Exploring Woodland and Coast

February has been such a lovely sunny and dry month and we have been exploring some coastal areas and enjoying some woodland walks.

It's not Cornwall but there is sand, there was sunshine and the sea lapping on the beach sounds just the same. 

We parked at Winterton-on-Sea which is about 90 minutes from us and walked along the beach with friends.

Some chose to go at a 'serious' walking speed to cover maximum distance and find the main seal colony, closer towards Horsey Gap - but they're in training for half marathons - and others were happy to trog along at a more leisurely pace, happy to encounter the odd seal pup and its mum, rather than hundreds.  So, with a lunchtime arrangement to meet back at the Fisherman's Retreat in Winterton for some pub grub, we ambled on.

And walking back through the dunes, up and down the sandy trails, back and forth through the grasses, with the sun on your face - I really was reminded of Hayle in Cornwall - Lovely. And the dogs, away from the seal pups and off the lead, had a great time

Apparently we were on the Norfolk Coast Path!

Lunch at the pub was scrumptious, in a brightly decorated dining room with comfy sofas, friendly staff and a convivial ambiance. The Fisherman's Retreat can be highly recommended.

Woodland: we have an estate near us - Thornham - that allows us to walk through their grounds almost every day of the year. The 12 miles of ancient woodland and parkland has paths and tracks and a small cafe with woodburning stove and the best gluten free lemon polenta cake I have ever tasted.

There is parking at Thornham but I usually park a little further away, near a sweet little church and take the footpaths and bridleways across to Thornham Walks, allowing the dogs a bit more of a run before putting them on the leads in the estate itself.

The estate has a walled garden that is now looked after and cultivated by Beyond the Wall who have a seasonal plant stall. The grounds also hide a folly and woodcarvings and sculptures, a children's play area with mythical creatures carved into fallen trees and benches and other natural curiosities but a little bit of natural art caught my eye, a woodland monster slithering through the winter leaf mould, reminding me of Nessie on Loch Ness

And the snow drops are out and whispering that spring is on its way

whilst running a little white carpet through the trees

and the first primrose of the year welcoming us back to the wee church.

Another couple of weeks and the graveyard will be full of primroses reflecting the sunshine and cheering on the spring.

Now Felixtowe is not necessarily a coastal venue I would have chosen as a day out but since we had an appointment there one afternoon we thought we would make the most of the trip and parked up and found this little gem. The Spa Gardens and Sea Front Gardens are along the Promenade between the Pier and Cobbolds Point.

They aren't quite Tremenhere Gardens or St Michael's Mount but nevertheless they do have some exotic plants and a return trip will be on the agenda in sunnier times to investigate the rose garden and what plants reveal themselves in summer months - not least to ensure I return to this little eatery. 

Nestled within the gardens is Clifftop Cafe. Oh wow ...... inside with the art on the walls, cappuccino in a bowl sized cup and a slice of warm gluten free pear and ginger upside down cake, I could have been in St Ives in Cornwall. Even the musical play list was cool. Bliss!

The view from our table tried its very best to be stunning but the Suffolk sea just lacks the blue of Cornwall. Is it ever blue? Probably not but again I reiterate "the lapping of the waves sound the same" and I will always be guilty of looking for silver linings. A bit of sea air and that 'edge of the world' expanse. Wonderful.

February has shown me several silver linings, including some happy guests in our Piggery.

And it really does feel like spring is on its way, beautiful birdsong, longer and lighter days, ducks on the pond, daffodils poking their shoots through, buds on all the trees and hares racing around in the fields. Fab!