On the village trail
Around every corner in Norfolk you'll find pretty villages with their own distinct personalities.
Thatched roofs, flint-fronted houses, fishermen's cottages, Georgian manor houses and grand stately homes sit comfortably alongside each other while village greens, areas of common land, fields and meadows complete the rural picture.
|  | | Little gems
Small but perfectly formed - this can be said of many villages in Norfolk.
In Victorian times the picturesque village of Coltishall, on the Norfolk Broads, was more a town than a village having become rich from extraction of lime and marl and a thriving boat and wherry building industry. The grand houses which are dotted around the village point back to this time of wealth. The village now has a beautiful village green where boats can moor and a surprising number of interesting shops places to eat.
Blakeney is set in the North Norfolk Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and remains unspoiled by the pace of modern life. It has a wonderful quay and is the perfect place for long walks across the salt water marshes and boat trips to see the seals.
Burnham Thorpe was the birthplace of one of England's greatest heroes, Horatio Nelson. The tiny village is a place to step back in time and seems to be untouched by the 21st century.
Despite being a relatively large village by Norfolk standards, Martham, near Great Yarmouth, retains its traditional charm with a large village green surrounded by attractive houses. Many of Martham's cottages are thatched with Norfolk reed from the nearby marshes.
Horning, in the heart of the broads is the perfect place to kick off your holiday on the Norfolk broads or enjoy a trip on a paddle steamer. Or, you can simply enjoy watching Norfolk life go by from one of the many tearooms and pubs. | | Grand Designs
In some of the smallest villages in Norfolk you can find some of the grandest houses in England. Traditionally occupied by the Lord of the Manor or Squire, these houses demonstrate the wealth of the family and village.
In a tiny village near Aylsham, is Blickling Hall, one of the greatest houses in England. It dates from the early seventeenth century and has fine collections of furniture, pictures and tapestries.
Within North Norfolk's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is Felbrigg. A few miles from Cromer the village is home to Felbrigg Hall, a maginificent 17th century house, and its beautiful gardens and parkland.
Holkham, also in North Norfolk, is famous for its wide sandy beaches where you can walk for miles. Holkham Hall is the home of the Earl of Leicester and visitors can take a peek into the lifestyle of the aristocracy.
The Hall at Oxburgh, near Swaffham in West Norfolk, is a moated building which was built in 1482 by the Bedingfeld family. A visit to Oxburgh provides a real insight into what life would have been like in the village at various tempestuous times in England's history. | | | | Village Churches
Throughout the Norfolk countryside you will find villages which seem largely untouched by the 21st century. Village churches are a wonderful way of discovering more about the individual history and heritage of each village and there are some exciting and beautiful treasures to be found.
St Mary's church at Barton Bendish, near Downham Market dates from the 14th century and has a complicated history. Inside you can find a strange collection of old pews and a 14th century wall painting.
Shimpling church, near Diss is set away from the village, along a rural track overlooking woodland. With its Norman round tower and a little spire Shimpling is a beautifully proportioned building and contains a stunning, octagonal 15th century font and a small area of distinguished mediaeval stained glass.
In Buckenham church , 7 miles from Norwich, you will find one of the finest wholly octagonal church towers in Norfolk.
Near Hingham, Coston church is an important small Early English church that has survived almost unaltered from the 13th century.
The church in Cley on the North Norfolk Coast gives us lots of clues to the rich past of the village as it is almost cathedral-like in its design.
This is just a tiny taster of the fascinating village churches you can find in the Norfolk countryside
| | Country life Calendar
When you spend time in the Norfolk countryside you cannot fail to be aware of the changing seasons. Rural communities have been influenced by the weather and calendar since time began and as you explore some of the villages you will find many clues pointing towards countrylife of the past.
Shrovetide has always been a time for pancakes and games but the tradition stems from the countryman's attempts to encourage the fertility of the soil and drive out evil spirits.
Lady Day, in March was traditionally the time when work began after the winter break with the ploughing of farmland in readiness for sowing of spring crops.
May Day was for honouring the Roman goddess Flora while the maypole dance symbolised the coming of summer.
Summer was, and still is, a busy and critical time for all country folk. The time for hay-making, maintaining crops and the start of the main corn harvest - it was a time which saw villages working together for the good of the community.
Along with the milling of flour, celebrations were held at the end of the harvest. Many villages still have harvest festivals to mark the importance of this time of year and to offer thanks for plentiful supplies of food.
As the weather became colder root crops, such as potatoes, were harvested and ploughing began again ready for next year's crops.
In November the traditional Norfolk crops of reed and sedge were cut to be dried for thatch and animals were killed to provide meat throughout the winter. | | | | | 
Useful Links
Lords of the Manor
Discover more about historic houses in the Norfolk countryside.
National Trust
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