North Norfolk towns and villages
The village of Sea Palling is small but it has a certain charm. Along the seaward side of the dunes that shelter the village from the sea a collection of temporary dwellings has gradually developed over many years. Seeing this eclectic collection of architectural styles is worth the walk.
The village of Happisburgh has been fighting a battle with the North Sea for several years now. The coastal erosion is ongoing and many of the clifftop dwellings have now been demolished or have gone over the cliff to their final resting place on the beach below.
Continuing a journey from Happisburgh to Horsey along the Norfolk coast that took me through the rather strange settlement that is the Bush Estate. These structures, some ramshackle and others modern bungalows, are sheltered by the extensive line of sand dunes beneath which they nestle. They benefit from their close proximity to the beach – very pleasant in the summer months but when a nor-easterly gale is blowing I would imagine it is a bit like living in a settlement in Siberia.
If you like to relax on a Sunday morning with a cup of coffee and one of the broadsheets, you will undoubtedly have noticed the more regular appearance of articles relating to the north coast of Norfolk. The feature writers currently seem to be having a love affair with the area of the coast between Hunstanton and Cromer. This interest has been fuelled by the soaring price of the region’s property over recent years. Due to the growing demand for pretty Norfolk cottages as second homes, particularly during the 80s boom, this area has become increasingly fashionable with the rich and famous. In contrast, the coast from Cromer to Horsey is nowhere near as popular with those searching for a second home by the sea, and the holidaymakers visit in far fewer numbers, but that was not always the case.
Burnham Market is a Norfolk village that has changed completely over the last 25 years. It now resembles a tourist hot spot similar to some of the villages in the Cotswolds. The shops cater mainly for the holiday trade and are aimed at the wealthier members of society, many of whom own second homes in the area.
“On the lighthouse cliff at Cromer, looking west over the little fisher town, a mere cluster of cottages that encircle a tall church tower, the setting sun reddens and burns, and lingers momentarily over the horizon until at last it sinks contentedly into the silent sea…”
From Poppy-Land by Clement Scott – 1890.