Escape the city with Eleanor Torbati
Eleanor Torbati @eleanortorbaticeramics derives most of her inspiration and passion from using Norfolk’s vast woodlands and beaches to forage and explore mindfully. Here Eleanor picks her favourite places to escape the city and immerse herself in the wilds of Norfolk.
Horsford Woods
Norfolk is so rich in nature. I start my day off with a simple dog walk with my rescue lurcher Luna. My favourite woodland
to escape to is hidden on the outskirts of suburban life, where the rows of houses end and the forests begin. Horsford Woods, Broadland, Norfolk, NR10 5BF, has the most magical atmosphere – long rows of tall trees, winding paths and crossroads that you can escape to for hours on end. It’s truly one of the most beautiful walks to clear your mind. It has a small off-road car park and is a favourite among dog walkers.
The Station Cafe
From Horsford Woods, one of my favourite places to stop off for lunch is a beautiful little old train station at Reepham called The Station Cafe. It’s a popular destination for cyclists and nature walkers, with ample seating outside to enjoy the weather when the sun’s out, and a cosy space inside to warm up on days that aren’t so nice in front of the log burner. Reepham is a lovely, sleepy village. I highly recommend visiting The Dial House, Norfolk Farm Shop & Deli and florist Flower Folk all situated around Market Place, NR10 4JJ.
The Station Cafe, Station Road, Reepham, Norfolk, NR10 4LJ
Cley-next-the-sea
Cley-next-the-Sea is one of my favourite places to explore in North Norfolk. From the Anglo-Saxon clæg meaning 'clay', the village is four miles from Holt and east of Blakeney. When it comes to visiting Cley, essential stop-offs include Cley Smoke House, for smoked shell-on prawns, I also love popping in to see the wonderful potters in their traditional pottery studio/ shop called Made in Cley, and visiting Desmond McCarthy’s Wiveton Hall Cafe for wood-fired pizza.
Cley Smoke House, High Street, Cley, Norfolk, NR25 7RF
Made in Cley, Starr House, High Street, Cley, NR25 7RF
Desmond McCarthy’s Wiveton Hall Cafe, Marsh Lane, Wiveton, Norfolk, NR25 7TE
Salthouse
A sea swim is essential at Salthouse; it’s beautiful and often you are the only one for miles. If you get the right season, samphire is locally foraged and sold along the roadside. Post swim, I pop into Salthouse Store, a beautifully curated independent shop, for a coffee, freshly baked good and a book!
Blakeney
To finish a beautiful day in Norfolk, I’ll pop to Blakeney and grab a handful of freshly shucked oysters from the local fish lady at her stall By the Quayside, The Quay, Blakeney, Norfolk, NR25 7NF.