Places to eat nearby
The Lifeboat Tavern (formerly Reef Bar) - Beach Road, Sea Palling
Tel: - 01692 598177 (open all year round, serving drinks only until early 2025 when they hope to open their newly renovated kitchen. They are happy for you to take in in food until their kitchen is open)
The Mermaids Catch Fish & Chip shop - Beach Road, Sea Palling
Tel: - 01692 598000 Visit Website
(open Thursday & Sunday 12-4pm and Friday & Saturday 12-7pm)
Beach Rock Bistro - Beach Road, Sea Palling
Tel: - 01692 598000 Visit Website
(Summer opening Monday to Thursday 9.30am - 4.30pm, Friday 9.30am - 6pm and Saturday & Sunday 9.30am - 8pm, Winter opening Friday & Saturday 10am to 3pm and Sunday 9am to 3pm)
Dunes Cafe Waxham Barn
Tel: - 01692 598824 Visit Website
Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm, Saturday & Sunday 9am - 4pm
Sandy Hills Arcade & Cafe - Beach Road, Sea Palling
Tel: - 01692 598391 (Open 364 days a year serving Baps, Burgers, Ice Creams and Freshly made hot doughnuts, hot & cold drinks)
Pleasure Boat Hickling - Staithe Rd, Hickling, NR12 0YN
Tel:- 01692 780660 Visit Website
Owned by Norfolk Wildlife Trust and managed by Rick and Felicity Malt. Serving food and drinks. Tues - Thurs 12 - 10pm, Fri and Sat 12 - 11pm, Sun 12 - 8pm
The Greyhound at Hickling - The Green, Hickling, Norwich, Norfolk NR12 0YA.
Tel: (01692) 598306 Visit Website
Food served Monday to Saturday for lunch 12.00pm to 2.00pm and dinner 5.00pm to 8.00pm, all day Sunday http://www.greyhoundinn.com/
The Star Inn – School Road, Lessingham, Norfolk NR12 0DN
Tel: - 01692 580510 Visit Website
Bar open Monday 6.00pm to 11.00pm (closed in winter), Tuesday to Sunday 12.00pm to 3.00pm and 6.00pm to 11.00pm
Food served – Tuesday to Saturday 12.00pm to 2.15pm and 6.00pm to 8.30pm, Sunday 12.00pm to 2.30pm
The Ingham Swan – Sea Palling Road, Ingham, Norfolk NR12 9AB
Tel: - 01692 581099 Visit Website
Open Monday to Sunday 12.00pm to 2.00pm and 6.00pm to 9.00pm
Poppylands 1940s Tearooms – Waxham Road, Horsey, Norfolk NR29 4EQ
Tel: - 01493 383393
Open daily 10-3pm (closed Tuesdays)
Things to do
Field Crest and Wayfarer are situated a few minutes’ walk to the beach (although be prepared for a steep walk over the dunes, alternatively head along the road towards Sea Palling and you will find steps/ ramps which lead you to the beach). Enjoy walks along the beach or join the Norfolk Coastal Path which runs from Hunstanton to Hopton-on-Sea.
Head West along the beach and discover The Deep History Coast which runs from Weybourne to Cart Gap, it’s a 22-mile stretch where finds provide the earliest evidence for human occupation so far discovered in northern Europe. You never know what you may discover, items from hand axes to Mammoth teeth, bones and more…
Further West you’ll come across Happisburgh Lighthouse, the oldest working Lighthouse in East Anglia. Look out for their Open Days where you can walk to the top, the views are spectacular!
Head East along the beach and you’ll come to Sea Palling where you can visit Sandy Hills amusements (a family run amusement arcade, a favourite of ours), the newly renovated Lifeboat Tavern, the Mermaids Catch fish & chip shop or the Beach Rock Bistro.
Further West and you’ll reach Waxham where you can visit The Dunes Café at Wroxham Barns. Enjoy Breakfast, Lunch, Cakes and drinks and of course well-behaved dogs are welcome.
Continue West to Horsey Gap, home to one of the largest colonies of Grey Seals in the UK. Numbers have been steadily increasing with over 3,500 seal pups born along this beautiful stretch of coastline in the 2023/24 season. Even in the summer months, seals can be seen on the beach or swimming along the shoreline, but please keep your distance (at least 10 metres) if you see groups or a single seal on the beach. During the Seal Pup Season, (end of October to February) it is even more important not to disturb the seals or their pups so viewing is from the sand dunes and the designated ‘viewing platforms’ only. DOGS must please be kept on leads at all times.
Head inland to the small market town of Stalham, set on the edge of The Broads and home to the Museum of the Broads where you can discover the history of this fascinating and unique landscape – a patchwork of rivers and wetland that is largely man-made. Stalham has a selection of local shops as well as a Tesco supermarket and petrol garage.
The nearby Hickling and Ranworth Broads and Marshes are great for walking, spotting wildlife and boat trips, there’s also an evening boat trip from Ranworth to St Benet’s Abbey. Both sites are run by Norfolk Wildlife Trust, best to call and book if you fancy a boat trip.
East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens are well worth a visit, the gardens and tearoom are open 1st March to 31st October.
How Hill Trust, Ludham is a renowned environmental educational charity, established in 1984 based at How Hill House. There are gardens, woodlands, windmills and access to the River Ant. Home to Toad Hall Marshmans cottage, which is an information centre for the Broads and sells ice-creams, the cottage also houses a museum showing life of a marshman. Free secret garden, follow the signs and there is a map showing the route online. Parking is also free but for those of you who enjoy the location and have a lovely day they have a donation box.
Bacton Woods, NR27 9EL (113 Acre woodland) Enjoy the great surroundings, with three trails to choose from or head off on your own by venturing off the beaten track
Head to Potter Heigham, a village on the River Thurne. A busy centre for boat hire and home to a medieval stone bridge. Shopping at the ever so popular Lathams of Potter Heigham seems to be a must for many guests.
Wroxham and Hoveton, the capital of the Broads is great for day boat hire and boat trips as well as a wander around the town visiting the well-known Roys of Wroxham and many shops and cafes, the visitors centre on Station Road provides information about the local area. Also popular with rail enthusiasts it’s home of the Bure Valley Railway, a 15-inch gauge steam railway running between Wroxham and Aylsham, a must. Alternatively, you can walk next to the railway track, a mere 9 mile, we’ve taken the train to Aylsham and walked back along the path, would recommend.
Wroxham Barns is set in a rural location, close to the Norfolk Broads, Wroxham Barns is the ultimate out of town shopping experience and award-winning family attraction. Discover unique products by local makers, artisans and craftspeople in the shopping village, refuel at the Courtyard Café with homemade cakes, a hearty lunch menu and barista made hot drinks. Or explore the Junior Farm and our Fun Park with an all-inclusive pay once, play all day ticket.