Blakeney: Blakeney Quay is a mile west of Wiveton Hall by road, and a pleasant hour's stroll away by the coast path.

The pebbly beaches of Cley, Salthouse and Weybourne are a short distance east along the coast from Wiveton. This is an ideal start for the very hearty who want to walk out to Blakeney Point.

Boats also go out to Blakeney Point from Morston at high tide.  Companies running these trips include:  Beans Boats www.beansboattrips.co.uk (01263 740505), Bishops Boats www.bishopsboats.co.uk (0800 0740754) and Temple Seal Trips www.sealtrips.co.uk (01263 740791).  Trips often include a stop off on the point to walk and look at the birds.

There are rock pools at the beaches of West and East Runton when the tide is out.

The coastal towns of Sheringham and Cromer are less than half an hour away with a variety of shops and arcades and the pier at Cromer.    

At Stiffkey the tidal marshes and creaks are beautiful for walking at low tide.

Wells next the Sea has picturesque beach huts and miles of sandy beach and dunes. These lead round to Holkham Beach and then on to Burnham Overy Staithe where there is access to Scolt Head Island.

Brancaster Beach is another sandy beach, good for bathing and making sandcastles.

Maps of the area

Sailing, windsurfing, powerboating and canoeing:
The following companies teach these activities. You can also charter boats to take you for the experience round the point at Blakeney and to the Island of Scolt Head etc:
 www.norfolketc.co.uk
Sailing Barge Juno: www.charlieward-trad-boats.co.uk
Oceanus Sailing: www.oceanus-sailing.com

Swimming:
Splash, Sheringham 01263 825675
Pinewood, Holt Road, Bodham 01263 821 208 (www.pinewoodparkleisure.co.uk)

Golf:
Cromer Golf Club www.royalcromergolfclub.com 
Sheringham www.sheringhamgolfclub.co.uk
Brancaster Golf Club 01485 210223

Riding:
North Norfolk Riding Centre, Walsingham  01328 820796
Fernbank Riding Stables, Roughton 01263 512796
Forest Lodge, Weybourne 01263 588578
Thwaite Riding School, Thwaite Common, Erpingham 01263 761787
Shire horses at the Shire horse centre, www.norfolk-shirehorse-centre.co.uk

Tennis:
Cromer Tennis and Squash Club www.northnorfolk.org/cromertennis  01263 513741

Indoor play areas:
Let Off Steam, Sheringham 01263 823100
Funstop, Cromer 01263 514976

Poppyline, North Norfolk Railway 01263 820800 (www.nnrailway.co.uk)

Muckleburgh collection of tanks 01263 588210 (www.muckleburgh.co.uk)

Pottery cafés:
Cromer: Sticky Earth Café 01263 519642 (www.stickyearthcafe.co.uk)
Holt:  Doddlepots 01263 713135

Glandford Shell Museum 01263 740081

Dinosaur Park, Lenwade:  www.dinosaurpark.co.uk

Mazes: Metton:  www.wizardadventuremaze.co.uk

Cinemas:
Regal Cinema, Cromer 01263 513311 (www.regalfilmcentre.com)
Hollywood, Fakenham 01328 856765

Theatres:
Cromer Pier, Pavilion Theatre 01263 512495 (www.cromer-pier.com)
Little Theatre, Sheringham 01263 822347 (www.sheringhamlittletheatre.co.uk)

Blickling Hall, Sheringham Park and Felbrigg are all National Trust Properties very close (www.nationaltrust.org.uk)

Holkham Hall (www.holkham.co.uk)

Sandringham (www.sandringham-estate.co.uk)

East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens (www.e-ruston-oldvicaragegardens.co.uk)

Wolterton and Mannington (www.manningtongardens.co.uk)

Houghton Hall (www.houghtonhall.com)

Maps of the area

Widgeon arriving at dawn

Situated between Blakeney National Nature Reserve and the bird reserve at Cley-next-the-Sea, Wiveton Hall is right in the middle of one of the largest expanses of undeveloped coastal habitats of the type in Europe. It offers birdwatchers glimpses of rare birds such as marsh harriers, bearded tits, bitterns and barn owls - sometimes, conveniently, from its windows.

Land reclamation in the 17th century left the adjacent village of Cley-next-the-Sea a full mile from the shore in what are now the famous Cley marshes. A well-placed visitor centre here and excellent bird-watching hides give views across one of the finest bird-watching sites in Britain. This Wildlife Trust reserve is the oldest in the country. Telephone: 01263 740008

Blakeney Point is a National Trust nature reserve and geographical landmark - a remote shingle spit. Seals breed on the sandbanks off the spit and it is a summer home and nesting place for terns. It is an ideal place for spotting unusual passage migrants. Telephone: 01263 733471

More information: Birds of Britain , The Norfolk Wildlife Trust

Local guided bird-watching tours: The Bird ID Company  Guide Paul Laurie says: 'The daily tours average around 75 - 90 species a day and often we encounter a scarce or rare bird, which always adds to a day's birding.'  Contact Paul Laurie, 9b Chapel Yard, Albert Street, Holt, Norfolk NR25 6HG  Telephone: 01263 710203   Email: paul.seethebird@fsmail.net