Area Information

CLEY

Cley is one of the prettiest villages scattered along this coast. There is an award winning delicatessen (Picnic Fayre) where you can purchase groceries, cheeses, speciality bread and much more, they also stock a very good selection of wine. The famous Smoke House for crabs, mussels, smoked fish and bacon, all smoked on the premises. Cook's Tea Shop, an Art Gallery, Pottery and antiquarian bookshop (The Crabpot). Two good pubs both serving food, The George just a few steps from the cottage and The Three Swallows near St Margaret's Church and the village green. There are wonderful walks along the beach to Blakeney Point or across the salt marsh to Blakeney Harbour. The salt marsh is grazed by sheep and cows depending on the time of year and there is always an abundance of bird life to watch along the way.

Cley beach is approximately a mile from the cottage walking along the footpath infront of the Windmill and then across the marsh, and provides the only direct access to Blakeney Point where you can see the seals living in their natural environment. Blakneney Point is approximately 3.5 miles walking along the beach. If you prefer you can also drive to the beach where there is a car park.

Cley enjoys an international reputation for its bird watching reserve on the outskirts of the village. There are over 400 acres of marshland and reed bed which have been managed by the Norfolk Naturalist Trust since 1926. The area has board walks and hides allowing good access even with a wheelchair. The Reserve is one of the few where both the Bittern and Avocet reside. One of the UK's premier bird watching sites and always something to see whatever time of year you visit, the pools and scrapes all within easy view of the hides, are always flush with unusual and interesting birds.

The new GEESE project providing a new visitor centre at Cley Marshes opened in the spring of 2007. The new building is particularly eco friendly and provides a cafe area, shop and interactive interpretation. Part of this project has been to construct the re-aligned flood defence embankments and excavate the new River Glaven Channel, now completed.

In mediaeval times Cley was a significant port on the Glaven esturary exporting barley, oats and malt. In 1405 men from Cley captured a ship called "Maryenknight" which was carrying Prince James of Scotland. The Prince was held hostage by Henry VI for seventeen years before being released. There are two dominant features in Cley, the picturesque 18th century Windmill and St Margaret's Church, the latter situated next to the village green. The Windmill was operational until just after the First World War and is now a B&B and open to the public at certain times of the year. The building of St Margaret's Church began in the 13th Century into the 15th century.

HOLT

The Georgian town of Holt is only 4 miles inland and has a maze of alleyways and lanes to explore along with individual shops for the discerning shopper. The heart of Holt is very picturesque comprising a jumble of colour washed buildings, many on the market square listed as being of "architectural importance". There is an abundance of tea and coffee shops - Byfords being particularly recommended. Barkers & Larners, sometimes called the Fortnum & Masons of Norfolk, has an excellent food hall including a fresh butchery department and superb wine selection. The steam railway runs from Holt through to Sheringham with stops along the way where you can enjoy a wander in the countryside or walk to the next station.

BLAKENEY

Blakeney is 1 mile by road or approximatley 2-2.5 miles across the saltmarsh. Blakeney point has over 1,000 acres of sand dunes and is a Nature Reserve and home to the common grey seal. It is also a Bird Santurary with a wealth of bird life including terns, oyster catchers, plovers and redshank. There is a variety of small shops, pubs and resturants including a Spar shop open 7 days a week carrying a good selection of basic groceries.

MORSTON

Morston is a small village just along the coast from Blakeney where boat trips can be taken to see the seals during the holiday season. A must are Morston mussels sold on the quay or in the Smoke House in Cley.