Day Trips from Brancaster Staithe
Most guests come to Brancaster Staithe for the coast — and the coast is more than enough to fill a week. But if you want a change of scene for a day, or if the weather pushes you inland, Norfolk has a great deal more to offer within easy driving distance. Everything listed here is under an hour from the apartments, and most are considerably closer.
Holkham Hall
15 minutes east. Holkham is one of the great Palladian houses of England, built in the 1730s for Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester. The hall itself is worth visiting for the Marble Hall alone, and the state rooms house an impressive collection of
classical sculpture and Old Masters. The grounds — designed by Capability Brown include a deer park with a herd of fallow deer that has been here for centuries. The walled garden has been restored and is particularly good in summer. Holkham also runs a programme of events through the year, from food festivals to outdoor cinema. Allow a half day at minimum and bring a bicycle if you have one.
Sandringham
Castle Acre
30 minutes south. A village with two English Heritage sites — a Norman castle and a Cluniac priory, both in a remarkable state of preservation for their age. The priory in particular is well worth the visit: the west front is largely intact and gives a clear sense of scale. The village itself is attractive, with a good pub and tea rooms, Castle Acre is also the starting point for walks along the Nar Valley Way, a 33-mile trail that follows the River Nar through quiet,undeveloped countryside. A seven-mile circular walk from the village through the Nar Valley via West Acre and back is one of the better inland walks in Norfolk.
Walsingham
25 minutes south-east. Little Walsingham has been a pilgrimage destination since the medieval period and retains a distinctive character unlike anywhere else in Norfolk. The Shrine of Our Lady, the ruins of the Augustinian priory, and the narrow streets of the village are worth a visit regardless of any religious interest. The Wells and Walsingham Light Railway — the longest 10¼-inch gauge railway in the world— runs between Wells and Walsingham and is a pleasant way to arrive if you are starting from that end of the coast. The gardens at Walsingham Abbey come alive with in the spring with snowdrops and, later, daffodils.
Oxburgh Estate
50 minutes south, near Swaffham. A National Trust property built in 1482,
Oxburgh Hall is a moated manor house that has remained in the Bedingfeld family for over 500 years. The gatehouse is the centrepiece — a Tudor tower that you can climb for views across the surrounding parkland. Inside, the needlework panels made by Mary, Queen of Scots during her imprisonment are among the most significant textile artefacts in the country. The gardens and woodland walks are well maintained, and the estate is rarely crowded, even in summer.
Watatunga Wildlife Reserve
45 minutes south, near King’s Lynn. Watatunga is a privately owned wildlife reserve on a 160-acre estate with wetlands, grasslands, and woodland. It is home to a collection of rare and native species including Pere David's deer, water buffalo, and a variety of waterfowl. Visits are by guided safari tour, which makes it a different sort of experience from a conventional reserve — you are driven around the estate with a knowledgeable guide rather than walking between hides. Worth considering if you want something out of the ordinary, particularly for a rainy day when walking the coast is less appealing.
Blickling Hall
55 minutes east, near Aylsham. The furthest afield of these suggestions, but worth the drive. Blickling is a Jacobean house set in extensive National Trust parkland, often cited as one of the finest houses in Norfolk. The approach — a long yew hedge framing the red-brick facade — is one of the most photographed views in the county. The Long Gallery contains a remarkable collection of books, and the gardens include a formal parterre and a lake walk. Blickling makes a good full day out, particularly if combined with a stop in Aylsham, which has a decent Thursday market.