10 Norfolk Places to Start Your New Year’s Day

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Nothing beats a New Year’s Day walk!

The holiday period can be fun, but it’s can also be hard-work. We can all benefit from getting outside and blowing the cobwebs away, hitting the New Year on the right frame of mind.

So, whether you’ve over-indulged over the holidays, stressed-out from family, dreading (or even looking forward to) going back to work/school, we recommend heading outside and going for an enjoyable stroll with family and friends (optional!)

If you’re after walks of certain sizes and routes, then you may want to head over to our dedicated walks section, with a range of short, medium or long-distance walks across Norfolk and beyond.

On this article we have suggested 10 places to head to this New Year’s day to commence a walk. There is so many great places you could enjoy a walk in Norfolk on New Year’s day, so picking 10 was not straight-forward. The key point here is we’re talking inspiration rather than stipulation. These ideas may spark off a completely different areas to walk. Also, we’re not specifying a set route; Just enjoy the scenery and go with the flow!

Elm Hill, Norwich

Norwich

Twinned with, amongst other places, El Viejo in Nicaragua, Norwich is a great place to just wander around. There are plenty of locations to park around the city, and wherever you start you’ll be able to find some great walks and some lovely sites, including walking down Elm Hill (pictured).

If you need an example, you could start near the train station and enjoy a lovely riverside walk, taking in Pulls Ferry, Cow Tower and follow the route round to the court house. From here you can saunter back via various routes, though the best would probably be to head towards Tombland then through the Cathedral close, weaving your way back towards Prince of Wales Road and then back to the train station. That’s just one example of a simple walk around Norwich. But as we said earlier, just wandering without a plan is enjoyable – head down the various alley ways in Norwich, remembering to look around to see what you may ordinarily miss.

Need some nature? Well, in or close to Norwich you can go to places like Mousehold Heath, Whittlingham, Danby Woods and Marston Marshes, or Norwich’s many parks like Wensum Park are great places for a walk too. Or you could also take a wander around UEA Broad.

Brancaster

Brancaster

There are endless golden sandy beaches around Norfolk, and we could’ve picked many places really, but we opted for Brancaster because it has quite a vibrant sailing scene, so there’s a good chance you may see some vessels sailing by whilst you’re plodding around. There’s a nice circular walk around Brancaster Straithe, or you can just go for a stroll along the beach. Things to look out for include the wreck SS Vina at Scolt Head and Branodunum Roman Fort. Please check tide conditions too before you go on your walk (and this also means thinking about about where you park too!)

Horsey beach-New Years Day

Horsey

Norfolk’s coast is a common destination for walkers, especially on New Year’s Day. And a chance to see some seals too? Great! What I would say is this is quite a popular destination all year round, but at this time of year it is even more so because many people want to catch a glimpse of seal pups. Of course, we urge you to follow the guidance of the Friends of Horsey Seals. We would also suggest having a plan B destination in mind. Nothing worse than trying to rethink your plans with a car full of kids!

Holkham

At Holkham there are two main walking options (or, indeed, a combination of both).

You could head over to the Nature Reserve, enjoy a walk through the woods and take a wander on the expansive golden sands.  It stretches from Burnham Norton to Blakeney, so there’s plenty of space to enjoy a peaceful walk, whether that’s through the pinewoods, or along the vast sands and dunes. Make sure to be aware of the on-lead policy on Holkham beach at certain times of the year. 

Alternatively, you could walk around the grounds of Holkham Hall, where there are several walking routes, and lots to see including the Monument, the Obelisk, the Ice House, the lake and woods, as well as seeing the deer herd grazing in the park, and much more. 

Dereham

Whilst many people are heading to the coast, why not head in-land? Dereham’s quaint town centre is a nice place for a gentle roam. Of course, you could attempt our “triple site stroll”. Hmm, what’s that, you say? A walk taking in Bishop Bonner’s Cottage, Dereham Train Station (Mid-Norfolk Railway) and also Dereham Windmill. if you set off from cherry Tree car park in town this should be about a 2.5 to 3 mile walk. We think that’s the perfect distance for a New Year’s Day!

Great Yarmouth

The seaside town of Yarmouth has so much to see and do all year round, but just walking along the seafront is just as enjoyable as spending your pocket money in the arcades! Another Norfolk destination with stunning golden sands and dunes, which are lovely place for a walk – There’s a path alongside too if you don’t want sand in your shoes! We also think you will also enjoy walking through the Venetian Waterways, or as night creeps enjoy the lights and sights along the promenade.

Sheringham Park

One of our favourite walks all year round. Note, in the winter the overflow carparks are likely to be closed, so parking may be limited. The great thing about Sheringham Park is there are several well-marked routes, with lots of places to stop, and some stunning views along the way as you walk through ancient woodlands, open parkland, and heath. Look out for panoramic view of the coastline, and you might even see the Poppyline steaming along close-by too.

Venta Icenorum

Venta Icenorum

This is a very short walk. But sometimes, that’s all you need. Located near Caister St Edmund, the remains of this Roman settlement will give you a casual 10-15 minute walk, giving you plenty of time to go home and clear up after yesterday’s party!

Thetford Forest

Thetford forest has a variety of walking options, with trails ranging from 1 to 12km. Or, for an alternative option, you could go on a cycling trail instead- an exhilarating and healthy to kick-start the year!

One of the most popular of places to head to at Thetford Forest is high Lodge, which happens to be pretty much at the centre of the forest. In addition to walks, it has a range of other activities, making it a good destination for families. It also has High Lodge Visitor Centre and Café, so some where with facilities is always handy!

Other places to consider when planning an New Year’s Day walk at Thetford Forest include St Helen’s, Lynford Stag, Lynford Water, Lynford Arboretum. Santon Downham (where you can walk near the Little Ouse river along the border of Norfolk and Suffolk), and Two Mile Bottom.

Loddon

Take a walk around the Loddon, nestled in the Norfolk Broads – a peaceful place to take stock head of the new year. The Church Plain car park in the centre of town provides a convenient place to start. You can a walk along a path past the church and towards the River Chet, with Pye Mill picnic spot a great spot to just chill and watch the boars. Looking back along the river toward the town with all the boats moored alongside is a lovely site at any time of the year.

Enjoy your walk! 🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️ Wishing you all the best for the New Year from NorfolkPlaces – Your destination for Norfolk!

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