Back to Norfolk
Sep 30th, 2012, 02:28 PM
#1
Original Poster
Back to Norfolk
I' m no good at this but I've had such good advice from so many of you for so many years that I just have to write this probably sorry trip report. And I want you to know about this charming part of England.
Two years' ago our daughter's friend offered us her cottage for a week in Norfolk. We had no idea what to expect but were happy to accept. We loved it. This year Di moved to a larger house and again invited us to come stay with her.
There she was waiting for us at Gunton Station with her cute little pink Chevrolet. Di lives in Southrepps, about 5 miles from Cromer. Her house is a flint house as are most houses I'm that area. It was built in 1710 and is so charming with a walk in fireplace, old floorboards but beautiful new kitchen and bathroom. There is a big yard with a lovely newly purchased round greenhouse and lovely gardens. At dusk if we are lucky we see the barn owl zooming around like a little helicopter looking for small prey.
After showing us around the newly decorated house she drove us to Cromer. Love Cromer with its grand slightly faded hotels like Hotel de Paris facing the sea. It was a beautiful warm sunny day and crowded with people enjoying the shops and the beach. We had ice cream and bought some dressed crabs for next days starter before dinner.
We had a dinner reservation that evening at the Vernon Arms, a very popular pub in Southrepps with very good food. Reservations are a must. Jim and I shared a starter of pâté and I had crab Mornay for my main. Di had duck and our daughter also had the crab Mornay. Sorry but I forget what Jim had. The four of us shared two deserts of 3 scoops of ice cream and a Bailey's cheesecake. With wine, 3 starters, 4 mains, 2 deserts the bill came to 100 £.
On day 2 we went to a Huntsman's fair and I'll continue tomorrow....
Two years' ago our daughter's friend offered us her cottage for a week in Norfolk. We had no idea what to expect but were happy to accept. We loved it. This year Di moved to a larger house and again invited us to come stay with her.
There she was waiting for us at Gunton Station with her cute little pink Chevrolet. Di lives in Southrepps, about 5 miles from Cromer. Her house is a flint house as are most houses I'm that area. It was built in 1710 and is so charming with a walk in fireplace, old floorboards but beautiful new kitchen and bathroom. There is a big yard with a lovely newly purchased round greenhouse and lovely gardens. At dusk if we are lucky we see the barn owl zooming around like a little helicopter looking for small prey.
After showing us around the newly decorated house she drove us to Cromer. Love Cromer with its grand slightly faded hotels like Hotel de Paris facing the sea. It was a beautiful warm sunny day and crowded with people enjoying the shops and the beach. We had ice cream and bought some dressed crabs for next days starter before dinner.
We had a dinner reservation that evening at the Vernon Arms, a very popular pub in Southrepps with very good food. Reservations are a must. Jim and I shared a starter of pâté and I had crab Mornay for my main. Di had duck and our daughter also had the crab Mornay. Sorry but I forget what Jim had. The four of us shared two deserts of 3 scoops of ice cream and a Bailey's cheesecake. With wine, 3 starters, 4 mains, 2 deserts the bill came to 100 £.
On day 2 we went to a Huntsman's fair and I'll continue tomorrow....
Sep 30th, 2012, 04:56 PM
#2
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Cromer to me is a great throwback to trad Victorian summsr hols. Whelks, walks and seaweed. Swimmable warm seas, great walks and fantastic country houses. Dressed crab!
Norfolk and East Anglia so often slip from under the must see Cotswolds radar when likely many US tourists are looking for just what Norfolk offers.
Norfolk and East Anglia so often slip from under the must see Cotswolds radar when likely many US tourists are looking for just what Norfolk offers.
Oct 1st, 2012, 03:46 AM
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Micheline:
Very nice start.
Please tell us a bit more about your journey to start this holiday. "There she was waiting for us at Gunton station" Did you train from London to Norwich and transfer to the Bittern Line?
What a nice friend your daughter has.
Carry on please.
Sandy
Very nice start.
Please tell us a bit more about your journey to start this holiday. "There she was waiting for us at Gunton station" Did you train from London to Norwich and transfer to the Bittern Line?
What a nice friend your daughter has.
Carry on please.
Sandy
Oct 1st, 2012, 05:00 AM
#6
Original Poster
SandyBrit - we are Canadian and staying with our daughter in London. She lives in Rotherhithe at Pacific Wharf and her flat is right on the Thames. We did train from London to Norwich and then transfer to the Bittern Line. We are here for six weeks and have two weeks to go. We have been to Norwich and Seville and on Wednesday we are flying to Berlin for 3 nights and then from there we are flying to Paris to meet with some friends.
Our daughter is indeed fortunate to have such a friend and lucky us! Di was a journalist and worked for many years on Fleet Street and then Canary Wharf. She loves London and especially the theatre. Her llate husband was a stage actor. 5 years ago she decided she wanted to try living a quieter less hectic life in the country and found Southrepps. She loves it and says she will never move. She is very active and seems to be well loved in the community and everyone loves her.
Our daughter is indeed fortunate to have such a friend and lucky us! Di was a journalist and worked for many years on Fleet Street and then Canary Wharf. She loves London and especially the theatre. Her llate husband was a stage actor. 5 years ago she decided she wanted to try living a quieter less hectic life in the country and found Southrepps. She loves it and says she will never move. She is very active and seems to be well loved in the community and everyone loves her.
Oct 1st, 2012, 06:32 AM
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I am afraid Norfolk has already been well and truly discovered - North Norfolk is known as Chelsea on Sea and has a good sprinkling of 'boutique' hotels and expensive restaurants.
However, Cromer (and Sheringham) are just out of the main tourist area and I too love their old fashioned charm. As children we used to spend our holidays up there, and also along the superb Suffolk coastline around Aldeburgh, Walberswick, Southwold, Orford etc).
However, Cromer (and Sheringham) are just out of the main tourist area and I too love their old fashioned charm. As children we used to spend our holidays up there, and also along the superb Suffolk coastline around Aldeburgh, Walberswick, Southwold, Orford etc).
Oct 1st, 2012, 10:36 AM
#10
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Ok. I gave up for a while. My latest posting disappeared. My fault.
On day 2 we piled in the Chevrolet by 9 a.m. and we took off for Sandringham for the Game and Country Fair. I think Sandringham is approx. 40 miles from Southrepps. This fair reminded me of the plowing matches we have in Ontario without the plowing.
A falconry village with several of the U.K. native birds of prey.
A long aisle of many restored steam engines just chugging away with their proud owners looking on.
Lots of vintage vehicles.
Lots of fun dog shows and competitions.
Clay shooting, archery, chainsaw carving, fly casting demonstrations
Glass blowing, blacksmiths and even a race between a horse driven cart and a truck, the truck won by one second. Lots of glorious food.
We had lunch in the food tent and bought some homemade porc pies with pickle to take home to Southrepps. Delicious!
After the fair we visited Sandringham House, where the queen and her family spend Christmas.
I liked Sandringham house. Once you come into the entrance you walk right into their living room. It seems quite cosy and the rooms not so large. Many paintings of former corgis.
On the way back Di made several detours to show us some scenic coastal villages, such as Mundeslay, Blakeney, and my favorite Wells next the Sea with its great beach lined with colorful beach huts.
Every place a truly postcard setting.
Once back in Southrepps we were all tired but a good tired after a great day. After a few hours we lit some candles, opened some wine and had a feast with our Cromer crabs, porc pies and a salad from Di's garden.
On day 2 we piled in the Chevrolet by 9 a.m. and we took off for Sandringham for the Game and Country Fair. I think Sandringham is approx. 40 miles from Southrepps. This fair reminded me of the plowing matches we have in Ontario without the plowing.
A falconry village with several of the U.K. native birds of prey.
A long aisle of many restored steam engines just chugging away with their proud owners looking on.
Lots of vintage vehicles.
Lots of fun dog shows and competitions.
Clay shooting, archery, chainsaw carving, fly casting demonstrations
Glass blowing, blacksmiths and even a race between a horse driven cart and a truck, the truck won by one second. Lots of glorious food.
We had lunch in the food tent and bought some homemade porc pies with pickle to take home to Southrepps. Delicious!
After the fair we visited Sandringham House, where the queen and her family spend Christmas.
I liked Sandringham house. Once you come into the entrance you walk right into their living room. It seems quite cosy and the rooms not so large. Many paintings of former corgis.
On the way back Di made several detours to show us some scenic coastal villages, such as Mundeslay, Blakeney, and my favorite Wells next the Sea with its great beach lined with colorful beach huts.
Every place a truly postcard setting.
Once back in Southrepps we were all tired but a good tired after a great day. After a few hours we lit some candles, opened some wine and had a feast with our Cromer crabs, porc pies and a salad from Di's garden.
Oct 3rd, 2012, 03:42 AM
#11
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Michelle:
Nothing like a local to drive you about and show you some of the coastal villages.
Yes seems like the colorful beach huts are as popular as when I was growing up in Suffolk.
Please post on the Berlin and Paris portion of your fabulous break.
Sandy
Nothing like a local to drive you about and show you some of the coastal villages.
Yes seems like the colorful beach huts are as popular as when I was growing up in Suffolk.
Please post on the Berlin and Paris portion of your fabulous break.
Sandy
Oct 3rd, 2012, 08:02 AM
#13
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Norfolk is a wonderful part of the country. The scenery is very flat, but the payoff is its huge skies, and of course it's ideal for anyone who likes cycling! It is one of the best places in the UK for birdwatching, and for fans of seals there are opportunities for seal-watching from Blakeney and Hunstanton. We once stayed in a cottage on the Norfolk Broads, and it was on a peninsula surrounded by water, with a constant procession of ducks, swans, geese and coots, it was magical. Anyone wanting to visit the Norfolk coast can find out more here:
http://postcards-pfte.blogspot.co.uk.../label/Norfolk
http://postcards-pfte.blogspot.co.uk.../label/Norfolk
Oct 4th, 2012, 12:57 AM
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We visited this area in 2008. I have an especially fond memory of buying some wonderful smoked mackeral, bread rolls and enjoying them for lunch with a half pint. Cley next the Sea? if I remember correctly. We really enjoyed Suffolk and our brief foray into Norfolk. Thank you for reminding us .
Oct 10th, 2012, 12:53 PM
#18
Original Poster
Day 3 - Last day.
Today we went to the lovely unspoilt seaside town of Sheringham. It was fun watching children pull up their crab baskets. It has a promenade running in and out of low cliffs, with steps that connect it to the town above. We stopped for a coffee at a little shop looking down at the sea. It also has a row of colorful beach huts. When the tide is out a lovely sandy beach opens up. We visited the lifeboat museum with it's several lifeboats on display. So touching to see the pictures and read about the brave lifeboat men who risked their lives, sometimes in terrible storms in the dark ferocious sea to rescue boats in distress.
I forgot to tell you that we also visited such a museum in Cromer right at the end of the pavilion.
We had a reservation for lunch at the Cromer Arms. This was a former hunting lodge where Edward VII used to visit for the shooting, feasting and cavorting (Lillie Langtry). It is situated on acres of pristine deer park. We were hoping to see the deer and as soon as we came through the gate we saw what seemed to be thousands of them running at full speed across the horizon. Apparently there are 1200 of them. We asked why they were running and were told that a commercial was being filmed and they had a dog on the field. The dog didn't seem to be chasing them but the deer didn't know that.
Those of you who live in the UK might know of a favorite commercial with a man walking his dog and the dog keeps chasing deer. Well this is supposedly a spoof on that commercial. I felt sorry for them as they seemed terrified. It still was a fantastic sight. There were different species of deer and some of them who kept together and did not seem to be running as fast had huge antlers.
The restaurant was amazing with a huge fireplace where the chef grilled the meat. The owners of the Gunton Arms are art collectors and there are quite a few strange paintings, some quirky, some erotic, one of a woman sitting on a toilet while being sick in the sink. Strange choice in a dining room but the food made up for it. Of course the specialty was deer.
1 starter, 4 mains, 3 glasses of wine, one beer and one fizzy water - 88£.
After lunch we went back to the Gunton Station to take the train back to London.
Today we went to the lovely unspoilt seaside town of Sheringham. It was fun watching children pull up their crab baskets. It has a promenade running in and out of low cliffs, with steps that connect it to the town above. We stopped for a coffee at a little shop looking down at the sea. It also has a row of colorful beach huts. When the tide is out a lovely sandy beach opens up. We visited the lifeboat museum with it's several lifeboats on display. So touching to see the pictures and read about the brave lifeboat men who risked their lives, sometimes in terrible storms in the dark ferocious sea to rescue boats in distress.
I forgot to tell you that we also visited such a museum in Cromer right at the end of the pavilion.
We had a reservation for lunch at the Cromer Arms. This was a former hunting lodge where Edward VII used to visit for the shooting, feasting and cavorting (Lillie Langtry). It is situated on acres of pristine deer park. We were hoping to see the deer and as soon as we came through the gate we saw what seemed to be thousands of them running at full speed across the horizon. Apparently there are 1200 of them. We asked why they were running and were told that a commercial was being filmed and they had a dog on the field. The dog didn't seem to be chasing them but the deer didn't know that.
Those of you who live in the UK might know of a favorite commercial with a man walking his dog and the dog keeps chasing deer. Well this is supposedly a spoof on that commercial. I felt sorry for them as they seemed terrified. It still was a fantastic sight. There were different species of deer and some of them who kept together and did not seem to be running as fast had huge antlers.
The restaurant was amazing with a huge fireplace where the chef grilled the meat. The owners of the Gunton Arms are art collectors and there are quite a few strange paintings, some quirky, some erotic, one of a woman sitting on a toilet while being sick in the sink. Strange choice in a dining room but the food made up for it. Of course the specialty was deer.
1 starter, 4 mains, 3 glasses of wine, one beer and one fizzy water - 88£.
After lunch we went back to the Gunton Station to take the train back to London.
Oct 11th, 2012, 04:22 AM
#19
I think the deer thing was intially a Utube output. Since modern advertising is not creative they have to pinch anything to make and advert, hence we will soon being hearing "Benton" on our TVs, oh good.
Oct 11th, 2012, 04:29 AM
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Indeed not a commercial, but a real incident filmed on a hand held mobile in Richmond Park. A YouTube sensation. You can even by Fenton (not Benton) merchandise now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GRSbr0EYYU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GRSbr0EYYU
