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Norfolk Countryside

You can literally gaze out over miles and miles of countryside in Norfolk. Our gentle landscape rolls out as far as the eye can see with rolling farmland punctuated by the odd church spire or windmill. Rows of twisted Scots pines are silhouetted across acres of ancient heathland. Vast waterways and meandering rivers glisten in the afternoon sun.

Jump to: Norfolk Landscape // Wildlife // Coast // Woodland // Broads

Countryside areas:

The Brecks

Explore The Brecks

The Fens

Discover The Fens

Thetford Forest

Explore Thetford Forest

Poppy field in West Norfolk © Norfolk Tourism

Norfolk landscape

Norfolk's landscape is very diverse. From historic heathland and ancient grassland, to wetland, farmland, marshland, mudflats and reedbeds. If you are expecting Norfolk to be flat and dull then you are definitely in for a surprise. The Norfolk landscape is amazingly diverse with an enthralling combination of beaches, forests, rivers, crumbling cliffs, salt-marshes and sand dunes.

Norfolk is simply a place to get out and explore. Pull on your walking boots and tramp along our ancient paths and long distance trails, or hop onto a horse and enjoy trekking along miles of bridleways through unspoilt countryside.

Find out more about walking, cycling and horseriding in Norfolk

Enjoy watching the swan feeds at WWT Welney © Norfolk Tourism

Get close to Norfolk's wildlife

All this countryside provides the perfect habitat for a wide variety of bird, animal and plant life. Passing through winding country lanes you'll find colourful patchwork fields, poppies, wild flowers, berries and hedgerows - but the best thing you'll discover is the feeling of space. Throughout the county you will find excellent birdwatching opportunities and nature reserves which provide the ideal habitat for many endangered species including Bitterns, Avocets and Great Crested newts.

The Norfolk Wildlife Trust, RSPB and National Trust all work to protect Norfolk's countryside and its wildlife. Visitors are welcome at many reserves throughout Norfolk and you can spend time getting to know the landscape and its wildlife much better.

If you want to get close to nature, visit some of Norfolk's countryside attractions. Spend a peaceful afternoon amongst our nature reserves looking out for rare flowers, birds and butterflies. Or have a cuddle with the animals at one of our domestic farmyards or horse rescue centres.

Find out more about birdwatching and wildlife spotting in Norfolk

Wells-next-the-Sea coastline © Norfolk Tourism

Views from the coast

The majority of the Norfolk coast is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with a wonderful diversity of landscape including some of the finest sand dunes and saltmarshes in Britain. You can also find one of the highest points in Norfolk on the coast near Sheringham. Beeston Bump offers unrivalled views down the coast and inland and is well worth a climb. There were originally two hills at Beeston Regis but the other was lost to the sea in the early 20th century.

Find out more about the Norfolk Coast

Sunrise in Thetford Forest © Norfolk Tourism

Under the trees

Norfolk has acres and acres of woodland. From ancient coppices with carpets of glorious bluebells, to the vast Thetford Forest, the largest lowland pine forest in Britain, with pines, heathland and broadleaved trees.

In the heart of Breckland, Thetford Forest is a patchwork of pines, heathland and broadleaved trees and is home to a rich variety of animal and plant life. The site covers 20,000 hectares and was planted just after the First World War. Head to the High Lodge Visitor Centre to follow waymarked trails, browse the shop or have a bite to eat. You could even try the high ropes adventure course if you're feeling brave!

Find out more about Thetford Forest or The Brecks

Boats on the Norfolk Broads © Norfolk Tourism

The beauty of the Norfolk Broads

Norfolk is possibly most famous for its Broadland waterways which stretch for over 125 miles. The Norfolk Broads were formed by Medieval peat diggings which became shallow lakes joined by cuts and dykes to the rivers of the areas including the Yare, the Bure, the Wensum and the Waveney.

The Norfolk Broads is now the UK's largest nationally protected wetland. Its rivers, broads (shallow lakes), marshes and fens make it a unique area. Globally, wetlands are among the most threatened of landscapes and the Norfolk Broads are home to a wide variety of plant life, birds and animals and an important destination for naturalists. Ancient crafts such as reed cutting still take place here, harvesting Norfolk reeds for thatchers throughout the UK.