Crockley's Plantation

The woodland around Crockley's Plantation, just outside Holt, offers proper Norfolk forest walking without the crowds you'd find at the big tourist spots. It's a mix of conifers and broadleaf trees, the sort of place where you can actually hear yourself think - no gift shop, no visitor centre, just quiet paths threading through the canopy.

The main appeal here is straightforward: a decent walk through established woodland, ideal if you're based at Kelling Heath Holiday Park nearby and fancy stretching your legs. The paths are reasonably well-maintained, though after rain they can get boggy in places, so proper footwear matters. You're looking at anything from an hour's gentle stroll to a couple of hours if you want to explore properly.

It works best for walkers who appreciate woodland for its own sake rather than those wanting dramatic vistas or visitor facilities. Families with younger children might find it a bit samey after the first twenty minutes - there's no play area or obvious focal point, just trees and paths. Bird watchers and photographers, though, often do well here, especially in early morning when the light filters through properly.

Head out in spring when the undergrowth comes alive, or autumn when the colours shift. Summer can feel a touch claustrophobic with the dense canopy. Free access, no admission fees, no booking needed. It's the sort of place you simply arrive at and walk - refreshingly uncomplicated for Norfolk.