House hunting

Jonathan Manning visits three stately homes on this peaceful ride through North Norfolk from Seacroft Club Campsite

Blickling Hall ©National Trust Images/Rob Coleman

This history-filled route turns its back on the North Norfolk coast to explore blissfully quiet lanes inland and three impressive stately homes. The first is Blickling Hall, a beautiful Jacobean house set in magnificent gardens and parkland. Blickling was the birthplace of Henry VIII’s second wife, Anne Boleyn. Alan Partridge fans will recognise it as the backdrop to the famous ‘Bono’s house’ scene, in which Alan tries to convince his girlfriend that the U2 singer lives at Blickling Hall.

Pedalling on, the privately-owned Mannington Hall, built around 1460, has formal gardens, a network of footpaths through woodland and meadows, and a café. Finally, Felbrigg Hall has a wonderful drive through its wooded parkland that passes right in front of the early 17th century house.

This route would be a fabulous day out in late spring or summer when the hedges are bursting with colour. However, signposting is not consistent so downloading the route from the Club’s Strava site is recommended.

Directions

1. From Seacroft Club Campsite turn right into Cromer, and in 1km turn right along Beach Road, signposted to King’s Lynn and Amazona Zoo. Continue to a small roundabout, turn left, then right almost immediately along Hall Road, signposted to Amazona. Continue to a crossroads and go straight ahead, to Metton. Continue to a junction on the left by a grass triangle.

2. 6.1km – Turn left to Hanworth, then straight across the next road uphill, passing a gas pipe on the left. Continue to a T-junction.

3. 8.4km – Turn right to Hanworth and Thurgarton. Cross two cattle grids, then take the next left to Alby. At the T-junction, turn left, and at the next junction turn right down Chapel Road. Continue with the village green on the right to a T-junction opposite Knights Auctioneers.

4. 11.8km – Turn left and continue to another T-junction. Turn right, then almost immediately left to Erpingham and Aylsham. Continue into Calthorpe to a T-junction.

5. 14.4km – Turn right to Wolterton, pass Calthorpe Church on the left, then take the next left signposted Unbridged Ford (there’s a concrete pedestrian bridge if the water is high). Continue to a T-junction.

6. 17.6km – Turn right into the village, and keep on the road, crossing two bridges. After the second bridge, take the right turn to Blickling, Itteringham and Saxthorpe. Continue to a T-junction and turn right (passing Blickling Hall on the right). Continue for 3km looking for a right turn.

7. 23.5km – Turn right to Itteringham. Continue straight through the village, soon passing a turn on the left to Mannington Hall. Take the next right to Wolterton, Wickmere and Erpingham. Continue to a T-junction opposite Wolterton Hall.

8. 28km – Turn left then take the third right to Hanworth and Aldborough along NCN 33 to reach a crossroads. Go straight over to reach a T-junction, and turn left to Sustead. At the church with the round tower take the 90° bend to the right and continue into Sustead. Turn left in the middle of the village at the ornamental sign with three seahorses. Continue to a T-junction.

9. 36.2km – Turn left on NCN 33, pass through woodland, then turn right along NCN 33. When the road bends sharply to the left, continue ahead on NCN 33. Continue to a white lodge house at the entry to Felbrigg Estate, and turn right into the park along NCN 33. Ride through the park, passing Felbrigg Hall on the left, and continue to a crossroads by the gatehouse. Go straight over and descend to a T-junction.

10. 40.4km – Turn left at the junction to Cromer (retracing the outward journey) to reach a crossroads. Go straight ahead, and over the next two crossroads to reach the coast road. Turn left and stay on this road for 1.1km to reach Seacroft on the left.

You can download this route from our dedicated Strava page here.

About the route

• Start/finish: Seacroft Club Campsite.
• Distance: 27.75m/44.4km.
• Time: 3hrs.
• Level: Suitable for all.
• Terrain: Asphalt all the way, and very few hills.
• Landscape: Farmland and woodland.
• Refreshments: Cricketers on the Green, Aldborough; Blickling Hall tea room; Bucks Arms, Blickling; Itteringham café; Walpole Arms, Itteringham; Felbrigg Hall tea room.

---

The Caravan and Motorhome Club make no warranties concerning the accuracy or completeness of the routes published, which to the best of our knowledge were correct at the time of publication. Your use of the routes is at your own risk and we accept no responsibility for the suitability or safety of any routes published. Routes may be out of date or affected by changes to the physical environment and, to the extent permitted by law, we accept no responsibility for personal injury or property damage caused by your use of the routes.