Norfolk 2015

Saturday 25 July: Finding the beach

We drove from home, arriving in Overstrand just before 5pm (and about 10 minutes before our Tesco van!). After an intensive unpacking session, we explored in the evening sunshine and found that the beach really is just 5 minutes' walk away. Paddling ensued, then home for pasta and bed (the children sharing a room, and Laura's first time in a big bed without a side on it).

Made it to the beach! Matthew and Helen paddle Laura looking on
Made it to the beach! Matthew and Helen paddle Laura looking on

Sunday 26 July: Looking for lifeboats

This morning everyone was up bright and early; and the weather was supposed to turn nasty at 1, so we made a good start. We walked along the cliffs towards Cromer, where there was a RNLI day culminating with a lifeboat launch at 3pm. Jeremy had parked his bike in Cromer (by car) before we set off, so this could be a one-way walk for everyone else. We walked past a golf course, and a lighthouse with its light on, oddly; Laura managed to walk a good stint at the beginning before moving into the backpack when the nettles set in; and at 11.30 we came to a nice open grassy area just before Cromer, and since everyone was hungry we had our picnic then. We carried on down into Cromer and hit the beach with our fishing nets; when the weather arrived we decamped into a café to finish our lunch with tea and cake (hot chocolate for the children). The RNLI museum was next door, and we had a really good time there. Then we walked up into the town and bought buckets and spades before going back to the beach while Jeremy went home on the bike. We had a good first session of sand castles before we headed back up to the road; and Laura was so tired that she fell asleep on the 3 mile journey home in the car! Matthew had his first go at a grown-up jigsaw; and we had roast dinner.

Matthew at the RNLI museum Laura at the RNLI museum Sandcastles!
Matthew at the RNLI museum Laura at the RNLI museum Sandcastles!

Monday 27 July: Stony Sheringham

This time the weather started off horrid but promised to improve. We parked the bike in the woods near Beeston; then drove to a walk-start point further into the woods. Laura immediately wanted to go in the backpack, so she rode while Matthew walked. We went through the woods in full waterproof gear; just as Matthew was getting hungry we encountered the bike and collected the buckets and spades. Then we had to cross a railway line and saw a train; and finally we found a beautiful picnic spot overlooking the sea next to Beeston Bump. A slight miscalculation meant we couldn't get down to the sea straight away after lunch, so we climbed Beeston Bump (Laura walking now) and walked to Sheringham to play on the beach. It turned out to be very stony (and high tide) but we had fun anyway. Then it rained so we went indoors for icecream(!); went round the Museum, with its lifeboats, its quiz (both children won a pencil) and exhibition about the offshore windfarm. Finally we went back down to the beach while Jeremy did the bike-car run. We had coffee and biscuits just before we got back in the car, and everyone was happy.

Laura enjoying the backpack Matthew on Beeston Bump trig point Stony beach at Sheringham
Laura enjoying the backpack Matthew on Beeston Bump trig point Stony beach at Sheringham

Tuesday 28 July: Fellbrigg and barbecue

After a brief excursion to the playground (on bikes), we drove to Fellbrigg, a local National Tust property with extensive grounds. We started with a spot of cricket in the car park and then walked – first to the church, which was very old and impressively garlanded, and then on through the fields. There was a big tractor mowing paths in the fields for us. We had a picnic lunch by a dammed lake and the children got very cuddly because of the wind; then we set off into the woods. To start with they were both walking very well; then Laura fell and scraped her hand, and after that it was backpack for her – but Matthew walked with a will.

Just as we came round to Fellbrigg Hall (or rather the stable block) it started to rain gently: so we took outside seats under a big umbrella and settled down for a cream tea. Then the heavens opened so we shifted in to a more central table, and pretty much had the courtyard to ourselves. We had a little excursion to the shop, and then headed back to the car.

We stopped at Morrissons in Cromer on the way back, and then Matthew and Jeremy played cricket at the park while Laura and Helen made sandcastles in the last 6 inches of beach before high tide. We came back and the children watched Ice Age 3 while Jeremy braved the patchy rain to produce an excellent barbecue dinner.

Setting off Fellbrigg Hall
Setting offFellbrigg Hall

Wednesday 29 July: Horsey Windpump

This was a rather long drive (and caused slightly fractious children) but we knew how good it was from a previous visit. We drove to Horsey and walked (a good mile or so) across the fields to the beach. Laura demanded backpack but Matthew walked really well. From the beach we were able to spot seals in the sea – a few sightings and enough that each child managed to see one at least once. We picnicked, which was a bit of a blowy, sandy affair; then we build sandcastles and earthworks for the incoming tide before heading back to Horsey.

Back at the windpump (whose sails were sadly away for repair), we had a cup of tea and a slice of cake (icecreams for the children) and then Matthew and Jeremy went for a brief bike ride while Laura and Helen went into the windpump itself (very steep stairs). Finally we got to the main attraction: the boat trip! Last time we'd done it we were soaking wet and had the boat to ourselves (and the amazing Ross Warrell tailored the entire thing to entertaining 2-year-old Matthew); this time it was much more pleasant weather but equally entertaining. We saw a heron from close quarters, a Marsh Harrier carrying a rabbit, and both children got to drive the boat! They were so shattered they both slept in the car on the way home.

Matthew climbs the stile Staples: tea and icecream Laura inside Horsey Windpump
Matthew climbs the stileStaples: tea and icecreamLaura inside Horsey Windpump
Heron from the boat trip Matthew driving Laura driving
Heron from the boat tripMatthew drivingLaura driving

Thursday 30 July: Overstrand and Northrepps

We had a nearly-no-car day today, and let the children choose what we did first. As soon as they got dressed it rained, so there was a brief spell of television; but after that Matthew chose to play cricket with Daddy and Laura wanted to go out on her bike. Matthew and Jeremy went to the sports ground, where there were nets you could use (and, as it happened, a car boot sale to provide audience); Laura and Helen went all around the village – to the park first, then down to the front, pressing buttons on the "local history" posts and bopping to the folk songs that came out; and up to the post office and home via the "wildlife and geology phone box".

We had lunch outside in our garden, and then set off on a local bike tour. We rode to Northrepps, where we played in the playground (and both children managed the fireman's pole); then we booked into the Foundry Arms for dinner, and cycled back along the Paston Way. We found a rope swing (which Matthew enjoyed), passed an Air Traffic Control radar receiver and dipped under the railway on a very narrow bridle path; then just as we got to the coast path through Overstrand (which was almost eaten away by the sea) Jeremy got a puncture so he had to walk the last bit. We came back to our usual park, where Laura had an icecream (to console her for falling and hurting her knees again) and Matthew met friends he could play cricket with – two boys who are staying in the same street as us, the elder of whom is a good match.

Finally, we drove back to Northrepps for dinner. Matthew and Laura shared a portion of fish and chips; Jeremy had smoked fish and Helen had dressed crab. We all shared a chocolate fudge cake and were home and starting bath by 8.

Hide and seek in the playground Matthew on a rope swing
Hide and seek in the playgroundMatthew on a rope swing
Landslip at the coast in Overstrand Picasso-style house All ready to go out for dinner
Landslip at the coast in OverstrandPicasso-style houseAll ready to go out for dinner

Friday 31 July: Sheringham Park

Dropping Jeremy's bike off in Cromer on the way, we drove to Sheringham Park, which is a huge National Trust grounds with no house (the owners are still in it). We took Matthew's bike, but the rest of us went on foot. Laura walked really well through the woods, with the odd viewpoint and burst of hide-and-seek; she did the whole morning up to lunch under her own steam. We had our picnic on a big swathe of grass overlooking the house, with views of the sea. Then we walked down into the woods to climb the so-called Gazebo, a tall wooden tower that takes you up to the top of the tree canopy for a fantastic view. Jeremy didn't fancy it, but everyone else climbed up for a look around. A chap at the top showed us a photo he'd just taken of a purple hair streak butterfly, wings open, showing its purple – apparently this tower is the best possible place to see them.

When we came down the tower we put Laura in the backpack and set a good brisk pace to get to the local station in time for the next train. We managed it (with not much to spare) and piled on for our steam train ride to Sheringham. Once there, we walked down to the beach and the children had a good play with buckets and spades. A girl had dammed a pool and put crabs, a crayfish and lots of tiny fish in it, which was quite fun to see. We spent about an hour and a half on the beach, then headed into town to buy an icecream before getting the train back. Finally there was a bit of a slog back to the car: Jeremy labouring under the weight of a sleeping Laura and Matthew doing stirling uphill cycling. We were all worn out by the end of it!

Matthew cycling View up the Gazebo View from the Gazebo
Matthew cyclingView up the GazeboView from the Gazebo
Steam train and offshore windfarm Firebox Sheringham beach
Steam train and offshore windfarmFireboxSheringham beach
Burying Laura Exhausted Laura Tired Matthew
Burying LauraExhausted LauraTired Matthew

Saturday 1 August: Fair and beach

After yesterday's exertions, we felt like an easy day today. The weather was lovely, and Overstrand village was having its annual Fête in the sports ground at the top of our road. We pottered along and it was lovely – lots of community stalls and a real village feel. We threw balls at coconuts (and missed), tossed pingpong balls into jam jars (Matthew was good at that, and won 20p, two marbles and a keyring), bought second-hand books and jigsaws, ate icecream, and in Laura's case had face paints and bounced on a bouncy castle. All this was before the fair had officially opened! We left at lunchtime and had lunch in our garden listening to the music from the fair.

In the afternoon we drove to Mundesley – which we'd been through the other day – to visit the beach. Jeremy called the bike shop and found that his bike was ready, so he drove back to Cromer and picked it up, and did a supermarket shop at the same time, while Helen played with Matthew and Laura on the beach. We found a starfish, dug in the sand, buried Laura's feet, played cricket, built an earthwork for the sea to surround, and generally got wet. We stayed on the beach until the tide came in – nearly 6 o'clock – before driving home for a barbecue.

Laura's facepaint Lunch in the garden Running on the beach
Laura's facepaintLunch in the gardenRunning on the beach
Starfish Sandworks Daddy's hat
StarfishSandworksDaddy's hat

Sunday 2 August: Messing about in Boats

Another gorgeous day – so we drove to Wayford Bridge to explore the only canal in Norfolk: the North Walsham & Dilham Canal. The canoes were advertised as being for at most three people, but after inspecting us they decided that the children were small enough that we'd be safer in one boat than two. We all got togged up in our lifejackets and equipped with our paddles, and set off: Helen at the front, the two children in the middle and Jeremy steering at the rear.

We chose the route north to Dilham (actually in the Broad not the canal), which was idyllic. We saw waterlilies, lots of dragonflies, and small fish in the water. After half an hour or so we came to a lovely free mooring post with a big expanse of grass, so we stopped there for our picnic. While we were sitting there we think we saw a kingfisher flash past us along the water and under the bridge.

After lunch, Matthew had a brief go of paddling at the front; then we assumed our original formation and headed back. Whe we came to the junction where we'd turned towards Dilham, we had a little bit of time left so we headed out again along the canal itself, which is forbidden to motorised craft. It was beautiful, but very overgrown. When we turned back, we moored briefly at the side so that each child in turn could have a go paddling from the front – but there was a bit of a headwind so that was very hard work for Jeremy! We paddled back into the boatyard and had icecreams before we drove home. While we were sitting there, a dragonfly landed on Matthew's arm – very impressive!

Back at home, Jeremy and Matthew watched a little bit of village cricket at the sports ground while Helen and Laura went to the playground; then we had dinner outside in our garden again.

Matthew paddling with Jeremy View from the rear Dragonfly
Matthew paddling with JeremyView from the rearDragonfly

Monday 3 August: Disused railway line at Reepham

After a brief excursion to top up on margarine and retrieve the cricket ball from the bowls club(!) we set off, fully kitted with bikes, to drive to Reepham. There are two, originally separate, disused train lines there, both now open as cycle paths, forming part of Marriott's Way (a route, in its entirety, which stretches from Norwich to Aylsham). The weather was predicted to be 25°C so we were relieved to see trees lining both sides of the track!

We cycled for a while, passing the original Reepham Station, then stopped for lunch at an interesting bench made from a couple of pieces of track, twisted and curved into shape. Everyone was surprisingly hungry. Once we'd eaten, we played hide and seek for a while before setting off again. On the next leg of the journey we passed several more of the interesting benches – they had different images on them, most of which we didn't make much sense of (the lunch one was the North Sea with various arrows, possibly representing Viking invasions or perhaps the plans for Operation Sealion). We then came to the Themelthorpe curve, the later addition which connected the two train lines, and essentially turned a corner for us so we were heading back into Reepham on the south side. As we approached Reepham we found the second disused station, Whitwell: this has functioning tracks on the other side of the station building and is an attraction in its own right (though mainly on the weekends). There were no trains running, but they happily sold us tea, cake and icecream and we had a look around.

We dropped onto the Reepham Link Path to complete our route, ending up back at the joint churches in the centre of the village. The children both fell asleep on the way home, amazingly – though Matthew woke up soon after we arrived home. In the late afternoon Matthew played some cricket at the sports ground, while Laura came to find him on her bike (with a long stop-off for yet another friendly cat). She had a little try without stabilisers but it's too early yet. Jeremy fetched fish and chips from Northrepps and we ate in the garden again.

Bridge on Marriott Way Family cycle Whitwell station
Bridge on Marriott WayFamily cycleWhitwell station
Window at Reepham church Worn out! Laura finds a cat
Window at Reepham churchWorn out!Laura finds a cat

Tuesday 4 August: Blickling

After breakfast we decided to make everyone happy by letting the children do what they each wanted for the first half hour or so – so Matthew went to the park to play cricket and Laura went down to the playground on her bike. Once we got back, we added Matthew's bike to the heap of stuff in the car (at his request) and headed off to Blickling.

Blickling Hall was left to the National Trust in 1941 and has a huge estate around it. Many of the paths are cyclable, so Matthew biked while the rest of us walked. We went around the outside of the gardens, past cows (and an enormous bull) before coming out by the lake where we stopped for our picnic. After lunch, a fuelled Laura walked much more happily and we made our way to the end of the lake and into the woods. The grounds have a series of posts with little wildlife brass rubbings on, so we were hunting for those and rubbing them in the little book and everyone had lots of fun. Laura even came back from a fall (and small scrape on the hand) to running ahead and looking for rubbing posts again.

There is an amazing pyramidal mausoleum, which we passed; sadly Laura got her first ever nettle sting trying to do an oak leaf rubbing, so she went in the backpack after that. We came out onto the final path to see it being mown by a huge tractor making a lot of noise. Once it had gone past we discovered that the reason for the noise was that it had demolished one of the brass rubbing points. Oops!

We got back to the car and dropped off the bike and the backpack before going back to see the gardens. Here, again, the National Trust was working its magic. Yes, there were fountains and formal gardens and beautiful herbaceous borders; but there were also "hide and seek hedges" and deckchairs and secret tunnels and giant snakes and ladders. Matthew played a bit of croquet and Laura briefly played giant Jenga (but it turned into the usual game of let's knock the tower over). The journey home was very quiet as the children filled in all the missing blanks in their brass-rubbing books.

Blickling Hall Good walking Laura and Matthew running ahead
Blickling HallGood walkingLaura and Matthew running ahead
Happy Laura Herbaceous border Blickling lake
Happy LauraHerbaceous borderBlickling lake

Wednesday 5 August: Weavers' Way

This was perhaps our longest drive – around 45 minutes – to a riverbank walk in the Broads proper. We started at Repps (having first left two bikes at Thurne). We could see large-sailed boats on the river as we started, through, frustratingly, they never seemed to be on the stretch we were walking on: always on the next stretch or, eventually, where we'd just been. Laura went in the backpack pretty soon and we had to stop to put long trousers on Matthew because of the nettles; but once that was sorted out we got going fairly well.

We stopped for a picnic where there was space to flatten the grass alongside the path, and we could see not one but two windmills while we ate. Then we walked on into Thurne, where we bought ice creams from an idyllic little shop and avoided a rather manky looking pub. There was a playground round the corner, so both children had a brief play (Matthew's was mostly "bowling catch") before Jeremy and Matthew set off to reclaim the bikes and ride to the car. This was the first time Matthew had gone on the bike ride at the end of a one-way walk,and he was delighted. Laura had a lovely time in the playground, organising Helen in a series of imaginative games about barbecues and Grandma and cats and dogs and cars.

The long drive home ended, predictably, with Laura asleep – so Matthew got a bit of proper cricket while we waited for her to wake up. The late nap was a mistake though: it was past 10:30pm when the children finally settled!
Yachts River Thurne Windmill at Thurne
YachtsRiver ThurneWindmill at Thurne

Thursday 6 August: Bure Valley Railway

This was a long-standing plan. We drove to Aylsham and dropped off 3 bikes; then we drove to Wroxham in time to catch the 11:10 departure on the Bure Valley Railway. We were early enough to walk down to the front and meet the driver (busy topping up the oil) before choosing a carriage and getting in. The train journey was made even more exciting by the opening hour or so of the Ashes test at Trent Bridge: by the time we arrived in Aylsham, Australia were 7 wickets down!

Aylsham station was good value: there was the changing of ends (requiring a manual shunt of the carriages), a small Thomas railway driven by a button press (which Laura loved), and a café where we had tea (or ginger beer) and shortbread. By then Australia were all out for 60 so the mood was pretty good! We had a little look at the workshop (actual train building going on) before reclaiming our bikes and setting off for the return journey, Laura on Helen's bike and Matthew on his own.

The railway has a footpath the whole length (because it is now narrow-gauge there is space left over from the original railway) and is just over 9 miles long. We rode about 3 before stopping at Buxton for lunch. There was a picnic bench there, so it was ideal.

The next segment started with us chasing a train that had just gone past us, which was quite fun; and we crossed over the tracks (with lots of gates for safety). Just as we were in need of another pause (around the 6 mile mark), we found a seat by the old station at Coltishall and stopped for a drink. It was suddenly very hot! Finally we rode on (Matthew braving a nettle sting) back to Wroxham. There we had ice creams and watched a train come in and be turned round on the turntable.

We drove home and went straight to the Overstrand beach (Jeremy drove the rest of us down there and then went to the house to start supper). This time everyone went in the sea and everyone got wet – and then just as we were about to go home, we saw a seal in the water!

Before the train ride Matthew watching the oiling Spitfire
Before the train rideMatthew watching the oilingSpitfire
After the journey Train passing us Cyclists
After the journeyTrain passing usCyclists
Wet children Laura's sandcastle Matthew building on Laura
Wet childrenLaura's sandcastleMatthew building on Laura

Friday 7 August: Walking by the North Walsham & Dilham Canal

We managed to plan a genuine loop walk, with no need for a bike leg at the end – except that we planted Matthew's bike anyway because the last stretch was along a good firm track and we thought he would enjoy it. We started by finding the only waterfall in Norfolk (a disused lock) and continued through woodland, with both Matthew and Laura running along ahead merrily, and had a lovely picnic by a fallen tree trunk. Then we came out into the fields, where Matthew found a huge quill feather and we came across a photographer in a tiny camouflaged tent, who'd been waiting for a day and a half for a shot of a kingfisher with no joy so far.

We came out into the fields where we played with a sheep-shearing cage and found lots of peacock butterflies, before we came back to the track and found Matthew's bike. The final kilometre went very quickly as Matthew rode his bike and Laura rode Jeremy; back at the car Laura showed that her legs are actually long enough to ride Matthew's bike now!

Because it was the last day, we detoured to Mundesley on the way home for a last beach session. We spent about an hour, and managed wave jumping, building a paddling pool, and of course some beach cricket.
Running ahead Waterfall Matthew's huge feather
Running aheadWaterfallMatthew's huge feather
Feather in her hair! Laura says Baa! Peacock butterfly
Feather in her hair!Laura says Baa!Peacock butterfly

Saturday 8 August: Boats to finish

We had a very organised start, and were ready to leave our house – all cleared and cleaned up – before the 10am deadline. We decided to enjoy our last day properly, so we drove back to Wayford Bridge and hired another canoe. This time our boat was red and Laura's lifejacket was pink (to her delight). We set off at about 11 to head up the canal along whose bank we'd been walking the day before.

We had a lovely little excursion. This time Helen spotted a kingfisher; and on the way back we all saw a cormorant take off from the canal ahead of us. At the end, we let each of the children have a go in the front position before we took the boat back.

Once we'd given the boat back we drove around the corner to Dilham to the Cross Keys pub, which has a fantastic garden with a football net and a climbing frame. We had excellent baguettes with chips, salads and coleslaw (Laura surprisingly keen) and didn't set off for home until 3.

Ready to boat Swans Messing about
Ready to boatSwansMessing about
Cygnets Bridge Pub lunch
CygnetsBridgePub lunch