North Norfolk Railway Beer Festival 2011 ~ Griffmonsters Great Walks

The 10th North Norfolk Railway beer festival

There was a selection of 120 ales from around the country plus a range of ciders and perrys all for the price of £2.80 a pint. Entertainment and food was available throughout the weekend together with both diesel and steam train workings to make a truly unique event. Even the rain throughout the weekend could not dampen the enthusiasm of those attending, with plenty of shelter available in the carriages alongside Platform 2 where the beer tent was situated. This was an excellent weekend with ample opportunity for some walking along the picturesque coast to Cromer. There was also a late bus between Sheringham and Cromer calling at Woodhill saving us the walk across Beeston Bump in the dark back to the campstie at East Runton. When it comes to beer festivals you cannot beat this one.

North Norfolk Railway Beer Festival 2011 - Essential Information

Walk Statistics:

Start location: Sheringhamn
Distance: miles ( km)
Total Gain: ft ( metre)
Total Descent: ft ( metre)
Min Height: ft ( metre)
Max Height: ft ( metre)
Walk Time:
Walk type: Circular
Walk Grade: Easy
Terrain:

Maps:

The following maps and services can assist in navigating this route. There are links to printed maps and links to downloadable GPX route data for importing into navigational software and apps.

Ordnance Survey Explorer Map: OS Explorer 252 - Norfolk Coast East
GPX Route File

Accommodation:

Woodhill Park CampsiteView in OS Map | View in Google Map

Website: https://www.woodhill-park.com/
Description: Located on the clifftops at East Runton, half way between Sheringham and Cromer, this highly recommended touring site is ideal for exploring North Norfolk with public transport available to many destinations from the entrance to the site.

Transport:

Details of public transport that is required for the walk

Various Operators - Bus Service

Service Details: Coasthopper CH1, CH2, CH3 - Unfortunately, in recent years the highly acclaimed Coasthopper bus service has suffered from subsequent takeovers with a consequent deterioration of the service and continuing doubts upon is viability. Due to its constant changing operators, it is therefore best to use the Traveline website to determine the current timetables and services.
Timetable: www.traveline.info

Sanders Coaches - bus Service

Service Details: 44 - Linking Sheringham, Cromer, Aylsham and Norwich
Timetable: Sanders Coaches Website

Route Verification Details

Date of Walk: 2011-07-16
Walk Time: 12:00 to 22:30
Walkers: Griffmonster Kat
Weather Conditions: Blustery wind, some heavy rain with some sunny spells at the end of the day

Walk Notes

Without any shadow of a doubt this beer festival is my favourite. This is the third year in attendance and it never fails to disappoint, getting better with each year. This year we spent most of the weekend at the festival being in attendance on Friday evening, throughout Saturday and Sunday lunchtime. There were some excellent beers on offer and far too many to mention here - see the slideshow for a sample of some of the ales we tasted. My personal favourites were Betty Stoggs from the Skinners brewery of Truro, a full bodied pale amber ale; O'Hanlons Yellowhammer, a very moreish well balanced pale ale; plus all the brews from the Tydd Steam Brewery, all of which were very pleasing to the palette. The predominant beer style was pale and golden beers with very few stouts and porters, but I guess that is the trend these days. I did manage to sample one stout, Panthers Black Ale which was a a fine example of a Norfolk stout.

Saturday was our main attendance when we spent most of the day at the festival. The initial intention was to walk into Sheringham but the blustery day with constant heavy showers made us take the path alongside the road in as this was a little more sheltered. As we headed into West Runton the rain became heavier and we were getting drenched. Quite amazingly the open-topped Sanders bus stopped for us despite not being at a bus stop and despite not attempting to flag the bus down. This was appreciated as we did not really want to spend the rest of the day in damp clothing. We did manage to have a wander around Sheringham during the day and have a meal at the Jolly Tar restaurant. I hate putting places down, but this was not very good food. We had a plate of haddock in breadcumbs and chips and peas and the fish was so hard you needed industrial mining gear just to get into it. The service was also very slow considering there was very few people in the restaurant.

Music at the festival was most excellent with the the entertaining Ugly Dog Skiffle Combo playing throughout Saturday. These are a great fun band who cover songs in their own distinctive style including a reggae version of the Undertones Teenage Kicks and a skiffle version of Led Zeppelins Rock n Roll. On Sunday lunchtime we watched the Jazz of the King Size Papas. Although I would never consider myself a jazz aficionado, these supplied a relaxing and entertaining lunchtime in the sunshine.

This year saw the introduction of a late 44 bus by Sanders - leaving Sheringham just before 10pm. This was much appreciated and very well used and is a lot more convenient than getting a taxi or hiking across Beeston Bump in the dark or getting the late train to West Runton and walking.

All together, a well rewarding beer festival. We already have next years beer festival marked in the calender - see you there!

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Steam train operate throughout the Beer Festival

Directions

A simple circular route following clifftop paths in one direction and the beach in the other.

From Sheringham take the prom eastwards. Keep to this until one can get down on to the beach beyond the defense boulders. There now follows a great wander across the sand through to Cromer. You cant get lost! Just make sure this is done so that it coincides with low tide along the route.

Return follows the clifftop out of Cromer. Keep to the Coast Path markers. This will continue along the cliffs until the first caravan park just beyond the large grassed area used for parking. Head to the road, then navigate to just beyond the allotments on the right. The route now takes a footpath down to a track between the caravan parks to emerge in the centre of East Runton. Continue through the village, up the hill and past the grassland on the right used for Car Boot Sales. next field is the Woodhill campsite where the path leads through the first gated entrance, then follows the perimeter road up to the reception block. Turn left just beyond this and cross the entrance road over to the field beyond. The path cuts across this and back to the clifftop. There route now keeps to the cliff tops until Sheringham, leading over Beeston Bump. After it passes a putting green, take the path down to the prom, which leads down a flight of steps next to a small house with the name of The Wee Retreat, a nod to the fact that this used to be a public lavatory.

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great music from The Ugly Dog Skiffle Combo

Features

Sheringham Poppy Line: View in OS Map | View in Google Map

Sheringham is the terminus for the North Norfolk Railway, also known as the Poppy Line. This preserved steam railway runs the 5 miles between Sheringham and Holt along the former route of the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway and has recently been reconnected to the National Rail network allowing steam specials to run from London and Norwich.

Work on rebuilding the line started in 1965, and on 4 June 1967, two steam locomotives were delivered. The operating company, North Norfolk Railway plc, was launched in 1965 following the granting of two Light Railway Orders. In May 1973, the railway was the scene of filming of the episode The Royal Train of the popular TV programme Dad's Army. The main restoration sheds are located at Weybourne with new carriage storage sheds more recently built near Holt with Heritage Lottery Funding.

References

Wikipedia article for Sheringham Poppy Line:

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Sunday afternoon jazz from the King Size Papas

Gallery

Below are a selection of images taken from from the photo album for this walk. Feel free to browse through these or click on an image to view a larger version in the Gallery.