Archived destinations
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Norfolk break
6 – 10 September 2021
This break has run, though it can run again if there is interest.
Four days in the field around the Norfolk Broads
This web page outlines Honeyguide's 'Norfolk break', which follows a similar formula to four run in September 2020 and two in May/June 2021. Participants book the hotel themselves, and Honeyguide's Chris Durdin will be your nature guide for the stay.
Itinerary
The first morning will follow Honeyguide tradition by being on foot to Norfolk Wildlife Trust's Thorpe Marshes, a very short walk from the hotel and Chris's local patch.
After that the plan is flexible. The intention is to try to keep travel distances down, to focus on places Chris knows well and not so much on famous nature reserves like Cley and Titchwell Marsh which are included on the North Norfolk break (or easy to visit unguided if staying on). Places to visit could include RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, NWT Buxton Heath, Potter Heigham Marshes, Ranworth, Winterton Dunes NNR, Hickling / Horsey and Holt Country Park.
NWT Thorpe Marshes.
September on the marshes: some of the high summer flowers below are carrying on into early autumn, marsh woundwort and angelica flowers especially. There are still dragonflies, damselflies and a few butterflies on sunny days. Mornings can be wet with dew, of course. Some birds are singing again, notably Cetti's warbler, robin and chiffchaff.
Flowers to look out for in September: marsh woundwort, angelica, orange balsam. Nodding bur marigold - see right.
Ivy bee, hornet hoverfly (both 4 September).
Hotel
Accommodation will be at the Oaklands Hotel, Yarmouth Road, Thorpe St Andrew, Norwich. For anyone who is interested, please contact us and we will forward an email with details of how to book the special package arranged for Honeyguiders. This package includes breakfast and a budget for an evening meal.
En suite facilities.
Lunches: probably a mix of a garden buffet (one day, included), a café and packed lunches.
Covid-19: the hotel’s outside eating terrace, already big, has been greatly extended with huge sunshades/covers that also have patio heaters, if need be. This means that a group of six sitting together is fine, and we aren’t reliant on dry, warm weather. There is a lot of attention to regular cleaning: it’s very thorough.
The Oaklands Hotel is listed as a Best Western hotel, which is a marketing cooperative, though it's locally owned. The owner also owns a farm shop at Blofield (near Strumpshaw Fen) and there is a very new, additional outlet for this at the hotel, which boosts using local produce and low food miles.
Holiday details & how to book
Days/dates: the first dates above are four days in the field, Tuesday to Friday. We expect most people to have four or five nights at the Oaklands Hotel: to arrive on the Monday and leave late on on the Friday or on Saturday morning. Note: there is a wedding with disco in the hotel on Friday evening, 10 September.
Hotel cost: to be advised by email and depends on the choice of room.
Price: £100 per day fee for your guide (including guide's expenses and conservation contribution).
Deposit: none to Honeyguide. You will be invoiced after the break.
Booking: no booking form is needed. Just keep us informed!
Travel to Norwich: Chris can collect from Norwich railway station anyone arriving by train. There are taxis at Norwich railway station and a door-to-door bus route.
Local travel: in your car, or in Chris's car if you are comfortable with that, or car sharing by mutual consent. No minibus is being booked.
Maximum number (one guide): 8 plus guide. Local Honeyguiders may join the group on some days if the group isn't fully booked.
Conservation project
£40 per person will be donated to Norfolk Wildlife Trust.
Guide
Chris Durdin is the driving force behind Honeyguide, running holidays since 1991. For many years he combined this with his work for the RSPB in Eastern England, often the Society’s spokesman, but has been concentrating on Honeyguide full-time since 2009. Chris is the co-author of a book about Norfolk’s cranes and leads regular walks on his local wildlife trust nature reserve, Norfolk Wildlife Trust's Thorpe Marshes. He’s also a barbershop singer. As a naturalist, Chris is an all rounder.
Willow emerald damselfly, egg laying into a willow. September is willow emerald season: more about willow emeralds here.
Create your own Norfolk break
The Norfolk breaks in September 2020, and have helped in setting up later breaks here and elsewhere.
Additional breaks / dates with Chris Durdin as guide may be possible. Variations on this theme could include an additional guided day, or one day less, or days out.
There's good wildlife to enjoy in Norfolk year-round. If you're keen in general on this idea, we can think about a suitable plan.
Ruddy darter
Holiday reports, blogs & photos
Autumn 2021
Norfolk break no 7 6-10 September 2021 (report)
Photos on Facebook from 6-10 September 2021.
Autumn 2020
Norfolk break no 1 8–10 Sept 2020 (report) and more photos here, mostly by David Bennett.
Norfolk break no 2 15-18 September 2020 (report)
More photos by Mervin Nethercoat on Flickr and Jillian Macready on OneDrive.
Norfolk break no 3 22-24 September 2020 (report)
Norfolk break no 4 29 September-1 October (report)
Highlights with photos on news.
Photos on Facebook: a selection from Chris Durdin from all four weeks.
Male keeled skimmer.
Keeled skimmers in September from Chris Durdin, on the Honeyguide blogspot.
Spring/summer 2021, reports
Norfolk break (mostly the Broads), May/June
Norfolk break (mostly the Broads), May
Recent blogs for this area
Buxton Heath and Holt Lowes, 2 July. Guided walk, on the Honeyguide blogspot.
Hickling, 8 June. Guided walk, on the Honeyguide blogspot.
Buxton Heath, 21 May. Guided walk, on the Honeyguide blogspot.
Ranworth revisited, 10 May. Guided walk, on the Honeyguide blogspot.
Thorpe Marshes, 27 April. Guided walk, on the Honeyguide blogspot.
Burnham Norton and Holkham 16 Aoril. Guided walk, on the Honeyguide blogspot.
Potter Heigham, 8 April. Guided walk, on the Honeyguide blogspot.
Oaklands Hotel
The hotel’s outside eating terrace, already big, has been greatly extended with huge sunshades/covers that also have patio heaters. In winter there is indoor dining.
Blofield Farm Shop is also on site, selling locally sourced produce, much of which is also used for evening meals.
September wildlife
Migrant hawker, male, 18 Sept 2013.
Nodding bur marigold, photographed 7 September
4-spot orb web spider, Araneus quadratus 30 Sept 2014.
Chris Durdin in Extremadura, February 2015 (Howard Bayliss).
Customer protection
Honeyguide normally offers customer protection through our Air Travel Operator's Licence (see our ATOL page). There are no flights so that doesn't apply.
Your accommodation contract is with the hotel and with only guiding provided by Honeyguide, there is no holiday 'package'.
