The Norfolk Broads

One of the largest wetland areas, the Norfolk Broads makes up quite a bit of the area that is the county of Norfolk.  With 125 miles of waterways with plenty of places to dock and explore, the Broads are nationally protected and a sanctuary for the large variety of wildlife that lives there.  It was discovered in the 1950’s that the Norfolk Broads were not a natural occurrence, but instead man-made.  Research has shown that the years of digging for peat to fuel homes and as building materials in the medieval times eventually carved out the waterways that make up this beautiful landscape.
Visitors to the Norfolk Broads can enjoy a day of navigating these man-made waterways by hiring a motor launch or even a yacht or canoe, depending on their taste.  A boating holiday on the Broads will give them access to many of the small towns and villages in this area of the county as well as being able to enjoy sighting the many animals that make it their home.  If boating is not an option, visitors can hike or bike through the land that helps make up the waterways.  There are 330 kilometres of paths and trails that weave their way through the wetlands that lead to places such as St. Helen’s Church in Ranworth or the How Hill Nature Reserve.
Anyone who is visiting Norfolk and wishes to learn more about the Broads can visit the Museum of the Broads in Stalham.  There they will see how researchers determined that the Broads were man-made, how medieval citizens of the area dug for peat, and the tools they used to not only dig the peat but also to perform traditional tasks such as thatching using the local reed.

Pensthorpe Nature Reserve

Located near Fakenham, Norfolk, England, Pensthorpe Nature Reserve is specifically designed for the nature lover.  It was originally created by a local farmer as a refuge for waterfowl.  It is now owned and run by the Jordan family of breakfast cereal fame. Filled with wildlife and flora, the nature reserve is a safe and secure place for people to come and enjoy the natural beauty of the world around them.  During the spring they will see many birds showing off their colourful plumage and bird watchers will find this the perfect time for some serious bird watching.

Pensthorpe encourages families to bring their children to the reserve and allow them to take an active part in exploring the world around them.  Activities for families here include: pond dipping with nets, identification sheets, and buckets; the Bug Walk where children can learn about bugs by exploring the bug boxes, moulds, and other natural habitats that bugs like; a nature quiz for children of all ages to enjoy; bird feeding with provided feed; and binocular hire to see things in vivid detail.

Pensthorpe Nature Reserve, its Courtyard Café and gift shop are open daily except Christmas and Boxing Day.  The hours are 10am to 5pm April through December and then until 4pm January through March.  Only guide dogs for the blind are allowed entrance into the nature reserve and the shop, café, and viewing gallery are wheelchair accessible.  There are trails accessible for wheelchairs.  Admission is adults £7.50, children ages 4 to 15 £4.00, seniors £6.00, and a family ticket (2 adults and 2 children) £19.50.  Additional fees apply if visitors wish to add in the Wensum tour.

Fineway Launch Hire

If you want to take a cruise along the Bure River then you will be well advised to rent a boat from Fineway Launch Hire at Wroxham, in Norfolk County, Great Britain.  The company offers rental boats for a day trip, cabin cruisers for a more luxurious getaway and also riverside cottages.  They also act as dealers for Avon and Bombard Inflatables and Ribs, Seastrike, and Quicksilver, with a variety of other equipment offerings to go with the new boat you may have purchased.  If interested in purchasing your own launch, they will give a quote.

Visitors to the Norfolk Broads can enjoy the more than 120 miles of navigable and lock free water in their rental launch and see some of the wildlife that calls this area home.  They can dock their launch at one of the many waterside pubs and restaurants to enjoy a meal and pint, or they can stop and take in one of the conservation centres.  There are also plenty of trails that they can walk and they have the opportunity to see plenty of wildlife in the area.  Coarse fishing on the Broads is permitted between June and March.

You will want to bring along a camera as the Broads offers some great photographic opportunities.  You can get to Norwich and Great Yarmouth as well via the Broads and there are plenty of places to moor your rented launch as you explore the cities.  Prices for launches vary by the number of hours you wish to cruise and the size of the boat.  No skill is needed to operate one of these launches and the staff at Fineway will instruct in how to work the boat.  Visitors are advised to check their website or call them to verify the prices.

Fishing in Norfolk

If you enjoy fishing, the County of Norfolk offers you a wide variety of opportunities to get some serious angling done.  From the Norfolk Broads to the coastline, there are plenty of places for you to cast your line.  The Broads has over 200 miles of waterways, rivers, lakes, and ponds that are filled with pike, perch, bream, roach, tench, and chub.  It is best known for its pike fishing and even the beginner will be able to catch something.
While fishing inland, check out the Narborough Trout and Coarse Lakes.  These are located in the Nar Valley and the area has been declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest.  Twenty-seven acres of beautiful countryside surround five lakes that offer the best fishing for all levels.  If you don’t get any bites, you can buy fresh or smoked trout from one of the shops nearby.
The Norfolk coastline is filled with bass throughout the summer and anglers can get some great catches from the Wash to Wells to Walcott.  For a touch of Victorian charm, try fishing off of the Cromer pier for mackerel or wait until winter to try cod fishing out of Mundesley.  Dabs, flounder, and sole can be caught at Overstrand while plaice will hook your line out of Sheringham.  You can even do some offshore fishing for tope if you are brave enough to set sail into the North Sea.
Lastly, fishing in the Fens’ Drains offers fisher’s miles of straight waterways stocked with roach, bream, and tench.  The area is wide open and wild, making for a great day away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Fritton Lake Countryworld

Located in the town of Fritton, Norfolk, England, the Fritton Lake Countryworld is a beautiful natural complex of woodland and Victorian gardens.  The lake extends over two and a quarter miles and covers 150 acres of ground.  There is a nine hole par three golf course with an eighteen hole putting green located there, as well as a miniature railway that runs along the lakeside.  A farm with animals that the children can get close to and a heavy horse centre, that includes Suffolk Punches and Shire horses, are also located at the Fritton Lake Countryworld.
Fishing, rowing boats, and paddle boats are allowed on the lake and disabled visitors can take a specially built boat as well.  Visitors can enjoy a twenty to twenty-five minute tour of the lake in an electric powered launch that will also take them to the Bittern where they can learn about the history of the lake and the wildlife that inhabit it.  Falconry lessons are available and children can have fun in the adventure playground with its aerial slides and assault course.
Hikers here will enjoy the marked trails around the lake with its woodland and wild flowers which include bluebells and Rhododendrons.  There is a café/restaurant on site for visitor’s convenience, picnic areas, and areas for birthday parties.  The park is open from March 18 through October 31 from 10:00am to 5:30pm daily.  Admission is £6.50 for adults, £5.50 for seniors, and £4.50 for children.  Disabled facilities are available and the park is also wheelchair accessible.  The Fritton Lake Countryworld is part of the Somerleyton Hall and Gardens just under five miles away.

Breckland Balloons

If you are looking for an interesting daytrip, then you will want to visit Breckland Balloons, located in Norfolk County, England.  You can take a hot air balloon trip over the beautiful countryside of East Anglia which includes Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, and Lincolnshire.  Leaving the Norwich area, the balloons give visitors a birds-eye view of the Norfolk Broads and coastline.  Tourists are encouraged to help prep the balloon for flight, and cameras are a recommended must have in order to capture the sights from the air.

Balloon flight travels west along the coastline and you will be able to see the old woodlands and wildlife of the area.  Visitors will be able to see the ancient Norman cathedral in Peterborough as well as a great view of the city proper.  This includes the rich rolling landscape of East Anglia and the white capped waves of the North Sea lapping along the shore.

Breckland Balloons launches from Wymondham, Great Cressingham near Swaffham, and Peterborough.  They are a family run business and have been offering hot air balloon tours since 1991.  They have flown over 15,000 passengers, are fully vetted, and have been certified by the Civil Aviation Authority out of Gatwick.  Prices for hot air balloon flights start at £155.00 for one person anytime during the week, £290.00 for two people anytime during the week, and £135.00 for one person midweek only.  Visitors are encouraged to dress in outdoor clothing suitable for cruising at altitudes of 500 feet to 3,000 feet.

Broadland Cycle Hire

Touring the Norfolk Broads using a bicycle is a fun adventure; Broadland Cycle Hire can set you up easily with all that you require.  They have a wide variety of choices available at exceptional prices that include single day, multiple days, and weekly rentals.  Baby seats and tandem bikes are also available and this is a great way to enjoy the winding rivers, fens, pastures, and woodlands of the area.  You have the ability to stop at your own leisure and explore cottages, churches and the coast if you wish, without every having to worry about catching the bus.

The company offers visitors fifty quality bicycles to choose from and there are two rental centres in the Broads.  Mountain bikes and hybrid cycles are available as are tag-alongs and children’s bikes.  They even provide helmets, baskets, pumps, locks, and repair kits if requested by the renter.  All of their bikes are kept in good working order, are clean, and insured for a minimum of £2,000,000 for public liability.

The centres will also provide you with maps that show local attractions, churches, tea rooms and pubs so you can stop along your travels and take a break.  Twenty miles of trails and paths are scattered throughout the Broads, many of them perfect for long rides while others are shorter and perfect for families with the children bicycling alongside.  The Broadland Cycle Hire is open daily from 10am to 5pm with the last hire being at 2:30pm.  Call ahead of time to verify prices and hire times or to book in advance.

Searles’ Sea Tours

Searles’ Sea Tours is located off the central promenade in Hunstanton, Norfolk, England, and they offer five different tours of the coastline.  Visitors on this trip can see the seals that live in the Wash area of Norfolk County.  This is the largest colony of common seals that can be found in the world.  Other activities include riding the ‘Wash Monster’ (amphibious craft) and exploring the variety of wild and sea life in this area.

Seal Island is the biggest and longest sea tour conducted by the company. The fourteen mile tour takes quite a while aboard the 60 seater Sealion vessel.  Visitors will see anywhere from 100 to 500 common seals basking in the sun in their natural habitat and you will definitely want to bring your camera along.

The Coastal Cruise is a thirty minute tour in the Sealion or on the Wash Monster.  Guides escort their visitors out into the wash and then into the North Sea to view the cliffs, Old Hunstanton, and the lighthouse that guards the coast.  The Cliff and Wreck tour is also a thirty minute tour on the Sealion or Wash Monster and once again the cliffs and lighthouse are featured along with the wreck of the ship called the Sheraton.

Hunstanton from the Sea is a twenty minute tour of the coastline, giving the visitor a panoramic view of the town and the Wash.  You can also take a thirty minute tour of one of the sandbanks off the coast via the Wash Monster.

The Searles’ Sea Tours are conducted from April 1st to September 3rd as the weather conditions deem fit.  Groups, coach tours, and parties are welcomed and visitors are advised to visit the website at http://www.seatours.co.uk to book a tour or call them at telephone number 01485 534444 or 07831 321 799.

Snettisham Park

Snettisham Park is a working farm located close to Sandringham in Norfolk, England.  It is well known for the herds of red deer that roam the entire area and it is managed under the ‘Countryside Stewardship Scheme.’  This unique park offers animal feedings, a deer safari, horse and pony rides, discovery trail, adventure playground, tearoom and farm shop.

Educational groups and schools enjoy trips to the park because of the knowledge to be gained about how a farm operates and the advantages of living in the countryside.  The staff provide enriching activities and programs to help target the areas identified in the National Curriculum that pertain to the work done on the farm.  Visitors will learn about raising beef cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and small animals, as well as how woodland, parkland, and other natural resources help the farm and life on it.  There is a discovery trail and archaeological sites also available at the park.

The park is open from February 1st through October 31st from 10am to 5pm daily.  The staff asks that all visits be booked, especially large school groups.  Admission prices are £5.95 and £8.95 for adults, £4.60 and £7.95 for seniors, and £4.50 and £6.95 for children three to sixteen for the farm, or the farm/safari respectively.  They do offer birthday party packages that include sandwiches, crisps, mini cakes, biscuits, jelly, sausages, various squashes to drink and balloons.  Parents are asked to supply the cake and more information can be had by telephoning 01485 542425.

Waterworld at Breckland Leisure Centre

If you are looking for a place to enjoy some summer water sports that does not include going to the beach, the Breckland Leisure Centre in Thetford, Norfolk, England, may be the right place for you.  The establishment has a leisure pool complete with waves, rapids, flumes, and water cannons for play.  Serious swimmers will enjoy the competition size main pool and toddlers will love to splash in the under 5’s pool with mum and dad.  The centre offers a ‘learning to swim’ programme for all ages.

There is also a state of the art fitness centre available for the guests’ use that includes saunas and a steam room.  Visitors can play a variety of racket sports, team sports and aerobics is also offered.  Sports coaches are available to teach lessons in tennis and other sports if so desired.  The Centre has a large function room that is perfect for business meetings in an informal atmosphere and there is also a bar and cafeteria for when you get hungry.

The centre is available to visitors of the area if they are staying at certain accommodations that have made prior arrangements to use the centre as part of the fee.  A variety of membership packages are also available and visitors to the centre and the one in Dereham may consider getting one if they come to the Norfolk area for extended lengths of time on holiday.  More information on membership costs can be found on the Parkwood Leisure website or by telephoning 01842 753110.

Anglia Karting Centre

Go kart racing is fun for anyone aged eight and over. The Anglia Karting Centre outside North Pickenham in Norfolk County, England, is a great all weather track designed to be driven by family members and corporate or business people alike. Whether you go there for a day of racing fun or sponsor a corporate gathering at the track, there is fun to be found for everyone. They also have an extensive event list available on the chance that visitors are interested in joining in additional fun.

The track itself is 625 metres of fast lanes and tight turns. It flows well and drivers have the potential of being able to open the throttle up to its top speed of 70mph. Night driving is available thanks to the floodlights above the track. Grass areas provide ample run off for safety in case you lose control of your cart. Currently, the track is being expanded and another 385 metres will allow management to be able to run two separate circuits at once with up to eight different track configurations.

There are two types of racing available: the Deavinson Single Pro which is great for inexperience drivers; and the Biz 270cc Thunderkarts which are for more experienced drivers and can hit top speeds of 70mph. Racing gear, such as overalls, gloves, and safety helmets are provided as well as wet weather over suits for those drivers who wish to race in the rain. The tracks are also equipped with warning lights on corner approaches. For more information on operating times, prices, and groups, visitors can telephone 01760 441777.