Norfolk Winter Guide

Longer evenings, some dazzlingly sunny days, this is the moment to wrap up warm and really enjoy the great open spaces of North Norfolk, its delightful towns and villages and ancient monuments.

For bird watchers, the winter visiting waders are here, and even if you’re not an expert, the sight of them feeding when the tide is out, or rising in flocks as the tide comes in is breathtaking. Snettisham Beach is the RSPB’s most important East Coast reserve and not to be missed. And it’s on the door step of The Rose & Crown! 

Visit King’s Lynn. A town full of history and amazing buildings, cobbled streets, hidden courtyards, beautiful squares, stunning churches and quirky museums. And Bank House of course.

For walkers the latest section of the Norfolk Coastal Path, linking King’s Lynn and Hunstanton has just opened, taking you through the wild marshland on the edge of the Wash. And almost linking The Rose & Crown and Bank House!

Meanwhile there are marvellous walks along the rest of the coast, with the friendly Coast Hopper bus to take you back to your starting point. Walk Holkham, Hunstanton or Brancaster beaches, they never fail to lift the spirits.

Go a bit further and take the Welcome Ferry from Burnham Overy Staithe, which, amazingly, runs throughout the year to Scolt Head island. The charming John will guide you on where and when to walk on what is widely recognised as one of the best beaches in the world.

Wander through the lovely abbey ruins and village of Castle Acre. And if you’re a castle fiend, Castle Rising just up the road from King’s Lynn, takes some beating.

Norfolk is snowdrop heaven. From late January to March they blanket the grounds of lovely Walsingham Abbey, and elsewhere. Google snowdrops in Norfolk!

Go star gazing! A short drive out of the village and you’re in dark sky territory. On a clear night the stars are amazing, on the meteor shower nights they are incredible. And we seem to get more and more sightings of the Northern Lights from the North Coast. Follow the news and be ready to jump into the car.

Come down to earth! A bit of retail therapy? There’s plenty to be had in the pretty towns of Burnham Market, Wells-next-the-Sea and Holt. All with lovely coffee shops to recover in.