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Discover our countryside

Great Massingham - a village in Norfolk, showing the church and pond

Famous for its big skies and far horizons, Norfolk is a special county with 5,370 square km and a population of only one million. It is rare lowland area with strong rural characteristics and not a motorway in site! As the population of Britain expands, the tranquil, attractive and uncrowded landscapes that Norfolk offers become increasingly important national assets.

A seal on the beach at Blakeney, Norfolk

Norfolk’s famous coastline, shaped by wind and water to create shingle banks, sand dunes and salt marches provides special wildlife diversity providing visitors with unmatched chances to appreciate the fauna and flora. It stretches from the Hanseatic port Kings Lynn to the holiday resort and port of Great Yarmouth.

The Norfolk Coast Path is 135 kilometres linking many famous and quite different beaches including six with blue flag status.

Away from the coast, this unique county has other key attractions for visitors of all ages including:

  • The Norfolk Broads with 200 km of navigable lock free waterways linking ancient towns and stretches of open water.
  • 450 square km of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty [AONB], two large nature reserves and many Sites of Special Scientific Interest [SSSI]
  • Thetford Forest, created over 100 years ago, is 19,000 hectares of managed woodland in the unique Brecks. It has unrivalled access and facilities including residential woodland parks.
  • Country villages, thriving rural towns and popular sea-side resorts, with the historic fine city of Norwich at its centre.
  • Famous stately homes, hotels, country parks and holiday cottages in harmony with caravan and camp sites.

CPRE Norfolk encourages a thriving tourism industry and business sector where an unspoilt green Norfolk is treasured as an asset.

Read our Access to the Countryside – Position statement