West Somerton
The tiny village of West Somerton is situated on the edge of the Norfolk Broads and close to the small seaside resort of Winterton-On-Sea. It is a rural location with farmland and water meadows all around. The twin villages of West and East Somerton combined, have a population of less than 300 inhabitants. From here, you are a 35 minute drive from central Norwich.
Things to see and do:
The waters above Potter Heigham bridge, which choke off much of the river traffic due to its low arch, are delightfully unspoilt and you could easily think you are navigating the Broads how they were a hundred years ago. To see the best of them, hire a self-drive dayboat from the Martham Ferry Boatyard, which is just two miles away. The walk from West Somerton to Winterton-On-Sea is a pleasant 45 minutes. The beaches and sand dunes are usually deserted and you have the option of walking towards Horsey Gap, where you may see basking seals, which seem to like the coast here. The picturesque village of Hickling, with its thatched cottages and the adjacent Broad, are also worth a visit. The Norfolk Wildlife Trust have a nature reserve here and you can walk the nature trails across the reed and marshland or take a guided boat trip around the Broad. More details HERE.
Local pubs, restaurants:
The Lion Inn is in the centre of the village. It is a welcoming place offering a good choice of food. The next nearest would be the Fisherman’s Return in nearby Winterton-On-Sea. This is a substantial place and has a good food menu. The Highwayman is a recently refurbished restaurant on a small holiday park which is open to the public.
Cafes and takeaways:
There are no cafes or takeaways in West Somerton. Dunes Beach Cafe is in Winterton-On-Sea, as is a fish and chip shop.
Other Shops:
The nearest is Looms Stores, a general store in Winterton-On-Sea. After that, Hemsby, a large village serving several holiday parks, is a 3 mile drive away. It has a large Co-op convenience store, a butchers, a post office, and various takeaways.
Things to see and do:
The waters above Potter Heigham bridge, which choke off much of the river traffic due to its low arch, are delightfully unspoilt and you could easily think you are navigating the Broads how they were a hundred years ago. To see the best of them, hire a self-drive dayboat from the Martham Ferry Boatyard, which is just two miles away. The walk from West Somerton to Winterton-On-Sea is a pleasant 45 minutes. The beaches and sand dunes are usually deserted and you have the option of walking towards Horsey Gap, where you may see basking seals, which seem to like the coast here. The picturesque village of Hickling, with its thatched cottages and the adjacent Broad, are also worth a visit. The Norfolk Wildlife Trust have a nature reserve here and you can walk the nature trails across the reed and marshland or take a guided boat trip around the Broad. More details HERE.
Local pubs, restaurants:
The Lion Inn is in the centre of the village. It is a welcoming place offering a good choice of food. The next nearest would be the Fisherman’s Return in nearby Winterton-On-Sea. This is a substantial place and has a good food menu. The Highwayman is a recently refurbished restaurant on a small holiday park which is open to the public.
Cafes and takeaways:
There are no cafes or takeaways in West Somerton. Dunes Beach Cafe is in Winterton-On-Sea, as is a fish and chip shop.
Other Shops:
The nearest is Looms Stores, a general store in Winterton-On-Sea. After that, Hemsby, a large village serving several holiday parks, is a 3 mile drive away. It has a large Co-op convenience store, a butchers, a post office, and various takeaways.
