Top Holiday Home Company Norfolk's Hidden Gems Reveals What to Do in Norfolk This Winter

Visiting an area in wintertime is a great idea for a break but most visitors are usually under the impression that there will not be a great deal to do once they get there. In reality this is not the case and there is no shortage of available things to do. Visitors to the area wanting to know what's on in Norfolk this winter will find much more than they might expect.

In summertime people naturally think of sandy beaches as might be expected, but in wintertime they are hardly given a second thought. Norfolk has some wonderful sandy beaches and for anyone who enjoys walking as an exercise, they offer the opportunity to take long walks without all the noise and bustle of summertime crowds to spoil the experience.

There are dog friendly beaches for those who have taken their pets with them and with or without dogs, Norfolk has many cliff tops that offer an interesting walk with great views of the sea. For those with children who are less likely to be interested in long walks, there is the opportunity to go crabbing. Crabbing equipment is often available within Norfolk’s Hidden Gem’s cottages but if not, it can easily be purchased locally.

Staying with a coastal theme, it is also possible to visit some of Norfolk’s lifeboat stations. Wells lifeboat station in particular is worth a visit. Unlike many modern RNLI boathouses, there is no separate public viewing area and it still has much of its original 1895 structure inside. Apart from Wells, the boathouses at Cromer and Sheringham are also open for public viewing.

It’s not just walks on the beach or clifftops that Norfolk has to offer at this time of year, however. There are many other things to do in Norfolk that offer visitors a chance to do something just a little different in wintertime.

For those interested in wildlife, the RSPB has renowned bird-watching reserves such as Snettisham, Titchwell Marsh, Berney Marshes, amongst others. In addition, there are reserves such as the internationally recognised Sculthorpe Moor, which is the home of the Hawk and Owl Trust. The nature reserve at Pensthorpe, is also recognised internationally and is designated as a Special Area of Conservation.

Birds are not the only wildlife species available to wintertime visitors. Seals too, offer an unusual opportunity for wildlife enthusiasts. There is a small colony at Titchwell which can be reached on foot from Brancaster beach, but the main attraction is definitely the colony at Blakeney Point. Accessible by boat, trips to Blakeney Point are available all year round and offer a chance to get close to common and grey seals.

It’s not just wildlife enthusiasts that are catered for in the wintertime. The North Norfolk Railway offers the opportunity for many unusual experiences. Trips in the cab of a diesel, behind the scenes visits to the engine sheds, and a day in an old-fashioned signal box are all available options. For the steam enthusiast, there are three different options available, all of which offer a unique experience. If driving a steam train is not a visitor’s preferred way to spend a day on the railway, there are also dining cars available to give visitors a taste of life as it used to be.

Sandringham is another place that should be on a visitor’s list of things to do. Sandringham is where the Royals have an estate and where they usually spend Christmas. The Church of St. Mary Magdalene, used by the Royals, is a favorite destination and is actually on the estate. Churches, pubs, shops, all within the vicinity; parks, castles, windmills and more just a short distance away, all offer something to do in winter in Norfolk.

Norfolk's Hidden Gems has specially selected cottages throughout Norfolk that enable visitors to choose any or all of these wintertime experiences. Winter may not be the height of the tourist season but there is always something to do in Norfolk.