Things to do
Burton Overy Staithe is one of the most attractive West Norfolk coastal villages. It is ideally positioned to explore the surrounding area.
Burnham Overy Staithe
The village pub is the Hero. It is 200m from the Cottage. It serves good food and also takeaway fish and chips.
The village recreation ground is on the opposite side of the road 30 metres from the cottage. It has a playing field with goal posts and 2 tennis courts which can be booked at a cost of £5 per hour. There is a play area with swings, climbing frames etc. There is also a basketball net and skateboarding area.
From the Quay is a beautiful walk across the marshes, within half an hour the path reaches the beach, from where you can walk to your right towards Holkham Gap and Wells or to your left towards Gun Hill and Brancaster.
In the summer a ferry runs between the Quay and Scolt Head Island.
The Boathouse Chandlery on the Quay hires kayaks in the summer.
The Coasthopper bus stop is outside the Hero Pub, it runs between Hunstanton and Wells-next-the Sea.
Local places to eat
The Hero: Burnham Overy Staithe. Tel:01328 738 334 www.theheroburnhamovery.co.uk (also take-away fish and chips)
The Hoste: Burnham Market. Tel:01328 738 777 www.hostarms.co.uk 17th century coaching inn
The Victoria: Holkham. Tel:01328 711 008 www.holkham.co.uk/victoria
The White Horse: Brancaster Staithe. Tel: 01485 210 262 www.whithorsebrancaster.co.uk With spectacular views across the marsh towards Scolt Head Island
Beaches
Burnham Overy Staithe: Fantastic for sailing walking and bird watching with spectacular scenery.
Brancaster Beach: A popular long sandy beach with sand dunes. If you walk a few hundred yards along the beach there are only a few people. Note that the road to the car park is liable to flood at high tide. Be careful if you walk out to the shipwreck as it quickly gets cut off from the shore as the tide comes in. It is possible to walk to Scolt Head at low tide but the island quickly becomes cut off as the tide comes in. Beware the strong tidal currents.
Brancaster Staithe beach: Popular for sailing, with courses and lessons available. Free parking
Holkham beach: (3 miles) A beautiful vast expanse of sandy beach edged by pine woods.
Hunstanton beach: This sandy beach faces west and has a promenade with all the attractions of a traditional seaside resort.
Old Hunstanton beach: A pretty beach with sand dunes and rock pools. Pay Parking at the ‘cliff top’ car park
Wells-Next-the-Sea beach: A mile from the town can be accessed on foot or by the 10 ¼ gauge railway. The beach has pretty beach huts a café and a lifeboat station. Enjoy this beach at low tide when children can play in the creak. The tide comes a long way up the beach at high tide.
Local towns and villages
Burnham Market: (1 mile) www.burnhammarket.co.uk A busy village offering a varied and enjoyable shopping experience. Burnham Market is the nearest place to Scolt Cottage, the shops can provide for most needs and are all privately owned.
Burnham Deepdale: (3 miles) Leftleys supermarket, retail shops and cafe
Wells-next-the-Sea: (5 miles)www.wells-guide.co.uk Fishing harbour and a variety of shops, a lovely traditional town to wander around.
Hunstanton: (12 miles) A seaside town complete with pleasure beach, leisure centre and Sealife attraction. Boat trips run from the promenade. The beach is cleaned and has a lifeguard. There are plenty of shops including Tesco and Sainsburys. (www.norfolk-on-line.co.uk)
Fakenham: (12 miles) A market town with Morrisons supermarket. There is a farmer’s market on the 4th Saturday of every month (Not in December).
Blakeney (13 miles) www.blakeneyonline.co.uk A Pretty village, originally a sea port with boat trips to Blakeney Point a national nature reserve.
Holt: (18 miles) A bustling town with plenty of shops. Byfords deli as a great place to eat. www.visitnorfolk.co.uk
Sheringham: (21 miles) Seaside town with the North Norfolk Railway providing steam and diesel trains to Holt.
General places of interest
Norfolk Lavender: Heacham Tel 01485 570 348 www.norfolk-lavender.co.uk Lavender gardens, gift shop and restaurant. There is an indoor soft play centre for children.
Hunstanton Sealife Santuary. Tel: 01485 533576 www.sealssantuary.co.uk Featuring an indoor aquarium and opportunity to see seals.
Pensthorpe Waterfowl Park where BBC Springwatch is filmed. Tel 01328 851 465. www.pensthorpe.com
Bircham Mill. Working Windmill with bakery, cafe, gift shop, animals and cycle hire open April to end September. Tel:01485 578 393. www.birchamwindmill.co.uk
Creake Abbey: North Creake, Fakenham NR21 8BP. Ruins of the Abbey, shops and cafe with Farmer’s Market (1st Saturday of the month but not in January)Tel: 0780104180907 www.creakeabbey.co.uk
The Thursford Collection, Thursford, Fakenham, NR21 0AS. Tel: 01328 878 477 www.thursford.com See the largest collection of steam engines and organs. Ride on the fairground carousels. Thursford has plenty for all ages to enjoy.
Holkham Hall: www.holkham.co.uk
Sandringham House: www.sandringhamestate.co.uk
Houghton Hall www.houghtonhall.com
Holme Bird Observatory and reserve Tel: 01485 525 406 www.noa.org.uk
RSPB Titchwell Marsh Nature Reserve
SailCraft Sea School, Brancaster Staithe PE 31 8 BP Tel:01485 210 236 www.info@sailcraft.co.uk
Hunstanton Sailing Club www.hunstantonsc.co.uk For sailing windsurfing and kitesurfing
Deepdale Bike Hire, Burnham Deepdale. Tel:01485210258
Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path www.nationaltrail.co.uk/Peddarsway