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North Norfolk Coastal Road Ride
Route: Map my ride
If you enjoy cycling along quiet undulating lanes, through picturesque villages and to quaint coastal towns that have stood the test of time, then the North Norfolk coast is the place for you. It is a truly beautiful part of the UK that has so much to offer cyclists and visitors in general.
Our 47 mile loop started at Sheringham, a twee, upmarket coastal town, with a nice beach and two railway stations. Passenger trains run to and from Norwich, whilst the North Norfolk Steam Railway runs for five miles to Holt, an exclusive market town which we would ride through later in the day.
Straight away Michael and I thought we would get acquainted with the coast; we sped down to the town's beach where a surfer was testing the strength of the north-westerly wind that blew on what was a brilliantly sunny but cold day.
From Sheringham we headed south on the B1157 and on riding through Upper Sheringham it immediately became clear that the ride was to be far from flat. The climb which passes the National Trust's Sheringham Park is part of a ridge of hills, left at the end of the last ice age, that run parallel to much of the coast line. Crossing the A148 we were now on quiet country lanes that would typify the rest of the ride and just past the hamlet of West Beckham we joined the Norfolk Coast Cycleway, which is a sign-posted route along quiet back roads from Great Yarmouth to Kings Lynn (100 miles), via Cromer.
Having ridden west through Bodham Common we crossed the steam railway line that leads to Holt then climbed up onto Kelling Heath, a place favoured by walkers and cyclists. In the village of Wiveton we turned off the way-marked cycle route and headed to Blakeney, an attractive coastal community which is protected from the sea by an expanse of salt marshes, typical of the coastline in this area. At this point childhood memories of catching a boat from here out to see the seals and of walking along the Norfolk Coastal Path came flooding back.
With nostalgia firmly back on my mind we headed back inland towards Langham and then onto Binham, a beautiful flint clad village with a wonderful-looking 'ruined' Benedictine priory, which was founded in the late 11th century after the Norman Conquest.
At Blakeney the wind rushing across the reeds on the marshes left a taste of salt in the air whilst the dairy farm close to the priory provided pungent evidence that we were clearly in rural Norfolk.
We then rode via Warham to Wells-next-the-sea for lunch. This charming little coastal town with its array of shops, cafes and restaurants has its own harbour and is actually located around a mile from the sea. It is similar to Sheringham in that it has a good selection of accommodation and a vast sandy beach (where Shakespeare in Love was filmed) flanked by quintessentially British beach huts. From the town it is possible to combine the ride with Sustrans' Wells & Holkham Hall Circuit but after lunch we headed south out on the B1105 then west on a small lane towards Wighton.
The next point of interest was Little Walsingham, a village untouched it would seem by the rigours of modern life and which in medieval times was an important pilgrimage site - a rival to Rome according to the Tour of Norfolk website. Pilgrims and visitors in general are still attracted to the village and the Wells to Walsingham Light Railway helps to transport people between two very pleasant tourist spots.
Climbing out of the village we rode towards Thursford, passing the museum's famous steam collection and then took to some narrow farm roads through Gunthorpe and Brinton. From Thornage we climbed up to Holt, a refined market town with a Georgian feel to its distinguished shops, Cafés and galleries, which can be reached by car, bus and bike or steam train. We refuelled on rather generous portions of homemade cake from the local baker and set-off past the country park towards Baconsthorpe (with its castle ruins) and back to West Beckham where we re-traced the road to Sheringham.
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