Blakeney, Norfolk

Blakeney is a small village and civil parish of 789 people located on the north coast of England in the county of Norfolk.  It is part of an area designated as an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is part of the North Norfolk Heritage Coast.  Its closest neighbours are Sheringham and Wells-next-the-Sea.  Up until the turn of the twentieth century, it was a booming commercial seaport, but the harbour has since silted up and only small boats can make it past Blakeney Point and out to sea.  The area that was once the harbour and the marshes around it is now an important national nature reserve.
Mariners Hill is just inland from the harbour and it is believed to be a man made structure once used as a lookout point.  The old Guildhall and the town’s High Street are at the bottom of the hill.  The Church of Saint Nicholas is higher up in the village with its two towers.  The main tower is over 100 feet high and can be seen from miles around the village.  The second tower was built as a beacon in order to guide boats into the harbour.
Blakeney has become a popular summer tourist spot, a great place for a holiday cottage, and visitors can stay at one of the two hotels in the town or at a 15 acre caravan park.  Crabbing, fishing, canoeing, and bird watching are just some of the many activities residents and visitors alike can enjoy while visiting the town.  Close to a hundred species of birds can be found living in the marshland around Blakeney Point.