Magical Camping

Shoppers and sandy sorts rejoice: both the city of Norwich and the north Norfolk coast are within 30 minutes’ drive of Magical Camping. Norwich city centre should be known for more than Alan Partridge: we challenge anyone not to find a needful thing in the Chapelfield shopping centre or The Lanes and Royal Arcade with independent shops (Norwich is ranked among the top ten shopping cities in the UK). If shopping’s not your bag, the captivating Norwich Cathedral, started in the eleventh century and with one of the biggest cathedral closes in Europe, is easy to spot from most places around the city centre and has regular events and free guided tours. Norwich Castle and Norwich market, one of the biggest outdoor markets in the country, are also popular with visitors, as is the library, the most visited in the UK by the well-read populace. Ah ha! Closer to home are the shops and restaurants of ancient market town Dereham; if it gets drizzly, roll along to the cinema, bowling or to dive into the pool at the well-equipped leisure centre. On kindly weather days, the area around Magical Camping and Dereham has miles of walks and bike rides – pick up some leaflets and maps at the Park Farm reception – or take a sightseeing trip from Dereham to Wymondham on the heritage Poppy Line of the North Norfolk Railway. The beaches and seaside towns of the north Norfolk coast are worth at least a few days: upmarket Wells-next-the-Sea and Burnham Market for feeling posh; Cromer for crabbing and its historic pier; and Great Yarmouth for its racecourse, Pleasure Beach and Golden Mile with amusements and sandy beaches. Great Yarmouth is also a gateway town to the Norfolk Broads, worth at least another day trip for messing about in boats. The Coasthopper bus goes from Cromer to King’s Lynn along the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, but if you do want to walk, the North Norfolk Coastal Path, 45 miles of beauty from Hunstanton to Cromer, passes through Wells-next-the-Sea and Blakeney. Naturalists can stop off at the Stiffkey salt marshes of the Blakeney National Nature Reserve along the coast path; look out for carpets of lavender in summer. If you have small people on your trip (or even if you don’t), a trip to Dinosaur Park at Lenwade, ten minutes’ drive from Magical Camping, is a mighty good choice; tiddlers can also try Great Yarmouth’s Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens, Hunstanton’s Sea Life Sanctuary or getting wild at the adventure park BeWILDerwood.