Herts Weekend Walkers & WalkWise UK Walking Weekend Old and the Coast

Date: Friday 6 to Sunday 8 October 2017 (2 nights) Place: WalkWise Walking Weekend at Le Strange Arms Hotel, , PE36 6JJ Cost: £239.00 per person in a single room £189.00 per person in a shared room Included: 2 nights accommodation, 2 breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 evening meals & 3 guided walks Extras: Cost of drinks and local transport to the start of the walks (if used) Places: Up to 22 people to be accommodated in 12 single rooms, 2 twins and 3 double rooms

WalkWise overview

The Coast has long been on the WalkWise wish list and this year you are finally going to be able to explore it in a WalkWise Walking Weekend. True there are no real hills here, but its beauty and wildlife value are well known. Indeed the North Norfolk coast is designated an area of outstanding natural beauty and includes numerous nature reserves of international importance, stunning villages, picturesque seaside towns, regal country estates, stunning beaches, huge expansive saltmarshes and dune complexes which are all networked through a complex maze of footpaths! We will be based in the easy to get to Le Strange Arms Hotel in the lovely village of Old Hunstanton. Here you’ll find friendly and professional staff and a hotel with blend of modern, stylish design and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. On one day we will explore the coast from Sandringham, , , and finish in Hunstanton, whilst another day will see us wandering further along the coast to Holme-next-the-Sea, Thornham and . In addition for those who are able, we will meet up on the Friday lunch time to have a walk around Blickley Hall.

The WalkWise walking programme

The North Norfolk Coast Paths is a National Long Distance Trail which follows a mixture of low cliffs, sand dunes, beaches, sea and fresh water marshes. It is great for wildlife, not only birds, but flowers and even seals too. The beaches are huge and the sea goes out a very long way at low tide, which creates the stunning seascapes for which the area is famed. Dotted along the way are small picturesque harbours and inviting villages where we will pause, drink in the views and refreshments too. To make the walks even more interesting and add even more variety, we will occasionally divert inland to take in some of the beautiful parks, market towns and country estates.

On Saturday, the plan is to enjoy the coastal areas west of the hotel. We may pass through Sandringham before making our way down through Dersingham or Wolferton to the coast plains. From here the sea wall can be followed along to Snettisham, home to one of the most amazing sights in the British birding calendar; the 100,000+ knott coming and going into roost! Sadly these roosts will be a lot smaller in early October but there will be plenty of other wildlife to see Anyway the walk will continue along the coast to Heacham, home to one of the Norfolk lavender Farms, before we’ll conclude the day walking under the multi-coloured cliffs of Hunstanton. As we head back to the tranquility of the hotel in Old Hunstanton. By contrast on the Sunday we will head out east of the hotel and enjoy another lovely section of coast this time taking in the delightful towns and villages of Holme, Thornham, Titchwell and . We will again stick close to the coast for the majority of the walk, enjoying the seaside air and following the Peddars Way and the Norfolk Coastal Path. Along the way we’ll pass windmills, amazing nature reserves, enjoy the hustle and bustle of Hunstanton, the peace and solitude of the coastal path, the wildlife of marshes and the hospitality of the local villages and inns.

Remember on each day WalkWise will provide a guided walk of up to 12 miles, but as the coastal hopper bus runs alongside the walks, it is possible to curtail either walk a little earlier if you so wish, so you can choose how you are feeling on the day and see how far you fancy going! These walks will be led by professional and knowledgeable walking guides. All walks are weather-dependent and own transport may be taken to the walk starts.

Accommodation

The Le Strange Arms Hotel is a character seaside hotel in Old Hunstanton on the North Norfolk Coast. It is the perfect venue for the ultimate relaxing seaside break or walking the coastline. Standing just a stone’s throw from the sea, with lawns leading down to a sandy beach, the hotel offers guests the perfect location to escape from the city, and relax in affordable, stylish and comfortable surroundings. Bursting with character, the hotel is well situated to explore many of the attractions in the area such as Sandringham House, Norfolk Lavender, and the historic market town of Kings Lynn.

Guests can choose to dine in either the hotel’s Le Strange Brasserie and Bar, which serves great British classics or in the adjoining pub. Also on site is the Ancient Mariner Inn is a traditional, popular village pub, with beer gardens offering unrivalled views of the sea and beaches of this area of outstanding natural beauty. Sit outside either on the patio or on the lawns which lead down to the dunes and the sea. Old Hunstanton is the only village on the east coast to face west and spectacular sunsets over the Wash can be experienced which enjoying some of their award winning ales, guest beers or wines

1:25 000 OL250 Norfolk West Coast

What to do around Kings Lynn

The varied history of King's Lynn can be seen throughout the area with the winding streets and alleys of the old town of King's Lynn still intact. More modern developments in King's Lynn include the pedestrianised shopping area and specialist shops. The town also has its bustling markets held by named day on Tuesday and Saturday.

An area of outstanding natural beauty, the West Norfolk coastline is an excellent area to explore by foot or by bicycle. Hunstanton, Brancaster and Holkham, in particular, have lovely beaches and boat trips are available from several points along the coast.

Here are some places of interest within a short drive:

 Town House Museum  The Green Quay  Oxburgh Hall  Castle Rising  Hunstanton Sealife Sanctuary  Sandringham

This event is organized and supplied by WalkWise UK Ltd, whose terms and conditions apply http://www.walkwise.co.uk/terms-and-conditions.html. Those booking enter into a contract directly with WalkWise UK Ltd. For availability and bookings contact your HWW contact directly.