My summer in Norfolk

It’s been a tough year, and my family and I were keen for a summer holiday like most people. We were lucky enough to get a fab week of the best sunshine, in the best county - Norfolk!

Coronavirus has been particularly hard for many local businesses and the jobs they support, so backing our local tourism trade is a small thing that some of us might be able to do this summer.

With two little children we decided to keep it local and fun, with a week on the Broads.

Even though I’ve lived in Norfolk almost all my life, it was wonderful to find new places I hadn’t seen before, like How Hill and St Benets Abbey. I’d never had the chance to walk on the Weavers Way, or see villages from the water. Boating up to a pub was a new experience.

Anyone with small children will sympathise with the hunt for playgrounds wherever you are on holiday. Maybe our three year old should draw a book about his grand playground tour that took in Thurne, Aylsham, Horning, Stalham, Thorpe St Andrew and loads more around Norwich. The second chapter should cover all the fun of the fair at attractions like Pettitts Animal Adventure Park, and the Bure Valley steam train. The third must be about Norfolk ice cream: thank you, Dann’s and Ronaldo’s and Lakenham Creamery for your lovely flavours!

Our gorgeous natural environment is the star, though. Only in Norfolk do you get our big skies, with spectacular sunsets through fluorescent orange and flamingo pink. The best day was simply splashing in the splendid Salhouse Broad.