Hunstanton Experience October 2024
Another good short break away
INTRODUCTION
Holiday photos in their own right usually have no context and maybe could have no interest to the casual observer.
This blog gives some background to the places we visited in North West Norfolk over a 4 day period and hopefully it proves more interesting than the photos alone.
DAY 1 - HUNSTANTON
Although we were staying in Heacham, three miles away Hunstanton was our first stop before proceeding to our hotel.
First impressions were that it was a typical seaside town albeit with some beautiful views. The weather was clear but there was certainly mist over the Wash and the North Sea.
A bracing walk along the seafront ended with a visit to the local heritage centre which gave an interesting insight into the history of the town and how the Le Strange family who had been in the area since Norman times developed and built the town as it is today.
One snippet – it is one of the 10 most visited geological sites in the UK. The cliffs to the North of the town show clearly the differences in the geological periods.
A local expert told me about the fossils – some of which lay across the grain of the rock and others which are round but go vertically through the rock – evidence of damage caused by the last Ice Age.
Second snippet – there is a path across the promenade called Reis Leming Way after a US airman who received the UK George Medal for rescuing 27 people from South Beach during the North Sea flood of 1953.
At the nd of the day the mist over the Wash cleared reveled a huge wind farm.
DAY 2 -RSPB SNETTISHAM
Our outdoor activities were curtailed somewhat on the day. We met some friends at Norfolk Lavender for coffee with the intention of at least walking around the grounds. The weather prevented that and continued into the afternoon.
At about 2:30 the weather cleared and since Snettisham was close by (as were many of the attractions in the area) – we set off.
To be brutally honest apart from the delightful scenery there was not much in the way of birdlife to see. We had gone at low tide and in the Wash the tide goes out a long way.
Resolution – return another day!!
DAY 2 -HEACHAM MANOR HOTEL
The hotel backs onto an extensive golf course towards the beach at Heacham – possibly a mile to a mile and a half away – towards the setting sun.
We arrived back at the hotel shortly before sunset.
I fiddled about changing lens on my cameras and noticed that the sun was dropping rapidly and had in fact disappeared behind a cloud.
At that point I nearly gave up to return to our hotel room. I am glad I didn’t!!
Unfortunately the mumuration was too far away to identify the birds.
DAY 3 -HOLKHAM HALL
Like the Saturday the weather was extremely inclement and the decision was made to find somewhere where we would have at least the chance of dodging the rain – hence Holkham Hall.
I am not one to rely on a Sat Nav but being in an unfamilar area – the choice was clear.
What was also clear was that there were several routes to choose – the Sat Nav chose the cross country route using many B Roads. This I think was to our advantage as the lack of traffic appeared to encourage bird life – several red kites, pheasant and blocking our way on the road a small flock of grey partridge (Sorry – no photos!!)
The Holkham Hall Estate is huge and reached by a mile log driveway through some impressive gates into the grounds.
First surprise – park the car and within 100m there is a herd of noisy roe deer. To fair it was only the stags and it is the beginning of the rutting season after all!
The parkland is extensive including a huge lake and walled garden. That is only a part of the estate – the rest is wooded and also contains a large working farm and areas of biodiversity.
A fascinating exhibition gave an insight into the history and the ambituous plans to be carbon negative by 2040.
Definitely a place to return to in Spring.
The day was rounded of by visiting Holkham Beach opposite – Very wild but beautiful.
DAY 4 -EXPLORING RSPB SNETTISHAM AND TITCHWELL MARSH
There is an expression – Fail to prepare – Prepare to fail.
That could sum up our second trip to RSPB Snettisham.
Arrived at car park next to the beach.
There are a lot of cars here – penny did not drop. Went up on the sea wall and there were literally hundreds of people walking towards us – penny dropped. High Tide had passed an hour previously and that is when the birds are there in abundance.
As we walked along there was little evidence of bird life.
Somewhat deflated we trudged on and eventually we found a significant number of birds on the foreshore.
In truth we were happy with our visit – even saw a Turnstone – a new one for us.
Lesson learned – Norfolk Birds Website has a calendar of Snettisham Spectacular – dates and times. Read it next time and we will see the murmuration in all is glory.
Onto to RSPB Titchwell – different altogether but with salt and fresh water marshes.
Plenty of birds and new to us – Golden Plovers and Shovellers.
We also saw a Muntjac deer – pictures not good enough to show BUT it was the second time we had seen one that day
The sign outside the cafe amused me – like the nod to Meatloaf
We didn’t see the Bittern either!!
DAY 5 - SANDRINGHAM ESTATE
This was actually the day of returning home but since the estate was nearby it would have been rude not to visit.
The house and gardens were not open but the estate itself is beautiful – it is easy to realise why the late Queen and the King love it as a retreat.
We decided to visit the Aboretum and it was resplendent in its autumn colours.
CONCLUSION
North West Norfolk was a huge hit. It is definitely a place that we want to vsit again. There is so much more the North Norfolk Coast to explore and see. It will probably be best to visitin a different season – probably Spring as not all of the attractions were open or at their best.
Final thought – do a lot more research before we go again – you may miss something like the Snettisham Spectacular!!