Continuing our Motorhome Road Trip Ideas – we focus on Norfolk. Situated on the South East coast of England, Norfolk has had a long history as being a destination for motorhome, camper van and caravan holidays. It’s a perfect destination for those looking to hire a motorhome in Kent as it is less than 3 hours away from Sevenoaks. Just hop on to the M25 heading North and take either the A11 to head for the south of Norfolk – taking you towards Felixstowe and Great Yarmouth. Or the M11/A11 to cut through to the centre and northern Norfolk – passing Cambridge and heading towards Norwich.
Norfolk is a feast of places to visit and things to see and it could be one of the best road trip ideas you have ever had. No review of Norfolk as a motorhome hire holiday destination would be worth its salt without heralding the 188 miles of lakes, rivers, and ponds of the expansive Norfolk Broads – dubbed ‘Britains Magical Waterland’. The Norfolk Broads offers a plenitude of experiences – such as sailing, boat hire, canoeing and kayaking through to fishing and rock pooling for the kids.
For walkers, ramblers and cyclists – you are spoilt with 50,000 acres of lowland pine forest encompassing Thetford Forest. Offering 26 walking trails where you can mix with the deer and be immersed in bird song. Cycling is an easy affair due to the relatively flat routes available. For those a little more adventurous, or who are keen for the kids to burn off that extra energy, you can swing from the trees at the Go Ape Centre in Thetford.
Those that enjoy some English Heritage should consider a trip to Castle Acre. Enjoy a picnic in the beautiful grounds whilst taking in the Norfolk countryside. Further inland you can soak your eyes with colour by visiting the gardens of the National Trust’s Blicking Estate with its 4,600 acres of parkland and a walled kitchen garden. You can tour the house and visit the RAF Oulton Museum situated above the shop.
Another must-visit is Sandringham House. It is the much-loved country retreat of the Queen and has been the private home of four generations of British Monarchs since 1862. You benefit from being having the choice of both the Caravan & Motorhome Club and the Camping & Caravan Club both having Club Sites on the Sandringham Estate.
If you are new to motorhome hire adventures, as far as road rip ideas go we recommend spending your first night somewhere en-route to Norfolk that is within a couple of hours drive away from your Avanti motorhome hire pick-up location and at a Caravan & Motorhome Club or a Camping & Caravan Club site. You have all the facilities at hand and in the company of other more seasoned Motorhome hirers who are normally more than happy to offer some help and advice getting oriented with setting up camp. Arriving in daylight makes the whole newbie experience a little less overwhelming!
A benefit of hiring a motorhome from Avanti means that you and your hire are within 10 minutes of several key motorways allowing your journey to get off to a flying start!
Some Caravan & Motorhome Club Site options…
Why stay here …
Set in ancient quarry works and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the Cambridge Cherry Hinton Club Site has been imaginatively landscaped to create the impression of being in the heart of the countryside while only a 25-minute bus journey to the city centre of beautiful Cambridge.
The caravan park gives you easy access to guided walking tours of the nearby medieval colleges where you can enjoy the academic atmosphere that makes the city famous. Wander along or take a punt on the River Cam to see colleges like Corpus Christi, Magdalene and the Bridge of Sighs. A visit to King’s College Chapel is a must. If you’re feeling a little lazy, open bus tours let you take in the full charm of the city while you relax. For those who like to cycle, the Cambridge Cherry Hinton Club Park offers good cycling paths from the site into and around Cambridge. Just opposite the site, you can enjoy a lovely walk around the nature reserve and old chalk pits. If you’re feeling peckish, it’s only a short stroll to the nearest pub and if you need to stock up on supplies, a supermarket can be found a little further down the road.
Why stay here …
Its rural location on the edge of a conservation area ensures visitors to our Polstead campsite in Suffolk have plenty to do during their stay. The campsite takes its name from a pretty village just a mile away, which features a large pond separated from the village green by a steep hill. There is an excellent network of paths around the village, some taking in the area’s ancient woodland and county wildlife sites.
The campsite is surrounded by quiet country lanes, ideal for exploration by bike. The Suffolk villages of Kersey, Lavenham make for a stunning road trip idea – with its stunning guildhall and church – and Boxford are less than ten miles from site.
Constable Country, including Flatford Mill and Dedham, is within driving distance, as is Long Melford – home to a number of antique shops and the location for TV’s Lovejoy.
Why stay here …
With one part of the White House Beach Club Site adjacent to the beach and the other enclosed by attractive willow trees and shrubs, there’s a pitch to suit all tastes at this location. In early summer the foreshore is a riot of colour with wildflowers, including the rare Yellow Poppy. Although Kessingland beach is shingle, Lowestoft is within easy reach from the caravan site and has a beautiful sandy beach complete with lifeguard safety. The Sailors Home pub in Kessingland comes recommended and is dog friendly.
Recently voted best large attraction in the area, Africa Alive is just a short distance from White House Beach Club Site and offers a great safari park attraction for the family. Nearby Charmind Southwold has recently become a landmark for being the setting for the movie adaptation, “Iris”, starring Kate Winslet and Dame Judy Dench. The caravan park is also just a few miles away from the Pleasure Wood Hills Theme Park, which guarantees a fun day out for children. Other not-to-be-missed excursions include taking a day boat on The Broads and going fishing or bird watching at Minismere. More nearby places to visit include the picturesque Framlingham Castle and the National Trust owned site of Horsey Windpump.
Why stay here …
Norfolk Broads Club Site is an open and tranquil holiday destination set in the midst of the scenic Norfolk Broads. These combine over 200 miles of waterways with windmills, market towns and several lovely river settings in between. The site is a great option for dog owners, with a variety of walks to choose from nearby. The caravan park is also only a short distance away from the attractive villages of Horning, Ludham and Potter Heigham, giving you easy access to all the conveniences you could wish for.
Wroxham & Potter Heigham form the boating centre in the area and both are closely located to the Norfolk Broads Club Site and the river Ant is a mere 180 metres away. You can take a lovely stroll along the riverbank to How Hill and St Benet’s Abbey. The nearby Wroxham Barns is home to working craftsmen and is found next to a junior farm, children’s playground and a summer funfair.
The Norfolk countryside is great for exploring by bike and perfect for all abilities, with plenty of country lanes to explore – you can buy a guide to local routes from reception. If you venture 10 miles away to the coast you’ll discover seaside towns to explore and see seals basking on the beaches, and a visit to Norwich is also a must, with its daily market, interesting castle and fine Norman cathedral.
Refurbished to a high standard with 111 pitches and in a great location, Seacroft Club Site is a top-class holiday getaway for the family. The caravan park has the added bonus of a leisure complex which includes a bar, restaurant, games room and outdoor heated swimming pool. During peak season, visitors can enjoy a lively programme of varied entertainment and special events. The beautiful surrounding area offers plenty of activities for all ages, including a charming golf course plus sea and freshwater fishing.
The coastal reserves located within a short distance from the Seacroft Club Site offer a great opportunity for nature lovers, from long leisurely walks to bird watching. The site is also within easy reach of Sheringham and Wells-on-sea. The caravan park has a bus stop just outside its entrance to facilitate an easy journey to the many attractions in the area, and well within walking distance, you will find the lovely sandy beaches in Cromer. The site is close to the Tank Museum and steam train up the valley. There is a common a few hundred yards away, ideal for dog walking. All in all, this is a great location for an unforgettable family holiday.
This is a fairly secluded and quiet campsite and well laid out with 50 grass pitches and well-maintained facilities. Set next to a river with walks and fishing along the banks. Its back-to-nature feel is enhanced by a smallholding with chickens and geese right next door.
This campsite is in easy reach of the city of Norwich by bike, a lovely walk along the old railway line or by bus which stops a quarter of a mile from the site. Norwich is famed for its castle and cathedral and it has more medieval churches than any other city in Western Europe. Four large malls will satisfy the fussiest shopper and there are numerous places to eat and drink.
There are walking and cycling opportunities in Whitlingham Country Park, one-and-a-half miles from the campsite. As well as being a haven for wildlife, there’s also a watersports centre offering windsurfing, sailing and kayaking. The Norfolk Broads, Britain’s largest protected wetland, is within easy reach of the campsite and is home to some of the country’s rarest plants and wildlife.
Why stay here …
A highly recommended peaceful site that has grass pitches and electric hook-up. Close to Caister-on-Sea and Great Yarmouth. Onsite there is a tennis court and some lovely walks and is dog friendly.
Why stay here …
AA Heart of England Caravan Site of the Year 2017 winner.
Set on three levels, the Old Brick Kilns covers some 13 acres with 60 spacious all weather semi-hard standing pitches. We have a selection of premier pitches with full services on a part of the park called Heydon’s Meadow, which is a Club Certificated Location. This is a particularly tranquil part of the park where individual, spacious pitches are screened with beech hedging; all are provided with their own picnic table and are fully serviced with 16 amp electric, tv hook-up, drinking water and waste water disposal. The washrooms have been refurbished and offer 5* facilities including underfloor heating, hand and hair driers. Heydon’s Meadow is a two acre site offering peace and tranquility.
The Park also features a delightful wildlife pond, landscaped garden areas and natural wildflower bankings and is one of only 2 Best of British Parks in Norfolk. For nature lovers – we have our own bird hide where visiting birds can be watched in seclusion and we’re delighted that for the 2nd year running, we have nesting tawny owls in one of the 40 bird boxes around the site. We have a David Bellamy Gold Conservation Award for the work done on the Park and are always looking for new ideas on how we can enhance habitats and our road trips further. There is a small fishing lake with carp, bream rudd and tench for guests to enjoy and many fabulous dog-walks close by.
The site has its own well-stocked shop and a recently refurbished bar and restaurant where residents can have a drink or a bite to eat on sunny evenings. Newspapers can be ordered for collection in the shop each morning, along with hot croissants and freshly cooked bread. The emphasis is on friendliness and we have many visitors who have been returning to the site for many, many years.
The Old Brick Kilns is just over 8 miles from Blakeney and the North Norfolk coast and its famous beaches and wildlife areas. It’s the perfect base to explore the main local attractions including Sandringham, Holkham and Houghton Halls, the Thursford Collection. Medieval Walsingham, Blickling Hall and Pensthorpe Nature Reserve, to name but a few. Blakeney has the largest seal colony in the UK and boat trips can be taken out to the nature reserve to see newly born pups and also just 10 minutes from the picturesque market town on Holt.
Why stay here …
Poplar Farm is a quiet, lawned and level site with wonderful sunset views across the field. Ideally situated for access to the Broads, with boat, canoe and cycle hire just 5 minutes away. The Coast, historic Norwich, and the two National Trust properties of Bicking and Felbrigg are all within 30 minutes drive. Excellent village pub 10 minutes walk away. Ideal for proximity to the Broads capital of Wroxham.
On your last night before heading back with your motorhome hire can we suggest the lovely Oldbury Hill Camping site a short 10 minute drive from us.
Have any questions about planning your route, call us on 01732 247 019. Before looking over any other road trip ideas or just booking, it may also be beneficial to have a read over our planning where to stay article.
For more road trip ideas be sure to check out our Route Ideas section.
Written by Mark Kirby • 08/11/2021
Share Article: twitter Facebook
If what you want from a travelling holiday is breathtaking scenery, a warm welcome from the locals, and a luxury experience you’ll never forget, an Avanti motorhome holiday in Scotland ticks all of the right boxes. You could travel the globe and still not find a country more beautiful from the road than Scotland – […]
General
Merry Christmas all We all know it’s been quite the couple of years and we can’t thank you all enough – our customers, suppliers and even our delivery drivers. This year we are pleased to have been able to bring a little to you and share in some magnificent moments. A huge thank you to […]
Route Ideas
Continuing our Motorhome Road Trip Ideas – we focus on Norfolk. Situated on the South East coast of England, Norfolk has had a long history as being a destination for motorhome, camper van and caravan holidays. It’s a perfect destination for those looking to hire a motorhome in Kent as it is less than 3 […]
Route Ideas
Our first Motorhome Road Trip Ideas blog in Wales – The North Wales way is approximately 75 miles long, stretching from the northern coast into Anglesey with an abundance of ancient monuments and dramatic scenery. A perfect route when you hire your motorhome! There are many points of interest along the way, including blue flag […]
Route Ideas
The Isle of Wight is a superb option as a destination for your Avanti Motorhome adventure. New motorhome road trip ideas are sometimes hard to come by but the Isle of Wight is a tried and tested location that shouldn’t be missed. With your motorhome rental starting in Kent, you are only a few hours […]
Tips and Advice
Thinking about hiring a motorhome for the first time? Read on to learn what to expect and the pitfalls to avoid. Is the Motorhome Life for me? Let’s be candid – like most things in life it depends on what excites you and what isn’t your cup of tea! The mistake is to think that […]
Tips and Advice
The great thing about hiring one of our motorhomes is that most of the items you need during your trip have already been included. Check your guest book carefully though to see what’s included but most importantly, what’s not! The following are not included in your rental but will make life on the road easier: […]
Route Ideas
That’s it! You have made the decision to jump onto a Motorhome Adventure! But where do you go and what should you know? In the UK it is illegal to park up on the side of the road so planning your journey and pre-booking sites along the way is the best way to ensure your […]
