Norfolk is one of those places that seems untouched by time. Simon Weir heads back to his eastern roots to enjoy the coast as it used to be…
I learnt to ride in Norfolk but left when I was 18, moving to London for college and not going back. Well, obviously I visited a lot, but moving back to the county after 30 years I’ve found I still enjoy a lot of the same places – especially along the North Coast.
What I also found is that this area, always busy in summer, is even worse with tourist traffic now. So it’s at this time of year, out of season, that it comes into its own as the roads are quiet enough to fully deliver.
This four-hour route heads out from Hunstanton in a long loop, starting with the A149 but then taking the B3155 through Burnham Market. A short hop on the A148 around Fakenham and you pick up the B1105 to Wells-next-the-Sea where you’ll find more than enough fish and chip shops, cafes and hostelries to quench requirements. There is also a fantastic beach where you’ll find numerous traditional beach huts should you need a reminder of the way we used to be.
Next rejoin the A149 all the way to Cromer (just watch out for gravel on the bends). Again Cromer is a very traditional British seaside town with a pier, and great crabs if you fancy seafood. Alternatively you could press on to Salthouse where you’ll find Cookies Crab Stop, a Norfolk institution.
Stick with the A194 through Cromer and carry on to Stalham. It’s easy to miss the turn for the beach: go left by the Tesco and head out to Sea Palling where, again, you’ll be tempted by great fish and chips down by the dunes (other cafés are available).
The route then loops round through Horsey and Martham, rejoining the A149 heading back towards North Walsham.
In Potter Heigham the route swings left on the A1062 through the heart of the Norfolk Broads (if boats aren’t your thing, the RAF Air Defence Radar Museum outside Horning is fascinating – radarmuseum.co.uk). Go straight through Hoveton on the B1354. If you need fuel, there’s a petrol station in Coltishall.
Turn right at the mini roundabout after the petrol station in Coltishall and then left just outside the village to stay on the B1354. Turn right on the A140, then take the second left – Shortthorn Road. This shortcut leads to the B1149. Turn left onto the B1145 through Cawston then to Cross Bawdeswell and turn right on the A1067 before continuing on the B1145. Stick with it all the way to Gayton.
Now turn right in Gayton on the B1153 – go right on the A148 in Hillington then left to Fitcham to stay on the B1153. Pick up the B1454 in Docking and rejoin the A149 to return to Hunstanton.
This is a free article from the January 2023 issue of Bike magazine. To read more free articles, go to members.bikemagazine.co.uk. Or to read all our content, why not trial a Bike membership at just 99p for your first month?
Simon Weir is Bike’s route expert, and so he should be having just written Britain for Bikers. With ultra-clear A-Z mapping and roadbook-style directions (or GPX files at simonweir.co.uk) this spiralbound A5 book is designed to slip into a tankbag. This particular route isn’t included and can instead be found on Simon’s super helpful website.