Sheringham, a Traditional Seaside Town
Sheringham on the North Norfolk Coast
Sheringham is a traditional seaside town on the North Norfolk Heritage Coast with a Blue Flag sandy beach and was once a busy little fishing village. The town is now made up of two villages - Upper Sheringham which lies a few miles inland, and Lower Sheringham which had a booming fishing industry towards the end of the 19th century. Sheringham's development at this time was aided by the coming of the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway which provided transport of the crab and lobster catches to London. Today, it is a popular holiday and leisure destination with a traditional high street lined with privately-owned shops and specialist shops, particularly books and antiques. The town has plenty of other shops, restaurants, pubs, tea-rooms and hotels, and an attractive promenade below which is reached by steps and slopes. Sheringham also has a wide choice of traditional Norfolk holiday cottages and bed and breakfast accommodation making it a perfect base for exploring the area. The town's Sheringham Museum is a great place to start learning about past events and has many interesting displays with lots to see and do. Popular exhibits include the fleet of historic lifeboats and fishing boats. Visitors to Sheringham can also enjoy the beautiful coastal and countryside walks and the local shopping.
One of the many popular attractions in Sheringham is the preserved North Norfolk Railway which is also known as the 'Poppy Line' and runs to the Georgian town of Holt using mainly steam trains although diesel trains are sometimes used. This heritage line is connected to the National Rail network and has lovely sea views along the way as it passes through typical Norfolk landscapes and natural heathland. Holt Country Park is a lovely place to visit for a wander, with lots of woodland to explore, waymarked trails and a picnic area. The car park, toilets and Hetty's House tea rooms are all now open. Wiveton Hall Fruit Farm at Holt gives visitors the chance to pick their own raspberries and all the fruit and vegetables grown at Wiveton are used in their popular cafe.
Sheringham Park is a landscaped park and woodland garden and is looked after by the National Trust. There are several great sea views and lovely views of the surrounding Norfolk countryside. The colourful park is renowned for its rhododendron and azalea displays in early summer. The last owner of Sheringham Park 'Thomas Upcher' hosted rhododendron parties to show off his collection. He built two viewing towers so that his guests could look down on the display, visitors today can still enjoy the views looking down at a carpet of colour generally at its best at the end of May. Sheringham Park welcomes well-behaved dogs.
The fine award-winning sandy beaches and dramatic cliffs, easy access to the sea and the Norfolk Broads, and the bracing fresh air are just some of the reasons why Sheringham was so popular in Victorian and Edwardian years, and remains so today.
Pretty Corner Woods, near Sheringham
Covering 165 acres, this park has areas of both woodland and heathland habitat, together with grassland and ponds. Some of the oak, beech and sweet chestnut trees you will see here are hundreds of years old. You may be lucky enough to spot a deer during your visit.
Sheringham is about 35 miles from Caister-on-Sea Holiday Park.
North Norfolk Information Centre
Louden Road,
Cromer
Norfolk
NR27 9EF
Telephone: 01263 512497
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