HORSEY

Horsey is the closest Broadland village to the coast - it is only about a mile from the sea. A magnificent windpump (owned by the National Trust) sits on Horsey staithe and is open to visitors. The dyke leads to Horsey Mere, a windswept broad which is only open to the public spring to autumn. The village itself is small and has a church with round tower and a lovely country pub (partway down the track to the beach). A gap in the sea-defences allows access to the almost deserted beach. In summer, a kiosk at the staithe car-park sells refreshments.

We start our tour of Horsey at the magnificent Windpump. This five storey windpump was built in 1912 to pump water out from the surrounding land so that it could be used for agriculture. It was operational until 1943, when it was hit by lightning.

The National trust took ownership of Horsey Windpump in 1948 and restored it. It is now open to visitors on certain days in season. You can climb the floors of the pump and see the workings, with steep steps taking you up to the top for a great view back over Horsey! For more information see the National Trust website.

One story tells how the operator at Horsey found himself entangled in the pump's machinery as he tried to secure the building against the storm in 1943; his cries are still said to be heard on windy nights as the ghost of his mangled body continues to be dragged around by the windpump's huge, wooden sails.

A sign by the car-park gives an overview of the area.

There is also a refreshment hut on Horsey Staithe.

The Buxton family continue to manage the surrounding 2000 acre estate. There are paths that lead along both sides of the dyke leading to Horsey Mere. One path leads along the banks of the Waxham New Cut to the remains of Brograve Drainage Mill. The path the other side of the dyke is a much shorter and leads to a view point over Horsey Mere. All paths offer fabulous views over the reeds, marshes and glistening water.

WALK - Horsey Windpump to the Beach - 3 miles round trip approximately.

For a lovely walk, take the National Trust path that leads from the windpump over NT land towards the coast. This short walk gives a lot of variety, from Broadland, flat countryside, to a windswept beach. The path does get a little muddy in winter.

Mid-way between the windpump and the coast is the Nelson Head Pub - a great place to stop for a pint or a pub lunch (well behaved dogs allowed inside).

The track leads on towards a gap in the sea defences. The sand dunes are a nature reserve and another path leads up and down the coast - you can walk for miles! The beach is over the sand dunes as usually deserted.

The beach between Horsey and Winterton on sea is home to a colony of grey seals. You can usually see their heads popping up above the waves. In December and January they have pups and come out of the water for several weeks. Around 100 pups are born each winter. The pups are white, the females light grey and males dark grey.

Returning back to the village itself, we find the church of All Saints, which has a rounded tower and is a lovely remote and peaceful church. The remainder of Horsey is made up of pretty cottages and leafy lanes.