Give your seniors a breath of fresh air and take them to these top recommended local parks and gardens in West Norfolk.
As you get older, keeping up an active lifestyle becomes more and more important for helping your joints and muscles to keep their strength. Getting seniors to maintain a physical aspect to their daily routines can be tricky at the best of times, a daily or weekly park visit is an easy and very effective way to get them out and about.
Norfolk has a stunning range of outdoor spaces, we’ve created the following list of our favourite local parks to explore with your seniors.
A historic urban park in the heart of King’s Lynn, The Walks is the only surviving 18th Century town walk in Norfolk. The park’s added modern touches create the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing stroll, and explore the history of the site. With level entrances, the Walks is flat with tarmac paths throughout, accessible for all.
There is lots to see and do, without being too much, including a unique 15th Century chapel, The Red Mount, as well as beautiful landscaping, and a lovely café. Picnic benches scattered around the park provide plenty of seating, for a relaxing break or snack.
Step through Venetian gates and explore an enchanting and tranquil 18th Century walled garden. Discover spectacular Georgian and Victorian greenhouses and vineries, a formal ornamental garden, an established vineyard, the exotic garden boasting a large lawn, and finally the cutting garden with a beautiful array of blooms.
The paths around the Walled Garden are pea shingle and there is level access throughout. Holkham Estate has two electric scooters that are free of charge to borrow, spend as long or little time in the Walled Garden as you wish. There are benches within the walls, as well as a small coffee concession just outside with chairs and tables for you to relax at. With around 6 acres of gardens to admire, we recommend making an afternoon of this trip.
A public open space located over the only stretch of the eastern coast which faces west, Hunstanton Heritage Gardens offers spectacular sunset views across the Wash. It is the only significant open space within the town of Hunstanton, there are 3 key areas that make up the whole site: the Green, the Esplanade Gardens, and the Cliff Parade.
The Esplanade Gardens is a traditional Victorian Promenade Garden. There are many things to do, including crazy golf, a bowling green and bowls pavilion, public conveniences, and the Salad Bowl kiosk. The Cliff Parade is a stretch of open space that runs from the Esplanade Garden to the north, with 3 Victorian shelters that date back to 1898, as well as the remains of St Edmunds Chapel.
The Green is a large open space divided by the road into the upper and lower green. It is the heart of the resort and naturally inclines towards the promenade. It looks over the Wash and the site of the former pier which was destroyed in 1978 in heavy storms. The lower section contains the ‘Butterfly Shelters’ that were installed during the 1960’s. It also contains public conveniences and the Bandstand that is regularly used over the summer months.
Wander through Sheringham Park. Famous for its vast collection of rhododendrons and azaleas, with breathtaking views of the beautiful North Norfolk landscape and coastline, maybe see a steam train passing through. Spend a day here exploring, look out for the wildlife, 3 species of deer can be seen alongside a wide variety of birds and butterflies.
The Courtyard Café serves hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, bacon baps, cakes, bakes, and ice creams, with plenty of places to sit and relax surrounded by nature. There is also a second-hand donations-based pop-up bookshop, stocked with a range of pre-loved books in the courtyard barn. Pick up a new book or donate some old favourites to be passed on for someone else to enjoy.
Sandringham’s Country Park is a popular place to visit, with facilities including a visitor centre, shop, restaurant, toilets, and a large car park. It’s dog friendly, with waymarked walks that are easy to follow and over mostly smooth terrain. Look out for beautifully carved wooden sculptures en route.
A perfect way to get some fresh air, the trails are not too long, around 30 mins to complete a small loop. Many of the paths are wheelchair friendly for those needing a little extra help to get around. Then relax with a hot meal in the on-site restaurant surrounded by stunning wildlife.
As you can see, West Norfolk is abundant with open spaces and stunning countryside, plenty of places to take your seniors out for healthy walk away from the noise and clutter of town. Whether you’re looking for community events, aimless rambles or just a pleasant place to sit and watch the world go by, your seniors are spoilt for choice in our famous Norfolk countryside.