Duke's Head Piece

A wooded pocket just east of Great Yarmouth, Duke's Head Piece is a proper Norfolk forest walk that won't eat up your whole afternoon. It's the sort of place locals know but tourists miss - dense woodland with a few clear paths threading through, good for stretching your legs without needing to commit to a full hike.

What you get here is quiet. Real quiet. The trees are tall enough to muffle the sound of the nearby coast, and the undergrowth is thick enough that you'll feel genuinely away from things despite being minutes from the holiday parks dotted around Hopton and Waxham. A half-hour wander is the sweet spot; much longer and the appeal runs thin. Kids will manage it without complaint if you keep them moving, though it's not a destination in itself - more a break-up activity during a Norfolk park holiday.

If you're staying at Haven Wild Duck or Hopton Holiday Village, this is your handy backup plan for a grey afternoon. It costs nothing and demands nothing beyond sensible shoes. Come in autumn when the light filters through properly, not midsummer when the canopy gets oppressive.

Truth is, it's more useful than remarkable. Norfolk's stronger attractions lie elsewhere - Great Yarmouth's seafront, the Broads themselves - but Duke's Head Piece has its place. Go if you're within five minutes. Don't drive across the county for it.