Explore and get to know the picture-perfect rural landscapes, quaint estates, pristine beaches, and boating culture of Norfolk, England as see by the eyes of a local.

We know you agree that one of the best ways to travel is like a local, with the help of a local. Locals always seem to give it to you straight – telling you what to see, what to do and where to go without wasting time and money on all the other touristy traps and fluff, right? We continue our ‘From a local’s point of view‘ series with a beautiful travel journal of Norfolk England by travel writer and photographer, Maya Hunneyball.

From Maya,

It’s pretty common knowledge to anyone who knows me well that I’ve always wanted to leave my hometown. Over the years I haven’t always spoken highly of the area I’m from, and leapt at the chance to move away when I was 18. After spending 4 years living in Manchester, I ran out of money. This brought me crashing back into my childhood home in Norfolk, desperate to find a way to reconcile my unrelenting travel bug with my empty bank account. I turned to Google for answers. I poured through search results, looking for any locations nearby that looked interesting or scenic and, as it turns out, Norfolk is an exceptionally beautiful corner of the country that my teenage self criminally underappreciatedThe gem of the Norfolk Broads and the vast Norfolk coastline is no secret to southern domestic tourists, but most foreign visitors to England tend to make a beeline for London and stay there; maybe taking a day or two to visit Bath or Cambridge or Oxford, but never Norfolk. Whilst I fully understand people’s desire to visit London alone (it is considered a world city after all), I’d encourage anyone making the trip to take a break from the busy, bustling streets of central London, to swap the tube for sailboats, the rushing commuters for weekend ramblers, and experience all that Norfolk has to offer. After all it is only 2 hours eastbound by train.The world seems to move more slowly in Norfolk; tractors inch along the country roads to the frustration of many drivers, sailboats rock gently up and down in the county’s many harbours and bays, and local people while away their weekends walking the vast countryside, dining on gravy-covered roast potatoes in the local pubs. Sometimes for better, and sometimes for worse, Norfolk feels like an England that has been forgotten by time. Whilst you certainly won’t find the most vibrant or interesting bars, club nights, or galleries, you will find vast amounts of unspoiled nature, and a kind of peace that is hard to find in large English cities. I’ve spent the last 5 months learning to appreciate my surroundings, and the tranquillity that comes with them, and in that time I’ve discovered some truly beautiful places that I believe deserve to be put on the map.

Visiting Blakeney along the North Norfolk coast

No trip to Norfolk is complete without a visit to Blakeney. Blakeney is a small coastal village that sits along the North Norfolk coast. It forms part of the designated ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ (AONB), due to its unspoiled landscape and contribution to conservation. The village boasts a small harbour, where you can observe the many boats moored up on either dry land, or in the water, depending on the highly changeable tide. From the village you can pretty much walk in any direction and will be guaranteed to be dazzled by your surroundings. I’ve found sunrise one of the best times to visit; as Blakeney’s location on one of the most Eastern corners of the UK means you’ll be among the first to see the sunrise, as it gently peers from behind the marshlands, blessing the sky with some of the most heavenly hues of pink and orange you’ll ever lay eyes on. Blakeney, at this time of the morning, is pleasantly lonesome. Aside from a few early-risers taking their dogs for a morning stroll, you’ll have the place entirely to yourself.  The village tends to become busier as the summertime rolls around, with domestic and local tourists alike flocking to the beautiful marshlands. For this reason, among others, I favour visiting in the wintertime; the sun rises much later and sets far earlier, leaving the frosted grassy terrain in a perpetual twilight for the majority of the day (which makes for stunning photography opportunities).

Explore Wells-next-to-the-Sea

A mere fifteen-minute drive from Blakeney lies the aptly named Wells-next-the-Sea. Although the name sounds as if it is missing a proposition, the town really is called Wells-next-the-Sea, after the Wells Urban District Council chose to change the name in 1956. As you may have guessed, the town is but a short walk from a beautiful sandy beach, which is home to a long stretch of higgledy-piggledy beach huts that resemble tree houses more than they do beach huts. No two candy coloured shacks are the same, each having their own little quirk courtesy of their owner. The huts themselves are situated in front of a thin row of pine trees, making for a wonderful combination of sand, sea and woodland. I would challenge anyone to find a more unique-looking beach that the one found at Wells.

After taking a walk along the coast, and maybe a dip in the sea if you’re brave enough, I would recommend heading into the town centre for a bite to eat. The tiny town boasts a plethora of cafes and eateries; of which many look out onto the harbour and the distant wetlands. If visiting early in the morning, I’d suggest taking a seat inside Wells Deli. They offer a variety of different breakfast options that cater for vegans and meat-eaters alike, for very reasonable prices. Their location also provides a great view out onto the harbour, perfect for whiling away the hours drinking tea and watching the world wake up. If you are in search of somewhere slightly more upmarket, The Golden Fleece is the perfect spot. Also set upon the harbour, the rustic pub serves up all kinds of cuisines from roast dinners to pizzas, inside its warm and cosy walls. It is also a great place for a pint, if you fancy something more alcoholic after bracing the cold and wind of the English coastline.

Meander around Norfolk’s famous broads

If beaches aren’t to your tune, then I suggest heading to one of Norfolk’s famous broads. My personal favourite, Thurne, is set along a subsidiary of the River Bure, where a number of houseboats moor up. Dotted on either side of the river are two impressive windmills that have been kept in remarkable shape, despite one having been around for 200 years. It was even once featured on BBC Countryfile. The river itself has a glasslike quality which acts as a sort of mirror for the nearby mill, reflecting its’ image and creating a truly stunning scene. For this reason, the river has become a popular spot for photographers, especially at sunrise. The cobbled cottages of Thurne village, the sight of the old windmills, and the surrounding farmland paint an image of an England long gone by.  It is easy to forget the complexities of modern life in Thurne, allowing your mind to wander to a distant era of ‘Ye Olde England’, which I know many tourists come to England to find.

Getting to Norfolk

Whilst Norfolk is a great destination to explore and visit year round, as each season brings changes to the landscape and different sights to see, I would personally recommend visiting anywhere between October and May in order to avoid the crowds. The area does tend to get quite busy during the months of June-September, as the schools break up for the holidays, and Brits flock to the coastline to enjoy their summer.  Accommodation is also much cheaper during the Spring, Winter and Autumn period, which is always a bonus when it comes to exploring Norfolk.

For any foreign visitors who feel captivated by the idea of making a trip to Norfolk, I would recommend heading there from London. As Norfolk is a county, rather than a city itself, it’s best to get a train to it’s biggest city – Norwich. From London, trains run to Norwich every half an hour out of Liverpool Street Station, and the journey takes roughly around two hours. Once in Norwich I would suggest hiring a car in order to make the most of your trip, and in order to visit the towns and sights mentioned above most easily. Whilst there is public transport in Norfolk, in the form of buses and trains, you will find that you’ll have a lot more freedom with your own vehicle, as Norfolk, admittedly, does not have the greatest public transport system in the world. Although non-drivers (like myself) should not fear, as it is possible to visit the Norfolk coast and the broads via public transportation, it just requires a little bit more careful planning and possibly some time constraints. If taking public transport, Google maps is the best source to use for up to date and accurate buses/trains and planning how to get around.I implore anyone planning a trip to the south of the UK to consider making a pit stop in Norfolk. Whilst my teenage-self longed to escape to bigger and busier places, my adult-self has certainly come to appreciate the feel of sand under my feet and the salty taste of sea air on my tongue. Norfolk’s landscapes and coastlines are hard to match, and offer not only a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of city life, but a glimpse into an England long forgotten.

Maya is a travel photographer and writer based in the UK. She’s passionate about promoting ethical and environmentally sustainable travel, and aims to reflect this in her writing.

{Photos and words by Maya Hunneyball; Website: Mayasmap; Instagram: @mayasmap}

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