Newton's Belt

Walk into Newton's Belt and you're suddenly surrounded by proper woodland - the kind of place that feels a world away from Hunstanton's seaside bustle, yet it's barely five minutes from the town. It's a small forest, nothing vast, but dense enough that you lose the sound of traffic within a few minutes. The canopy is thick, and on a grey Norfolk day it can feel genuinely atmospheric.

What you do here is straightforward: walk. There are paths threading through, though they're not always obvious - bring decent shoes if the ground's been wet. The trees are mixed: oak, beech, birch. In spring the woodland floor comes alive with bluebells and wild garlic. Autumn's equally decent if you're after that golden light filtering through. Most people spend forty minutes to an hour here, maybe longer if you're the sort who stops to listen for woodpeckers.

It works brilliantly if you're staying at Manor Park or Searles just down the road and fancy breaking up a beach day with something quieter. Families with young kids will get a kick out of spotting wildlife - there's proper woodland creatures here, not just pigeons. History buffs won't find much: it's just forest, no ancient monuments or ruins. But if you want fresh air and a bit of solitude without driving anywhere, Newton's Belt does its job. Free to access, obviously. No visitor centre, no facilities, so plan accordingly.