Woodhill Park

Cromer is within walking distance of Woodhill (take the footpath to East Runton, stop off at The Fishing Boat for a pint, then slip down onto the beach) and has most of what you’ll need for a seaside day out including a funfair and zoo. The history of the town and its contribution to fishing in the area is told at the Cromer Museum in a nineteenth century fishing house, while the RNLI Henry Blogg Museum tells the tale of famed local rescuer Henry Blogg and the town’s lifeboats. Cromer is probably most famous for its crab and visitors have the option of picking some up at the beach or local shops to take back to camp, sampling some from the town’s pubs and restaurants, or crabbing off Cromer pier. Sea bass and cod can often be caught from the beach and pier; anglers also often hire boats to go out fishing from the shore. Hike and bike paths run from Cromer too: the 92-mile Norfolk Coast Cycleway links Cromer with Great Yarmouth to the east and Kings Lynn in the west. On foot, both the Norfolk Coast Path (45 miles, towards Hunstanton) and the Weavers’ Way (56 miles, towards Great Yarmouth) finish in the town. Catch the Coasthopper bus from Cromer to King’s Lynn if walking’s not your thing, or see the countryside in style on the North Norfolk Railway, which runs from seaside town Sheringham – in the other direction of Cromer from Woodhill Park – inland to market town Holt. Halt here for a bit to check out the shops and the country park; from Holt; it’s 23 miles to Norwich, also well worth a day out. Inland, the Norfolk Broads – good for a day or three – have wildlife spotting boat trips, more fishing, extreme sports and steam trains among plenty more. Take another day or three to explore Great Yarmouth, Hunstanton, Wells next the Sea, Blakeney and the other seaside towns and villages of the Norfolk coast; all have their own attractions, such as the National Nature Reserve at Blakeney and the upmarket vibe at Wells. Weybourne, three miles from Sheringham, was a vital defence point during World War II and now holds the Muckleburgh Collection, the biggest privately owned collection of tanks and military vehicles in the world.