Sandringham Estate
We are booked to stay at Sandringham next week. After the sad news today of the passing of the Duke of Edinburgh, I have seen an announcement that the estate is not opening as planned next week. We have never been to Sandringham before, those of you who are familiar with the site, will the closure of the grounds affect our stay much please, we planned to walk on the estate as a major feature of our stay?
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Visit Norfolk.co.uk website gives lots of alternative walking trails in the area - many of them on the north coast.
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There's lots to do in the area, including walks, nature reserves, coast and historic Kings Lyn.
The estate is lovely, not checked out what's actually closed it may only be the house and grounds? If that's the case theres plenty of 'unenclosed' areas and as JVB has said their are public roads crossing the estate.
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There is an excellent bus service, the Coasthopper, that runs just a short walk from the campsite. Good for linear walks along the coastal path, or into Kings Lyn.
Remember to take your bus passes if you’re of a “certain age” 😱
We’re booked into the site for early next month, looking forward to being there, yet again.🙂
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My reading of the closure is the part if the estate you pay to visit, eg the house, museum and gardens Walking in the wider estate will still be ok so you can set off from the club site.
I checked out the club page for Sandringham site - it makes no mention of anything.
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I hope you get to enjoy the wider parkland lesandang, but the North Norfolk Coast is one of the most beautiful and interesting in the UK, with stunning beaches and fabulous wildlife. (The end sequence of Shakespeare in Love was filmed at Holkham, and at the time, a lot of film goers thought it was somewhere much more exotic😂) So do try and have a look if you can. One walk I can recommend if you like bird life, is to park at the beach car park at Cley, then do the whole of the round walk around the Nature reserve. Avocets, Spoonbills, Marsh Harriers are all resident, along with dozens of other birds, so you are bound to see something. Best beach is Holkham, lovely walk through Pine woods, then out onto beach. Watch the tides though.😁
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It is about 35-40mins drive to Holkam from the Sandringham club site the shortest route and even longer going the pretty route via the coast road and Cley is even further
Sandringham is West Norfolk not North Norfolk but the whole coast is worth a look, time permitting
Ps if you want shopping nearest big supermarket and fuel is ASDA right out of site then Turn left on to main road (at junction that late DOE had his "mishap" turn right at next roundabout ASDA on left in about half mile
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Yes, it’s quite a way, either coastal or inland, but both are very interesting, and nice to do even if it’s a rainy day. We never use a site in that area, prefer to be just back from coast more in the Burnham areas. Scope for going different ways then, and we love the churches around there. Sandringham House and Museum is a good visit, something to go back to another time. We don’t walk estate because it’s a known hotspot for seasonal canine deaths in the Autumn, but it’s lovely. Castle Rising worth a visit as well.😁
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It is all quite familier to Me as Grandfather was Gamekeeper to Edward seventh and my father was with Prince Henry ,hence me being born in an area of Kensington ,i have relations in area,who we meet when at Sandringham site ,normally at one of the estates social clubs
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You will know it well then😁
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As a lot of "Houses" etc. will be closed at the moment you'll need to be mobile and take in good walks if you can.
I can recommend driving to Hunstanton, park near the Lighthouse on the road not the car park. The road is free. Walk down to the beach and stroll down to Holme or as far as you want. If you return to the area and the pub in Holme village is open then pop in, fully recommended.
Or, drive to Thornham, park by the church, and walk over the boardwalk towards the nature reserve at Holme. They may do takeaway coffee at the moment.
Or, drive to Titchwell RSPB reserve and walk out to the beach along the Public Footpath. I think there is now a charge for non members for parking. The hides won't be open.
Or, park at Brancaster church and walk along boardwalks again to Brancaster Staithe. There is usually a takeaway hut selling crabs that the owners husband catches, and they also sell other sandwiches of that ilk plus tea etc. We normally take some Gluten Free rolls and they fill them up with crayfish tail in a marie sauce for a butty. They tend to open at Easter and stay that way until after autumn school half term. there is also a pub or two that might be doing outdoor seating. Not sure what the rules are in England for drinking in outdoor places at the moment.
Or, drive to Wells and walk to Holkham Hall as TTda recommends. Plenty of places to get a hot takeaway drink in Wells but we usually get ours from the Deli on the front.
Or, drive to Burnham Overy Staithe, park on the front, check the tide first, and walk towards the sea and then towards Holkham way if you want to. Lovely place for a picnic.
Even if you can't do or want to do these someone else might. Enjoy the break.
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North Norfolk was our chosen family holiday destination last year, away from the busy places like Wells, Cromer, it was very nice, felt very safe. It’s a beautiful area, so much to see and do, for all ages and mobilities. I hope lesandang have a good time😁
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Thank you everyone for your suggestions. Will be taking some of them up. Walked on the Estate yesterday, all open apart from the visitors centre and the areas one usually have to pay for. Campsite is to be recommended, busy but not full, no concerns Covid wise.
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Walk (10 mins) through the woods to the Babingley Social Club, actually located on, and visible from, the A149. It’s a throwback through the ages, with outdoor seating IIRC. Drinks prices are also a throwback. Very friendly locals. I think membership (if they ask) is a £1.
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I would think it would be the house and grounds that would remain closed ,as there are public roads criss crossing the estate 
