Local Authority: Norfolk The fabulous north-western coast
Planning to visit somewhere new? Let the locals give you the lowdown! This month, the fabulous Norfolk coast
● Who are you?
I’m Anna Ellis, and among other roles, I’m the chief travel researcher and planner for our family when we organise any of our many trips!
● Where are you a local authority on?
The beautiful coastal region of north-west Norfolk.
● Why are you a local authority on this place?
I was lucky enough to be born here and apart from a short spell spent elsewhere at university and while training, I have lived here all my life.
● What do you love about it?
So much! It has lots for the outdoor enthusiast and foodie in me. We have golden, sandy beaches, where you can simply enjoy the sea air with a walk, or take to the water kitesurfing.
If wandering on the beach isn’t quite your thing, we have a fabulous coastal walking path, and there’s also the historical Peddars Way. Don’t fancy walking? We have great cycle trails, including National Cycle Route 1.
And for the foodies, there are lots of local traditional pubs and, of course, brilliant seaside fish and chips!
● What is your favourite place to visit?
That has to be the fabulous golden, sandy beaches of Brancaster, Holkham or Wells, where on a bright sunny day, the colour of the sand makes the sea look a perfect turquoise-blue.
A barefoot wander along the beach, paddling in the sea, will give you a great appetite, ready for a visit to one of the many excellent pubs along the coast, or perhaps just to grab some fish and chips and seat yourself among the dunes to watch the spectacular sunset; many parts of our coast face west.
● Which local campsite would you recommend and why?
Deepdale Camping: this great campsite is open all year round.
● What food and drink is the area known for?
Seafood, specifically Cromer crabs, cockles and whelks, and of course, the many traditional seaside resorts in the area have superb fish and chips.
● Tell us somewhere great to eat!
Thornham Deli (thornhamdeli.co.uk), a deli and café located on the coast road. If you like seafood, you should try the seafood board – but be advised, you might not want to share!
● Where can you get spare kit?
Boldero’s, in Hunstanton, is simply an Aladdin’s cave of camping items.
● Where can you find the cheapest petrol/diesel in the area?
We have a Tesco in Hunstanton, but there is a petrol station just by the entrance to the Deepdale campsite, which also has a Nisa supermarket.
● Where should you try to avoid when you’re visiting the area?
I would recommend avoiding Stiffkey, on the coast road. The village is small, and its brick walls can cause damage if accidentally kissed by your ’van.
It also doesn’t have passing places for large vehicles, so if you come across the Coasthopper bus, it could very quickly ruin your sense of calm!
● Share a secret highlight that only the locals would know!
The Coasthopper bus service runs all the way from the medieval town of
King’s Lynn, through to the famous seaside resort of Cromer, and as the name suggests, it follows the coastline and stops at all of the local villages.
You can walk along the coastal path in either direction until your feet tell you to stop, and then simply catch the bus back to where you started.
Alternatively, you might prefer to take the bus to one of the villages and walk to the next one, then catch the bus back home in either direction. Well-behaved dogs are allowed on the bus, too.
Enjoy strolling on the boardwalk at Brancaster, visiting the windmill at Cley next the Sea, seeing the beach huts and crabbing at Wells-next-theSea, great birdwatching at Titchwell, or the woods at Holkham.
If you like being on the water, you can catch a boat at Morston to see the seals basking on the sandbanks.