With summer drawing to an end this signals a great time to explore rural Norfolk, with summer crowds dissipating, autumn colours a plenty and an invitation to enjoy the evenings cosied up by the fire. It could be just the autumn break you’re in need of.

Norfolk has so much to offer visitors throughout the year, here are our top 10 favourites that are especially wonderful in the Autumn.

Horsey Gap seal pups

Seal pup at Horsey Gap - Credit Amy Asher

Horsey beach is the perfect place to see Grey Seals at any time of year and in the autumn and winter thousands visit the beach to mate and give birth. Newborn seals lay nestled amongst the sand dunes while adult and teenage seals frolic in the surf.

It’s a must-see experience if you are in the area at this time of year and the wonderful volunteers at Friends of Horsey Seals are on hand to keep the seals safe as well as share interesting facts and stories about these wonderful creatures. Last winter there were 2,500 seal pups born on the beaches of Horsey and neighbouring Winterton.

It’s important not to get close to the seals and to keep dogs well away from them as a female seal can abandon their pup if they’re disturbed.

Norfolk Birds

Thousands of migrating birds descend on Norfolk prior to heading South for the winter so Autumn is the perfect time to bring your binoculars and ID book and see what you can spot in the skies and marshes along the Norfolk coast.

Bird hides at RSPB Snettisham give panoramic views across the lagoons, salt marsh and mudflats that make up The Wash. If you time your dawn visit to coincide with the biggest high tides you’re sure to experience the “whirling wader spectacle”, when thousands of wading birds take flight as the rising tide forces them off the mud and onto the shingle. One of nature’s great shows!

Pink footed Geese - Credit Pauline Bernfeld

The flight of the Pink-footed geese is another great spectacle on this RSPB coastal nature reserve. These geese visit North Norfolk between October and April from their breeding grounds of Greenland and Iceland. Be sure to check dates and times before you head off if you want to experience either of these sights.

Pink-footed geese can also be spotted at the marshes along the North Norfolk coast in Titchwell, Cley and Wells marshes as well as Holkham and Holme. The best times to see them are at sunrise and sunset. Cley marshes is a Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve with a visitor centre and several bird hides with information to help you identify what you’ve spotted. It is a favourite for us at any time of year with a lovely circular walk and a hot drink at the visitor centre cafe afterwards being a must.

Woodland Walks

Autumn woodland walk - Credit Johannes Plenio

There’s no better way to enjoy autumn falling leaves than to wander in the woods. Norfolk has an abundance of woodlands just waiting to be explored and if you’re a guest at Round the Woods you’ll have a beautiful 7 acre semi-ancient deciduous woodland to explore right on your doorstep.

For forestry adventures locally Foxley Wood, just a couple of miles away from Round the Woods, is Norfolk’s largest ancient woodland and Bawdeswell Heath, with large swathes of heather, is beautiful in the autumn. Mousehold Heath, a large expanse of woodland and heathland, sits right on the edge of Norwich and provides some wonderful views of the city. Sheringham Park, with its abundance of rhododendrons and views across farmland to the coast, and Holt Country Park in North Norfolk are wonderful woodlands to explore.

Norfolk’s Stately Homes

Blickling Hall, a Norfolk stately home - Credit Joe Lee

Enjoy the magnificent colours of autumn in the extensive grounds of some of Norfolk’s magnificent stately homes. Choose from Felbrigg Hall, Blickling Estate, Holkham Hall, Houghton Hall or the Queen’s residence at Sandringham Estate.

Local Pubs

Mussels in a Norfolk pub - Credit Nick Karvounis

Whether you’re seeking refreshment and to rest your legs after a long hike in the Norfolk countryside or you’re keen to end a day of relaxation with a delicious hearty meal, Norfolk’s pubs are just the ticket. With an abundance of welcoming pubs serving fresh, local and delicious produce and with Mussels and pumpkins coming into season from October what more could you want?

Our favourite local pubs are the Parson Woodforde in Weston Longville (20 minute walk) and The Fox in Lyng (5 minute drive). The Brisley Bell serves locally sourced food and comes highly recommended.

Visit Museums

Norfolk has something to offer in all weathers. If it’s a rainy day or you’re looking for indoor activities try Norwich Castle, Time and Tide Museum in Great Yarmouth and Gressenhall farm and workhouse Museum. Norwich Cathedral is a magnificent building to visit and until the end of October you can experience Dippy on Tour, the dinosaur from the Natural History Museum.

For further ideas on rainy day activities and museums have a look at Visit Norfolk.

Stargazing

With the nights beginning to draw in, Autumn is a great time for stargazing around the campfire, or, if you’re staying at Round the Woods, admiring the twinkly night sky through your skylight from the comfort of your king size bed. Wrap up warm and grab a flask and your telescope and you’re all set for an evening of dark sky entertainment.

Norfolk Beaches

Norfolk’s beaches in Autumn - Credit Phil Hearing

The Norfolk coast is beautiful all year round and Autumn means less crowds, more space and even opportunities to enjoy beaches to yourselves. With so many to choose from no matter what your dream beach involves there’ll be one that ticks your boxes. From vast expanses of soft sand, arcades and piers, pebbles, cafes, wildlife and sand dunes. We’ve compiled a list of the most popular Norfolk beaches.

Sunsets

A Norfolk rural sunset - Credit Federico Respini

Norfolk is known for it’s big expansive skies and with this comes a high chance of experiencing stunning sunsets (and sunrises if you’re generally an early bird or are enjoying dawn coastal birdspotting).

Autumn Glamping

Willow Roundhouse, a cosy cabin in all weathers

With a skylight for stargazing, picture windows providing views of the meadow and surrounding woodland and snuggly blankets for reading out on the deck or in the swing chair by the fire, Willow Roundhouse is a very special place for a relaxing, adventurous autumn glamping experience.

This handcrafted cabin is set on a beautiful 20 acre nature reserve, perfectly placed for exploring all that Norfolk has to offer. With a roaring logfire, sumptuous goose down bedding on the King size bed and carefully crafted design details, this is the ideal autumn getaway for up to 7 people.

Book your cosy cabin stay at Round the Woods www.roundthewoods.co.uk with 2 nights midweek from £365.

Top 10 Autumn Things To Do in Norfolk