Visit to Norfolk

We recently spent a few days based at Cromer after first visiting this part of the country many decades ago, Norfolk is very rural and lies quite far out to the East of the UK.  The fields are mainly given over to crops including flowers which resembled coloured stripes from the road.

The weather was variable but, during the showers, we took advantage of our National Trust membership to visit a couple of stately homes.

 Cromer Pier

 

 Hotel de Paris where Oscar Wilde and Duke of Wales stayed, although not at the same time

Our B&B was actually once part of the grounds of the elegant Fellbrigg Hall, so we didn’t have far  to go.  

 

 Some of the stained glass windows dated back to the 15^th century

 

Next we visitedSheringham Park, which was taken over by the National Trust in 1986.  Designed by the landscaper Humphry Repton in 1812, there is 20 hectares of parkland with walks down to the cliffs and a gazebo and a temple which gives excellent views of the surroundings. 

The Bower Garden

In the garden was the International Garden Photographer of the Year exhibition.  Here are my favourites:

 

Bickling Hall is described thus by the National Trust:  Mentioned in the Domesday Book, Blickling Estate was the birthplace of Anne Boleyn, and during the Second World War RAF air crew were billeted here, while its owner, Lord Lothian, influenced Churchill’s actions...

 The perennial beds were stunning, even this late in the season

We also visited the Blakeney Nature Reserve but you have to time the tides right to sail over to see the seals, Hunstanton, Wells next to the Sea and the picturesque town of Holt, the town which was burnt down in 1708 and rebuilt in Georgian style, which has lots of independent shops.

There is still a great deal to see for another time ….