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Royal Norfolk – Nelson’s County

Tour: NR5
Circular Cycling Holiday
Hotel To Hotel Cycling Holiday

Enjoy a fine collection of just some of Norfolk’s best bits, carefully curated with superb scenic cycling in mind. Clock up three amazing stately homes, including Royal Sandringham, the beautiful Norfolk retreat of H.M. The King. Discover two contrasting quaysides in the Hanseatic port of King’s Lynn and that North Norfolk seaside favourite, Well-next-the-Sea. Wander along one of Norfolk’s widest beaches. Push your pedals around the world-famous pilgrimage village of Walsingham. And explore a whole host of Lord Nelson connections from his birthplace to the creeks where he learnt to sail. Bookended by hotel stays with spa facilities and combing little lanes with a modicum of off-road cycling, it’s the perfect Norfolk cycling adventure to relax into and savour some beautiful coast and countryside time out. Go on, you deserve it. Read More

Destination

England

Start Day

Any Day

Board Basis

Bed & Breakfast

Prices from

£722.00

Duration

5 Days, 4 Nights

Availability

Mar - Nov

Tour Grade

Grade 2 (Easy)

Read Overview
Home > England > Royal Norfolk – Nelson’s County

Overview

A classic Norfolk coast and countryside cycle tour with relaxing hotel-with-spa and coaching inn stays. This gentle getaway adventure is full of West and North Norfolk discoveries great and small.

Visit Royal Sandringham, the Palladian Mansions of Holkham Hall and Houghton Hall and world-famous Walsingham, a place of pilgrimage since early medieval times. Pedal through the elegant ‘Burnham’ villages connected with Admiral Horatio Nelson and park up in wonder at the vast beaches, wild beauty and rich nature of the North Norfolk Coast.

Just as the little lanes cycling combines with the occasional off-road path, so the big name highlights on this tour contrast with delicious off-the-beaten track discoveries, from traces of lost villages to windmills and more.

Tour Code:
NR5
Activity:
Cycling
Type:
Circular Cycling Holiday, Hotel To Hotel Cycling Holiday
Country:
England
Area:
Norfolk
Duration:
5 Days, 4 Nights
Board Basis:
Bed & Breakfast
Availability:
Mar - Nov

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive & relax, or explore

Arrive at your hotel on the outskirts of King’s Lynn, close to the network of Norfolk lanes which will lead you out on your gentle adventures towards Royal Sandringham and the North Norfolk Coast.

With an historic quayside and fine Custom’s House, two impressive market places and a two medieval church masterpieces, a trip into town is a must. Known as ‘Bishop’s Lynn’ until Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic church in his Reformation, King’s Lynn was one of the main ports in medieval England, home to Hanseatic warehouses (including England’s only surviving example today) and boasting super-powerful trading links across the North Sea and the Baltic.

Why not follow the maritime trail or visit the 4,000 year old ‘Seahenge’ in Lynn Museum? Or discover King’s Lynn Minster, the stained glass and angel roof in St Nicholas’ Chapel, or enjoy a wander through Greyfriars park.

Of course, taking a dip in the hotel’s pool and spa, looking out over the gardens is also a tempting plan – and with its choice of eateries, relaxing over food or a pint of something local is also an option.

Your bikes will be provided in the morning after breakfast.

Overnight: King’s Lynn

Day 2 Royal retreats & towering mills

Time to take to two wheels and clock up the kings, queens and castles.

From King’s Lynn, it’s only a short pedal push to mighty 12th century Castle Rising (the clue’s in the name!). Rumour has it that awesome castle keep here, set in major earthworks resounds to the shrieks of ‘mad’ Queen Isabella, lamenting her part in the murder of her husband Edward II! The castle may be creepy but the village is charming – and it’s all on the doorstep of the Royal Sandringham Estate. Park up and enjoy the colourful gardens or a visit to Sandringham House, a true favourite not just H.M The King, but his mother and grandmother too.

Continue on through the wooded grounds of the Sandringham Estate and along little lanes past flint barns and villages to reach the impressive black tower mill at Bircham Windmill. It’s one of Norfolk’s finest, still in working order and offers visitors a warm welcome – whether you choose to climb the five floors or just sample the baked goods in the tea rooms!

Finally, country lanes lead to the beautiful little Norfolk village of South Creake with its comparatively mega medieval church and home to your accommodation for the next two nights.

Overnight: South Creake

Mileage: Rec 24 Min 20 Max 29

Day 3 Circular route options

Our recommended route includes some gentle off-road cycling. We understand that it’s not everyone’s cup to tea, so other route options are provided.

With your sights set on the coast, heading out from South Creake should be plain sailing as you explore the valley of the River Burn and the delightful market towns and flint cottage villages known as ‘The Burnhams’. This is Nelson’s Country – where Admiral Lord Nelson was born and where he found his sea-legs in the sleepy creeks and backwaters of Burnham Overy Staithe – a place which evokes the character of the haunting Norfolk Coast.

Heading east, you’ll pedal through the mighty Holkham Estate, across parkland, past obelisks, vintage oaks and the Palladian-style mansion and pièce de résistance, Holkham Hall, to reach the beautiful wild expanse of Holkham Bay. It’s a sandy beach on the grandest of scales, and just one amazing section of the designated Norfolk Coast National Landscape.

Hug the coast, past sandy stretches, pines and beach huts on stilts to the quaint quayside village of Wells-next-the-Sea. It’s a great place for fish and chips, that cake-to-keep-you-going, or the perfect spot to park up and admire the view.

Your route back to South Creake processes via the famous medieval pilgrimage town of Little Walsingham. In a world of its own with the remains of two early monastic houses, it’s an unexpectedly-busy-for-rural-Norfolk sort of place that’s somehow lost-in-time. Its atmosphere is very special. Nearby Houghton St Giles has a ‘pilgrims’ rest’ treasure church too, with a beautifully golden painted medieval rood screen and the tiny tower-free church at North Barsham couldn’t be more of a contrast to Walsingham’s rich displays.

Prefer a shorter or longer day ride? No worries. Why not head straight to Holkham Hall and the coast, or extend your ride by continuing south from East Barsham? All options will be provided and the choice is yours.

Overnight: South Creake

Mileage: Min 23 Max 34

Day 4 Stop off for history

You’ll meet up with the River Wensum as you head back towards King’s Lynn, on a route dotted with lost villages and flint-and-brick/Carstone farmsteads – not to mention impressive stately homes!

Look out for the signs of lost medieval villages – next to the medieval church at Dunton, where there’s earthworks evidence of a hollow way, tofts (cottages) and gardens, as well as in the lanes around Broomsthorpe. Pedal past village greens to the reach the vast lawned estate of Houghton Hall, another fine Palladian mansion. Built for Britain’s first Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, the Hall has remained in the family and is home to an award-winning walled garden, a fine sculpture park and the largest private collection of model soldiers in world!

Or perhaps you’d like to revisit Royal Sandringham for your great house fix? Both the Sandringham Estate and Queen Isabella’s keep at Castle Rising are easily accessible from your gentle journey back to your King’s Lynn hotel, so spending more time at Sandringham House or in its beautiful gardens is an option.

Overnight: King’s Lynn

Mileage: Min 25 Max 37

Day 5 Depart after breakfast

Time for another dip in the hotel’s pool before you depart after breakfast?
Or perhaps plan to spend more time exploring historic King’s Lynn and its fine range of museums?

Dates & Prices

Download Prices

For tour start days/dates, seasons and all prices, please click on the PRICES button above

PRICE INCLUDES

Ensuite accommodation as described with full English breakfast (prices based on two adults sharing)

Hire of hybrid bicycle and ancillary equipment (single pannier and handlebar bag or map holder, pump, basic tools, spare inner tube & puncture repair equipment, helmet if required)

Luggage transfer between hotels

Delivery & collection of bicycles (delivery is after breakfast on Day 2 of your tour unless we agree an alternative time)

Local assistance on call (although puncture repair is excluded)

Detailed itinerary with meticulously planned and researched routes following quiet country lanes with a choice of routes available each day (usually recommended, long and short)

Route notes, descriptions and use of good OS mapping (maps available on arrival). We pride ourselves on our detailed level of documentation which includes plenty of top tips for places to visit or for relaxing and sampling the local fare along the way. We send electronic versions of these documents by email approximately two weeks before your stay so you can plan ahead and look forward to your gentle cycling adventure

We have now switched the default navigation system to GPS – in our opinion this is now the most convenient method as it eliminates the need for frequent stops to check the map

  • We provide you with access to a premium GPS smartphone navigation app (IOS or Android) and send you links so that you can download all of the route options before you leave home. We will provide a handlebar bracket for your phone if required; it is also recommended that you bring a spare battery/powerbank to make sure that your phone lasts the day
  • We can also provide GPS tracks in whatever format if you prefer to load them into your own GPS Unit
  • Finally, we can provide a limited number of GPS units with the routes preloaded – this is on a first come first served basis – please let us know as soon as you can if you would like to use one
  • We will also provide unmarked OS 1:50,000 mapping on arrival as additional support to allow for any impromptu route changes
  • Traditional map-based navigation (using marked OS maps) is still available as an alternative at extra cost upon request (at least two weeks in advance)
Please note that the price EXCLUDES

The cost of getting to and from the start point

Accommodation Options

Selected 4 star hotel with pool and spa facilities in King’s Lynn (2 nights), and a former coaching inn at South Creake (2 nights).

We are pleased to discuss details on request.

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