The Leas Beach Park

The Local Area - Page 2

Amazonia Zoo, Cromer

Hall Road, Cromer, Norfolk, NR27 9JG. Tel: 01263 510 741 Amazonia Zoo web site

New zoo park with a tropical South American theme. Birds, cats, monkeys, otters, children's play area, cafe, gift shop, and more.

 

[List of attractions]

Alby Crafts and Gardens

Cromer Road, Erpingham. Tel. 01263 761702 Alby Crafts web site

A working craft centre set in beautifully restored Norfolk farm buildings. Includes a Furniture Showroom, Bottle Museum, Wood turning, Ceramics, Canework, Batik, Sculptor, a tea room. The gardens cover four acres and contain four ponds, collections of unusual shrubs, plants and bulbs and an observation hive during summer. Large free car park, some admission charges.

 

[List of attractions]

Stalham and The Museum of the Broads

Stalham and the Museum of the Broads, The Staithe, Stalham. Tel 01692 581681 The Museum Web Site

Stalham is a small market town with a long history including an entry in the Domesday Book. It is often called the 'Gateway to the Norfolk Broads'. Tuesday is market day and includes an auction as well as the usual selection of market stalls. The town also has an interesting selection of shops to browse through.

Discover the history of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads, one of England's unique landscapes, formed by medieval peat diggings which became shallow lakes joined by cuts and dykes to the rivers of the area. Discover how the mystery of the origin of the Broads was solved and see tools from the traditional Broads industries, a River Commissioner's launch, children's hands-on activity corner, the steam launch 'Falcon', a concrete dinghy, gun punts complete with guns, an ice yacht, the biggest rudder you're likely to see on the Broads and also Videos and slide shows. The only waterside museum of Broadland life, in a traditional setting at Stalham Staithe on the Norfolk Broads.

 

[List of attractions]

Boat Hire and trips on the Broads

There are several boat hire and boat tour companies within easy reach of the site. Day boats of all kinds, from luxury cruisers to sailing dinghies can be hired.

• You can take a trip on one of the large Mississippi riverboats from the Swan Hotel, Horning, ring for details on 01692 630262.
   
• George Smith & Sons are based at Wroxham and offer Day Cruiser hire. The boats can carry up to 10 people including children and have a toilet, heating and full galley. Buoyancy aids are provided for children under 14 and they are happy to suggest routes with a map to suit your length of hire. They can be reached on 01603 782527.
   
• Moonfleet Marine, based at Stalham, has high quality day boats that seat up to 6 people. The self drive boats, with canopies and free boyancy aids, are available for hire by the day and they can be reached on 01692 580288.
   
• John Williams Boats at The Staithe, Stalham, provides electric day boats for hire from between one to eight hours and can be contacted on 01692 580953.
   
• Broads Tours offer a variety of river trips/tours as well as day boat hire and private charter. Regular trips depart daily from Wroxham between April and October. The trips include a live commentary with light refreshments, licensed bar and toilet facilities also available. Dogs are allowed at no extra charge. Telephone 01603 782207.
   
• The Norfolk Wildlife Trust also offer a Hickling Broads guided boat trail.
   
• Alternatively you could combine a cruise on the broads with a trip on the Bure Valley Train, a narrow guage steam railway.
   
• It's also possible to combine a sea boat trip with viewing seals at Blakeney Point.
   

 

[List of attractions]

Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach

South Beach Parade, Great Yarmouth. Tel. 01493 844585 Pleasure Beach web site

"The Pleasure Beach with its mixture of high-octane rides and traditional attractions sits at the top of Great Yarmouth's Golden Mile dominating the seafront skyline with its famous Skydrop. Spread over nine acres, the Pleasure Beach offers huge family fun, full-throttle white knuckle rides to exhilarate and thrill, water attractions to catch your breath and fun rides to keep the children happy for hours. Our roller coaster has been the star attraction since 1932 and is still a crowd puller today."

 

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Norfolk Wildlife Trust - Hickling Broad
National Nature Reserve

Tel. Norfolk Wildlife Trust 01603 625540 Hickling Broad web site

Hickling Broad National Nature Reserve is a wonderful example of the various Broadland habitats that are unique to Norfolk. Vast expanse of open water, orchid rich grazing marches, sedge beds, acres of Norfolk reed and mixed woodland can all be seen at this important reserve.

Explore the nature trails or visit the hidden and secret parts of the Broads on an exciting wildlife boat trip. Hickling is the largest and wildest of the Norfolk Broads and a wonderful place to enjoy the traditional Broadland scenery of golden reed beds, grazing marshes, and wide open skies. See marsh harriers hunting over the reed beds for pray and many other rare and beautiful birds, insects and plants. Facilities include: visitor centre board walk trail through reed beds to open water, bird watching hides, wildlife gift shop, refreshments, toilets, car park, picnic site, disabled access to Broad, board walk, hides and toilets. Guided boat trail most days June - September leaving from pleasure Boat Inn at Hickling Staithe (additional charge - booking essential).

How to get there: NWT Hickling Broad is approximately four miles south east of the market town of Stalham which is just off the A149 Yarmouth Road. From Hickling village, follow the brown 'duck' tourist signs, turn into Stubb Road at the Greyhound Inn, and take the first turning left to follow Stubb Road for another mile. Turn right at the sign for the nature reserve, the car park is ahead of you.

 

[List of attractions]

Swimming

Victory Swim & Fitness Centre, Station Road, North Walsham. Tel. 01692 409370
Facilities include: 25 metre pool and gym.
 
The Splash Leisure Centre, Weybourne Road, Sheringham. Tel. 01263 825675
Facilities include: tropical leisure pool, children's paddling area, wave machine, 150ft giant waterslide, ladies and gent's saunas, poolside cafe, sun terrace, and fitness studio.
 
Marina Leisure & Fitness Centre, Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR30 2ER. Tel. 01493 851521
Facilities include: a 6 lane wide main pool area with a deep area and beach area leading off of it, baby pool, wave machine and aqua slide. Also on the same site, indoor bowls, children's soft play area and sports (badmington, short tennis, squash, etc.)
 
 

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Dinosaur Adventure Park

Nine miles from Norwich off the A1067 at Lenwade. Tel. 01603 870245 The Dinosaur Adventure Park web site

The Dinosaur Adventure Park includes a dinosaur trail, discover tribes and creatures on the Neanderthal Walk, play in the Adventure Play Area, Raptor Racers, Jurassic Putt, Lost World A-mazing Adventure, Assault-o-saurus and Arachnophobia, deer park and fun barn (where you can meet a variety of animals and cuddle rabbits!).

 

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East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens

East Ruston, Norwich, Norfolk NR12 9HN Tel. 01692 650432 East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens web site

The 32 acre garden site was established in 1973 by Alan Gray and Graham Robeson. Garden areas include (but are not limited to!) an exotic garden, rose garden, woodland, desert and mediterraean gardens, wildlife pond, glasshouse garden and wildlife meadow. There is also a tea garden and plant sales.

 

[List of attractions]

Cromer and the End-of-Pier Show

Cromer is a typical seaside town with sandy beaches, pier and shops. The pier is great for crab fishing (squid seems to work well as bait). There's also the Cromer End-of-Pier Show, Seaside Special, Cromer's world famous show. Coffee Shop and Bar, facilities for the disabled, air-conditioned theatre. Contact the box office on 01263 512495

The Little Gems Rockshop is also well worth a visit if you like crystals, fossils and minerals. 2a Mount Street, Cromer, Tel. 01263 519519, opening hours Mon to Sat, 10am to 5pm and Sunday afternoons.

 

[List of attractions]

Sea and Coarse fishing in the area

Beach Casting. The beach next to the site provides some excellent sport for the beach angler. Mostly Dabs, Bass and Dogfish through the summer and September sees the start of Whiting and Cod. The favoured baits are lugworms and squid. It is a popular beach for club matches and this can be a source of tips on how to fish the beach as the contestants all seem very approachable and talkative. The Dabs are absolutely delicious.

Boat Fishing for dogfish and Skate is available at Great Yarmouth. See Seaquest or Charter Boats UK, for examples.

Coarse Fishing. There are numerous venues for the serious angler or the keen youngster all within easy driving distance. Most spots are day ticket and many allow you to drive your car right next to your peg. There are also some really good tackle shops nearby. Or you could hire a boat from Norfolk Broads Fishing Ltd to fish on the broads. For fishing tackle, try the Broadland Angling and Pet Centre, which has a shop in Stalham, or Lathams at Potter Heigham, another excellent fishing tackle shop.

 

[List of attractions]

The Royal Air Force Air Defence Radar Museum

Royal Air Force Neatishead, Norwich, Norfolk NR12 8YB Telephone Number 01692 633309
Royal Air Force Air Defence Radar Museum web site

The museum (within the Royal Air Force Neatishead base) traces the history and development of Air Defence Radar since its invention in 1935. Some of it's many features include the original Cold War Operations Room used until 1993, Battle of Britain Filter Room of 1940, 1942 Night Blitz Operations Room, original radar vehicles, space defence, nuclear warning bunker and Bloodhound Missile Systems.

 

[List of attractions]

Bowling and Soft Play

 Rossis Leisure, Tungate Farm, North Walsham, NR28 0JQ Telephone 01692 404966
Stompers soft play, Strikers bowling.

Pay and play at either Stompers soft play or Strikers, North Norfolks only indoor 10 pin bowling venue at nearby North Walsham (about 15 minute drive). Stompers has hree separate play zones for babies, toddlers and children up to 12. Strikers has 6 full size bowling lanes with computerized scoring, amusement arcade and bar. Food is avalable at both.