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Day Three: Walk / Seal watching –
Horsey Mere & Beach / The coastal fringe of the Norfolk Broads
While predominantly an area of freshwater, the
Broads National Park extends to the coast at Horsey, providing an
opportunity for an undemanding walk around this intriguing area,
viewing the only community of seals living in the Norfolk Broads! Our
suggestions will take you to Horsey, the site of several extensive
flooding episodes in the twentieth century, for a circular walk of
approximately 8 miles around the varied landscape of the area; the
opportunity to view the large community of seals living along this
part of the coast; a climb up Horsey Mill providing striking views
over Horsey Mere; lunch at a traditional Norfolk pub; followed by
an afternoon visit to Waxham Barn, a restored barn now housing a
museum of local life.
Cost Guide: £ - ££
Our recommended itinerary is as follows:
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Drive to Horsey,
signposted off the A149 from either Martham or Stalham and
park near to the Nelson Head public house (1) |
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Keeping the pub on your
left, walk east towards the sea, following the track until
you reach the dunes, before turning left (2) |
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Optional seal watching
detour : if you have plenty of time, you could walk onto
the beach, turn right and walk for up to a mile, where you
might be lucky enough to spot some of the seals that live
along this part of the coast |
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Having turned left,
continue for three quarters of a mile behind the dunes,
keeping an eye out for marsh harriers and other smaller
birds of prey, until you reach a National Trust car park |
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Turn left here (3),
following the rough track back to the road, turn right
onto the road for a short distance, before turning left
onto a footpath between two fields (4). At the field
break, turn right across another field, and at the unmade
road, turn right and then immediately left between the
houses |
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Follow the path around the
field edge and along the dyke to a ruined mill (5). Turn
left along the stream and follow this path around the edge
of Horsey Mere, one of the very few expanses of water in
the Broads owned by the National Trust |
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The path will lead you to
Horsey Windpump (6), which is well worth a visit for the
view from the top and the display of historic photographs
of the local area. There is also a small friendly café
here, selling teas and snacks, including toasted teacakes
and bacon rolls |
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Acquired by the National Trust in 1948
from the Buxton family, who continue to manage the Horsey
Estate, the 5-storey windpump has been fully restored and
now also has a wheelchairaccessible nature garden, with
raised ponds for pond-dipping |
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Opposite the entrance to the car park is
a permissive footpath which will lead you back to the
Nelson Head, a traditional Norfolk pub. There are no fruit
machines, a roaring real fire in the colder months, and
children are welcome in the attractive family room. It
serves local Woodforde’s ales and homemade food |
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After lunch, why not
continue a little way up the road to visit Waxham Barn, a
recently renovated barn converted to a museum of rural
Norfolk life. It also houses a café if you are still in
need of refreshment |
Young Family Option
The walk can feel quite long for younger
children, so to shorten the trip, try just walking down to the
beach and along to spot some seals. You could take a picnic along
and eat your lunch in the dunes overlooking the seals, before
returning to Horsey to explore the windpump.
Useful Norfolk Broads Contacts
Below you will find suggestions for accommodation, activities, attractions,
food & drink and shopping. All useful
contacts while visiting the Norfolk Broads.
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Moonfleet Marine
Moonfleet Marine offers high quality day boats to seat up to 6 people, available in both diesel and electric engine options. The boatyard is by the historic staithe at Stalham. Easily accessible by road, just off the A149 with plenty of free parking.
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Great and Little Plumstead Circular Walk
This 5½ mile walk is around the Plumsteads that lay to the east of Norwich. Take the B1140 for approximately 4½ miles from the Norwich outer ringroad. Parking is available at the Little Plumstead Village Hall in Crowes Loke.
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Museum of the Broads
The only waterside museum of Broadland life, in a traditional setting at Stalham Staithe on the Norfolk Broads. Discover the boats of the Broads and how peoples working lives shaped the landscape.
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Norfolk Mead Hotel, The
Built in 1740, the Norfolk Mead, formally a merchants house, is set in 8 tranquil riverside acres on the river Bure. Just 7 miles from the city of Norwich and 10 miles from the coast. An ideal location for a weekend or longer break.
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Sutton Pottery
Small studio workshop in rural East Norfolk, established by Malcolm Flatman in 1977 in the Broadland village of Sutton, near Stalham. He uses the Potters Wheel and the fire of a gas kiln to create a large range of reduction stoneware entirely by hand.
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; grid reference TG462228
