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| The Church of the Holy Trinity & All Saints |
A scorching hot weekend! Where better to be than by the coast. Supposedly a little cooler than inland and it certainly felt that way as we set off from the car park at Winterton on sea.
We are 8 miles (13 km) north of Great Yarmouth and and 19 miles (31 km) east of Norwich. Between the village and the North Sea are Winterton Dunes which include a 109 hectares (270 acres) National Nature Reserve. The village has been described as "a very pleasant place to spend a holiday" so we should be fine.
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It is actually slightly chilly on the beach with the breeze coming off the sea. It really is a great natural beauty spot. The beach is uncrowded , unlike some of it's near neighbours. Part of the beach is netted off to protect the the breeding grounds of the 'Little Tern'.
There is quite a commotion going on over the waves. A large flock of the Little Tern's weave a pattern similar to the Starling 'Murmuration'. The problem soon becomes apparent, A 'Hobby' (bird of prey is on the hunt. The birds have opted for the safety in numbers approach.
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Walking along the beach in the direction of Horsey we start to spot a few heads bobbing around in the surf. The Atlantic Grey seal colony at Horsey and Winterton is one of Britain’s great wildlife spectacles. The flat beaches, shallow waters and high dunes offer seals an ideal location for giving birth.Roughly half of the world’s population of grey seals live around the British coastline which is quite surprising. They share our shores with another species the smaller, and some say prettier, common or harbour seal. Grey seals are one of our largest mammals yet are very vulnerable to disturbance when they come ashore during the breeding season
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We swap the beach for the coastal path asthe plan is to move inland at Horsey to find the pub that is listed on the map.
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We hadn't been going for very long when we spotted a fabulous 'Fallow Deer'grazing on the heathland. It wasn't at all shy an hung around for a while before bouncing off to find cover.
It was about a mile off the coastal path to the 'Nelson Head' in Horsey.. It was really hot by now and a healthy thirst had been worked up. Lets just say thinks got off to a difficult start. experienced the member of staff who barked at us with “put your mask on and scan in” in an incredibly abrupt and condescending way. Somewhat strange as we were in the large outdoor seating area. Carrying a rucksack and with multi-pocketed trousers I wasn't able to locate the mask. I tried to explain that I was 'double jabbed' and had completed a lateral flow test. This was only met with a sarcastic comment. Not the best way in my opinion to make someone feel welcome!
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That said the food was OK and the Beer (Woodforde's Nelson) was even better.
We took a wander through the village of Horsey before making our way back to the Coastal Path.
The Church of All Saints Horsey is unusual as it is thatched.
The church was probably begun in the 10th century, long before the coming of the Normans. The church is built on a very simple Saxon layout, with a round west tower and a nave and chancel without any structural division.
The church was updated in the late 13th century and remodelled in the 15th and early 16th centuries.
It is a beautiful church in the most perfect of settings and well worth a visit. But now it is a matter of re-tracing our route back towards Winterton On Sea .
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The Seals that we had seen in the water all seemed to have congregated on the beach! There were two large colonies enjoying the warm sunshine. Apparently in the late Autumn during the breeding season the beaches are literally covered in Seals. They are a magnificent sight and not shy at all
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It has been a fantastic walk on some stunning beaches. The weather has been perfect and we have just under an hour to relax at Winterton before the car park closes. The Norfolk Coast Path runs for 84 miles from Hunstanton to Hopton-on-Sea, with much of this walking trail running through the dramatic landscape of the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Today we have covered a distance of just over 10 miles.
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