Holkham in North Norfolk has been ranked as one of the best UK villages to visit this autumn, with the small village boasting glorious sandy beaches and a grand 18th-century country house
With autumn upon us and with it the colder temperatures and darker evenings, thoughts may soon turn to a UK getaway.
Luckily for us there are dozens of beautiful villages across the country which boast breathtaking views, stunning architecture and fancy restaurants. Holkham in North Norfolk is a popular destination for visitors all year round and was included in Conde Nast Traveller’s list of UK destinations to visit this fall.
Nestled within the stunning Norfolk coastline, Holkham’s beach is one of the most unspoilt and beautiful stretches of sand in the country. With the sand extending for miles when the tide is out and bordered by vast pine woods, the beach is perfect for a morning stroll, reportsthe Express.
Actress Gwyneth Paltrow even walked across the Holkham sand at low tide during the closing scenes of the film ‘Shakespeare in Love’. Extremely popular in the summer, on a fresh autumn day you may be lucky enough to have the boundless sands to yourself, with the beach described as “beautiful” and “clean”.
“Fabulous beach with miles of beautiful golden sand,” one person wrote on TripAdvisor. “Unfortunately, we weren’t very lucky with the weather when we visited, but it meant the beach was very quiet and we walked for around three miles and only met other people when returning to the car park. We could hear lots of jets circling overhead, but the cloud base was too low to see any of the action. We’ll definitely return on a sunny day.”
Another commented: “We parked up on a car park in town and walked along the estuary to the beach. The walk was pleasant and enjoyable. The beach however was excellent. I loved all the multi-coloured beach huts. Worth the effort to get there!” While the beach is undoubtedly a main attraction, Holkham boasts incredible history and is home to Holkham Hall, an 18th century Palladian house, home to the Earl of Leicester. Holkham Hall stands grandly amidst 25,000 acres of rolling park and farmland, with visitors able to look around the grounds and even stay in one of the 20 beautiful rooms at The Victoria.
Surrounded by rolling parkland with roaming Fallow Deer and Red Deer, the hall and grounds are well worth the visit. Elsewhere, Holkham National Nature Reserve stretches from Burnham Norton to Morston and covers about 4,000 hectares. Many explore the area via its many footpaths while it also makes the perfect place for a picnic if the weather is dry.
Further down the coast is the enchanting Wells-next-the-Sea, which is nestled between Holkham Beach and Blakeney Point. Renowned for its classical Georgian Square and breath-taking quayside views, the area also boasts a unique Lifeboat Horse, an intriguing sculpture crafted from steel bars and whisky barrels, which holds court over the harbour.
While the area boasts places to eat fish and chips on the beach, there are cosy restaurants, pubs and cafes which offer a range of foods and drinks. Sands Restaurant offers panoramic views over the harbour, while The Bowling Green Inn dates back to at least 1673 and boasts a blazing log fire in the colder months.
