What is it like to live in Holt, Norfolk?
Are you wondering what is it like to live in Holt, Norfolk? This blog uncovers what this pretty market town has to offer.
Holt is situated in North Norfolk, around a 20 minute drive from the coast, and is bursting with unique character and charm.
Holt is popular with tourists and locals alike thanks to its wonderful shopping facilities, stunning countryside and coastal walks, as well as its strong sense of community.
Indeed, locals often campaign on key topics and seek funding to support initiatives within the town, while the summer arts festival and Christmas Light celebrations are always unmissable!
Why move here?
As a classic market town with beautiful coastal and countryside walks, Holt truly offers the best of both worlds.
Its thriving shopping centre is filled with art galleries, bookshops, antique emporiums and exclusive boutiques.
All the shops are small independent traders, many of which are tucked away in back alleys and lanes, such as Chapel Yard, Hoopers Yard and Appleyard.
Bakers & Larners in Holt’s very own department store, selling high quality goods for your home and kitchen, as well as beauty, clothing, sport and gift items.
Its food hall is a particular delight, featuring local produce, wines from all over the world, and unusual items you wouldn’t find anywhere else!
Another popular outlet is Byfords, a wonderful delicatessen, café and restaurant. Its deli sells a fine selection of oils, cheeses and meats, as well as delicious homemade style ready meals, frozen bread and pastries.
Away from its buzzing centre is Holt Country Park. With 100 acres of stunning mixed woodland, the park boasts tranquil woodland and floral displays that change with the seasons.
The park is also a Green Flag award winner and is open all year round for bird watchers, dog walkers and families.
Walks and hikes in Holt
There are so many walks and hikes to enjoy around Holt.
The town sits just outside an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, so its trails offer stunning views of the surrounding countryside and coastline.
For casual hikers, try the looping walk around Cley Marshes: the route has easily accessible paths and a visitor centre, while the views across Cley’s lagoons and marshland are simply beautiful.
The Sheringham woodland and coastal walk is another easy hike, perfect for any fitness level, and you can even savour the views from a tree-top gazebo!
Located 23 miles north of Norwich on the A148 King’s Lynn to Cromer road, Holt is also well-connected for those with a commute.
The nearby Sheringham and Cromer train stations have direct connections to Norwich, offering access to London Liverpool Street in two hours.
Finally, both the town’s primary, Holt Community, and the nearest secondary, Sheringham High, are rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted, so any families moving to the area are sorted!
Properties for sale in Holt
Holt’s eclectic mix of architecture adds so much character to the town, making it effortlessly picturesque and charming. This is also reflected in the properties available for sale.
In the centre of town, you can find Georgian townhouses, sizable detached and cobbled terraced homes, as well as one to three bedroom apartments.
Cottages and converted barns can be found more rurally, as can the stylish new Heath Farm development, which offers two to five bedroom houses and bungalows still within walking distance of Holt.
What villages are nearby?
Letheringsett
The small and picturesque village of Letheringsett is just 7 minutes west of Holt. Situated in the valley of the River Glaven, it is home to two watermills including Letheringsett Watermill, the last working watermill in the county.
It has won several prestigious awards for its flour production and is now a tourist attraction, but also doubles up as the local village store.
As for the village itself, Letheringsett is quiet and secluded.
Its local pub, The King’s Head, is surrounded by beautiful parkland and is extremely popular with residents and visitors alike.
Salthouse
Just 10 minutes from Holt is Salthouse, a charming coastal village set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Nestled between a high ridge and a salt marsh, it boasts unrivalled views of the coastline alongside beautiful countryside scenery.
Its marshes and heath are part of a Norfolk Wildlife Trust nature reserve that bursts with ferns, heather and wildflowers, while its shingle beach offers exceptional views of the North Norfolk coast.
Salthouse is a typical coastal flint village, complete with picturesque village green and parish church.
For the best in local produce, The Dun Cow pub has an excellent reputation, as does Cookie’s Crab Shop. Elsewhere, Salthouse Store stocks all your everyday provisions.
Cley
Also 10 minutes from Holt is the charming village of Cley, perhaps best known for its 18th century windmill nestled on the banks of an old quay.
It is also home to Cley Marshes, one of England’s most renowned birdwatching sites, with six hides offering fantastic views across Cley’s lagoons, grazing marshland and reed beds.
Meanwhile, its shingle beach features a deep drop off into the sea, making it a popular spot for shore fishing.
Cley village is wall-to-wall brick and flint properties with pebbled walls and pantile roofs.
Its narrow streets are lined with a unique selection of shops, including a smokehouse, bookshop and delicatessen. Its local pub, The Three Swallows, is a popular spot with Cley residents and serves locally sourced food overlooking the picturesque village green.
Blakeney
The charming village of Blakeney is just 11 minutes from Holt. At its heart is the Blakeney National Nature Reserve, a popular destination for walkers and bird watchers.
Its focal point is Blakeney Point, an impressive 4 mile stretch of coastline home to all manner of wildlife and plants, as well as varying landscapes of sand, shingle, and salt marshes. In fact, you can often spot grey seals and migratory birds from its shores!
The village itself features gorgeous flint cottages, a local deli and art gallery, while eateries, such as The Moorings, offer stunning views of Blakeney’s scenery.
Popular pubs include the White Horse and Kings Arms, both serving locally-brewed beers and classic pub food.
Wiveton
Set on the banks of the River Glaven is the picturesque village of Wiveton. With its elevated position overlooking the Glaven Valley, Wiveton offers stunning views across the North Norfolk coast and countryside.
It is also home to The Wiveton Downs, a geological conservation site and local nature reserve with footpaths, woodland and grassland to explore.
With a population of under 200 people, Wiveton is a very small village.
However, it still boasts two superb eateries with fantastic reputations: first, The Wiveton Bell, a multi-award winning gastropub with a locally-sourced and seasonal menu, and second, the Wiveton Hall Cafe, which is also home to pick-your-own fruits and an organic farm shop.
What is it like to live in Holt, Norfolk?
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