Today we took a trip to the North Norfolk coast to meet up with Joyce and Nick for a wintery walk.
This was the invite from Joyce...
"Weds Jan 17th - a grand day out to Wells Next The Sea. I am going to have a day out at the seaside. Parking in Mill Road NR23 1DB in Wells which is just off the A149 and near to Arch House B+B (what3words ///spotty.reassured.trimmer). We will meet in this area at 10.30am.A walk through the town centre to toilets and takeaway coffees and then we will walk to Holkham Gap on the cycle path through the pine trees. Then a route out of Holkham Park back into Wells. The circular route is 9.5-10 miles. Aiming to finish 3.30pm. Plenty of toilets en route but please bring a packed lunch as the Courtyard Café in Holkham is closed."
This was the route of our walk going anti-clockwise from Wells.
In all there were six of us. We met up with Nick and Joyce in Mill Road, walked along the road to meet Dan and Dru at the long stay car park and carried on to the sea front.
Here are some of my photos.
And now we are six (and clever as clever). Do you recognise the quote?
My eponymous Rock Shop was closed. No it's not really mine. It was really odd to see the town so quiet, but we've only been here in summer before.
This boat was docked at the quayside.
Albatros was built in 1899 and is currently undergoing restoration.
We set off along The Bank....
...not forgetting to look back at the town.
We stopped to admire the lifeboat station and its boats...
...the coastguard station.
...and the beach with its huts.
It was just past high tide.
We made our way to the beach café for drinks.
These colourful decorations hanging from the ceiling are based on
boat fenders.
It was tempting top stay sat by the fire, but we had a walk to do.
Instead of walking along the beach, we stuck to the coast path along the edge of the Wells pinewoods.
We had a toilet stop at
The Lookout, familiar from
Day 2 of our Norfolk Coast Path walk in 2019.... and other walks since.
The marshes were teeming with birds....
...godwits..
...and lapwings, among many other species.
We approached Holkham Hall via the village.
We entered the grounds of Holkham Hall, and turned to visit the the Coke monument. Holkham Hall was built between 1734 and 1764 by
Thomas Coke, the first Earl of Leicester and remains the home of the
Coke family.
It wasn't long before we spotted some fallow deer. They roam freely through the 677-acre deer park. Read more about them
here.
We were able to walk quite close to them without them being bothered.
Lunch was at a picnic table just outside the courtyard.
We then head round the hall and south towards the second monument.
We passed a group of stags lying in the grass. A stag party, perhaps?
The two monuments are aligned to have the centre of the hall on the straight line between them.
The impressive drive continues to the south edge of the estate, but we turned left here to start heading back to Wells.
We passed the impressive
Great Barn where we saw a gathering of country gentlemen. We surmised they may have been a shooting party, Designed
by the architect Samuel Wyatt, the Great Barn was built around 1790,
constructed from white Holkham Brick and roofed with slate. Unusually,
it was designed in a neo-classical style, therefore very much in keeping
with other Holkham buildings. Rather grander than your average barn!
A little further on we found Joyce's planned route was not a public right of way so had to turn north here.
The vehicles from the Great Barn passed us on their way out of the estate with dogs in the back of each. We didn't hear any shooting so thought they must have had their shoot earlier.
We saw plenty of geese on the wing.
Exiting the estate via East Lodge, we walked though this impressive avenue of trees.
We had a view across the marshes towards The Lookout where we were earlier.
We followed the road into Wells. The sign said it was closed and we briefly worried it might be flooded... but it wasn't.
Soon we were back at the harbour and enjoyed the views in the fading sunlight.
Then it was back home. A lovely day out. Thanks to Joyce for organising and leading us round and to the others too for the company. Cold but sunny.... and no mud!
You can see more of my photos here on Flickr and more details of our 10 mile route here on MapMyWalk (or download a GPX file here).
Other related walks you can find on my blog include:
Thanks for photos of familiar places! We visited these in December but, we drove through the grounds of Holkham. Looks as if you had a very enjoyable day.
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