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Holt / Sheringham / Cromer
My second return to Holt Station, the first visit back in 2016 was with Ben, when we stayed in the motorhome at The Caravan Club site at Sandringham. This time I am in the company of our eldest grandson Jacob and Pam. The difference today is that we will be joining the train, whereas Ben and I didn't. We are travelling the "Poppy Line" as it is affectionately known from Holt to Sheringham. Sadly no steam. We travelled the scenic line, following the coast in places, travelling on a Class 101 Deisel Multiple Unit or DMU for short. A pleasant journey, only lasting a short while before we arrive at Sheringham for our second visit in twelve months. We came last year with Jacob, who like us, appreciates the simple charm of the town. We had lunch, fish and chips of course, before wandering down the main street, heading for the beach. This is the main delight of visiting Sheringham for Jacob a chance to walk along the beach and to get his feet wet paddling in the sea. He was even more exicted this visit as literally on the water line was a young common seal. He tried to get my attention, as I was further up the beach, to take photos, but by the time I realised what he meant, I just managed a fleeting glimpse, before it returned to the deeper water. We continued looking together but with no luck. Always a nice time to come to Sheringham, never too busy at this time of year. We made our way back to the station for our return journey, with steam in charge of our train back to Holt. Back at Holt I asked if, rather than going back to the van, if Pam and Jacob would like a wander around Cromer, to which they happily agreed. Only downside being that we had to return to Sheringham to reach Cromer. Once parked up and paid we walked to the front, enjoying the view of the pier and the town, set out below us. Anyone who has travelled to Cromer from Sheringham will appreciate that you approach the town on the top of the cliffs, looking down to the sea on your left and with the town spread out in front of you. Jacob, having never visited the town before, wanted to go on the pier, which I gladly joined him. Pam descended so far and then decided, wisely, to sit and wait, having walked so far down, but not wishing to go any further. We spent time on the pier, watching the various comings and going, the irate fisherman, the events on at the theatre and finally a wander around the lifeboat station, which sits at the very rear of the pier.
Our means of transport from Holt to Sheringham a Class 101 DMU Number 101693, built by Metropolitan Cammell in Birmingham and the property of the National Railway Museum. The two car set on permanent loan to the North Norfolk Railway. For our return Great Eastern Railway class Y14 0-6-0 Number 564.
A view from the train as we travel alongside the Norfolk coast. The windmill is located at Weybourne, just off the A149 Sheringham Road.
Panoramic view of Sheringham taken from the beach at low-tide - hardly a sole about - perfect, and the sun shining.
Three views of Cromer. The first walking from the car-park down the A149, taking in the view of the pier. Then having walked from street level down to the pier, we look back to wave at Pam, sitting waving back. And then another panoramic view, this time of Cromer. Not such an appealing beach, but still ideal for the kids, with the added attraction of catching a famous Cromer crab from the pier.