Tory’s first stop was Sandringham to check out the fantastic new (free!) outdoor adventure play area that opened this spring. The space is incredibly creative, adventurous and somehow blends in seamlessly with the shady woodland surroundings. It has something for all ages, adults included, with high level walkways and challenging climbs! The focal point is The Water Tower complete with levers, cogs and funnels to create an innovative and educational play space. The pop up coffee van is just next to the playpark and is hoping to stay all summer, we recommend grabbing a refreshing drink to take into to the woods whilst you explore the Royal Park’s Nature Trails. Tory couldn’t resist wandering over to the beautifully presented Courtyard where the Terrace Take-Away Café didn’t disappoint, with a lovely choice of drinks, snacks and tasty looking cakes. Then on to Hunstanton to finish the day with fish and chips by the sea at this spacious seaside resort. Tory and her family enjoyed a walk along the two mile promenade towards Heacham which was quiet, scenic and suitable for all on the surfaced path.
We also treated ourselves to some ‘Shaw family time’ with a ride out to Skegness to find out more about the new pedestrianised zone on the sea front. The investment has really smartened up the area that runs down from The Clock Tower to the beach, creating a safe walkway from the town’s plentiful chip shops and arcades to the soft sandy Blue Flag beach. Get your chips wrapped and they’ll stay warm for long enough to wander down to the beach and find a quiet spot to enjoy them. The Victorian Pier offers impressive views along the coastline, with Hunstanton visible in the distance. The sand dunes to the south of the pier make a great spot for children to hide and play, along with the little known (and free!) Fairy Dell splash zone just behind the dunes, complete with an iconic central fountain, paddling pools and sprayers!
Caz and Richard have also enjoyed a scenic ride to Cromer where they took the opportunity to explore a stretch of the Norfolk Coastal Path, much of which is classed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. From Cromer they looped to Overstrand, taking the cliff path there and the sandy route back, passing colourful beach huts along the way. Sturdy footwear is advised with parts of the walk being uneven underfoot and there’s quite a steep descent from cliff to beach. Back in Cromer, it was easy to find a local shop serving delicious crab sandwiches. The Rocket House Café offers a lift to the top of the town and up here you can enjoy a casual picnic lunch on a quiet bench with a beautiful view. You’ll often catch sight of a boat haul coming in or someone peacefully fishing off the pier – and of course, the pier itself is a great place to enjoy an ice cream or coffee, with miles of coastline stretching in both directions.
We’ve got two dates to choose from for all the destinations mentioned and we hope you can join us on a Great Day Out this summer!
