THE LOCAL AREA
Thornham offers an excellent base for visitors to explore the beautiful North Norfolk coastline and if you enjoy the outdoor life there is plenty to do in Thornham itself. Stroll out to the harbour amid the creeks of Brancaster bay where there are still working fishing boats. This peaceful harbour was once a smuggler’s haven. Walk along the bank to the sound of soaring skylarks then turn towards the sea. Little known Thornham beach is one of the finest in the UK with miles of perfect sand and dunes for picnicking and sunbathing; here you can find unspoilt peace even in the height of summer.
Very close by is the bustling harbour of Brancaster Staithe, a busy sailing centre and the world famous RSPB Titchwell bird reserve is in our neighbouring village. The site of the famous ‘Seahenge’ is within a mile and just along the coast is the popular family resort of Hunstanton, with its famous striped cliffs and promenade, funfair and amusements. Hunstanton is also one of the UK’s top windsurfing venues. A few miles to the East is one of Norfolk’s best loved coastal towns, Wells-next-the-Sea. This small historic fishing town has much to offer all ages. A fine beach and pinewoods, miniature railway and busy quay, charming cottages and interesting shops, Wells is an unspoilt gem.
Farmer Fred’s is East Anglia’s newest, state of the art adventure play area, offering children from 0-12 years a unique 3D play experience, stimulating their imaginations and transporting them to a vivid world of adventure and fun.
The country house retreat of HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh is set in sixty glorious acres of gardens with two beautiful lakes. Built by King Edward VII and passed down as a family home through four generations of monarchs, Sandringham is filled with mementoes, treasures and memories of the royal family.
The reserve consists of reedbeds, marshland, lagoons and sandy beaches. There are bird hides and nature trails. The reserve has breeding birds such as avocet, gulls and terns on the more open areas, as well as bearded tits, marsh harriers and bitterns in the reedbeds.
Holkham Hall and estate is nearby, this is a beautiful eighteenth century house where ‘The Duchess’ was recently filmed. There is also a deer park and nature trail.
Here you will see sharks, otters and penguins as well as sick or orphaned seal pups who are being cared for before being released back into the sea.
Take a short boat trip out to see the colonies of grey and common seals and bird life. Common seals have pups from June until August and grey seals from November to January. Trips last one hour with a chance to land on Blakeney Point. Pre-booking advisable in Summer.
Lavender farm offering a unique tour with shop tearoom, and gardens. Caley Mill dates back to 1087 and is recorded in the Domesday Book.
A 320 acre working farm with lots of animals, deer safari, nature trails and adventure playground.
Home of BBC Springwatch. Beautiful nature reserve, with many rare birds and animals. Nature trails, daily activities and workshops, as well as jeep safaris. One mile from Fakenham.
Set on the ancient Peddars Way and idyllic Norfolk coast path, we are ideally situated to explore on foot the stunning coastline and magnificent countryside.
The Orange Tree offers the perfect base for a super golfing weekend with two of England’s finest links courses very close at hand. A ten minute drive to the West, takes you to Old Hunstanton, with its excellent fast greens.
Just a couple of minutes to the East in Brancaster is The Royal West Norfolk Golf Club, that ‘presents golf on true links as the game was originally meant to be played’ (UK Golf Guide).
UK Cycle Holidays are a long established company specialising in fully supported tours of the Norfolk coastline or alternatively you can hire bikes from www.norfolkcyclehire.co.uk, based in Wells-next-the-sea, 01328 820719.
Official website of Thornham Village, run by the Thornham Parish Council. News and events in the local area.
