Sheringham Park Circular Walk via Weybourne

Where better to be than at the coast when in the middle of a heatwave. With temperatures hitting the 30 degree mark back home, the cooling Norfolk coast is definitely the place for an extended Birthday trip away. We had already completed a nice walk to Salthouse the previous day. Today we will be hitting the coast and beach a bit further along at Weybourne.   

Our walk today starts from the visitor centre at Sheringham Park. The personal favourite of its designer, Humphry Repton.Designed in 1812 it is famous for its vast collection of Rhododendrons and Azaleas.

There are 1000 acres of varying habitat including woodland, parkland and cliff top. Look out for wildlife, 3 species of deer can be seen alongside a wide variety of birds and butterflies.

We walk past 'The Bower' garden an area of discovery. We are following the 'Red Arrows' path between the Rhododendrons in a downhill direction towards Weybourne Station. There is some welcome shade from the heat under the trees. It is easy walking and really rather pleasant.

Leaving the woods the station comes into view on our left. We need to cross the railway bridge to get to the next part of the walk. We have been to Weybourne Station before and it is a fantastic place to visit. I have written about in more detail in a previous blog post. It is so hot we sit on the platform for a while to get some shade. The Waiting Room layout is very much like the one in The Ghost Train' theatre production I have recently been part of!

Moving on we exit via the station car park following the footpath towards the sea. 

When the Station was first designed the Weybourne villagers protested about the noise and dust it would bring .

The plan was then changed to locate the Station out of the village at the top of the hill.

We pass the Ship Inn in Weybourne Village and managed to resist temptation not to have a pint. Instead opting to park ourselves on the pebble beach for a few hours of sun and swimming!  

The Beach at Weybourne

Maybe it was too much sun, or the seawater had corroded my brain?Whatever it was we set off inland instead of following the coastal path. Realising the error we backtracked across a field, that look like an official footpath. We realised it wasn't when a Landrover pulled up and a Farmer asked if we were looking to be shot? Not a question I'm often asked even in Northampton to be fair. After explaining we were looking for the coastal path he informed us that there were marskmen dotted around the field shooting Pigeons. He pointed us in the right direction and we hurried off. We never did see or hear any firing , or a Pigeon for that matter.  

 

We continued along the coastal path turning right over the Railway Bridge inland at the correct point. Sadly we just missed a steam train so there is only a picture of the track. 

We crossed the busy road to get back to the Sheringham Park Estate. Once again there is a mixture of woodland and fields to cross. The next point of interest is 'The Gazebo' .A viewing platform hidden away in the middle of a wood. They say that it is the best view in Norfolk!  So it should be after climbing some 120 steep wooden steps to even get to it. You then have to climb to the top of a 'Helter-Skelter' looking framework to reach a viewing platform. The views from the top are absolutely worth the effort. You are up with the birds at tree top level looking out over fields towards the North Norfolk sandy coastline. It really is an awesome thing to do.

  

In the distance you you can just about see 'The Temple'. A neoclassical domed temple in Greek style, standing resplendent above Sheringham Hall on the hill.

Repton did not design the Temple, though his initial proposal called for a similar temple in a different part of the garden. 

Though it looks original, the Temple was added by the Puncher family in the 1970s. We are on the homeward leg of the walk now. It is just a case of following the red markers back towards the car park. 

It has been a fantastic walk, coming in at 8.30 miles in total.