A view of Cromer from the pier
(photo by Grommz)

The seaside town Cromer enjoys a dramatically positioned on the top of a steep cliff of the North Norfolk coastline. This picturesque natural setting should turn it into one of the most attractive coastal resorts in the county, if it is undermined by a slight unkemptness of its streets and shop windows. The magnificent tower, the highest in Norfolk, and the superb architecture of St. Peter & St. Paul Church with Saxon, Norman, Tudor and Victorian features, attests to the wealth of this port city during the Middle Ages. The most of the historic buildings in the town date back to the 80s of the 19th century when the railway station was built. A series of grand Edwardian hotels were built along the coastline and Cromer turned into one of the most fashionable and glossy resorts of the tine, but this fame soon wore off. Only separate structures, such as the elegant building of Hotel de Paris, have survived to remind about the glorious past of the resort.

The Parish Church St. Peter & St. Paul
(photo by rosberond)

When in the town don't forget to taste the famous Cromer Crab. They are known for having particularly tender flesh and a larger proportion of the white meat to the dark. An ideal place to "grab a crab" in Cromer is J.W.H. Jonas, situated in the town centre, 7 Chapel Street.

Cromer is well connected with Norwich by a regular railway line. The main rail station of the town is just a 5-minuted walk from the centre. The Bus Terminal is also close to the town centre, right next to the tourist office on Cadogan Road and just a couple of steps from the enchanting cliff-top promenade. For exploring Cromer you will need approximately two hours. If you wish to spend a weekend break or a longer vacation taking a full advantage of the first-class beaches and the inspiring walks along the cliff-top promenade, there is a good choice of affordable accommodation. The historic Virginia Court Hotel is located in the peaceful tree-lined Cliff Avenue, only a 2-3-minute stroll from the pier.

All Saints Church between Cromer and Sheringham
(photo by Simon_K)

Sheringham is an attractive coastal town, just 4 miles from Cromer in western direction. The town features an affable and relaxed atmosphere, making it the ideal place for an overnight stay, before exploring the more appealing destinations to the west. The coast here has powerful waves, ideal for surfing. But they also have forced the town council to rebuild the sea defences. The waves are the reason for the smooth beach pebbles, which are one of the main characteristics of the town and its seafront. These pebbles are often used in the façade decoration of buildings in this area of Norfolk. Many examples of such architectural decoration can be seen in the town centre of Sheringham. A major attraction is the Sheringham Park. It is located a short drive or a longer walk southwest from the town centre. The park was founded in the beginning of 19th century and comprises 770 acres of beautiful woodland. Here you can see fine examples of rhododendrons and azales. The best time to enjoy them is from the second half of May to the beginning of June. The park also has many lookout points with inspiring panoramic views of the coast line.

The Church of St. Margaret
(photo by **Anik Messier**)

Driving 7 miles from Sheringham in a western direction along the A149, you will reach the picturesque village of Cley-next-the-Sea. It was a lively wool port in the past, but today there are only a line of nice flint stone cottages and elegant Georgian mansions located in small bay. The medieval settlement burnt in a fire in the beginning of 17th century. That's why the beautiful medieval church of St. Margaret stands half a mile outside the today’s village on the site where it was during the Middle Ages. A byroad of a mile and a few hundred yards leads to the Cley beach. This is the starting point of a hiking route with length of 4 miles. It reaches the National Nature Reserve of Blakeney Point. The reserve is known for its large colonies of terns, common and grey seals. If you think 4 miles is a pretty long distance you can reach the reserve in the easier way by taking a boat trip from Blakeney or from Morston.

The Seal Colony at Blakeney Point
(photo by Hindolbittern)

Blakeney, once a busy port trading with corn, salt and fish, is now an enchanting small village of pleasant cottages beautifully decorated with pebble stones taken from the coast. It is situated just a mile west of Cley-next-the-Sea, on a slope over its narrow port. The port is connected with the sea by a narrow channel through the salt marshes. It is navigable only during high tide. Two way Boat trips are available to Blakeney Point and the nearby seal colony. The time schedule of the trips depends on the tides. The boat operators advertise their departure times on special blackboards along the quayside. The price of a boat trip, either to Blakeney Point or to the seal colony, is around £ 7.50.

Wells-next-the-Sea
(photo by mia)

Wells-next-the-Sea is an enchanting town on the north Norfolk coast, one of the most visited destinations in the area. It is located only 8 miles west of Blakeney and 1 mile from the seashore. In the past Tudor time the town was one of the most important ports and flourishing cities in the east of England, exporting various goods to Netherlands and the rest of Europe and the world. But unfortunately the port silted up and today the town is a small commercial centre with only local importance. The most important thing is that Wells-next-the-Sea is a favourite tourist destination for many people. The town itself doe not have any particular sights but it an ideal base for discovering the wonderful coastline of north Norfolk.

Wells has three main districts - The Buttlands, Staithe Street and the Quay. The Buttlands is a rectangular area in the south part of the town. It is very quiet and green, with elegant Georgian houses situated along pretty streets lined with beech and oak trees. The elegant Staithe Street is the main drag of the town. It is flanked by quaint old-fashioned shop windows and crossed by the romantic narrow lanes of the centre. Staithe Street reaches the quay, a slightly shabby area with a couple of entertainment arcades and a series of shops and restaurants. From here you can take the mile-long byroad which will lead you to the beach, a fine sandy stretch of coastline with wonderful dunes overgrown with pine trees. If you prefer not to walk, there is a regular railway line from the town centre to the beach, running every twenty minutes from 10:30 in the morning.