Few Days Away on the Norfolk Coast - February 2026

siloutaggart
Feb 12
3 min read

As much as we love our Blended Monkey environment, it's still good to have a change of scenery now and then.

At the beginning of the month and as part of my birthday celebrations, Simon and I had 3 nights away in a cute little cottage in Stiffkey near Wells.

The aim was to go for long walks and enjoy a different part of the Norfolk coastline so we could reset and recharge.

The skies were a little grey, but we were very lucky not to have downpours each day. We made good use of the time we had and went for a lovely long walk around Blakeney on the first day - it was bracing but really great to fill our lungs with fresh air and enjoy a brisk-paced "march" around the salt marshes. We spotted numerous birds and met lots of other walkers and their dogs. A great place to clear your head.

After a quick bite to eat we headed off to Salthouse beach. I absolutely love the sea and try to visit it wherever we holiday or stay. As much as I'm in love with the Cornish coastline, I do enjoy the beauty of our Norfolk seascapes and landscapes. The sound of the waves on the shingly shore is just so soothing and calming.

We enjoyed a really long and interesting walk around Sheringham Park on our second day. I took lots of photos of the wonderful twisty root systems and branches of the rhododendrons. They're so sculptural and beautiful, and have given Simon and I both some ideas for future artworks.

We came across the Barrow, a section of woodland in the park that has been given over to fairy folk :-). I love a fairy house - so to see numerous ones built in the woods here was just fab! When my daughter was little, we used to find and make fairy houses in the woods and in our garden. The moss was always great for carpeting or fairy beds, and we'd find nooks and crannies in tree stumps that made perfect fairy houses.

Although Simon and I get to have the odd day out now and then; making a concerted effort to remove ourselves from our work and all the Blended Monkey activities and enjoy being elsewhere for a few days is really important. Being present in the moment and enjoying a walk in the countryside or by the sea, is just what we needed.

Sheringham Park is a mere 1.5 hours from our Blended Monkey home. I'm amazed we'd never took the time out to visit it before now - but life just got in the way.

Pressing the reset button now and then is key to staying mentally and physically healthy. Simon and I teach creative therapy where we encourage others to be present in the moment of simply making. Enjoying the flow of creativity without necessarily focussing on the end result.

Going for a walk without necessarily knowing where you'll end up or what you'll see is just as recharging and relaxing, and something that Simon and I are endeavouring to do more of. Taking time out of our daily busy lives to enjoy and appreciate our surroundings.