Best Country Parks In Norfolk
Visitors flock to the vast sandy beaches of Norfolk to fly kites on the sands, picnic in the dunes and paddle in the creeks. But there are lots more things to do in this part of East Anglia – head inland a little to explore wild forest, gently undulating countryside and elegant historic residences.
For an action-filled day exploring the countryside, a chance to take the helm on a Broads boat trip, or a leisurely woodland walk, here are the 10 best country parks in Norfolk.
Holt Country Park
Surrounded by the North Norfolk countryside, Holt Country Park is a short walk from the historic town that shares its name. This Green Flag park has woodland walks, adventure play areas and a calendar of events and activities – so there’s plenty to do beneath the trees and by the streams. Check what’s on if you’d like to take a mini beast safari, a treasure hunt or a guided walk with a ranger.
The landscape of Holt Country Park changes through the seasons with nesting birds chirping in spring, orchids and butterflies in summer, conkers in autumn and snowdrops beneath frosty boughs in winter. The 100-acre park was once the site of a horse racing course, but today you’ll only be welcomed by the wild ponies who graze happily in the fields.
Holiday at a campsite near Holt
Sandringham Estate
The favourite rural retreat of the late Queen Elizabeth II, Sandringham Estate is a vast swathe of open spaces, lovely scenery and landscaped gardens. With so many things to see at Sandringham, the whole family (dog and kids included) should be satisfyingly shattered after a day out.
There are waymarked trails, carved sculptures among the trees, huge rustic play areas and dens to hide in. The gardens of the grand house are a glorious mix of formal planting, and wide sweeping areas of colourful rhododendrons, lavender and magnificent rose beds. Visit the chapel where the royals gather for worship on Christmas Day, peek into Queen Alexandra’s lakeside summerhouse and of course visit the royal house itself with its regal transport museum.
Explore Sandringham and beyond from a camping base near Hunstanton
Mannington Gardens
Like a setting from a fairytale, the Mannington Estate has acres of pretty gardens, lakes and woodland trails surrounding a Tudor moated country house. A walk through the various gardens reveals classic formal designs with wildflower bursts along the banks of the watercourses. There is a temple to explore and the ruins of a chapel in the folly garden, the entrance of which is hidden as if leading to a magic kingdom. There’s also a sensory garden, a children’s garden and a playpark, plus a tea room for a delightful cuppa and cake among the blooms.
Whitlingham Country Park
Close to the centre of Norwich is Whitlingham Country Park, often referred to as the gateway to The Broads National Park. For a breath of fresh air amid the green space just out of the city, take the two-mile stroll around Whitlingham Great Broad or tackle a section of the Wherryman’s Way that leads from here all the way to Great Yarmouth. At the head of the Great Broad is Whitlingham Adventure, which has a host of water-based activities as well as cycle hire, climbing and archery.
Whitlingham Country Park is also a nature reserve with plenty of wildlife spotting to be done. There are meadows to wander through, woodland walks and wildfowl to sit and watch from the banks of the waterways. Hidden among the trees are the ruins of Trowse Newton Hall, once the country retreat of the Priors of Norwich Cathedral. It is said that in the 14th century, King Edward III of England and Queen Phillipa of Hainault stayed at the hall, having arrived in a fleet of lavishly decorated rowing boats.
Navigate the Broads from a campsite near Norwich
Thetford Forest
With 20,000 hectares of vast wooded areas, river valleys and heathland, Thetford Forest lies midway between Cambridge and Norwich. The largest man-made forest in the UK has several distinct locations within the forest to choose from, depending on what you fancy getting up to during a visit.
High Lodge is the activity hub of Thetford Forest. Here is the original GoApe treetop adventure complex along with a visitors’ centre from which you can hire a barbecue to tempt the bears from the trees with the smell of sausages. Of course, there are no real wild bears in the forest (they’re merely the subject of local legend) but you may well stumble across the Gruffalo on one of the many trails. Mountain bikers have lots of waymarked routes to choose from to suit all abilities.
Lynford Stag is a popular picnic site a short walk from High Lodge, where the arboretum of the former Lynford Hall estate has pleasant walks among the trees. This is a particularly stunning spot in spring with flowers in abundance, and in autumn when the leaves are golden and russet.
Take a break at a holiday park in Thetford
Pretty Corner Woods
With a name like this, how could anyone not visit? Pretty Corner Woods is a little way inland from Sheringham. Designated as a Green Flag award-winning area of natural beauty, this woodland spot is set in one of the few hilly areas in this part of Norfolk. A gentle upward climb winding through the trees reveals great views of the sea from between the branches. The woods also have a boarded walkway route that’s ideal for exploring the sculpture trail with a buggy or wheelchair. Pretty Corner Tea Room will be waiting to greet you with its lovely outdoor terrace once you’ve finished in the woods.
Holkham Hall and Estate
On the north Norfolk coast, near Wells-next-the-Sea, Holkham Hall and its estate are so vast, with so much to see, that its entry in Historic England’s register of notable places almost apologises for the number of words it uses up:
“Because of the complexity of this site, the standard Register entry format would convey neither an adequate description nor a satisfactory account of the development of the landscape.”
Certainly Holkham Hall and its estate are impressive. The walled gardens that surround the 18th-century manor house stretch for three kilometres east and four kilometres west. The lake alongside the property is no mere duck pond either – named as it is ‘Great Water’. When the Duke of Rutland visited in 1796, he remarked that he “could not see the end”.
The landscape of pasture, rolling parkland and notable ancient oak trees stretches to the enormous sandy beach at its northern tip. There are large expanses of woodland (400,000 trees were planted in the late 18th century) that hide temples and reveal obelisks. There are play areas for the kids with a big treehouse to climb into and zip wires to hurtle down. You can hire bikes for the day to follow the trails through areas of pine forest that reach the sand dunes of Holkham Nature Reserve and the beach beyond.
Wake up to the sea air at a campsite near Wells-near-the-Sea
Ladybelt Country Park
Once part of the Ketteringham Hall Estate, Ladybelt Country Park has been created on the site of a reclaimed gravel quarry a few miles east of Wymondham. There is woodland and grassland dotted with sculptures and an unusual Grade II-listed ice house where you can poke small heads in to hear the echoes. Paths meander through the parkland, which has two waymarked trails that pass wildflower meadows and two ponds hidden in the trees to the north of the site. Ketteringham Hall itself serves a rather fine afternoon tea in its airy orangery with views of the gardens.
Unwind with a stay at a campsite near Wymondham
Bawsey Country Park
In the heart of rural west Norfolk, just outside King's Lynn, is Bawsey Country Park. With two lakes (one large and one smaller), the site of a former sand quarry is popular with anglers, walkers and families enjoying the fresh air. There’s a large sandy beach area that leads down to the ‘Great Lake’ – it’s a great place to sit for a bit, or take a paddle in the shallow waters. Take care though as the lagoon deepens really quickly and is dangerous for swimming.
The perimeter of the park is surrounded by pine and silver birch-covered hills, with the ruins of St James’ Church standing up above the Gaywood Valley. Pause here to admire the views out over the estuary of the Gaywood River, which was once a thriving fishing area.
Book a seaside break in King's Lynn
Sheringham Park
Owned by the National Trust, Sheringham Park was the vision of renowned 18th-century landscape designer Humphrey Repton. Repton produced designs for dozens of the foremost country houses in the UK, but reserved special praise for Sheringham Park, describing it as his "favourite and darling child in Norfolk".
With over 1,000 acres of parkland and woods, Sheringham Park stretches to the cliff tops where walks lead on to the Norfolk Coast Path. The park has viewing towers and a 192-step gazebo with views as far as Wells-next-the-Sea on a clear day. There’s loads to explore at ground level too with ponds to dip in, plus a sensory garden and wildflower meadows. In the summer months, the park is a blaze of pinks, purples and reds with its famous rhododendrons and azalea displays.
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Want to explore more of the Norfolk Coast Path? Take a look at our guide to the 84-mile trail that runs from Hunstanton to Hopton-on-Sea.