SARACEN'S HEAD
middle of nowhere, centre of everywhere
Saracens Head | Wolterton | Norfolk | NR11 7LZ
Email: info@saracenshead-norfolk.co.uk
Tel: 01263 768909
Things to do near The Saracen's Head
We are lucky to be a few miles from the stunning Norfolk coastline, where you can explore sand dunes, pebble beaches, and rock pools between West Runton, Overstrand, Hunstanton, Satlhouse and beyond. We are just a few miles from the bustling market town of Aylsham and the traditional, Victorian seaside town of Cromer, and kids will love crabbing at Wells-by-the-Sea.
Wolterton Hall
Since the Ellis family bought Wolterton Hall in October 2024 they have continued the renovations of the properties on the estate in the same manner that the previous owners had.
The park and grounds are now very much open for the public to explore and to attend the wonderful array of events that are now being held in the park and at hall.
This year Wolterton will be hosting their second exhibition, with works by Phyllida Barlow: disruptor, that will show in three rooms in the hall and sculptures throughout the gardens and landscape. Daisy Parris will display her exhibition, Fist full of dreams in the ground floor gallery. The exhibition commences on 20 May and runs through to the end of October.
Open to the public Wednesday to Sunday 11.00 – 16.00. There are exceptions when the exhibitions are closed due to private events. Check www.wolterton.co.uk for details.
There is no charge for entrants, but you must book a time slot and ticket, this can be done through the website.
There are intimate cookery and floral design workshops, as well as celebrations of Shakespeare’s Othello and summer jazz concert on the south lawn between the hall and the lake. Bring your own picnic and friends and enjoy a special time at Wolterton.
Make a weekend of it and book a room at Saracen’s Head and enjoy a relaxed drink in the bar after the event and a lazy breakfast after a good night’s sleep.
Where events at Wolterton and Mannington do not provide food, we will be running a small pre-theatre menu that will be available two hours before the event starts.
Tables for this must be pre-booked with us by phone.
Manington Hall
just three miles from the Saracens offers lovely gardens and collection of roses as well as a tearoom to relax in. There are walks through ancient landscapes where woodland, meadow, wetland and historic parkland have supported
wildlife for centuries. There will be special events taking place at Mannington throughout the summer, including the Mannington Book Bash. There are intimate cookery and floral design workshops, as well as celebrations of Shakespeare’s Othello and summer jazz concert on the south lawn between the hall and lake.
Bring your own picnic and friends and enjoy a special time at Wolterton. Make a weekend of it and book a room at Saracen’s Head and enjoy a relaxed drink in the bar after the event and a lazy breakfast after a good night’s sleep.
Full details of events that are planned at Wolterton and Mannington are
here https://wolterton.co.uk/whats-on/
Walks
The Saracen’s Head is surrounded by wonderful walks, take any number of tracks directly from our doorstep and find yourself in the most idyllic woodlands, estate grounds and riversides. We have directions and knowledge of the local area, so have a chat with us before heading out. Try this 7.5 mile circular walk from nearby village Calthorpe over the Blickling. Or this one from nearby Wolterton Park over to the gardens of Mannington Hall.
Open Gardens
If gardens are your thing a trip to Norfolk is not complete without visiting East Ruston Old Vicarage. This incredibly special garden has been developed by Alan Gray and Graham Robeson from a 2 acre parch of rough turf to a 32 acre modern garden with many garden rooms over the last 50 years. Throughout the spring and summer that are many private gardens that open to the public for special occasions and local villages that have gardens open weekends. Further information at opengardens.co.uk
Historic houses
We have wonderful historical houses in Norfolk, all within reach of The Saracen’s. Anne Boleyn’s former home and Jacobean Mansion, Blickling Hall is just a few miles away and a lovely walk from the Saracens. Here you can look around the house and the beautiful gardens. Bikes can be hired, close to the car park allowing you to explore the woods and parkland. There is a café and second-hand book shop, as well as a pub!
Watch out for exhibits and special events. Houghton Hall is known for its stunning art collection and sculpture park whilst Holkham Estate has a range of fascinating events throughout the year and the huge expanse of sandy beach there is breathtaking. Felbrigg hall and Sheringham park are also worth a visit, both of which are National trust properties.
Norfolk Broads and Norwich
The Norfolk Broads are only a 40 minute drive, where you can hire a boat for the day and explore the waterways and if you fancy a day in the city, beautiful medieval Norwich is only 40 minutes drive and has the Castle Museum, which has recently been redeveloped and the Sainsbury Centre for art lovers and all the high street shops for those needing a retail fix.
Birdwatching
Our county is renowned for its superb birdwatching; spot raptors as well as visiting breeds. For keen birdwatchers there’s a great variety of sites where you can observe the diverse bird wildlife here, visit the first original sanctuary for bird breeding at Cley Marshes, or head to Pensthorpe if you’ve children with you for a full day’s adventure.
Beaches
The Norfolk coastal path is over 112 miles in length and on that coastline, you can find every type of beach imaginable. From the great planes of Holkham where the sea recedes up to 1km at low tide, great for dog walking, Brancaster Staithe and Morston where the salt marshes are a haven for wildlife and very muddy for us! Paddleboarding and dingy sailing are popular here. Blakeney point is where you will see England’s largest Grey Seal colony, boats leave from Morston quay. Sheringhamwith its blue flag sandy beach and heritage railway is a popular destination and its neighbour Cromer has the famous pier, slightly pebbly beach and of course the Cromer crab. A good place to take up surfing if you’ve not done it before. To the east beaches and cliffs grow wilder giving a completely different feel. Overstrand and Mundesley are great for a walk and a swim.
For those not wanting to wander far from the inn, or with only a little time to spare, why not adventure just a mile or so down the road to the pretty village of Itteringham, where you’ll find the community run Itteringham Village Shop, serving locals since 1637. You can stop for coffee and cake here, and buy any number of supplies from local producers, from soap to fudge and even some jaunty bright pink woollen socks. There are some beautiful walks around Itteringham, too.
