The Acre

No need to drive to the seaside – Sea Palling beach is accessed on foot in less than five minutes. Simply follow the boardwalk across the dunes and – hey presto – you’re there. But it’s by no means the only local sandy spot. Head for Waxham (five minutes’ drive) or Horsey Gap beaches (15 minutes) for the chance to spot seals lolling in the waves, or tire everyone out playing chase on the long stretch of beach at Mundesley (25 minutes). Kids still going strong? Try them on the rope swings and treetop walks at BeWilderwood Norfolk (25 minutes), get them looking for barn owls and kingfishers on walks at Hickling Broad (20 minutes), or treat them to a cruise on a wooden boat through the waterways at Horsey Mere (15 minutes). Climb to the top of National Trust-owned Horsey Windpump (15 minutes) for apparently endless views over the flat landscapes of Norfolk, and get up high again when you visit red-and-white striped Happisburgh Lighthouse (10 minutes), with views over the beach and North Sea from its lookout deck.