Your Stay in Holt: 1 night, 2 days

Day One: Holt and Blakeney

This morning, make your way to Cley. Just a short drive from Holt, it’s one of our favourite places to experience a quieter side of North Norfolk.

Park at Cley Marshes Visitor Centre (NR257SA), then set out towards Blakeney along the Norfolk Coast Path. This gentle coastal walk takes you through salt marshes and reedbeds, with big open skies and plenty of wildlife to spot along the way. Bring binoculars if you have them, but don’t worry if you don’t. There’s plenty to see without them.

Once you reach Blakeney, take a proper pause.
Wander along the quayside, or rest for a while on one of the benches overlooking the tidal waterways and saltmarshes.

If you’re stopping for coffee, lunch, or something sweet while you’re here, here are some spots we’d point you towards:

• Two Magpies Bakery, Blakeney: coffee and excellent pastries
• The Dun Cow, Salthouse: our favourite pub garden on this stretch of the coast
• Folks Coffee Co., Blakeney: seriously good coffee and cakes.
• Blakeney Hotel, Blakeney: lunch with some proper coastal views.
• Norfolk Tea Co. Café, Wiveton: delicious tea blends and light food options.

Return to Cley when you’re ready to leave Blakeney behind. If you don’t fancy the walk, check the Coasthopper timetable and cut out the legwork.

Take the scenic route to Holt along the A149. We’d say this is one of the best drives in Norfolk, with big views and characterful coastal villages to catch your eye. Stop as many times as you fancy. That’s half the fun.

In Holt, park at Budgens (NR256DN) and spend some time exploring the town before you check in properly. If you’re in the mood for a wander, we’d suggest rounding off the day with the Holt Owl Trail. Find the route here and spend a relaxed hour learning about Holt’s history, hidden corners, and unique higgedly-piggeldy character.

If you’d prefer a gentle browse, nose into a few independent shops and hidden yards until you’re ready to settle in.

Day Two: Blickling

This morning is for discovering a bit of local history. We’d recommend Blickling Hall, just twenty minutes away. The grand Jacobean manor and its surrounding estate make for a few hours well spent.

Before you leave Holt behind, spend an hour browsing. Pop into any shops that caught your eye the day before, or just do a bit more window shopping. If you have to carry a few more bags back to your car, that means you’ve done Holt properly.

Head to Blickling Hall (£). Park at the National Trust car park (NR11 6NJ).

Take a self guided tour of the house, or follow the signposted trail for an easy loop around the lake. It’s a beautiful, historical setting which rounds off a night in Norfolk nicely.

If you’ve visited Blickling before, or simply fancy something different, our Top 5 Historic Houses has a few more places we’d happily recommend.