Norwich.

NORWICH CITY OF ALE FESTIVAL A ten-day celebration of beer straddling May and June. Norwich’s brewing heritage began with Benedictine monks making ales in Cathedral Close in the 11th century – and the city hasn’t stopped drinking since.

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There’s nowhere like Norfolk LORD MAYOR’S CELEBRATION

Summer SANDRINGHAM FLOWER FESTIVAL Set in the magnificent surroundings of Sandringham Park with Sandringham House and Sandringham Church as a backdrop, this one-day Show attracts around 20,000 visitors each year.

HUNSTANTON KITE FESTIVAL As well as expert kite fliers, you can try it for yourself when you’re not looking at the fun dog show, the classic motor bikes and car rally at this great August event.

Four days in July when Norwich city centre is taken over by funfairs, processions, fireworks, outdoor theatre and more. Look out for the Snapdragon at the Procession.

HOLT FESTIVAL An eclectic mix of international music, drama, comedy, visual art, street theatre, workshops and cinema in July in the gorgeous north Norfolk Georgian town.

HOLKHAM COUNTRY FAIR Two days in July at this stunning north Norfolk estate, held every two years!

WAYLAND AGRICULTURAL SHOW

WORSTEAD FESTIVAL A weekend in July that grew from a village show into a celebration of traditional country pursuits, such as heavy horses and tractors, with fun for the kids, craft stalls, and the best of Norfolk food.

FESTIVAL OF BOWLS Hosted by the Great Yarmouth Britannia Bowling Greens for four weeks every late-summer, August and September, more than 1700 bowlers compete.

SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL IN THE CLOISTERS The GB Theatre Company perform The Bard in the beautiful surroundings of the Norwich Cathedral cloisters in July. Pack a picnic or order one from the Refectory.

Livestock, motorcycle displays, sheepdogs, arts and crafts... you name it, it’s at this August show.

King’s Lynn Festival Too

WELLS PIRATE FESTIVAL A-hah, me hearties! A three day festival with fun events including pirates on the park, boat trips to pirate island, a pirate fete and a smugglers ball. Get ready to swash your buckle.

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KING’S LYNN FESTIVAL In July you’ll find concerts, shows and events for all taste across the town.

WYMONDHAM MUSIC FESTIVAL In July, the quaint market town and historic abbey hosts events of all musical varieties.

FESTIVAL TOO A more populist take on the above, and also in July, Too aims to provide free music for the people of West Norfolk and visitors.

NORTH NORFOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL Held in August, events include a gala concert at Holkham Hall and performances in many churches, including St Mary’s Church in the grounds of Raynham Hall.

There’s nowhere like Norfolk

Out There Festival ©JMA Photography

GREAT YARMOUTH WHEELS FESTIVAL Head to Great Yarmouth’s seafront for two days in July when an array of bikes, classic and contemporary cars will be lining up to star in a seafront wheels festival.

GORLESTON CLIFFTOP FESTIVAL Two days in July when family fun and activities take over the town’s seafront.

CLASSIC IBIZA AT BLICKLING An open-air celebration of White Isle-inspired house music, reinvented by the Urban Soul Orchestra, live vocalists and headline DJs.

Autumn OUT THERE FESTIVAL An international two-day streets arts and circus festival bursts out onto the streets of Great Yarmouth in September, with lots of entertainment on the seafront, in St Georges Park and the town centre.

NORFOLK WALKING AND CYCLING FESTIVAL A whole month of special activities brought to you by Norfolk Trails.

SHERINGHAM AND HOLT 1940S WEEKEND You’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve stepped back in town when these two towns are taken over in September.

GREAT YARMOUTH MARITIME FESTIVAL Takes place every September along the length of the historic South Quay, featuring tall ships, shanty music, and you’re likely to bump into Nelson and some pirates too.

NORWICH BEER FESTIVAL CAMRA-organised festival in the Autumn at St Andrews and Blackfriars Halls. They like their beer in Norwich – it wasn’t that long ago the city had a pub for every day of the year.

THURSFORD CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR What do you mean, ‘That’s not a festival’? It’s a festival of remembering everything you love about Christmas and is a fantastic reason to come to Norfolk in the winter.

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There’s nowhere like Norfolk

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Yes, you know about the great, family-friendly beaches at Great Yarmouth, Gorlestonon-Sea and Cromer and you’ll know about the huge expanses of sand at Brancaster, Wellsnext-the-Sea and Holkham, but on the east between Overstrand and Caister-on-Sea you’ll find some lesser-known beaches, often backed with marram-tufted dunes.

Scratby to California beach

SCRATBY

Bring a dog …please remember to keep your dog on a lead if there are seals or nesting birds on the beach.

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Scratby Beach is a wide curving, ochre-coloured, quiet sand and shingle beach found at the base of low sand cliffs. A row of large boulders are positioned towards the back of the beach to prevent erosion of the high sand dunes which have virtually become cliffs at this point.

Perfect for long walks with the dog.

Scratby beach also offers some good surfing opportunities which are better during the winter months.

There’s nowhere like Norfolk

s ’ k l o f r No t s a o c East es h c a e b

Due to the prevailing wind and tides, this is also a good stretch for windsurfing and kitesurfing.

CAISTER-ON-SEA Caister on Sea’s beach has a long concrete esplanade and sand dunes leading to a wide sandy, golden beach. Ideal for dog walkers who can enjoy a pleasant stroll along the beach and dunes going up and along the sand cliffs to California.

CALIFORNIA California beach is a lovely, wide, sand and shingle beach at the bottom of low sandy cliffs, merging with Scratby beach. Peaceful and picturesque part of the coastline accessed via steep steps down the side of the sandy cliff or can be pleasantly walked to from Caister along the beach.

HEMSBY Hemsby Beach is a lively village resort with shops, amusements, attractions and cafes. The stunning golden, wide sandy beach with its grassy sand dunes makes this a popular choice with visitors.

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There’s nowhere like Norfolk

WINTERTON-ON-SEA Winterton-on-Sea has mile upon mile of pale, sandy beach stretching into the distance. Overlooked by the graceful white blades of the Bloodhills Wind Farm to one side and low sand dunes to the other, this is a great beach where you can escape from it all, with not an amusement arcade in sight.

Alongside the beach is the Winterton Dunes National Nature Reserve with a wide range of both breeding and overwintering birds and just north of Winterton a colony of grey seals live and can be regularly seen basking on the beach or popping their heads above the water.

Winterton Dunes

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There’s nowhere like Norfolk

Sea Palling beach.

HORSEY The closest beach to the Broads, Horsey Dunes is a major wildlife site. From November to January the Grey Seal colony heads on to the beach to give birth to seal pups creating a beautiful local attraction for many wildlife enthusiasts. Access to the beach is through a gap in the sea defences.

At the staithe by the mere is a magnificent windpump, owned by the National Trust.

WAXHAM Off the beaten track, Waxham has a wide, sandy beach, where seals can be seen close inshore and later in the season with their pups on the beach. With no formal car park or facilities, it remains wonderfully undiscovered.

Waxham village is also home to one of the largest tithe barns in the country (built in the sixteenth century) where you can get refreshments in a historical setting.

SEA PALLING Impressive artificial flood defence reefs have created wide sandy bays and water sports ranging from swimming to jet skiing are a part of Sea Palling life. Once known simply as Pawling or Pauling, the village was renamed with its prefix after Edwardian holidaymakers discovered its delights as a beach resort. Facilities include a beachside amusement arcade and cafes.

Seals at Horsey

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There’s nowhere like Norfolk

HAPPISBURGH You’ll know when you’re at Happisburgh because you can’t miss the red and white candy striped lighthouse, the only independently operated lighthouse in Great Britain and sometimes open to the public on summer Sundays. The sandy beach extends for miles in both directions, but is dominated by the cliff protection barrier, helping to slow the rate of cliff erosion.

Happisburgh beach is famous for being the site of the oldest-known human footprints found outside Africa’s Great Rift Valley.

BACTON Coastal erosion and the nearby gas terminal might deter people from going to Bacton beach but it’s a quiet, secluded place and you’re likely to have it to yourself – well, you’ll probably have a few seals for company. You can enjoy a nice walk in the woods too.

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MUNDESLEY Mundesley’s sandy beach is reached by walkways which descend down from the cliffs whilst the beautiful cliff top gardens offer an alternative quiet area to sit and relax. From the clifftop are spectacular views across the whole of the village and right across to Happisburgh lighthouse.

OVERSTRAND Overstrand has a fine sandy beach backed by grassy cliffs where there’s a path to Cromer about one and a half miles away – the views are fantastic. It’s an ideal beach for swimming and for families with children. When the tide retreats there are shallow sandy pools for paddling and playing in.

Overstrand’s nickname is the ‘village of millionaires’, so-called because from Victorian times the rich and famous built large holiday homes here – as a result you’ll see some very unusual properties.

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There’s nowhere like Norfolk

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s d oo w & s k r pa

There are lots of country parks and woodland where you can take well-behaved dogs in Norfolk.

But please be considerate to others, remember that not everyone is a dog lover, and make sure you clean up too.

WHITLINGHAM COUNTRY PARK The Broad within the city, stretching out along the southern bank of the river Yare. One of the city’s most popular attractions, it has a circular route around the lake that takes in meadows, woodlands and wetlands, with plenty of opportunities to detour off into the countryside. There’s also an Outdoor Education Centre where you find out about canoeing, kayaking, sailing and windsurfing.

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There’s nowhere like Norfolk

Mousehold Heath, Norwich

Blickling ©Mike Page

BLICKLING HALL AND PARKLAND With 950 acres of woodland and parkland, this is a great place for exploring with your four-legged friends. There are way-marked routes to enjoy the historic countryside. Look out for the pyramid mausoleum of the 2nd Earl of Buckinghamshire.

Felbrigg Estate

FELBRIGG HALL AND ESTATE The Church and Ice House trail passes through fields and woodland to hidden lake, or there’s the Mountain Walk which has a gradient of over 1,140 feet. Who said Norfolk was flat? With many way-marked walks you’ll enjoy the peace and tranquillity.

THETFORD FOREST SHERINGHAM PARK 1000 acres of woodland and open spaces with stunning sea views, especially from the look-out tower and gazebo. There’s a visitor centre and shop. The rhododendrons in flower are a joy.

Lead-free dogs are welcome in the forest but the Forestry Commission request that they are kept under close control. There are a number of walking routes with varying lengths and degrees of exertion.

SALHOUSE BROAD HOLT COUNTRY PARK Close to the charming Georgian town, this large woodland of Scots pines and native broad leaf trees is perfect to let the dog off its lead and let it explore. Way-marked routes.

MOUSEHOLD HEATH 180 acres of undulating woodland and heath with waymarked routes and beautiful views of the Norwich skyline, dominated by the cathedral.

Explore the ancient woodland, look out for wildlife and take in the beautiful scenery of the Broads National Park.

KNETTISHALL COUNTRY PARK With 375 acres of Breckland heath and mixed woodlands, picnic areas, toilets and the start point for the Peddars Way, Angles Way and Icknield Way. Good if your 45 dogs like getting in the water!

QUIZ

There’s nowhere like Norfolk

? u o y e r a k l o f r o N ow

H 1

2

These questions will tell you just how Norfolk you are…

1 Do you call the location (pictured above) with a lighthouse… a) Happys-berg b) Haysbru? c) Hapiz-borough 2 These are the first two lines of the Canaries’ football anthem, On The Ball City (the oldest known football song still in use). What are the next three…

Kick it off, throw it in, have a little scrimmage, Keep it low, a splendid rush, bravo, win or die…

3 Which of these things did Norfolk hero Horatio Nelson say… a) When confronted with his Brancaster mussels, “I see no chips” b) “I am a Norfolk man and glory in being so” c) “Very flat, Norfolk”

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4 Most church towers are square, in the Norman fashion, but many of Norfolk’s are round. Why? a) In the event of war, round corners can’t be blasted off b) You can’t make square corners with knapped flint c) It was the Saxon style 5 a) b) c)

Samphire is what?

An edible salt marsh plant A gentleman’s club in Norwich An early seaplane prototype of the Spitfire, tested on Breydon Water.

6 Before Harry Potter, the best-read children’s story was written by Anna Sewell in Great Yarmouth. What was it? a) Paddington Bear b) Swallows and Amazons c) Black Beauty 7 Who brought the famous Canary to Norwich? a) Flemish refugees who had them as pets because they were ‘cheep’ b) Polish miners who dug chalk under the city c) John Bond when he managed Norwich City FC in the 1970s

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8 Bloaters are what? a) Norfolk rhyming slang for a car b) People who have eaten too many Great Yarmouth market chips c) Herring from Great Yarmouth 9 Who wrote: ‘The principle of an equality of rights is clear and simple. Every man can understand it, and it is by understanding his rights that he learns his duties; for where the rights of men are equal, every man must, finally, see the necessity of protecting the rights of others, as the most effectual security of his own’? a) Thomas a Becket b) Thomas Paine c) Terry Thomas 10 The Erpingham gate at Norwich’s Norman cathedral is named after Sir Robert Erpingham who… a) Led the Welsh archers at Agincourt b) Was a predecessor of legendary cowboy sheriff Wyatt Earp c) Was the Witchfinder General

There’s nowhere like Norfolk

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11 Close to the Norman cathedral is Tombland. How did it come by its name? a) It was an early burial site in the city b) It’s Saxon for ‘open place’ c) It was a filming location for Lara Croft: Tomb Raider 12 What is a Stewkey Blue? a) A cheese from north Norfolk b) A flag used to start sailing races at the Brancaster Regatta c) A cockle from the tidal creeks at Stiffkey 13 Norfolk has the best malting barley in the UK because… a) It’s grown at height in north Norfolk and benefits from salty sea frets b) It’s grown in the fertile reclaimed soil of The Fens in West Norfolk, drained by Dutch engineers c) It’s grown in the chalky soil of water meadows in mid-Norfolk

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14 What statue is on top of Great Yarmouth’s Nelson Monument? a) England’s greatest naval commander b) A model of The Victory c) Britannia 15 What was found on Norfolk’s Deep History Coast? a) 850,000-year-old human footprints b) A 650,000-year-old mammoth skeleton c) A 500,000-year-old flint axe 16 In Norfolk dialect, what is a Dickey? a) A bow tie b) A donkey c) A stomach upset 17 Cromer crabs are so sweet because… a) They feed off the world’s longest chalk reef b) The dressed crab has sugar added to it c) They live in fresh water pools

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18 Pocahontas is depicted on the village sign at Heacham because… a) She married local man John Rolfe b) She appeared in a travelling circus c) She was shipwrecked on the nearby beach 19 When the Romans turned up in Norfolk in AD46 what did they find? a) That Great Yarmouth didn’t exist b) That there were rabbits everywhere. They nicknamed them Ben Furs c) That Norfolk already had direct roads, such as the Acle Straight 20 Thetford has a statue of whom? a) Duleep Singh, the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire b) Thomas Paine, who helped fuel the American War of Independence c) Captain Mainwaring from Dad’s Army – it was filmed here

Answers 1) Hays-bru, 2) On The Ball City, never mind the danger, Steady on, now’s your chance, Hurrah! We’ve scored a goal! 3) Horatio Nelson, 4) It was the Saxon style, but the other two are plausible, 5) Samphire is an edible saltmarsh plant, 6) Black Beauty, 7) Flemish refugees more than 300 years ago, 8) Herring from Great Yarmouth, 9) Thomas Paine, driving force of American Independence, born in 1737 in Thetford, 10) Sir Thomas led the Welsh archers at Agincourt, 11) It’s Saxon for ‘open place’, 12) A cockle from Stiffkey, 13) It’s grown at height and benefits from salty sea frets, 14) Britannia, 15) A trick question! The answer is all three, 16) Donkey, 17) They feed off the world’s longest chalk reef, 18) She married local man John Rolfe, 19) That Great Yarmouth didn’t exist, 20) Another trick question. It’s all three!

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There’s nowhere like Norfolk

… o s s i k l o f r o Why N

! e m o es aw

We have so many superlatives for Norfolk, from being a Royal county to being a star film location.

HOLLYWOOD LIKES TO FILM HERE Talking of which, you might remember Holkham from the closing shots of Shakespeare in Love, with Gwyneth Paltrow’s Viola being shipwrecked on a ‘Virginia’ beach.

Natalie Portman has been shooting there as well, for Alex Garland’s Annihilation. The Duchess with Ralph Fiennes and Keira Knightley was filmed in the nearby Holkham Hall.

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There’s nowhere like Norfolk

Norfolk & Norwich Festival

WE’VE GOT UK’S OLDEST ARTS FESTIVAL The Norfolk & Norwich Festival that takes place every May is the oldest continuous arts festival in the country and still in the top five overall. Come along and take part... or just kick back and enjoy.

And we’ve got plenty of other festivals too!

NORFOLK HOSTED THE RADIO 1 BIG WEEKEND Norwich was chosen to host the Radio 1 Big Weekend 2015, headlined by Taylor Swift, Muse, Foo Fighters and Florence & The Machine. And Snoop Dog enamoured himself to the local populace by sporting a Norwich City Football Club replica shirt. It might have helped that Greg James was hosting the event – his alma mater is the nearby University of East Anglia.

Taylor swift

CELEBRITIES LIKE IT The Broads are a magnet for celebrities. Hollywood A-listers Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis shunned the glitzy life they’re accustomed to, instead opting to bunk up on a riverboat on the Norfolk Broads before their marriage. And as for Harrison Ford, he’d rather be on a boat on the Broads with partner Calista Flockhart and their son than be seen sailing a luxury yacht around the Caribbean. Jamie Oliver’s a fan too. Why, even the other day John Travolta was shopping in Morrisons in Fakenham, as you do.

THE YOUNG ROYALS CALL IT HOME The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have a house on the Sandringham Estate in West Norfolk with their children, meaning the second, third and fourth in line to the British throne all call Norfolk their home.

Snoop Dog

WE HAVE BRILLIANT FOOD AND DRINK Yes, we know every county says that, but how many have Cromer crab (flavoursome because they feed on a chalk reef... yes really!), Binham Blue cheese, wonderful Woodforde’s Wherry, magnificent malting barley, succulent samphire, awesome asparagus and so, so much more.

WE’VE GOT THINGS YOU WON’T SEE ANYWHERE ELSE The only Neolithic flint mine at Grime’s Graves; Pingos and Deal Rows in the Brecks; a mausoleum pyramid at Blickling Hall and Estate; the last end-of-pier theatre in the world; the only National Park that was created by man and climate change and the only one in England with a city in it; the world’s longest chalk reef off Cromer and Sheringham.

And that’s just for starters…

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge family

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There’s nowhere like Norfolk

WE’VE GOT THE BEST BEACH IN BRITAIN The beach at Holkham/Wells in north Norfolk has been voted the best beach in Britain! And why not – it’s simply superb, with vast expanses of unspoilt sand. Nearby Wells-nextthe-Sea with its 200 multi-coloured, higgledy-piggledy beach huts is none too shabby either.

Wells-next-the-sea

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There’s nowhere like Norfolk

WE ARE COTSWOLDSBY-THE-COAST You know the problem with the Cotswolds? It’s not by the sea! But north Norfolk is. Drive the A149 from Cromer to Hunstanton (otherwise known as Sunny Hunny) and you won’t see dry stone walls, but you’ll see magnificent flint homes.

You’ll see our own version of the wolds – Beeston Bump at West Runton, a circular hill called a kame, step-sided mounds of sand and gravel deposited by a melting ice sheet. You’ll see boutique hotels, gastropubs and spas... just like in the Cotswolds. And Farrow & Ball love it so much they’ve just launched a new Stiffkey Blue paint. Enough said...

DEEP HISTORY COAST IS THE NEW JURASSIC COAST The 16 mile stretch of coast from West Runton to Happisburgh is unique in the entire world! The 600,000-year-old mammoth skeleton found at the former is the oldest and best-preserved found in the world (and twice as big as anything found on the Jurassic Coast), the 850,000-year-old human footprints found at the latter are the oldest evidence of human footprints found outside the Great Rift Valley in Africa (which means the first tourists ever to come to Britain visited Norfolk!). That’s the Deep History Coast for you.

THE BEST OVERALL CLIMATE IN THE UK We’re not the sunniest county in the climate, or the driest, but when you conflate the two we come top!

So we’re cool… but we’re also warm and dry!

…HAVE WE MENTIONED SEALS?!

Norfolk has the largest seal colony in England! Over the Winter of 2014/2015 Blakeney Point in north Norfolk hosted over 5000 Grey seals and their pups, making it the largest colony in England. Come on, admit it, they are just SOOOO cute!

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o t k c a b e m Co ! n oo s k l o f r o N

There’s nowhere like Norfolk is published by VisitNorfolk