Call Me The Breeze

Posted bynickletjogPosted inPreparation

LETJOG PEAK No 23: Beacon Hill, Norfolk (103 metres)

Walk Date: Saturday 27 May 2023

Mural on Sheringham seafront

Along with my family I have been visiting wonderful north Norfolk for around 50 years, so it is fair to say that I know this part of England as well as any outside of the South East. I never tire of the quiet lanes flanked with verdant hedgerows, the fields and woodlands, and the striking coastline of cliffs, dunes and endless sands, on walks that provide interest, surprise and wonder at every turn. The flint buildings, the quietness, and the predominance of sunshine and of expansive skies all combine to give the region a unique character and an experience that takes some beating!

Today’s trek (in the dark blue line) comprised 10 miles, starting out inland from Cromer in a clockwise direction to the county summit at Beacon Hill, then down into Sheringham for lunch, ahead of an easterly clifftop walk and finishing along the beach for the last two miles into Cromer

Back to the challenge of bagging LETJOG Peaks, my task for today was to conquer Beacon Hill, up on the glacial ridge that runs behind the popular coastal resorts of Sheringham and Cromer. Not a high County Top by any standards (indeed this summit is the lowest of all the English counties save the City of London), but it is likely to be my only trek on this venture that incorporates coastal clifftops and a beach walk, enabling the exclusive claim that I have completed the full ascent of the peak from sea level. And as we shall see the walk was not without some impressive views.

Combining a long weekend break with my walking challenge, I was blessed today with fine weather and with the company of Rachel and close friends Rick and Eleanor (who you may recall seeing recently on my Arbury Hill climb in Northamptonshire), so we comprised a small expedition party as we set out on this splendid spring ramble. Here’s how we got on:

A tropical feel along the lanes on our route out of Cromer . . .
. . . and into the woods
Rhododendrons at their springtime best
The Four Tops – our colourful crew on Beacon Hill, the summit of Norfolk at 103 metres of elevation . . .
. . . and with fine views to the sea
On Beeston Regis Heath, near Roman Camp, whose history also includes ancient iron works from the medieval period
Descending on a sunken lane . . .
. . . past the Shire Horse Sanctuary at West Runton . . .
. . . and an adventurous lamb
Into Sheringham for a look around the town and a spot of lunch on the front
Rowing boats on the slipway
Starting our blustery afternoon return along the clifftops . . .
. . . to the trig point on the top of Beeston Bump, a 63-metre-high hillock of glacial deposits made up of sand, gravel and occasional larger rocks known as ‘erratics’ left by the retreating ice sheet – all unfortunately about to be taken by the sea, as was the ‘Bump’s’ twin, some three centuries ago
Looking back down, westwards, onto Sheringham
At West Runton we descended from the clifftops onto the beach – along this stretch of coastline erosion of the cliffs has revealed many fossils, including the almost complete skeleton of a large steppe mammoth dating from around 500,000 years ago exposed by a heavy storm in December 1990
On the beach, continuing eastwards, right into the sharp breeze off the North Sea
Paddling in the surf . . .
. . . and arriving at Cromer Pier
Back to our start point on the edge of Cromer, the self-appointed ‘Gem of the Norfolk Coast’, where the red brickwork of many of the buildings is set off attractively by facings of local flint

Waiting for us back at our base for the weekend in Corpusty, near Holt, were good friends Brian and Mandy who had opted for cycling as their exercise fix for the day. Together we celebrated Rick’s birthday – it was lovely to enjoy a fabulous bank holiday weekend together, and to have such fun and good company on the latest climb of my LETJOG Peaks adventure.

A land-slip on the cliffs near East Runton Gap

My Blog title today ‘Call Me The Breeze’ is taken from the song of that name by Norfolk-born singer-songwriter Beth Orton. Known for her unique ‘folktronica’ (ie folk and electronica) sound, Orton broke through in the mid-1990’s: after a relatively quiet period she re-emerged in 2012 with the album ‘Sugaring Season’ that received favourable reviews for its ‘sophisticated and mature’ folk aura. The album features ‘Call Me The Breeze’, co-written by Orton in collaboration with Tom Rowlands of The Chemical Brothers, and the title seemed apt for today’s gusty coastal ramble.

One thought on “Call Me The Breeze”

  1. What a great walk in Norfolk, Nick. Blessed with good weather, super scenery, the company of close friends (AND, an irresistible sunken road). How lucky you are!

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