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Today we travelled via Potter Heigham and Ludham to visit the RADAR museum at RAF Neatishead. This was especially of interest to Steve as his late mother was a RADAR operator in the WAAF during the Second World War. It was fascinating to gain an insight into what her role actually entailed.

Views of RAF Neatishead RADAR Museum

Next we cycled via Horning and Ludham to How Hill to visit the Nature Reserve to take a trip on the Electric Boat, the Electric Eel. We had intended to do this on Day 2, but the rain prevented us from doing so. Today the weather was much better, so we were able to enjoy the nature reserve at its best and to take the boat trip.

Views of How Hill Nature Reserve

Views from the Electric Boat, the Electric Eel

The trip on the Electric Eel was particularly fascinating. Begin very narrow and of minimal draft, it was capable of navigating the smallest of the waterways and took us right in amongst the reeds and vegetation, giving a very intimate and close up view of the flora and fauna.
We returned home to Clippesby for the evening via Ludham and Potter Heigham, after a most enjoyable day.

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Today we toured To Horsey, Sea Palling and Hickling Broad.
We travelled from Clippesby via Thurne to West Somerton.

We continued to Horsey where we stopped for lunch at Horsey Windpump on the edge of Horsey Mere.

Views of Horsey Windpump

Views of the dyke and boats along the edge of Horsey Mere

We continued on to Waxham Barn where we stopped for a coffee and a cake, and to visit the barn.


Views of Waxham Barn

Steve last visited Sea Palling many years ago during his pre teen years, when he spent considerable time on the beach with bucket and spade! It was interesting to contrast the childhood memories with the actual visit and perspective many years later as an adult. So much seems different when you are grown up!

We continued to Hickling where we stopped to visit and walk around the Nature Reserve. We loved the sense of peace and tranquility – it felt as though you were miles from anywhere…


Views of Hickling Nature Reserve

We returned home via Potter Heigham and Thurne – by now a very familiar leg of our touring.

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Today we took a shorter trip via Stokesby and Mautby to Filby Broad. Filby Broad is one of the Trinity broads, which are not connected to the river system and are used as storage reservoirs.

As we passed Mautby we visited Thrigby Post Windmill, which was built in around 1790 by Robert Woolmer to grind wheat for the Thrigby Estate.

More details of the history of the windmill can be found on Wikipedia here.

We then toured via Thrigby to Filby Broad.

Views of Filby Broad

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Today we toured from Clippesby via lovely country lanes to Thurne, Potter Heigham and Ludham, including a visit to St Benets Abbey, the only abbey in England to escape destruction during the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII.

Our first stop was the picturesque village of Thurne, where we viewed the river Thurne and windmill.

View of the river and the windmill at Thurne

Our next stop was Potter Heigham.

Swans at Potter Heigham

This was a day of extreme weather. We travelled to How Hill with the intention of taking an electric boat trip on the nature reserve, but were assailed by rain, hail, thunder and lightning! Unsurprisingly all boat trips were cancelled, so we travelled on to Ludham, where we consoled ourselves at the Alfresco tea room situated opposite St Catherine’s church.

The Alfresco Tea room at Ludham, and St Catherine’s church

We decided to seek out St Benet’s Abbey despite the weather. St Benet’s was a real gem.

Views of St Benets Abbey

St Benets Abbey

St Benets Abbey

St Benets Abbey

St Benets Abbey

Yacht on the Broads at St Benets Abbey and more abbey views

We then returned home to Clippesby.

Are these straw bales, modern art or swiss rolls?

Finally the sun lit up the treetops at Clippesby after a very rainy day.

Sunlit treetops at Clippesby

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