As we near the end of our first year of ownership of Brick Kiln Barns we found ourselves with a free afternoon and the sun was shining! After being lashed by Storm Babet just a few days before we took the opportunity to get out and about and visit Sheringham Park’s Gazebo.

It took us half an hour door to door from Brick Kiln Barns to reach the free parking area on the Esplanade (NR26 8LG) from where we set off on the North Norfolk Coastal Path towards Weybourne.

It’s half a mile up to the Sheringham Coastwatch which stands on Skelding Hill 170 ft above sea level commanding views as far as 15 miles out to sea. And the view across land from up here isn't too shabby either extending all the way to Wells on a good day and over to Sheringham Park across Sheringham Golf Club and the North Norfolk Railway Poppy line.

Plenty of photos later we descend the well trodden path surprised at how quiet it is given it's October half-term and reasonably mild, but we're not complaining about having this stunning section of coast path pretty much to ourselves aside from the regular thack of golf balls and occasional cry of "fore".

We spot immenent examples of cliff top loses enroute and get a clear view of the North Norfolk Railway ferrying passengers to Holt via Weybourne Station with Sheringham Park in the background.

As we get closer to the eastern reaches of Weybourne beach we can clearly see large swathes of coastal errosion, probably hastened by the effects of Storm Babet over the weekend.  

Soon before we are about to turn inland to head up to Sheringham Park we realise we are about 5 minutes too late to see a steam train out of Sheringham pass under the upcoming foot bridge.  Others had been more organised, their waves and cheers loudly rewarded.  

We cross the bridge and continue upwards to cross the A149 to access the footpath that will lead to the gazebo entrance about half-way up a field of bright green sugar beet tops.  We begin our ascent and it doesn't take long to reach the base of the gazebo, the 60 steps of which seem a breeze after the 115 uneven, and in places quite deep steps we'd just negotiated. It felt much sturdier than it looked although we did have it completely to ourselves and it has undergone structural works recently.  

The views are pretty impressive out to sea over Weybourne Windmill and along the coast towards Wells, and inland over Sheringham Park itself up to the temple. There's no well placed steam train for the perfect photo op though. The view east towards Sheringham is obscured by treetops.

Walking distances from the Esplanade carpark are:

0.5 miles to the Coastwatch

1.75 miles to the railway bridge

2.30 miles to the gazebo entrance

REMEMBER TO FACTOR IN THE RETURN TRIP and the 175 steps to top of the gazebo!