Salthouse

The small village of Salthouse nestles between a high ridge above and the salt marsh towards the North Norfolk Coast. In times gone by there would have been salt pans and large piles of salt crystals ready for transport. Now, the village is a lovely quiet spot to enjoy the views over the marshes and bird watchers come from all over to observe both common and rare species. The beach is a large pebble bank and is the only protection from the penetrating north winds, high tides and severe weather. The village contains the attractive church of St. Nicholas, which contains a fine font and rood, a post-office/shop and a lovely pub overlooking the marshes.

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We start our tour of Salthouse in the pub! - The Dun Cow is raised and from the garden at the front you get wonderful views out over the marshes. It's a lovely place to enjoy a great pub lunch and take in the views. Adjacent to the pub is the village green, post office and Cookies Crab Shop, which has been selling quality shell fish for over 3 generations!

The beach at Salthouse is a pebble bank and does not offer much protection to the village. You can feel the wind blowing and it feels as if it is blowing right through you!

Some of the land around the beach is managed by the National Trust and is mainly marshland, but it gives good views back towards the village. Gramborough Hill is an archaeological site where a Roman settlement existed around the 3rd century, finds include Mesolithic flints as well as a sherd from a Bronze Age food-vessel.

To the back of the village the land rises quite steeply and on the top of the ridge is Salthouse Heath. The ridge was created at the end of the last ice age, when the ice sheet ground to halt at about this point. As the ice melted, it dropped all the material it was carrying and this formed the ridge we see today. The heath gives wonderful views of the Norfolk Coast, the village and church below. The heath itself is crisscrossed by a network of footpaths and is great for a walk. The heath is like a wild garden, full of heather and ferns, plus wild flowers including foxglove and rose.

The church of St Nicholas at Salthouse stands between the village and high ridge and is high enough to avoid any flood water. A path leads from the road to the large church yard. Inside, the nave and chancel were rebuilt in the 15th century at a time of great prosperity. The church contains a fine font with lions and a painted rood screen.

Finally, if you leave Salthouse on the coast road (A149) towards Cley next the Sea, you will come to small pond, with ducks and usually a Norfolk ice-cream van. It makes a great short stopping point.

Salthouse summary of what to SEE and DO