COMPARED WITH DEVON and Cornwall, Norfolk-the English county with more waterways than either Venice or Amsterdam-has historically managed to avoid attracting crowds. This is partly because the region is hard to reach: tucked away in the far east of England, there's no motorway connecting it to London, and it's a two-hour train ride from the capital to Norfolk's main hub, Norwich.
It is that sense of seclusion, perhaps, that has attracted kings, queens, and wealthy landowners to this windmill-dotted area for more than a millennium. England's fifth-largest county has dozens of stately residences, including Houghton Hall-the home of Britain's first prime minister, Robert Walpole-and Sandringham Estate, Queen Elizabeth II's beloved country retreat. But it's only in recent years that the royals have brought international attention to Norfolk: the presence of William and Kate, who've owned a property in the North Norfolk town of Anmer since 2011, has created a buzz that has attracted award-winning young chefs, boutique hoteliers, and pioneering tour companies.
A strong sense of identity-deeply rooted in the county's seafaring history and a passion for sustainability-remains. On a wet August weekend, I sailed, walked, and ate my way through Norfolk to meet the people building its future.
FRIDAY
With one hand desperately clinging to a rope swaying in the wind, I curled my toes over the boat's rain-soaked hull before stepping forward and plunging myself into the fast-moving gray below.
I had just leaped off My Girls, a 1960s crab boat that, in 2016, Coastal Exploration Co. (coastal exploration company.co.uk) repurposed to sail visitors along the creeks and open waters of the North Norfolk coast.
This story is from the January 2023 edition of Travel+Leisure India.
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This story is from the January 2023 edition of Travel+Leisure India.
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