Pensthorpe is one of those places which could easily be overlooked when looking for a place to take the family. It is fairly expensive and you might think that the children will get bored at a “bird sanctuary”. But this would be wrong. Pensthorpe is so much more than that! There are beautiful, and I mean stunning, views and scenery. There are so many places off the beaten track where you can take in the views whilst nibbling on a sandwich. There are thousands of birds and countless other wildlife to spot along a slow amble. There are large lakes…
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We’ve driven past the sign to the Wildflower Garden countless times on our way to Waverley, but have never visited. However, in these strange, Covid times, now seemed the perfect opportunity to give it a try, as it was outside and, therefore, easier to social distance. The entrance is via a single doorway, straight into the cafe. Fortunately, there is a one-way system in place, and copious signage to manage the flow of people. We paid for our admission to the garden and ordered lunch at the same time, then went and sat at a (socially-distanced) table to await our…
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We’ve been to Pensthorpe a couple of times now and we always enjoy our time here. We used to drive past the signs on the way to Waverley several times a year, and never gave it much thought. However, when we asked a local for ideas of things to do, he said the best place locally was Pensthorpe. We replied that it looked a bit pricey for a visit to a wetlands centre. He smiled and then said that there is much more there than seeing a few birds! And he was right. There are some lovely walks through varying…
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After a very enjoyable visit to Alby last year, we stopped by again for a spot of lunch and to pick up some cakes. We were not disappointed! The highlights were the chunky chips cooked to perfection, and the amazing side salads. Portion sizes are generous and, in our opinion, worth every penny. A great way to round off, what was a fabulous visit to Waverley Cottage. Our daughter was particularly excited we managed to get the table with the blackboard top and chalks in the pockets (exactly as it says on the tin – if that makes no sense, visit…
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Again we were blessed with great weather when visiting this small, but perfectly formed, zoo. Our opinion of this place has not diminished – we managed to spend a whole afternoon with our 3 1/2 year old and our 6 month old without any complaints of being bored or wanting to leave. The animals are lovely to see, and when they no longer sustain the 3 year old mind, the outdoor play area, and then the indoor soft play kick in. We had such fun that we were the last to leave and almost had to be escorted out. We…
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Not strictly “local” to Waverley Cottage, but worth an honourable mention, and definitely worth a visit! We’ve been going to the Neptune Inn once a year for about 7 years now, and it is always one of the highlights of our year. We go for the food, but really enjoy the comfortable rooms and laid back ambience that Kevin and Jacki offer. This time was no exception. Yet again, a lovely dinner (followed by coffee and cinnamon doughnuts in the bar afterwards – what a treat!) and then we woke up to, what I still maintain, is one of the…
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We weren’t really sure what we expected to find at Alby. For me, the craft Centre part of the name was a bit of a put off, but I was wrong. We spent a very enjoyable hour or so pottering around the various artist workshops and galleries before heading out into the garden. We couldn’t quite believe our lucky with this October sunshine! The gardens cost £2.50 each to enter, but it was well worth the money – the gardens were beautiful – very enjoyable to step through, even this late in the year. I can only begin to imagine…
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It is places like Felbrigg Hall that justify our NT membership. We have been here several times before, and never disappointed. On this occasion, we popped in on our way home from Norfolk. We didn’t go into the house this time (Littley is a little too young to appreciate it) instead heading for the walled gardens. As always, they are maintained to an exceptional standard, but it is really pleasing to see that these are also working gardens, with a large assortment of fruit and vegetables being grown. We were particularly interested in how well the squashes were growing (such…
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Having spent a rather windswept, but pleasant morning at Mundesley Beach, we headed back to Waverley; Thea was getting tired. As we approached the ice cream van, she rallied (!) so we gave in and had one. Each! We sat at the top of the cliff, looking down towards East Runton beach as the sun came out. By this time, the ice cream induced sugar rush was had finished its work on Thea – she was raring to go. So, we dropped down onto the beach so that we could paddle our feet in the sea for a little while.…