Hunstanton Cliffs (c) LLMartyM - http://www.flickr.com/photos/martym75/

Wonderful West Norfolk

In West Norfolk you will find unspoilt coastlines and rolling countryside which are home to a Medieval port and family friendly seaside resort. The area has a fascinating and vibrant heritage and is home to a variety of habitats where a huge variety of wildlife thrive. Walkers and cyclists can enjoy the many footpaths and cycle trails and there are great days out for all the family.

King's Lynn Town Hall, West Norfolk (c) Norfolk Tourism

Historic King's Lynn

King's Lynn is the capital of West Norfolk and has a rich and fascinating maritime heritage. The River Great Ouse flows into the town from the sea and provides a reminder of the Hanseatic town's vibrant past as a port.

There are a variety of pretty buildings lining Lynn's cobbled streets, including the chequered Town Hall, or Trinity Guildhall, which houses the Tales of the Old Gaol House museum, and there are plenty of museums and attractions for all the family to enjoy. Throughout the year the town comes alive with festivals celebrating its rich arts scene and heritage, including the long running King's Lynn Festival, Festival Too, Hanse Festival and poetry and literature celebrations.

Find out more about the Hanseatic town on our King's Lynn page

Birdwatching at RSPB Titchwell (c) Norfolk Tourism

West Norfolk - Best for birds

The natural coastal landscape of West Norfolk is an ideal habitat for many species of wintering wildfowl, summer breeding birds and migrants. It also attracts a range of marsh, coast and countryside dwelling wildlife.

There are numerous nature reserves in the area including the RSPB's reserve at Titchwell which has both fresh and salt water lagoons and extensive reed beds. Snettisham Coastal Park and the nearby RSPB Snettisham reserve provides an ideal environment for many migratory species. These organisations host many events throughout the year to help you get closer to nature and explore this beautiful, and natural, area.

West Norfolk is on the edge of The Wash, the UKs most important estuary for wild birds and a site of international significance. The sheltered mudflats of The Wash provide a vast feeding ground for thousands of water birds from as far away as Greenland and Siberia.

Further inland, WWT Welney, on the Ouse Washes, is home to thousands of wildfowl such as swans, wigeon and pochard who descend on the reserve during the winter months. In summer guided walks of this rich fenland area are a must, and in the winter the spectacular movement of thousands of geese to and from their feeding grounds is an awe-inspiring sight.

Find nature reserves in West Norfolk

Walking signpost on the Peddar's Way/Norfolk Coast Path National Trail (c) Norfolk Tourism

Walking in West Norfolk

The West Norfolk coastline is a mass of pale, curving sand dunes and reed marshes, edged by pine woods and much of the coast is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This is a wonderfully peaceful stretch of coastline where the combination of open landscape and isolation provides an ideal habitat for many species of birds and the perfect place for visitors to enjoy a refreshing sense of space.

The Nar Valley Way is a 34 miles long walk, running from the historic port of King's Lynn to the Gressenhall Farm & Workhouse, near East Dereham and is contained almost entirely within the watershed of the River Nar. The route follows Public Rights of Way, tracks and minor roads, and also links with another long distance route, the Peddars' Way at Castle Acre.

The Peter Scott Walk follows the sea bank along the Wash from King's Lynn. You can take the passenger ferry from King's Lynn to the west bank of the River Great Ouse to pick up the start of this walk.

Further inland, the Fen Rivers Way, a long distance path between Cambridge and King's Lynn traces the course of the rivers that drain slowly across the Fens into the Wash.

Find out more about walking in Norfolk

Hunstanton Cliffs, West Norfolk (c) Norfolk Tourism

'Sunny Hunny' - enjoy Hunstanton

Hunstanton is the ideal location for a family seaside holiday and the most famous resort in West Norfolk. It has a large, award winning, sandy beach with safe, shallow water and just a few steps away from the shoreline you will find a wealth of amusements and attractions for all ages and all weather conditions.

Hunstanton's striped cliffs rise above the sea to the north of the town and create a natural landmark for the area. As the only west facing resort on the east coast of Britain, Hunstanton basks in sunshine long into the evening and visitors can enjoy spectacular sunsets from the promenade.

Find out more on Hunstanton and nearby Heacham

Windsurfing in West Norfolk (c) Norfolk Tourism

Things to do in West Norfolk

West Norfolk offers an enormous range of things to do for all members of the family. The clean, shallow sea provides a vast playground to enjoy lots of different sports including sailing and jet-skiing. Hunstanton offers some of the best conditions in the country for windsurfing and there are lots of schools where you can try out the sport.

Because the countryside in this area is so fertile there are some amazing and inspiring gardens including those at Sandringham, Houghton Hall and Castle Acre Priory. The Sensory Garden in Hunstanton has been specially designed for disabled visitors with opportunities to smell the plants and feel the sculptures.

For those who enjoy getting closer to animals, the farm at Snettisham Park is the perfect place to meet and feed a variety of farm and pet animals. At Hunstanton Sea Life Sanctuary you will come face to face with seals, otters and penguins plus lots more creatures from the deep which live in the centre's aquarium.

At Denver Windmill near Downham Market you can explore a working windmill and then spend time in the craft shops, visitor centre and teashop.

Find places to visit and things to do in West Norfolk

Find out more about West Norfolk

In this section we've given you just a taste of West Norfolk. You can find out lots more about places to stay and things to do by visiting the official website for West Norfolk: