Break for all the family

Although we could have happily spent our summer break at any one of Norfolk's many holiday resorts a tour around this diverse county, combining beautiful countryside, breathtaking coastline and East Anglia's capital city proved to be an inspired decision.

Crabbing off Cromer Pier was a good start to our week. At this classic seaside resort we stayed at the Cliftonville Hotel, standing proud on the seafront since Edwardian times. The old-fashioned charm of the exterior and dcor was complemented by the high quality of food and service. The Cromer crab, though not one caught by us, was especially tasty. While the cool, gusty winds may have put us off paddling the eager surfers were more than happy with the weather conditions on this blue-flag beach.

Home of BBC Springwatch for the last three years, Pensthorpe Nature Reserve and Gardens, near Fakenham, is a real delight. Since 1988 the disused gravel site has been transformed into a natural haven for a vast amount of flora, fauna and endangered wildlife. Owner Bill Jordan (founder of Jordans breakfast cereal) and his wife Deb, take a passionate and active role in the reserve and are especially proud of their red squirrel breeding programme which has seen many being successfully released into the wild on Anglesey. For gardeners the wildflower meadow, wave garden and Millennium Garden, designed by RHS Chelsea Flower Show award winners are inspirational. An adventure playground, children's trail, cafe and well-stocked gift shop meant we spent a relaxing, informative few hours there.

Just a few miles out of Norwich we discovered an exciting and enchanting world – BeWILDerwood.

Based on books by local author Tom Blofeld, this is fantastic forest fantasy fun for all the family. Adults are encouraged to join in with children on zip wires, slippery slope slides and wobbly bridge climbing. A boat ride on the scary lake to spot Mildred the Crocklebog, a walk down the pointless path, followed by a spot of den building in the woods left us hungry and we were pleased to see the environmentally-friendly theme continued with wooden snack shacks offering organic juice, builder's tea and healthy sandwiches.

From sea views to a sea of yellow for our next hotel, Holiday Inn Norwich City has rooms with excellent pitch views of Carrow Road, the home of Norwich City Football Club. Our boys enjoyed watching the groundsmen at work preparing the pitch for the next home match, sadly The Canaries were not playing while we visited.

An open-topped bus tour was an excellent way to see the city centre with the fine cathedral, the castle, now forming part of Norwich Castle Museum and a good selection of high street and more specialist shops, including the Colman's mustard shop and museum.

Moving into Suffolk we headed to Pleasurewood Hills, near Lowestoft. Being the region's biggest theme park with the usual array of white-knuckle and children's rides it was very popular with both locals and holidaymakers.

A trip to Norfolk without seeing the Broads didn't seem right somehow so we managed an afternoon in Wroxham, but with so much to do and see, from charming, unspoilt villages to historic houses there is enough left to be done for us to be planning another trip there very soon.

WHERE TO STAY

Cliftonville Hotel, Cromer. www.cliftonvillehotel.co.uk

Tel. 01263 512543

BeWILDerwood, Wroxham. www.bewilderwood.co.uk Tel. 01603 783900

Pensthorpe Nature Reserve, Fakenham. www.pensthorpe.com Tel. 01328 851465

Pleasurewood Hills, Lowestoft. www.pleasurewoodhills.com Tel. 01502 586000

Holiday Inn, Norwich City. www.holidayinn.com Tel. 0870

890 1000

YP MAG 30/10/10