Hemsby Daytime, England, UK by Graeme Dawes

In the 1940′s anti-tank blocks were built on the beach as part of a coastal defence plan from World War II. The remains of these blocks are still visible today. Large sand dunes stretch for miles and serve as a natural barrier between the sea and the village. Clean, soft sandy beaches that line the coast serve as a natural playground for children and adults alike.

Along the beach, Beach Road is a hot spot for lots of food and lots of fun. There are Bingo games, a variety of clubs, golf, fun fair, arcades, and visitors can dance the night away in a high energy, fun-filled disco club. A popular beach cafe serves food throughout the season.

The village has plenty of quaint shops for those who love to shop and find one-of-a kind gifts. Within the village is a church named St Mary the Virgin Church which was built in the 12th century. A few other attractions are the Scroby Sands wind farm and the Blood Hill wind farm which are near the village.

For those that love a little Rock-n-Roll, there is the Rock’n'Roll weekender that features music from the 1950′s. Other festivities include the Longshore Herring Festival which celebrates the significant fishing traditions. Guests watch a parade and listen to live music as they eat BBQ’d herrings on the beach.

An important service to Hemsby is the volunteer organization known as Hemsby Lifeboat. This organization relies on fund raisers and public donations to operate since it is not owned and operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Their job is to rescue boats and people who are in distress. Every year, Hemsby Lifeboat holds a fundraiser offering lots of booths and stalls.

If you want to find out further details about the busy village of Hemsby in Norfolk please Click Here to visit the Travel and Accommodation Guide for the area.
http://www.yarmouthnorfolk.co.uk/hemsby/

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Norfolk Broads, UK by Russell Smith

But of course, this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Millions of travellers prefer to find locations which offer a more tranquil way of life, surrounded by beautiful scenery and with plenty of peace and quiet thrown in. For them, one of the most welcoming destinations of all is located in Eastern England, and it remains one of those places in which time appears to have, if not stood still, been meandering along in a sedate manner for many decades.

The Norfolk Broads isn’t a hidden gem or a closely-guarded secret, it’s a vibrant and extremely popular tourist destination that attracts visitors from all over the world. It’s a location that is something of a rarity in the modern world; somewhere which offers tourists all the up to date facilities that contribute to a wonderful holiday, but in a quiet and understated way that underlines something that East Anglian people have known for centuries – that life is not a race.

Smell the flowers, taste the coffee, enjoy the scenery

Dotted throughout the area are picturesque villages and hamlets that would not look out of place on a chocolate box, and which have changed little over the passing years. The Broads themselves are waterways that provide boat-users with a golden opportunity to soak up some truly spectacular scenery at a pleasantly slow place. Locations such as Horning and Ranworth are stunning, and have become popular bases for tourists from across the globe.

The local pubs and restaurants offer visitors an old-fashioned warm welcome from the moment they arrive. There are plenty to choose from, providing a wonderful selection of Norfolk beers and of course a superb choice of freshly-cooked food. Cromer, a town that’s on the coast to the north of the region, is famous all over the world for the quality of its crab, so be sure to give it a try.

As you might expect from an area that’s well-known for its slow pace, driving around the Norfolk Broads isn’t suitable for boy racers. The roads are fine and allow for easy passage between locations, but you should expect to take it at a leisurely rate. After all, there is some wonderful scenery to take in along the way and, of course, it really isn’t a race!

David Showell is a regular visitor to the Norfolk Broads. He works for www.carhiredirect.co.uk

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Boating in the Norfolk Broads

Visit one of the most peaceful, beautiful and natural places in the country; the Norfolk Broads offer a unique range of activities for all ages from boating to bird-watching. With plenty of customer amenities along the way, the Broads cater well to its paying visitors and is a tremendous place to be at one with nature, whilst enjoying the serene experience with your loved ones. A variety of quaint country homes and cottages are available to rent in the area and it’s no wonder the Broads are such a popular tourist location.

Norfolk Broads, UK by Martin Pettitt

Longleat Safari in Wiltshire

Renowned as the first drive-through safari park outside of Africa, Longleat was opened in the mid-1960s and visitors can witness first-hand the wildlife roaming freely through the park’s grounds whilst enjoying a day out with friends and family. Vast arrays of animals are showcased on the grounds including Gorillas, Zebras and Lions. Prices are affordable and there are many services available for those in need of them.

Photo of Longleat Safari Park, Wiltshire, UK by fribbleblib

Leeds Castle in Kent

Kent isn’t known as the ‘Garden of England’ for no reason; its reliance on regions of natural beauty and preservation areas means it boasts a great number of outdoor activities for visitors. Leeds Castle not only features stunning archaic architecture and history, but a selection of activities such as mini-golf, mazes and museums. The castle’s grounds are laced with natural beauty and wildlife that are very easy on the eye and the regular exhibitions thrown at the castle are always worth a visit.

Photo of Leeds Castle in Kent, UK by Jim Bowen

Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland

After being labelled as a World Heritage Site in the 1980s, Hadrian’s Wall has seen a flurry of tourists and visitors. The site features a large number of walking trails and a range of cafes along the way. Visitors are able to snap a photo of themselves standing on one of the most significant emblems of the nation’s history as well as taking in the overwhelming beauty of the nearby lakes and natural trails.

Photo of Hadrian’s Wall, UK by quisnovus

Hiking in the Moors

Following on from Hadrian’s Wall, the Yorkshire Moors are some of the most idyllic places in the UK for hikers. Steeped in a deep, rich history, the hills and woodlands are massively challenging as well as beautiful and can certainly keep visitors busy all day long. There are inns and cottages to rent around the areas for those wishing to make the most of their time and a mass of pubs, restaurants and cafes as well as ancient sites to visit such as Top Withens, an obsolete farmhouse that was supposedly the inspiration for the farmhouse featured in Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights.

Photo of Yorkshire Moors, UK by chantrybee

Colin is writing on behalf of Boating Holiday & Norfolk Broads Holidays Operator – Horning Ferry Marina

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Norfolk Broads, UK by Russell Smith

More than a stay-cation

I was fed up with the airport stress ball and decided that I would do my best to avoid this situation occurring to my family. So the airport is out of bounds this summer, no matter how tempting the last minute offer appear to be I will resist them. Instead my holiday this year will be in the UK. I was at one point considering a ‘stay-cation’, but felt that returning to the family home each evening would make the time of work feel like a proper holiday. I considered a family holiday in the Peak District, thought the natural beauty of the area, would help calm us all down and slow the pace of life. However, I decided that the summer weather has been so bad this year the chances are that the peak district will be grey and damp this summer. I wanted to focus my attention on the southern counties. Which is why i decided to focus my attention on the southern counties.

Boating holidays

It didn’t take me long to find what I wanted, a relaxed family break, and I booked a boating holiday on the Norfolk Broads. Boating on the Broads i thought I would give the perfect base for a fun active holiday full of walking, cycling, fishing and horse riding. Plenty to keep me and the kids entertained for a couple of weeks. I am even considering booking wildlife walk, which is not normally my kind of thing.

Norwich Cathedral, UK by Rachel Clarke

Do as I please

One of the big appeals of a boating holiday for me was the ability to stop and start as and when it pleased me. If I fancied mooring up in Norwich for a couple of days to experience the big city life for a while, then I could. This is pretty much what i plan to do as I have never been to the ‘fine city’ and plan to spend a couple of days seeing some of its highlights before I begin my Broads adventure. What’s in Norwich I hear you ask well this is just the start of it but to name a few;

• Two cathedrals
• A mighty fine example of a Norman castle
• Boutique shopping area – no multi national brands allowed here.
• Music and arts hubs
• Market

Plus the bonus for me is that right next door to where I can moor up is a bustling riverside area that boasts many restaurants and bars, perfect for kicking of the holiday in style.

Boat time

Once I have done the tour of Norwich, then the relaxation time begin as we enter a slowed down world where you travel along between three to six miles per hour. The thought sounds so strange as living in a big city I am used to zipping around all over the pace, normally on my bicycle which is four times that speed! Hopefully this slowed down world will help me to absorb more of what is going on around me, give me more time to appreciate nature.

Fritton Lake Country Park near Gt Yarmouth by Michelle Simmons

More than a boating holiday

I am a little concerned that too much time on a boat will begin to become a drag. So I intend to drop in a few days out to get us all off the boat for a while. When I started looking into possible day trips I realised that Norfolk and Suffolk are full of great day out possibilities. I have listed a few that are on my shortlist for you:

• Zoo – Africa Alive, Banham
• Redwings Horse Sanctuary
• Pleasurewood Hills
• Fritton Lake
• Dinosaur Park

Written on behalf of Holiday Lodges in Norfolk specialists – waveneyrivercentre.co.uk

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