Days Out in Norfolk

Published on: 06/08/22

With miles of glorious coastline and Blue Flag beaches, against a landscape of lakes, broads and rivers, Norfolk is the perfect place to roll up your trouser legs and enjoy a paddle! Happily, it’s also the driest county in England, climate-wise, ensuring the sun smiles on you, whatever the vagaries of the British summer. You’ll find space in Norfolk, and lots of it. Master a barge on the Norfolk Broads, or stroll through fenland and coastal nature reserves teeming with birds and wildlife.

Looking out over these expanses of English countryside some of the finest stately homes England has to offer, literally fit for Royalty. Visit the Queen’s favourite winter retreat at Sandringham, or the National Trust’s Blickling Hall, family home to Anne Boleyn. Fun-lovers can head to Great Yarmouth’s Golden Mile for traditional British seaside classics; pleasure piers, arcades, and putting greens aplenty. Head inland to a rich agricultural countryside and discover its bounty in market towns and villages rich in locally sourced seasonal dishes, shops and artisans.

Go Ape Thetford

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Just because Norfolk’s flat doesn’t mean you can’t scale the heights! In fact, Thetford Forest contains the Granddaddy of Go Ape’s hugely popular treetop adventure centres, where their story first began back in 2002. The winding drive deep into the centre of the forest sets the scene for this breath-taking location, then the fun unfurls as you navigate your way along the cleverly designed horseshoe shape treetop crossings and slacklines in a classic Treetop Adventure. Those ready to progress further can tackle the Adventure+ add-on section: up to 9 metres high, and finishing with an epic 100-metre-long zip wire.

Then dial it up to the Treetop Challenge, a Goliath of an encounter high into the treetops. This dual high ropes course gives you choices of obstacles and crossings, including the tricky Mallards Ladder and arm-aching cargo nets, finishing with the scream-tastic tandem zip wire and dual Tarzan Swings. Those wishing to stay at lower altitudes don’t have to keep their feet on the ground either, with four independent, purpose-built Go Ape Forest Segway routes from stately to extreme. The stunning forest location also includes miles of strolling, cycle hire, Lookout Archery, orienteering, and welcome refreshment venues and picnic areas.

Jet Adventures

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Feel the sun on your face and the wind at your back as you slice away with Jet Adventures, an independent family business running spectacular boat trips along East Anglia's glorious "Sunrise Coast". See seals off Great Yarmouth, enjoy fabulous views of Norfolk and Suffolk, and revel in the thrill of being on a fast boat in open water! The large-horsepower engine and jet drive gives power and spin-on-the-spot manoeuvrability, while no propeller in the water makes the boat extremely safe around swimmers and the wildlife you’ll be keenly spotting, such as seals and dolphins.

Setting off from Oulton Broad, Lowestoft, choose the Lowestoft Harbour Tour for history and relaxing. On this steady-paced tour you’ll see the town from a new perspective, with plenty of its fascinating sights and history narrated by the friendly Skipper and crew. The Coastal Sightseeing tour is a fast-paced boat ride awash with sights and natural beauty, giving you a unique view of the Norfolk’s famous coast from a new angle. The firm favourite (we can see why!) Scroby Seal Watching tour gets you up close to hundreds of friendly seals at Scroby Sands. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to sing along with their haunting melodies!

Pleasurewood Hills Family Theme Park

With over 35 rides, shows and attractions, Pleasurewood Hills is Norfolk’s premier theme park, packed with fun for all the family. Set within 50 acres of enclosed coastal parkland just 10 minutes from the popular seaside town of Great Yarmouth, the park contains thrilling attractions, wonderful rides and everyone's favourite character: Woody Bear. Youngsters will have a fantastic time exploring the Kid's Zone with fun rides suitable for children around one metre tall, while family friendly rides are the perfect introduction to the theme park world.

Turning up the thrills, get soaked on the Water Fun Factory log flume, plummet 60 feet per second with a 5.5G force on the Jolly Roger Drop Tower, or jump aboard Wipeout, the tallest, fastest and most extreme roller coaster in the East of England! Or simply relax and enjoy hopping on and off the site’s two trains as much as you like, enjoying a birds’ eye view from the chairlift, and sitting back for the spectacular sea lion and parrot shows. Refreshingly, the park prides itself on offering good quality, good-value, locally-sourced and healthy food, with plenty of places to eat and drink including the famous Smokey Joe's, and Bear's Grill. A great day out with plenty to put a smile on everyone’s face!

Explore 4x4 Elveden

Explore the Norfolk-Suffolk border at speeds and thrills you never anticipated, with Explore 4x4 on the historic Elveden Estate, on the edge of Thetford Forest. It doesn’t matter if you’ve driven off road before or not, the Explore 4x4 team passionately believe exhilarating 4×4 off road driving is something everyone should experience! So whether you’re moving up from a mini, or want a taste of what your own 4x4 could be capable of, come and unleash your spirit of adventure, try something new and exciting, and thrill to developing some serious new driving skills.

Available from individual to groups, 30 or 60 minute sessions provide you with professional 4×4 instruction from qualified instructors throughout through the stunning woodland 4×4 off road course. Daredevils can even try blindfold driving! Making the most of their exclusive access to Elveden’s 22,500 acre country estate, additional activities on offer include field sports including archery, crossbows, air rifles and pistols, knife and axe throwing, catapults and slingshots. The Courtyard at Elveden is home to an award winning AA Rosette restaurant, food hall, home and garden shops, with the warm and welcoming country Elveden Inn just a stone’s throw away!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We have also put together a list of frequently asked questions at the link below, which include some Top Tips and Did you know information, which you can use to show off with your friends and family

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We hope that you have enjoyed reading our article called Days Out in Norfolk and that you have found the information above include our FAQ page helpful in deciding on which venue you to choose for your Activities and Days Out

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