ARTHUR’S PLACE
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
Arthur’s Place is ideally placed for exploring West Norfolk. We have left some maps and brochures on the bookshelves to help you get around but please do not forget to put them back before you leave.
Beaches
North Norfolk is famous for its long sandy beaches such as Holkham, Wells and Brancaster, some of which have been used in pop videos, movies and TV series (eg. Kingdom). The beach at Hunstanton is thought to be one of the longest and safest in the UK and has all the attractions of a typical family seaside destination. Unusually for an east coast resort, the sun sets over the sea and the combination of vast skies and changing cloud formations can provide spectacular sunsets that can last for up to 5 hours!
Bird Watching
Just 11 miles from Arthur’s Place is the RSPB Titchwell Reserve. This renowned Reserve has something for everyone: A walk from the visitor centre down to the sandy beach takes you past reedbeds and shallow lagoons, which are often full of birds. You can sit on benches or watch from spacious, hides.
Closer to home, the RSPB Snettisham Reserve is 3.5 miles from Arthur’s Place. This is the area to witness two of the UK's great winter wildlife spectacles: tens of thousands of wading birds wheeling over the mudflats, or packed onto roostbanks and islands in front of the hides at high tide, plus the dawn and dusk flights of skies full of pink-footed geese. However, if you do not fancy getting out of bed at dawn, just draw the curtains and you will see skeins of pink-foots flying directly overhead!
Seal Watching
Daily seal-watching trips are run by Bishops Boats from mid-March to the end of October. Departing from the picturesque Blakeney harbour or Morston quay, the traditional clinker-built wooden boats wind their way down the sheltered waters of the creek to the far end of Blakeney Point. Both common and grey seals can be seen from the boat, basking near the water’s edge, and there are plenty of birds to be seen as well.
Walking & Cycling
There are many excellent footpaths and bridleways in the area. In particular, the 150 km (93 miles) of the two National Trails of the Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path. These Trails mainly follow the routes of old Roman roads and run through the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the Brecks, a unique area of forest, heath and low river valleys. For cyclists, a network of quiet country roads, lanes and bridleways leads you through varied landscapes and villages. However fast you travel you are never far away from a pub, cafe or shop and any hills are just steep enough to make you feel you’ve earned a drink.
Public Transport
The area is served by an excellent bus service. The bus stop is opposite “Ingoldisthorpe Pond”. In addition, the ever-popular Coasthopper Bus Service is run by “Norfolk Green” which provides reliable, friendly, value for money buses throughout West Norfolk. They reach as far away as Spalding, March, Cromer and Norwich and run along the North Norfolk coast all year round. Coasthopper buses provide handy access to the Coastal Path and the Nature Reserves and connect with the Eastern Counties bus service at Heacham and Hunstanton.
Sandringham House
Ingoldisthorpe is on the edge of the Sandringham estate. This is the much-loved country retreat of Her Majesty The Queen, and has been the private home of four generations of British monarchs since 1862. The house, set in 60 acres of stunning gardens, is perhaps the most famous stately home in Norfolk and is at the heart of the 20,000-acre Sandringham Estate, 600 acres of which make up the woodland and heath of the Country Park, open to the public free of charge every day of the year. Arthur’s Place is approximately 3 miles from the Sandringham visitor centre which has an excellent restaurant.
Burnham Market
This is the major village of the Burnhams, an area also known as “Chelsea-on-sea”, and is about 4 miles from the coast. The village is famous for its growing collection of trendy shops, eating places and other businesses set out around a green and memorial cross in the centre. Burnham Overy Staithe is on the coast and provides moorings and launching for boats. Burnham Thorpe is where Nelson grew up, with his father Rector of the local church. Burnham Overy Town, Burnham Deepdale and Burnham Norton are all small residential villages. The countryside around the Burnhams is very attractive, making walking between the villages a great thing to do on a fine day.
King’s Lynn
12 miles from Ingoldisthorpe is the historic market town of King’s Lynn. Originally named Bishop's Lynn, the town has a rich and fascinating history stretching back over 1,000 years. By the 14th century, the town ranked as the third port of England and was a key member of the Hanseatic League; an early version of the EU that reached to the Baltic Sea. In 1538 the town became royal property under Henry VIII, and the later names of Lynn Regis and King's Lynn reflect this change.
Swaffham
Approximately 24 miles from Ingoldisthorpe, the Eco Tech Visitor Centre at Swaffham could change the way you think about technology and the environment. You can now climb 213 feet to the top of the largest wind turbine ever built in the UK.
Norfolk Lavender
The headquarters of Norfolk Lavender is less than 3 miles away at Caley Mill which was originally a water mill for grinding corn. As well as tours of the lavender fields, there are an historic orchard, rose garden, garden centre, gift shop and cafe.
Eating Out
There are many excellent village pubs and restaurants in the local area. More information on these and many of the other attractions of this part of Norfolk can be found in the official website of Tourism in Norfolk.