Retro Campers and a White Horse

Last week I made my annual trip back home to North Norfolk for the Cromer Carnival. For a whole week the town celebrates with a parade full of fancy floats, a beer tent, a fancy dress ball, karaoke, bingo, awesome fireworks, street food and we even get a visit from the Red Arrows! Cromer gets […]

Last week I made my annual trip back home to North Norfolk for the Cromer Carnival. For a whole week the town celebrates with a parade full of fancy floats, a beer tent, a fancy dress ball, karaoke, bingo, awesome fireworks, street food and we even get a visit from the Red Arrows! Cromer gets pretty busy for the week but it’s definitely worth a visit – my favourite part is sitting in the sunken gardens on the cliff top with cider and hog roast, waiting for the parade to arrive. After the parade we walk up along the cliff top (picture below) to the carnival field, where the beer tent and band awaits!

One of the highlights of the Carnival is the Classic and Custom Car Show, so we wandered around and kept ourselves fed and watered with freshly made lemonade and hot sugary donuts. My favourites of the show were the campers – I couldn’t help but daydream of parking up near a beach, fishing (or watching someone else) and then cooking the catch while watching the sunset in the comfort of your own camper.

I would love to own a VW Campervan, my new style VW Beetle is the closest step I’ve taken though! My friends from North Norfolk have a company restoring and selling them and will be doing rentals next year too – what a lovely way to explore the Coast than in a retro camper. The picture below was one of theirs.

We found a pristine Bedford Dormobile – what an amazing looking little camper!

The little kitchen was immaculate – perfect size for me (I’m only just over 5ft tall!).

The other highlight of my week in Norfolk was a drive along the coast from West Runton to Brancaster Staithe, where the highly recommended White Horse looks out across sandy beaches and marshland. The interior is light and airy and decorated with driftwood and coastal art. The service was excellent and our food faultless – pleasingly, the price was reasonable too.

My sister went for The Ploughmans, which included a locally smoked ham muffin, Norfolk Dapple (smoked cheese), home made pickle and a kilner jar full of potted pork.

Making the most of being beside the seaside, I couldn’t resist The Seafood Platter – locally (Letzer’s) smoked salmon, Brancaster oyster with Aspall’s Cyder shallot vinegar, pickled local cockles, Cromer crab pate and shell-on prawns. It was delicious and I thought a bargain at only £9.95, with bread being served to the table too. We also shared some salty, buttery samphire.

The dessert menu was particularly challenging to choose from so my sister and I shared the ‘Assiette of White Horse Desserts’ or ‘a little bit of everything’. There was a tarte au citron served with cloudy lemonade, a chocolate and mint layered mousse, mango and pistachio tart, steamed cherry pudding, Hawaiian punch (with sorbet and meringues) and a wonderfully refreshing fruit salad with toasted coconut. Perfect way to avoid menu envy!

Another lovely time back in North Norfolk – I’m actually going back this weekend too, to celebrate my 30th Birthday, eeeek!!