North Norfolk

Having decided to have a week away at the end of October, early November, we thought we had managed to avoid half term. It seems that some  school authorities had other ideas with half term being different weeks depending on what area you live in. Fortunately it seems the Club didn’t know either as the fees at Seacroft did not seem to be inflated due to the school holiday. I suspect for next year they will be wise to this! We had booked a serviced pitch at Seacroft to guarantee a hardstanding. This we thought important as the number of grass standard pitches outnumber the number of standard hardstanding pitches. Ironically when we arrive at the site we were told that the grass pitches are always closed on the 1st October, I wished we had known in advance.

Seacroft was to be the place we tried an experiment. Whilst some might find this strange, in the six years of owning a motorhome we have never taken it off site on a visit. This trip was going to be a first. Felbrigg Hall is nearby and we thought this would be good first option. I had, prior to arrival, phoned the Hall to make sure a motorhome would be welcome and there was room to park. A very helpful reply said there would be no problem and suggested where we should park which turned out to be spot on. Our electric kettle decided to stop working on the day of our visit so we detoured via West Runton where there is an excellent camping accessory shop, we even managed to park outside! The visit to Felbrigg was a great success and are confident that we will do more in the future. The Hall is a National Trust property so members of that organisation have certain advantages. We found all the volunteers really friendly and helpful.

The following day we walked into Cromer through the Cliff car park ( which incidentally accepts motorhomes, but not overnight) and down and around to the Pier. We were able to visit the RNLI Lifeboat Station at the end of the pier where you can walk partly round the Tamar Class Lifeboat. Whilst sunny it was not a particularly warm day but there were people enjoying the lovely sandy beach, albeit well wrapped up, as we walked towards the Henry Blogg Museum. The destination was the Café above the Museum which is very popular and we were lucky to get a table. Fortified we marched across town to the Morrisons for some shopping before catching the bus back to the site.

Our next trip out was to Sheringham, this time on the bus from directly outside the entrance to the site. We have always liked Sheringham which rightly or wrongly we feel has a slightly more genteel air about it compared to Cromer. It has a long High Street from the railways down to the sea. There is a lovely hardware shop, almost Two Ronnies esque. It could be mistaken as complete chaos but there is a logical system and if you can’t find what you want it’s probably not made, that sort of place!!! Another coffee stop in the Arcade before walking down to the Seafront. There seems to be a new museum but it was closed.

Our four days at Cromer were soon up and time to move on our next stop at the Sandringham CMC site. Only 45 miles so no need to rush. Still sunny today but rain is forecast. The wardens had made a great effort for Halloween with a colouring competition for the children. Unfortunately the next two days were pretty wet so we didn’t stray that far from the motorhome and it was back home on the Sunday.