Making the most of clement weather, warm evenings and all the fabulous things there are to do on our doorstep
Melanie Cook of www.VisitNorwich.co.uk
I could say “If there’s one thing you do this summer”, but I would be doing everyone an injustice. And I don’t want to do that.
What I will say is, “There’s so much going on this month around Norwich and Norfolk that if you don’t take a few days off to enjoy our lush, pretty and easily navigable county, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out.” And who wants to be that person, at a party or Sunday BBQ, not being able to join the conversation?
So, let’s get started. Except that before I do, remember that travelling, exploring and experiencing can be so beneficial for our health. Particularly if we are run down, or feeling that the drudge of the weekly routine is getting too much. A change is a good as a rest, so they say. And I couldn’t agree more. So, lift yourself out of the deckchair, or ignore that pile of ironing and make some plans.
During the first lockdown in 2020, people very quickly began taking up new hobbies or resurrecting old ones. We had time to think about what was important to us. We also realised that doing nothing isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. And food and drink became a really important focus in our lives. Taking time to make more adventurous meals or making things from scratch. We were trying new things and welcoming new experiences with open minds.
Over at Fielding Cottage located in Honningham there’s a farm making award-winning goat’s cheese. In fact, Sam Steggles and his team have been making their goat’s cheese for over 10 years to great acclaim, I’m happy to say. These days though, you don’t have to settle for buying cheese from their farm shop or supermarket. You can now learn from the experts and make your own. Prices are £95 per person and groups are welcome too.
So, you can now make cheese. How about then mastering the art of gin distilling so you can enjoy your cheese with a tipple? Sounds good to me. Gyre & Gimble business partners Craig Allison and Rory Smith, kept themselves busy during lockdown experimenting with distilling. With their Norwich bar closed because of restrictions they had the time to dream up some great recipe gins. And they did just that. So out of lockdown was born a coastal gin infused with samphire and lavender – Callooh Callay, a cherry gin – Queen of Hearts and a classic London dry with a double dose of juniper.
Now they’ve invested even more in their business and moved to The Royal Arcade in Norwich where they have a well-stocked shop and Gin Academy. And, said Gin Academy is extremely good fun, because I’ve tried it. And even though I say it myself my ‘Marchie’- distilled in March 2022- is very good. A warm and spicy yet gentle gin, using botanicals including chilli, orange, ginger and lemongrass, plus seven more. Of course, I cannot reveal them because it’s my own secret recipe.
Yes, secret.
But I don’t need to reveal my secrets because you have a host of incredible botanicals to choose from on one of their 2.5 hour workshops. For £75 per person, you will learn the history of gin, sip gin and tonics as you go and distil your own bespoke tipple, which you get to take home. 70cl of delicious handmade gin to impress your friends with or keep entirely for yourself. And if you want more? They archive your recipe so you can either return to make another bottle or Craig and Rory can do it for you.
The pandemic taught us a thing or two about enjoying the outdoors and nature. In all seasons. It also showed us that combating loneliness can be a real battle for many. In Norwich we have many beautiful green spaces to enjoy, we are lucky for a city. At Plantation Garden this summer, they are running outdoor guided meditation every Saturday between 9am-10am.Tickets cost £5 plus £2 entry to the garden, I would suggest buying an annual membership for £7.50, which means you have free entry to the garden whenever you want for the year.
Norwich is the only city in the country situated in a national park. Again, lucky us. And with Whitlingham Country Park just outside the city centre we have over 280-acres of circular walks, surrounded by nature, wildlife and water. And there’s more at the Sculpture Park at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts with stunning artworks to admire including Henry Moore, Antony Gormley, Elisabeth Frink, Lynn Chadwick and Liliane Lijn. This is a special place of natural beauty and architecture too – 350 acres of parkland by the water, open during daylight hours for free. And there’s more because on The Marriott’s Way-which begins where Barn Road meets Barker Street-there’s 26 miles to walk along a disused railway track. In summer enjoy canopies of overhanging ancient trees and wild strawberries.
Duncan is a local tour guide who knows his onions. Well, actually his beer. Duncan now takes History and Hostelries tours across Norwich (£25, including a pint at each authorised stop!) where tour-goers will experience over four hours or more some of CAMRA’s ‘City of Ale’ iconic pubs. Along the way Duncan regales stories about plague pits, Tudor streets, ghosts, Norwich innovations and celebrated local characters. Wonderful!
Now here’s a strange one; A medieval street beneath The Shoebox on Castle Meadow. Yes, honestly. Tickets are £15 for a tour. And there’s more because you can also book a Secrets of the Tunnels escape game (£16.25 per person), which I know will test your wits because the people behind this are very clever. But you have to be cleverer to get out in 60-minutes.
Finally, become a dinosaur hunter. Yes, your heard me right. Enjoy Norwich and Norfolk all through August and up to 10 September, locating giant T.rex and Steppe Mammoth sculptures. Just when you thought you’d seen it all.
In Norwich the GoGoDiscover trail takes in 55 T.rex dinos, plus 24 Steppe Mammoths each decorated by artists around the county. Download the GoGoDiscover app (£1.99) from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
I don’t want to give the game away but find some at Chantry Place, Norwich Cathedral, The Forum, Castle Quarter and Jarrold. Also: King’s Lynn, Holt, Cromer Pier, Holkham, Carrow Road, The Broads, Hemsby and Pensthorpe.
A little Archaeopteryx has told me that at John Lewis in Norwich you can find a Steppe Mammoth constructed from denim!
Full details of everything mentioned here and loads more ideas can be found at www.visitnorwich.co.uk
