Visitors' comments Colin, June 2011 I thought you might be interested to see this long-tailed tit that spent much of the time we were at the cottage perched on the garden chair. From there he would fly to the window and tap on it with his beak. Quite fascinating to watch. Nick and Liz, August 2010 Dear Pat We did some market research and Nick wrote out a day-by-day diary, I will give you the edited highlights. Bircham Windmill for the best bread, cornish pasties and sausage rolls The White Horse at Brancaster Staithe - good lunch if a bit pricey Walsingham Farm Shop - very good local produce although a bit pricey The Victoria at Holkam has restarted its BBQ Friday to Sunday Holkam Hall now charges to park up at the Hall but this can be refunded when you buy an ice cream or anything from the shop. They are also doing free golf buggy rides to their walled garden, with great mulberries for scrumping at the far end of the gardens. Titchwell RSPB run a lot of interesting thing for children and we spent a happy morning there. Houghton Hall has a lovely walled garden and some interesting sculptures. Having not been there before I was very impressed with the grounds. The Rose and Crown at Snettisham is very good for lunch, with a range of food and a good play area in the garden for children 8 to 12 years. Thanks Liz - We'll make a point of trying Bircham Windmill as I have to admit we haven't been there ourselves. The walled garden at Holkham must be their old nursery gardens, which we've missed since it closed a couple of years back. Can't wait to see what they've done with it. Pat Carol's suggestions Cosy Corner is a real home from home. We have been to other places but this is the one we keep returning to. We often just stay around the cottage as it has everything you need - enjoying the solitude, watching the ducks, birds and rabbits that come to the garden, or taking the bikes along the local lanes and field tracks for an early morning ride. One of our favourite haunts is Holkham Hall. We don't always ride all the way (you do need a bit of energy for that and it is worth it), but certainly take the bikes to the estate and have a picnic. Another must is the walk and an excuse to paddle from Holkham Beach to Wells-next-the-sea, followed by fish and chips on the quay, then the Coast hopper bus back to the Victoria Pub at the entrance to the Holkham estate for a swift half. This bus is a real godsend as you can park up the car somewhere convenient and leave it while you enjoy the day. Check the timetables for the route that spans Cromer to Kings Lynn with the near pick-up point at lovely Burnham Market (great shops and restaurants, with a good pub in the Hoste Arms, and a fish shop with fishcakes to die for!). A trip to Burnham Overy Staithe and a walk out to the sea along the raised walkway (take the binoculars for bird spotting) is a must, as is Cley, famous for its pottery, where there is a great deli, brilliant ice cream and another good food pub. Take a camera wherever you go as you are always seeing something that is beautiful, from a sunset to brightly coloured boats in a harbour… Enjoy! Carol Doyle, London Cycling from Stanhoe Explorer 250/251 This is a very pleasant cycling area. With five routes to choose from out of Stanhoe, followed by numerous splits, it is possible to take different routes every time. There are plenty of quiet lanes with a mixture of high and low hedges plus open fields. Many of the lanes are single track and not over-used by cars. This is arable land with few steep hills, but with even-gradient drags which can be some 3 miles in length. There are also long straights going down to the coast giving beautiful views over the sea. The local villages are a delight with traditional Norfolk cobble walls and red pantile roofs, plus duck ponds (at least four just in Stanhoe). At busy times avoid the A149 coast road as much as possible. It is 'B' road width with few overtaking points for cars. A ride through the estate roads of Holkham Hall is a must. The best route is from the south end (TF 882391) giving a 1.6 mile straight road from The Arch to the Obelisk. The road is a wide avenue between mature beech and then clumps of evergreen oak trees. If you do visit then do this ride early in your stay - you'll want to do it again. Chris Moon, Leicestershire R.C./C.T.C.