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The peaceful village of Holme-next-the-Sea is where
the Roman Long Distance Path Peddars Way comes to its seaward end (or
where it starts depending on your point of view). This coastal village
is located in Area designated of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Here
you will find quiet beaches with a small amount of shingle, backed by
Marram grass covered sand dunes. There are large expanses of coastal
marshes and sandy beaches to be discovered in this area. The Hunstanton
Golf Course extends into Holme and there are riding stables nearby.
The Norfolk Coastal Path that runs all the way to Cromer can also be
picked up from here, so there are plenty of opportunities for short or
long strolls. For the horse rider there are network of bridleways and
miles of sandy beaches on which to ride.
Holme Bird Observatory Reserve run by the Norfolk
Naturalists Trusts has five hides, which overlook a variety of bird
habitats and winter feeding stations. In addition there is a dedicated
sea-watching hide, the first in Norfolk. Many different species of
birds have been spotted in this area. Further round the coast is the
RSPB reserve at nearby Titchwell offering excellent bird watching open
all year.
The village has a village inn which serves meals and
for a village shop you will need to visit Old Hunstanton just one
and half miles away where you can stock up on essentials. The busier
seaside resort of Hunstanton is under three miles round the coast, with
its many seaside attractions and shops. Also its unusual cliffs in this
area you can see wonderful sunsets across the Wash as part of the
coastline is on the East but actually faces West.
It was at Holme that an Ancient Tree Ring was found,
a ring of old wooden timbers which had been known by about by the local
population for some years. It was, formed by 55 oak timber posts
completely encircling an upturned oak tree, and generated much public
and media interest. The timber posts were transferred to Flag Fen,
near Peterborough, the archaeological centre based on the site of a
unique Bronze Age religious complex. The laboratories at Flag Fen
specialise in the study of prehistoric timber and have preserved the
posts by submerging them in a water tank to prevent them from
deterioration.
Peddars Way - A long distance footpath which
runs for 45 miles from Knettishall in Suffolk to Holme next the Sea
where it links up with the Norfolk Coast Path. Once a Roman military
road, built after the Boudiccan revolt of AD61 so that troops could
patrol the territory and keep the rebellious Iceni tribe in their place.
The road actually disappears into the sea, though it is not known why.
Long, long ago this area was covered in trees and it would have been
possible to walk all the way to Scandinavia, right across what is now
the North Sea. |