Pushing further around the Norfolk coast from Hemsby my second trip to to this fascinating east Anglia county was based around Cromer.  Cromer is more the southern tip of north Norfolk, I was in a hotel for the weekend nearby at West Runton.

Breckland

On the border of Suffolk and Norfolk is an interesting area known as Breckland.  You drive through Breckland along the A11 on your way to the Norfolk coast if coming from Hertfordshire.  You can not help noticing the Elveden war memorial as you pass by.  There is a large lay-by nearby so thought it would be a good spot to take a break, stretch my legs and explore a little with my compact camera.

The Brecks is open heath-land bordering Thetford forest and in of itself would make a good area to explore with your camera.  I was just passing through on my way to Cromer and managed a composition with an old WW2 pill box in the foreground and the WW1 memorial in the background.

West Runton to Cromer

Checked into my hotel in west Runton I had not done much research of the area just knew it was within good walking distance to Cromer.  Checking OS maps online, was pleasantly surprised to discover there were lots of walks right by hotel with some hills and the highest point along the Norfolk coast.

Walk down to the beach at west Runton and begin shooting, just handholding and then walked along the beach towards Cromer with the pier in the distance.

By the time I reach Cromer, thick clouds cover the sky and it begins to rain hard and I need to take shelter on the pier.

From the pier I make it to the No1 chip shop and have a few Norwich ales and some fantastic fish n chips.   Had to make it back to west Runton in the dark and rain, quite wet but well worth the evening walk along to beach to Cromer.

Norwich

Never sleep well in hotels, but woke up feeling a bit grotty and took a couple of paracetamols.  Was a dull morning in West Runton but checking the weather, looked a lot better in the afternoon to the evening so could explore the local area with a walk to Sherringham.   For the morning I would take a trip into Norwich city with just my compact camera.

Took the walk out of the AA’s guide to Norwich, its was just over 4 miles taking you through the city centre and all the main attractions.  Parked up for 3 hours for £6 thinking that would be enough but stopped a few times for coffee.  Had to cut the walk short and head back to the car-park.  Hate this time constraint when parking, you should add an extra hour or two.  Its not everyday your walking around Norwich.  Not sure really caught the essence of Norwich with my street photography what with the old castle walls contrasting with more modern monstrosities.  The height of the walk was the cobbled streets around Elm hill.

Sherringham Beeston Hill

After some rest from the morning walk around Norwich, had a meal in the hotel cafe before commencing the second walk to Sherringham taking in some local hills.  An army marches on its stomach and feed a cold, starve a flu.

Was looking like stormy weather, good, may get some dramatic lighting! But ending calm around sunset by which time should be on the return walk from Sherringham. Made an ascent up Incleborough hill, a national trust protected site.

Good views on reaching Incleborough hill towards Beeston hill but was raining hard.  Had my water proofs including boots,  no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing.

Walked through some forest to Beacon hill which used to be a Roman camp.  Here I discovered Beeston Regis another national trust site and got my tripod out with some shots of the heath and heather.  Compositions were not easy to find.  The sky was featureless and needed to be mostly excluded.  Should have focused stacked here with the heather on the heath in the foreground and adding a good splash of complimentary colour and contrast.

Using OS Maps online, followed the footpaths eventually arriving at the summit of the Beeston Bump and then into Sherringham where I enjoyed a pint and some fish n chips.

Saving the best till last, timed my visit back on top of Beeston Hill to capture the sunset.  Problem was it was very breezy so any freezing of foreground flowers would require a faster shutter speed.  Also problem with sunflare while using a 3 stop reverse graduated NDF.  Difficult shot, I could have done better with pre-visualisation and bracketing for a composite.  But nothing better than enjoying the great view of a sunset over the North sea.

Overstrand to Northrepps

Woke up and my cold had gone, nothing like walking it off in the fresh air and sea breeze.  Had one last walk before checking out and chose one out of the AA guide south of Cromer starting at Overstrand.  Good thing with arriving early was there was some free car parking space available along the road. The Cliff top cafe opened at 8AM so had a cooked breakfast and some coffee before walking it off.

Not check the beach at Overstrand but took a peek along the cliff top path towards Cromer and there was caravan parks as far as the eye could see, so not fancy that.  The walk inland was pretty uneventful from a landscape photography viewpoint.  It was a lovely warm day and back at the beach at Overstrand I found a little cove and fell asleep.

I then took a walk along the beach towards Cromer, a few people about now , but also some good compositions.  I regret not coming this way earlier in the morning.  Also would have been a good spot for some evening photography with a sunset behind Cromer pier.