A surprise around every corner
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.
It is the perfect landscape for both wildlife and people with an endless choice of places to walk and things to explore. | | Wild Tracks
The diversity of the Norfolk landscape means that the countryside is home to a wide variety of birds and wildlife. Throughout the county you will find 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. |  | Views from the coast
The majority of the Norfolk coastline 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. | | | | Agriculture
Most of Norfolk's agricultural land is given over to cereal, oil-seed rape, sugar beet and vegetable crops including onions and potatoes. Advances in irrigation technology have enabled the very dry soil, particularly in Breckland, to be successfully cultivated.
Through the districts of Breckland and South Norfolk you will find large areas taken up by pig farms and in the Broadland district there are large areas of rich grassland where cattle graze.
Norfolk is, of course, famous for its 'bootiful' turkeys and the Norfolk Black turkey, which is a rare breed, can still be found here.
Holkham Hall in North Norfolk has a farming museum where you can find out about the innovations made by Norfolk farmers over the years and at Gressenhall Museum of Rural Life you'll discover how local people lived off the land. | | Under the trees
In the heart of Breckland is Thetford Forest - a patchwork of pines, heathland and broad-leaved trees which is home to a rich variety of animal and plant life. Covering 20,000 hectares and planted just after the First World War, Thetford Forest is the largest lowland pine forest in Britain. | | | The beauty of the Broads
Norfolk is possibly most famous for its Broadland waterways which stretch for 200kms. The 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.
You can find out more about the conservation of the Norfolk Broads here. | | | 
Useful Links
Norfolk Coast
Find out more about the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
AONB
Welcome
You'll find lots of information about access to the Norfolk countryside here.
Countryside Access
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