Farm Stay East Anglia

A DAY OUT IN BROADLANDS NATIONAL PARK

Acle, on the edge of the Halvergate Marshes in the centre of the Broadlands National Park, has a range of small shops and a weekly auction market on Thursdays. Five miles away you will find the STRACEY ARMS WINDPUMP, a restored drainage pump with an exhibition of photographs & history of windumps in Broadland. On the A47 to Great Yarmouth take the A1064 towards Caister, crossing the river Bure at Acle bridge, which was recently completed giving an excellent view of the moorings with their brightly coloured boats and the windpumps on the Bure.

Arriving at FLEGGBURGH you can visit tiny shops around the village green, from which you can smell bread baking in the bakery and spend some pocket money at a “ real sweet shop ” . Browse through the gift and craft shops before eating in the REGENT DINING AREA – hot meals, snacks, afternoon tea – or the BRAMBLES INN or, in summer, follow your nose to the barbecue.

Continuing on the A1064 towards Caister, in half a mile you will reach FILBY BROAD, one of the “ Trinity Broads ”, the others being Ormesby and Rollesby, so called because they are three in one. There is a car park with a ¼ mile boardwalk leading to a hide overlooking the Broad and this has access for wheelchairs. A short distance away are the FILBY TEAROOMS where you can enjoy a home made meal or sample delicious cakes & pastries whilst you take in the magnificent views over the Broad.

Continue along the A1064 to the roundabout and follow the signs to CAISTER CASTLE MUSEUM, which houses a collection of historic vehicles and from where you can visit the remains of a Roman Fort.

Take the A1064 back towards Acle, go left towards Runham and go on to STOKESBY where you will find THE CANDLEMAKER, a workshop where you can see candles of all shapes and sizes being made. There is also a large selection of candle making supplies if you want to try it yourself.

On leaving Stokesby go right for THRIGBY HALL WILDLIFE GARDENS, which has a selection of Asian mammals which you can view from a walk way in the trees, and birds and reptiles in landscaped gardens. A Tropical house, swamp house with crocodiles, birdhouse, deer paddocks and the Willow Pattern Garden, a lake in landscaped grounds.

If you want to spoil yourself at the end of a long day, from Fleggburgh take the road for Rollesby and, at the junction with the A149, you will see the HORSE & GROOM which has excellent sea food in its restaurant; or be tempted by the bar menu.

Gardeners will enjoy visiting the FAIRHAVEN GARDEN TRUST at SOUTH WALSHAM. These delightful woodland and water gardens with a private inner broad have a sense if peace and tranquility, the combination of cultivated and wild flowers making it quite unique. In Spring there are masses of primroses, azaleas & rhododendrons, whilst in summer the wild flowers come into their own.

We have B&B accommodation and holiday cottages near the Broadlands National Park in Hickling, Ludham, and Great Plumstead

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