Despite some of the news reports, the North Norfolk Coast is open for business and everyone is welcome to come and visit this winter.

Yes, there have been some really tough days (and nights) with very significant damage and some businesses and homes have been very badly affected.  Our thoughts are very much with those for whom the clean up has only just begun.  The best way to support them is to keep visiting and keep enjoying the glorious North Norfolk Coast. The good news is that the majority of us have breathed a sigh of relief and look forward to the festive run up to Christmas.  Then there are those amazing deep winter months when the North Norfolk Coast is filled with wildlife and after a walk or bird watch, you have a great excuse for visiting one of our lovely pubs for food & drink. Here in Burnham Deepdale, we’ve already started our Christmas celebrations with the very successful Deepdale Christmas Market last weekend. Deepdale Backpackers & Camping have various offers on throughout the winter period and the shops of Dalegate Market will help you sort your Christmas shopping. We thought it would be useful to identify the stuff that is open, rather than focusing on what’s been affected.  You will then know just how much there is to do here and we’ll have given you a whole bunch of great excuses to escape to this beautiful part of the world! After all, is there anything better than relaxing by the woodburner in a yurt in a field at Deepdale Farm, having enjoyed the natural wonders (and a good meal) of the North Norfolk Coast? Although the coastal footpath is temporarily closed in places, there are still loads of places to walk (with or without dogs) and the wildlife watching & birding is still fantastic.  Here are our suggestions, we hope to see you soon.

Events

Events you can attend in the next few months.  We’ve listed a lot of others on our website: www.deepdalefarm.co.uk/events/ Late Night Christmas Shopping – Tuesday 10^th December 2013 at Dalegate Market, Burnham Deepdale Wells Christmas Tide – Friday 13^th to Sunday 15^th December 2013 throughout the town of Wells-next-the-Sea Beat The Christmas Crowds and Pop Up Café – Saturday 14^th & Sunday 15^th December at Dalegate Market, Burnham Deepdale Fakenham Races – Tuesday 17^th December Holkham Christmas Celebrations – A series of event through December Last Minute Christmas Shopping and Pop Up Café – Saturday 21^st & Sunday 22^nd December at Dalegate Market, Burnham Deepdale Carol Singing – Monday 23^rd December at The White Horse, Brancaster Staithe Christmas & New Year Glamping – at Deepdale Backpackers & Camping Royals at Sandringham Church – Christmas Day Brancaster Mussels in Season – Available from most local pubs and restaurants, simply declicious!  Remember you should only eat mussels in a month with an r in it, through the winter September to April (depending on how warm September and April are the season may start late and finish early) Flights of Geese – Witness this huge natural spectacle, as thousands of geese commute to eat each morning & evening.  The geese tend to hang around until late February. Seal Pups on Blakeney Point – We’re pleased to say that the storm surge affect on the seal pups has been far less than originally feared and you can see them throughout the winter.

Attractions / Walking / Bird Watching

The team at Deepdale Backpackers & Camping have put together a great list of places open and welcoming visitors this winter, despite the flooding. Norfolk Coast Path – Quite a few of the sea walls and flood banks have been affected, but 53km of the 67km Norfolk Coast Path remain open.  Work is ongoing in the damage areas and the situation will continue to improve. RSPB Titchwell Bird Reserve – The reserve didn’t escape unscathed, but the majority is open and the RSPB look forward to seeing you Barrow Common, Brancaster Staithe – One of the highest places along the coast, with incredible views Deepdale Farm Circular Walk – Maps available from Deepdale Information or signup online at www.deepdalefarm.co.uk/walks/ Brancaster Beach – A very changed landscape, but still as beautiful as ever Holkham Beach – Again, changed by still very beautiful Wells-next-the-Sea Beach – With all these beaches, its ‘Spot the Difference’ time, with some minor and some really major changes which show the power of nature! Holme Dunes Reserve – Holme-next-the-sea Holkham Nature Reserve – Relatively unaffected and now packed with the displaced freshwater wildlife from other places on the North Norfolk Coast that we lost during the stor Holkham Park – Set back from the sea, surrounding Holkham Hall and filled with follies and a lake Snettisham Woodland Walk – A 2.6 mile walk through Lodge Hill Plantation Sandringham Estate – A favourite retreat for HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.  You can visit the house, museum, country park and visitor centre  Norfolk Wildlife Trust Cley Marshes Visitor Centre – Sadly this part of the coast was hugely affected by the storm surge.  The visitor centre gives great views over the coastline and it is only the visitor open at the moment.   Other places to walk locally that are unaffected include: Ringstead Downs – Syderstone Common – Bacton Woods – Blickling Hall & Estate – Felbrigg Hall – Holt Country Park –Sheringham Park – Kelling Heath – Holt to Sheringham We’ll keep this list in Deepdale Information and keep updating it, so please do call in to find out the latest.  If you are out and about then please observe signs notifying you of changes, as this list will never be definitive.

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