The Norfolk Explorer

Last year I was gifted a National Trust membership and I made it my mission to visit all the places Norfolk has to offer.

The National Trust is a conservation charity that works to look after nature, beauty and history for everyone to enjoy. Founded in 1895, it has preserved historic and natural places all across the country.

In Norfolk we have a number of great places to look around, and dotted all over too so you can really make a day with the surroundings, here are my favourites.

Blickling Hall

This is a wonderful Jacobean mansion with stunning and vast grounds. In the spring there is a beautiful carpet of bluebells in amongst the sprawling forest, which makes for a really lovely walk.

It puts on a rather special display at Christmas time with the house and gardens lit up, and the interior all decked out.

There’s a rumour that the ghost of Anne of Cleves wanders the area – so keep your eyes peeled!

Blickling also has a fantastic pub on its grounds, The Buckinghamshire Arms, which is a must try. Big portions, great food!

Felbrigg Hall

Another beautiful house on offer in Norfolk, and conveniently located near Cromer so you can make a whole day of it.

Once again the house is super elegant and even more stunning inside, with its stained glass windows in the Great Hall to the opulent Chinese bedroom.

What makes Felbrigg extra special is its quaint, and beautifully landscaped, walled gardens. If you go in spring or summer then the flowers are in bloom and so pretty.

Oxburgh Hall

This is probably my favourite of all the National Trust houses in Norfolk!

Oxburgh is a smaller house, but by no means less beautiful, and it is sets apart from the others with a tranquil moat that encircles the house. In the house you will find Victorian gothic interiors and ornate details to reflect its medieval past.

We visited in the summertime (July) and were treated to a ukele band and traditional British garden games (think egg and spoon and bean bag toss) – it’s well worth checking out what’s on when you visit!

Horsey Windpump

It’s not all houses we have in Norfolk! This is a true gem of a place to visit and somewhere I regularly go for walks all year round.

Horsey is a wonderful stretch of beach on the north east Norfolk coast and also just happens to be home to the UKs largest grey seal colony.

There is a National Trust car park in the village next to Horsey Windpump, and from there you can take a circular walk via the beach and seals.

The windpump itself is a sight to behold, and it conveniently sits right on the broads with an optional walk along the waters edge.

Sheringham Park

With miles of coastline in Norfolk, there is no shortage of walks to be had. But we also have some fab parks for an alterative scene – and this one has handy National Trust parking!

Sheringham Park is a stones throw away from the beach where you can explore 1000 acres of varying habitat including woodland, parkland and cliff top. 

With varying gradients along the park you can get some great views of the beach from the park, and some fab photos to be had.

Other notable mentions

There’s a couple of other places where there is National Trust parking:

• Brancaster Beach – a breathtaking stretch of coastline with huge sand dunes
• Morston Quay – park here for the boat trip that takes you to see more seals out on Blakeney Point
• Blakeney Nature Reserve – nestled in the heart of the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty