I can’t believe this is our final week of the #TinyTRex18 campaign! We’ve beaten the snow, squelchy winter mud and arctic winds and trekked our way around every district of Norfolk. And it’s been worth every minute!
Our final area to cover is Kings Lynn and West Norfolk. Like Breckland and South Norfolk, it’s an area I don’t know too well. However, because the Sandringham Estate is somewhere I’ve been wanting to visit as a parent and it has been highlighted as an ‘Easy Access Walk’, we decided to choose it as our feature walk.
Sandringham Estate – our featured walk for West Norfolk (PE35 6EH)
This was one of the best places we’ve visited over the past seven weeks. I absolutely loved it and would highly recommend it for a family afternoon out. It has great facilities and the free parking was a really nice surprise as we’ve been stung at quite a few recently. There’s no visitor information point as such, but the gift shop staff were really helpful and they have some site maps with an outline of the trails (the gift shop is wonderful as well – a huge range and lots is reasonably priced). The play area was fantastic – rustic and HUGE! The kids could spend an age playing happily in there (dogs aren’t allowed inside).
Throughout the blue and yellow trails there are wooden sculptures which add fun and there are lots of dens around that have been lovingly created by previous visitors. There is also a specific ‘sculpture trail’ which is great – we couldn’t get our toddler off the carved seat next to the wizard. The carvings are brilliant! The route we took started at the cafe and went over to the play area. We then walked along the blue trail but looped back on ourselves towards the car park so that we could pick up the sculpture trail.
In summary, a fabulous and accessible walking route, with lots of variety – really worth a visit.
- Parking: Yes and FREE!
- Refreshment facilities: Yes – a nice cafe/restaurant
- Availability of toilets: Yes – and baby change
- Surfaces: Woodland path and hard surfaces – very accessible
- ‘Mud factor’ (1 = minimal, 2 = a bit squishy in places, 3 = oh dear no): 1
- Obstacles: None
- Seating availability (for impromptu feeds): Yes
- Play area/interesting features: Amazing and large rustic play area, zip wire for older kids, sculpture trail dens… so much here
- Dog friendly: Yes (not allowed in play area)
- More info at: https://www.sandringhamestate.co.uk/house-museum-and-gardens/sandringham-country-park/https://www.forestry.gov.uk/highlodge
Other walks in West Norfolk
The Walks, Kings Lynn (PE30 1PE)
An historic urban Grade II listed park in the heart of King’s Lynn. “Boasting a unique 15th century chapel, The Red Mount, a Grade II-listed church as well beautiful landscaping, a children’s play area, toilets and a café.” There’s a downloadable leaflet in the link here: http://www.thewalks.uk/walk-in-the-walks/
Hunstanton to Heacham Promenade walk (PE36 6DZ):
A ‘there and back’ walk along the concrete promenade, fully wheelchair and pushchair friendly. Starting under the cliffs, the walk overlooks the Wash with views across
to Lincolnshire. Changing scenery with beach, rockpools and mudflats being exposed and covered. http://www.norfolkcoastaonb.org.uk/mediaps/pdfuploads/pd003872.pdf
Do you know of any great walks for pushchairs in West Norfolk? If so feel free to comment in the comments below!