A scenic rural landscape with a traditional windmill, small wooden building, and a river, under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.
Panoramic view of a sandy beach with grass dunes and a cloudy sky.
Group of people on a beach holding a "Large Outdoors" banner, with blue sky and sea in the background.
Group of people with backpacks on a pebbled beach looking towards the sea, under a clear blue sky.
Traditional windmill with white sails, blue sky, and rooftops in the foreground.
Two people walking on a dirt path through fields under a clear blue sky.
Group of people posing outdoors on a grassy field with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.
Seals resting on sandy riverbank with water and greenery in background
A vibrant sunset over a calm lake with orange and yellow hues in the sky, reflections of clouds, trees, and grasses on the water.
A rural landscape with a narrow canal running through green fields, a windmill in the distance, and a partly cloudy sky.
A historic brick windmill with white blades and a red and white wind vane, sitting on grassy land next to a small water creek with trees and a partly cloudy sky in the background.

Weekends & Short Breaks

Norfolk Broads Walking Break – Waterways, Windmills & Seals

Join Large Outdoors for our very first visit to the Norfolk Broads National Park – one of the UK’s most distinctive landscapes. This sociable two-night break is hotel-based, fully guided, and car-free, with train station collection from Norwich included. We’ll enjoy two days of easygoing walks exploring coastal paths, wide open marshland, and quiet waterside trails. Expect good company, great food, and a relaxed, welcoming pace.

The Basics:

Duration: 2 nights
Accommodation: Hotel
Transport: Car-Free Experience
Group Size: Maximum 8
Level: Leisurely
Age: 18+
Dogs: No dogs, except trained assistance dogs

What to Expect on your Norfolk Broads Walking Break

  • Coastal and Marshland Walks: Spot seals, marsh harriers and herons on guided routes through the Broads.

  • Hotel-Based Stay: A comfortable base with breakfast included and meals out at local pubs.

  • Sociable Group: Perfect for solo walkers or friends looking for a social weekend away.

  • Car-Free Experience: Includes collection and drop-off at Norwich station.

  • Expert Guide: Our host leads the walks and helps the group feel welcomed throughout.

 

Booking Calendar…

 

Discover Wide Skies, Wildlife and a Landscape Shaped by Water in the Norfolk Broads National Park.

The Norfolk Broads National Park is unlike anywhere else in the UK. Shaped by centuries of flooding and reed cutting, this network of rivers, broads, fens and marshes now forms one of the country’s most important wetlands. It’s home to a remarkable variety of wildlife – from grey seals and marsh harriers to otters, herons and wildfowl – and offers a peaceful setting for walking with its huge skies, quiet lanes, and low-lying horizon.

Although often associated with boating, the Broads are just as special on foot. Our carefully chosen routes follow a mix of coastal paths, inland dykes, boardwalks and field tracks. They give us a sense of the landscape’s scale and beauty – and offer a chance to slow down, spot wildlife, and uncover some of the area’s human stories too.

This trip is all about exploring a new area with a friendly group, sharing time on the trail and over meals. It’s ideal for solo walkers or anyone looking to experience a new landscape at a gentle pace, with everything planned and led by our local guide.

Suggested Itinerary

Here’s what we’ve got planned - of course, we may have to offer alternatives or make amendments if the weather misbehaves or other unexpected situations arise!

  • You’re welcome to check in at the hotel from 15:00 onwards. If you’re arriving by train, we offer a group collection from Norwich station at 17:30.

    Your Large Outdoors guide will meet everyone in the hotel bar at 18:00. This gives you a chance to settle in, get to know the group, and ask any questions about the days ahead. We’ll then enjoy a relaxed dinner in the hotel (not included in the price). If you’re arriving later, just meet us in the bar whenever you’re ready.

  • Distance: Approx. 9 miles

    After breakfast, we head out to the coast to begin our exploration of the Norfolk Broads National Park.

    Today’s circular walk takes us to the wild edges of the Broads – the low dunes and broad beaches near Horsey. In the winter months, this stretch of coastline becomes one of the UK’s best places to see grey seals, who haul up here to breed.

    We follow sandy paths and coastal tracks with wide views of the North Sea, before turning inland through grazing marshes and quiet backwaters. Expect huge skies and a real sense of space as we pass the Horsey Windpump, marshland dykes, and an old mill tower now used by nesting birds. With luck, we’ll spot marsh harriers overhead and herons fishing in the ditches.

    This is a gentle but rewarding walk – with time for a pub stop partway round and opportunities to pause for photos and wildlife sightings. Once we’ve finished, we’ll head back to the hotel for a break before heading out for a group pub dinner (not included in the price).

  • Distance: Approx. 7–8 miles

    After breakfast, we pack up and head out for our final walk – choosing from several great routes based on the group and the conditions.

    One option explores the peaceful reedbeds and grazing marshes around St Benet’s Abbey, the site of a once-powerful monastery now reduced to windswept ruins. The surrounding land is rich in birdlife, with wide open views and a sense of timeless quiet. The story of the Abbey and its dramatic decline into ruin gives us a glimpse into the changing fortunes of this once-wealthy landscape.

    Alternatively, we may follow a circular walk around Hickling Broad, the largest of the Broads, known for its wildlife, wooden boardwalks and far-reaching views. This is a wonderful way to experience the gentle pace of life that defines the Broads – slow waterways, silent dykes, and the occasional glimpse of a distant sail.

    We’ll round off the trip with a stop at a local tearoom for a final cuppa or slice of cake, before our guide drops you off at Norwich station (or back to the hotel to collect your car). We aim to have you there by 16:00.

A sandy beach with green grass in the foreground, the ocean in the background, and a partly cloudy blue sky.
A rural landscape with a canal running through green fields, a windmill in the distance, clear blue sky with scattered clouds, and tall dry grass in the foreground.
A traditional windmill in a rural landscape with a small pond, green fields, trees, and a partly cloudy sky.
Sunset over a calm lake reflecting the vibrant orange, yellow, and blue hues of the sky, with some trees and reeds along the shoreline.

Grey Seals of the Norfolk Coast

One of the real highlights of this break is the chance to see the grey seals that gather along the coast near Horsey. From late autumn through winter, hundreds of seals haul out onto the beach to breed, giving us the rare opportunity to view these wild animals from a respectful distance.

The stretch of shoreline near Horsey is one of the most important seal breeding grounds in the UK. It’s a protected area, so we’ll follow established paths and guidance to avoid disturbing the seals, sticking to viewing points that allow us to appreciate them safely.

It’s a remarkable sight – the dunes dotted with pups, adults basking on the beach, and the occasional flurry of activity as the waves roll in. Even if you’ve seen seals before, this is on another scale, and the setting – wild dunes, flat light, and empty sands – makes it even more memorable.

While we can’t guarantee sightings, this time of year offers the best chance, and our route is planned to take us right to the heart of seal-watching territory.

Essential Information

  • Meeting Time: Check-in from 15:00.

    The Large Outdoors host will meet you in the bar from 18:00.

    Meeting Location:
    Premier Inn Norwich East
    Old Chapel Way,
    Norwich
    NR7 0WG

    Please note there are a number of Premier Inn’s in Norwich.

    Parking: Free parking is available at the hotel.

    Train Station Collection: We will be offering a collection from Norwich Station at 17:30. This can be booked during the checkout process or by contacting the Large Outdoors office This must be booked at least 48 hours in advance.

    Finish Time: We aim to drop you back at either the hotel to collect your car or the train station for 16:00. If you’ve travelled via public transport, please ensure you book onward travel accordingly (i.e. an open return ticket), to allow for flexibility.

  • Accommodation Address:
    Premier Inn Norwich East
    Old Chapel Way,
    Norwich
    NR7 0WG

    Room Types:
    Single Rooms (en-suite bathroom) are for one participant and have a king-sized double bed.
    Double Rooms (en-suite bathroom) sleep up to two participants booking together, in a king-sized Double bed.
    Shared Rooms: You will be sharing a twin room with another person of the same sex.

  • Included:

    • 2 nights’ accommodation at the Premier Inn in Norwich.

    • Pickup and return from and back to Norwich Train Station.

    • Travel from the accommodation to activity start points and back, where they don’t start from the door.

    • A hearty cooked breakfast each morning, prepared by the accommodation.

    • A Large Outdoors host/guide to welcome you, deal with meal preparation and the logistics for your experience.

    • Guided walks on three days (Days 2 & 3) in the beautiful Norfolk Broads.

    • The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.

    • Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.

    Not included:

    • Travel to and from the meeting location or train station collection.

    • Packed lunches for the walks. We will stop at a local shop each morning to collect some lunch.

    • Dinner on each evening - we’ll book a table at a local pub to enjoy dinner as a group and you can purchase whatever you fancy from the menu available.

    • Any extra (i.e. not mentioned above in ‘Included’) excursions or activities that you may partake in which incur a cost.

    • Alcoholic drinks - please feel free to bring something with you to enjoy at the accommodation. There are also a couple of pubs in the village for a post-walk pint or two!

    • Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.

    • Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.

Location of our Norfolk Broads Walking Break

 

This map is provided for guidance regarding the general location. For detailed meeting information, please refer to the 'Meeting Time & Location' section.