Sheringham

Steam whistles echo across this Victorian seaside town where railway heritage meets proper North Norfolk coastline. The North Norfolk Railway pulls into Sheringham station just as it has done for decades, bringing visitors to a place that feels refreshingly unpolished compared to other coastal resorts.

Sheringham's beach stretches for miles - a mix of sand and shingle that's perfect for crab fishing and bracing walks. The seafront doesn't try too hard to impress. A few cafes, some beach huts, and the RNLI station where you can watch the lifeboat launches on exercise days.

Inland, the landscape shifts to something altogether different. Sheringham Wood offers proper walking territory with well-marked trails, while The Rookery and nearby forests like Baconsthorpe Wood provide excellent spots for spotting red deer if you're quiet enough. The Belt runs along an old railway cutting - now a lovely woodland walk that connects to several other forest paths.

You'll find Saint Peter and Saint Mary the Virgin churches worth a look for their flint construction, typical of Norfolk. The Temple and The Bower serve as local landmarks, though don't expect grand architecture - they're more about the views across the surrounding countryside.

Getting here couldn't be easier. The A148 runs straight from King's Lynn, or take the more scenic route via Cromer. Norwich is about 45 minutes by car. Having a base at one of the nearby parks like Kelling Heath or West Runton makes perfect sense - you're close enough for early morning beach walks but positioned to explore the inland forests and villages like Upper Sheringham with its distinctive village sign.