See & Do
Below you will find a few suggestions of things to do, places to visit and where to eat, with the approximate drive time from Quaker Barns shown in brackets.
If your stay with us happens to coincide with a special occasion, we have also included a few suggestions of activities that can be hosted in the comfort of your holiday cottage.
Where to eat nearby
Great food can be found in nearby country pubs including The Marsham Arms (2 mins), the award-winning Earle Arms in Heydon (12 mins) and The Bucks Arms at Blickling (15 mins). Steak in the Stix in Eastgate (5 mins), The Dial House in Reepham (11 mins) and the award-winning Heydon Village Tea Shop (12 mins ) are also well worth a visit.
Other places to eat
Slightly further afield you will find The Gunton Arms (26 mins) on the edge of a 1000 acre deer park; the award-winning No 1 Cromer (30 mins) for fish and chips overlooking the Grade II listed Cromer Pier; and The Salthouse Dun Cow (31 mins) with uninterrupted views across salt marshes.
Inland towns & Norwich
Shop in the attractive market towns of Reepham (11 mins), Aylsham (14 mins), and Holt (25 mins), and take a trip into Norwich (25 mins) and discover fine cathedrals, galleries, museums, theatres, vibrant bars and an award-winning outdoor market.
Coastal towns & villages
Head to the coast and explore fishing villages and quintessential seaside towns; promenade along Cromer’s traditional pier (30 mins); take a walk along the Norfolk Coast Path from Sheringham and climb the Beeston Bump (32 mins); go crabbing on Blakeney quayside (34 mins); and enjoy a picnic on Morston salt marshes (36 mins).
Many of Norfolk’s top inland and coastal attractions are within a short drive of Quaker Barns
Broads National Park
Wroxham (23 mins) is the capital of The Broads and you can rent a boat or canoe or join a paddle steamer river cruise here and discover the scenic waterways of Britain's largest protected wetland.
For the more adventurous, you can also join The Canoe Man and try paddle boarding or wild swimming.
Nature reserves
Norfolk has a wealth of birds and wildlife: Cley Marshes (31 mins) is NWT's oldest and best known nature reserve; Foxley Wood (20 mins) is Norfolk’s largest remaining ancient woodland; Pensthorpe (31 mins) has over 700 acres to explore; and Temple Seal Trips and Beans Boat Trips (both 36 mins) offer tours to see the seals in their natural environment at Blakeney Point.
Beaches
North Norfolk has some of the best beaches in England: Sheringham, East Runton, West Runton and Cromer (32-34 mins) were all awarded Blue Flag status in 2022; Wells-next-the-Sea (48 mins) is famous for its beach huts; and Holkham (55 mins) has one of the best stretches of sand in the country (55 mins).
Stately homes & gardens
Step back in time and explore the historic homes and grounds at Blickling Hall (15 mins), Felbrigg Hall (30 mins) and Holkham Hall (49 mins); uncover the beauty of Mannington Gardens (17 mins) and East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens (35 mins); and take a leisurely stroll in Heydon Hall park (12 mins).
Walking & cycling
Delightful walks in woodland, parkland and on heathland await you at Blickling Estate (15 mins), Felbrigg Estate, Sheringham Park and West Runton & Beeston Regis Heath (all 30 mins). And if you prefer exploring on two wheels, you can cycle the Marriott’s Way (10 mins), a 26-mile off-road trail following the route of two old railway lines.
Golf & fishing
Norfolk is home to more than 40 golf courses including Royal Norwich (14 mins), Costessey Park (19 mins), Barnham Broom (23 mins) and Royal Cromer Golf Club (28 mins).
Anglers can enjoy course fishing at Reepham Fishery (9 mins) and shore fishing from Cley and Salthouse beaches (both 33 mins)
Heritage railways
Steam train enthusiasts should head to the Bure Valley Railway (13 mins), Whitwell & Reepham Railway (14 mins) and North Norfolk Railway (25 mins) to enjoy a heritage train ride through the Norfolk countryside. If you're feeling energetic, the Bure Valley Path (13 mins) runs alongside the Bure Valley Railway and makes it possible to walk or cycle one way and then take a leisurely train ride back.
Family adventure
Walk with dinosaurs and discover a secret animal garden, high ropes course and more at ROARR!, UK's largest dinosaur themed adventure park (15 mins). Enter the enchanting world of Twiggles & Boggles and explore a forest full of family fun at BeWILDerwood (24 mins). And travel back in time at Gressenhall Farm & Workhouse (29 mins).
Optional extras
Various activities can be hosted at Quaker Barns to make your holiday an event to remember. Previous groups have hired hot tubs, enjoyed spa treatments, taken drawing lessons and dance classes whilst others have employed caterers for afternoon tea and dinner parties. Please contact us for further details.
![Quaker-Barns-logo-RGB[white].png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2fe3d3_dff6607cf5224ecab91c1a6b1c00e2a0~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_256,h_40,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Quaker-Barns-logo-RGB%5Bwhite%5D.png){kind=logo}