Activities
Close to the beach (roughly a mile-this photo shows the view from the boardwalk across the marshes that leads to the beach), Thistlewood Cottage is ideally located for families searching for the ideal seaside holiday. Brancaster beach is well served by a hut serving tea, snacks and ice creams. There is a large car park although even in high season there is plenty of room on the long, wide, sandy beach. Why not borrow our picnic hamper and flask and head off early while the beach is almost deserted to watch kite-surfers perform their aerial acrobatics or stroll to Seal Creek to spot one of the local seal population? A stone's throw away from the cottage is a well equipped play park with large playing fields and tennis courts. Approximately a mile away at Brancaster Staithe you will find the Fish Shed selling the best of the catch, the sailing club and The White Horse pub with it's breathtaking views of the marshes from the rear terrace. Walk to the harbour to watch the sailing boats and snack on freshly made baguettes from the Crab Hut.
Other beaches & villages
Morston (shown left) is a great place to take a boat trip to see seals and birds at Blakeney Point. Blakeney is a lovely village from which you may also take a boat trip as well watching the boats in the harbour. Visit Cley for it's pebbly beach, spot Marsh Harriers from Cley Spy, shop for gorgeous pottery at Made in Cley and pick up lots of foodie treats at the Cley Smokehouse and Picnic Fayre Deli. Eat the freshest crab and fish outside Crabbie's Fish Shed at Salthouses. Wells-next-the-Sea offers bags of traditional seaside fun. Holkham's vast beach backed by dunes and pine forest is breathtaking and don't go home without sampling the unique decor and fine food at The Victoria. Burnham Market offers examples of North Norfolk's special architecture as well as excellent, individual shops and The Hoste Arms, a seventeenth century coaching inn. Thornham is a great place for crabbing as well as fruit picking and great bar meals at The Lifeboat. A gentle boardwalk takes you to Thornham beach. In the village of Thornham there is plenty of choice for places to eat and drink. Hunstanton is lively with plenty to occupy those looking for seaside entertainment as well as a sandy beach with cliffs and beach huts. Hire a bike and visit the windmill at Great Bircham where there is a teashop and playpark for small children.
Bird watching and nature reserves
Thistlewood Cottage is a great base from which to admire migrant bird populations. RSPB Titchwell is within walking distance. Autumn is a great time to see the marshes in their golden glory and to watch squadrons of pink-footed geese arriving from Iceland and greenland.
Go to www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/t/titchwellmarsh/index.aspx for more information.
Pensthorpe, host to BBC's Springwatch, is within easy reach by car. Pensthorpe was named Norfolk's Top Visitor Attraction and has many points of interest including Piet Oudolf's Millenium Garden, visitor cafe, shopping as well as of course the amazing bird and wildlife populations.
Go to www.pensthorpe.com for more information.
Go to www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/t/titchwellmarsh/index.aspx for more information.
Pensthorpe, host to BBC's Springwatch, is within easy reach by car. Pensthorpe was named Norfolk's Top Visitor Attraction and has many points of interest including Piet Oudolf's Millenium Garden, visitor cafe, shopping as well as of course the amazing bird and wildlife populations.
Go to www.pensthorpe.com for more information.
