Days Out - Holkham Nature Reserve, Norfolk

If you're looking for endless beach and big skies, the beach on the Holkham Nature Reserve which is part of the Holkham Estate is just the ticket.

Marshes, dunes, beach and wooded areas, what more could you really ask for, totally unspolit.

Wellies might be useful so you don't have to worry about dodging all the riverlets that run down the beach.   

And twitchers won't be disappointed as the area is great for birdwatching. 

If you keep walking towards Wells-next-the-sea you'll be welcomed by the sight of a row of beautifully painted beach huts.  

Wells itself is small, with about twenty shops that will cater for most of your needs, especially that all important crab line.

Truly Scrumptious - Byfords, Holt, Norfolk

A few years ago we were invited to our friends' wedding near Holt and took advantage of it by having a week's holiday there.  We were even luckier to have happened upon a fantastic cottage in the centre of the village (you can see it at the far right of the picture above) because it was literally a stone's throw from Byfords, an amazing deli, coffee shop, restaurant and boutique B&B.  The owners sum it up perfectly when they describe it as a higgedly-piggedly world of pleasure.  It really is.

We felt almost duty bound to make the arduous trip across the road every morning for fresh coffee and croissants, followed by a quick return to stock up on supplies for a hearty picnic.  We had brought our bikes with us (it being pretty flat terrain) but would still be in need of sustenance on our adventures.  They stocked everything and more that you could wish for in a deli, so accurately described as a culinary Aladdin's cave.  Speciality breads, locally sourced; jams, chutneys, olives and cheeses.

After a full day in the saddle, we felt justified in quenching our thirst with a glass of chilled wine, choosing to sit outside and watch the world go by.

We did venture to other places - usually at the recommendation of information provided by Byfords and were never disappointed.  So if you're in the area or fancy a weekend away, do check this place out.