Trip 2: March 2025. Deepdale Backpackers
Brancaster Staithe, N Norfolk.
On the way to Norfolk we stopped at a public weighbridge to check Iona. The weighbridge said we were at 3420kg . I am a bit disappointed, I was hoping we would have a bit more spare payload. We got a ticket for the DVLA but now have to live with the fact that we are limited in what we add on board.
We got a good pitch at Deepdale Backpackers campsite. We spent the afternoon reading before going to the Jolly Sailors pub for 17.30. We did not have to book a table and we were soon seated.
We ordered pulled pork burgers and chips, they were fabulous. We finished eating and the pub started to fill up.
The Nelson’s Shantymen started their rehearsals at 19.00. They were marvellous and we stayed until they finished at 21.15pm. I must admit I did a lot of singing to the choruses. We donated to their charities and I made a point of thanking their ‘leader’.
We walked back home to the campsite which didn’t seem to take as long as going but maybe the beer and wine spurred us on. It was one of the best evenings we have had and well worth a visit if the Shantymen are rehearsing.
We are planning to go back a couple of times to the Jolly Sailors for mussels and pizzas. No shantymen but it will still be great.
Day 2:
The chicken in the fridge had not defrosted so we had to change our plans. We walked up onto Barrow Common today. We zig zagged all over the common before heading down into the village. We finished up at the Jolly Sailors, surprise surprise.
We were earlier than we had planned so we started with a drink before ordering lunch. Today we both went for Mussels and fries which was a late birthday present for me. The mussels were good but not quite as big as usual this year but there was plenty of them.
After lunch we walked down to the small harbour and followed the coastal path back to the campsite, stopping off at the shop before walking back to the motorhome.
We spent the afternoon reading our books prior to giving the showers a full testing.
Day 3:
Today we walked to Burnham Overy along the sea wall / coastal path. This follows the salt flats and we were lucky enough to see a muntjac deer. Once at Burnham we ate our lunch by the harbour and then walked to the Hero pub for a drink before walking the 4.2 miles back home.
We walked a total of 9 miles.
Day 4:
We started out later than normal. After we passed Brancaster harbour the coastal path has been transformed from rotten railway sleepers covered with wire netting to a purpose built walkway which must go for 2 miles and is complete with passing places for buggies and rest stops with benches. It cost £1 million but it is made from some type of resin and it has a life expectancy of 75 years.
We walked the coastal path along the new boardwalk.
We are not walking to the beach huts this time but we will walk in the opposite direction.We headed to the beach via a footpath through the nature reserve. This took us to the sand dunes and the sea which goes out a very long way at low tide.
We made our way to the golf club. The sea defences are great granite boulders so we found a spot to stop and drink our coffee.
A short distance from our coffee spot there was a grey seal by the rocks, I thought it was dead but as I got close it moved so we moved away.
We got back on the coastal path and headed for the harbour before turning inland towards the pub for a late lunch or early tea. Pizzas on a 2 for 1 deal at the Jolly Sailors.
After the food we had a final drink and walked back to Iona.
We had a great 4 days and we walked just over 22 miles, listened to Nelson’s Shantymen, we saw several deer, a seal, a rather drunk family in the pub which was quite amusing. We will be back next year although there is a Shantymen Festival throughout the village in September so we may go back this year.
Iona’s Travels 