Page 127 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Great Britain

DRIVE 11: The Broads and the North Norfolk Coast 125

open daily; check at other times; 01263 8 Cley-next-the-Sea
820 808; www.nnrailway.co.uk). With a Norfolk; NR25 7SZ
“Rover” ticket for a day’s travel, board A thriving port in medieval times,
and alight at will. There is a charming Cley is now some distance inland.
station building, complete with period In its heyday, it exported wool to the
furnishings, at the western terminus, Netherlands and imported curved
just 8 km (5 miles) from Sheringham gables, Flemish bricks and pantiles.
and not far from the flower-filled Cley Windmill is an 18th-century mill
Georgian town of Holt, a repeated that has been converted into a B&B
finalist in the Anglia In Bloom contest. with views of the salt marsh and bird
ª Carry on A149 west to Weybourne. sanctuary. The owners usually let
visitors have a look inside. Visit the
Norfolk Wildlife Trust visitor centre
(www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk) on the
marshes, east of town. Facilities include
a remote camera, a café, hides for
bird-watching and an audio trail. Above Sign for the village of Blakeney
ª Carry on west on A149 to Blakeney. painted according to Norfolk tradition
9 Blakeney EAT AND DRINK
Norfolk; NR25 7SZ CROMER
Like Cley, this was a busy port in Rocket House Café and
ancient times but, since the harbour Restaurant inexpensive
has silted up, only small craft can Visit this stylish place above the RNLI
navigate the creeks. The village is Henry Blogg Museum (with lift access),
delightful, with attractive flint cottages, for coffee and a cake, or a meal of local
seafood with unsurpassed sea views.
a 14th-century guildhall and places The Gangway, Promenade, NR27 9ET;
to shop, eat, drink and stay. However, 01263 519 126; www.rockethousecafe.
Above Little station on the North Norfolk Railway the greatest draw for visitors are the co.uk
Poppy Line, Weybourne boat trips to Blakeney Point, which WEYBOURNE
put out from here and neighbouring
7 Weybourne Morston, to the west. These trips, The Ship Inn inexpensive–moderate
Simplicity is key in this attractive old pub.
Norfolk; NR25 7SZ lasting one to two hours, provide an The short menu features delicious local
This attractive village (pronounced excellent way to view seabirds and dishes such as seafood chowder.
“Webbon”’) sits amid farm and heath basking seals in their natural environ- The Street, NR25 7SZ; 01263 588 721;
land. It has a famously steep, pebbly ment, without unduly disturbing them. www.theshipinnweybourne.com
beach, a historic station on the Poppy The seal colony, a mix of common and AROUND WEYBOURNE
Line and the Muckleburgh Collection grey seals, numbers some 500 individ- Cookies Crab Shop inexpensive
(Mar: open Sat & Sun; Apr–Oct: open daily; uals. Common seals have their young Try the soups and local fish at this
01263 588 210; www.muckleburgh.co.uk), or pups Jun–Aug; the greys Nov–Jan. café/shop. Bring your own alcohol.
Britain’s largest private collection of ª Take the A149 west via Stiffkey The Green, Salthouse, NR25 7AJ;
01263 740 352; www.salthouse.org.uk;
military vehicles and equipment. (pronounced “Stewkey”), famous for closed Mon
ª Take A149 west, via Salthouse – its cockles, with pretty flint cottages,
stopping off at Cookies Crab Shop. salt marshes and reed beds. CLEY-NEXT-THE-SEA
The George inexpensive–moderate
Good, honest fare with a few flourishes
can be enjoyed in this bird-watchers’
paradise. Consider the rooms, too.
High Street, NR25 7RN; 01263 740 652;
www.thegeorgehotelatcley.co.uk
BLAKENEY
The Blakeney White Horse
inexpensive–moderate
Seasonal seafood fresh off the boat,
good local produce and home-made
desserts. There are also a few rooms.
4 High Street, NR 25 7AL; 01263 740 574;
www.adnams.co.uk

Left Cley Windmill, set on the salt marshes and
popular with artists
Eat and Drink: inexpensive, under £25; moderate, £25–£50; expensive, over £50

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