patriciatbrogan

Hello, we are staying at the Rose & Crown in Snettisham over the Mayday long weekend arriving mid-day Saturday and probably leaving midday Monday: moving around will be by bus and the coastal hopper/. So we don't have too much room to move - it would be lovely though if anyone could recommend places to see that are relatively close to our base and reachable by the aforementioned public transport - we don't want to go too far with only being in the area for basically 2 days: I know the last time we went there we felt even Wells by Sea was a bit of a shlep away - So, can anyone recommend good places to visit, and nice places to eat within our radius?
Thanks.

Southam

No advice, but I enjoy the sound and the mouth feel of that name, Snettisham. It deserves a song.

flanneruk

I've merely driven through, but friends of mine locally spent decades praising the Snettisham butcher's sausages.

Otherwise: there really isn't that much around. Don't knock Kings Lynn, which has lots of handsome buildings (as well as one of the naffest, Poundland and Ukrainian grocer-dominated, retail precincts in the country). Its museum is the best place to find out about the Seahenge discoveries from Holme-next-the-Sea.

You're really otherwise limited to getting the bus to Hunstanton, then wherever the Hopper serves.

If the weather's OK, the Norfolk coastal path has some terrific views, and often amazing birdlife. Peddars Way hasn't got much going for it this far north: the stretch to Castle Acre is too far for a one-day round trip, though with a car it and the wall paintings at Houghton on the Hill church (not easy to find) are both spectacular.

Eastbound along the coast: bits of Brancaster's Roman past are visible, and I'd research it all before setting off. There was a Channel 4 Time Team prog about it a few years ago, and I think it's still available on catch-up.

Holkham Hall is pretty much your bog-standard stately home. But Thomas Coke of Holkham practically invented modern agriculture, bits of the kitchen garden are interesting, and Holkham beach is a great place for a bracing walk (it's also the location for the closing credits of Shakespeare in Love)

It's a popular area for Islingtonians to acquire second homes, especially if they want Tristram to learn to sail. They congregate most around the Burnhams, especially Burnham Market.

Heimdall

Obvious place to visit is Sandringham, as you are practically on the estate anyway. Sandringham House is quite a way off the main road though, and I'm not sure how you could get there by public transport. If no royals are present you can tour the house, otherwise you can roam the areas open to the public.

ESW

Talk to the Rose and Crown when you arrive. They may well be able to help more than we can.

anicecupoftea

I'm afraid you're not in a good area for being car-less. Norfolk's public transport is pretty poor outside of Norwich, Yarmouth and King's Lynn. The coast hopper is your best bet, as the county's main attraction is the beaches and the bird life.

Sandringham is ok, but its royal connection is its only real attraction - the other big country houses like Holkham, Oxborough and Blickling are more interesting and worthy of your money.

I don't know west Norfolk well, as its a schlep from Norwich, but on a nice day I'd recommend a boat trip from Morston to see the seals, or taking the bus to Sheringham, steam train to Weybourne and walk back along the coastal path to Sheringham.

patriciatbrogan

Oh thank you so much - the 11 or 12 bus (or the coastal hopper) stop off at Sandringham, but I don't really like looking at stately homes - although the garden at Holkham sounds interesting, we had fab crab and lobster at the shack (open, it appears, only in summer) there - my father was an agronomist in Africa and I do love geography (would that include agriculture?!). Titchwell is the RSPB reserve, between Hunstanton and Wells I believe, I must remember to take my binoculars.

Any ideas on really good, not too expensive places to dine - so far we have booked at The Rose & Crown and The Victoria Inn but it's all tentative (if one doesn't book everything is booked up?

Thanks.

RM67

I like Blakeney and Cley - I am assuming here, but don't know for certain that there will be a bus service that will take you via the A149. Blakeney has some lovely walks through the creeks, as well as bird and seal spotting trips. Cley has some decent eats and art galleries.

anicecupoftea

I have no personal experience in that part of Norfolk, but the following are, apparently, favourites of Wills and Kate, if that's a recommendation (being rather preoccupied at the moment, unlikely to be there themselves): The King’s Head at Great Bircham, The Crown at East Rudham, The Dabbling Duck at Great Massingham and the Rose and Crown itself.

Heimdall

Sandringham Estate is much more than a stately home, popular for visitors even when the house is closed to the public. There is a museum, church, gardens, visitor centre, and walking trails through the forest. Sometimes they have tours of the estate on a trailer pulled by a tractor, and driven by an estate worker with a charming Norfolk accent.

Heimdall

Forgot to include the link: http://www.sandringhamestate.co.uk