Salhouse
Nearby Salhouse Broad can be reached from this station along a pretty footpath, also a short walk away is the unusual thatched 15th century parish church of Salhouse All Saints.
1   Home

Hoveton and Wroxham
Hoveton and Wroxham, capital of the Norfolk Broads and where you can change to join the narrow gauge Bure Valley Railway www.bvrw.co.uk which runs steam trains to Aylsham or you can follow the route on foot or by bike along the Bure Valley path. In summer the boats are lined up along side the river, jostling for space. Here you can hire a day boat; take a tour of the Broads by boat, shop or visit one of the many attractions this bustling resort has to offer. In the winter months this becomes a quiet and relaxed back waterside retreat ideal for bird watching, walking or cycling along the Bure Valley path. For information on boat hire and the Norfolk Broads please call Hoveton TIC, Station Road, Hoveton, run by the Broads Authority, Tel: (01603) 782281, Open Easter to 31 October every day, 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm, or visit www.visitnorfolk.co.uk
1   Home

Worstead
Worstead gives its name to a type of cloth, worsted, and woven in the village in the middle ages. From the Conquest onwards, Flemish weavers migrated to England, but it was not until the reign of Edward II that their cloth came to be known as worsted. Hitherto most of the Norfolk wool had been exported to Flanders whence it was imported in the form of cloth. Today the pretty village has many reminders of its prosperous past including the large ‘wool’ church of St Mary’s which can be seen after leaving Worstead station on the right. The New Inn (good food and beer), the post office and the church are all well worth a visit. Like some Brigadoon image, the village comes to life once a year (the last weekend in July) during the famous Worstead Festival. During the festival extra trains call at the station. For further information on the village and the festival please visit www.worstead.co.uk
1   Home

North Walsham
North Walsham is the busiest intermediate station on the Bittern Line, North Walsham is a prosperous market town with an historic church and a wonderful collection of eclectic shops including a specialist cat pottery. The Norfolk Motorcycle Museum is opposite the main station entrance and offers a generous admission discount to rail ticket holders.The town is famous for Sir William Paston who founded his free Grammar School in 1606. A new School House was built in 1765, the one seen today, and shortly after in 1769, the school received the brothers William and Horatio Nelson as boarders. It was from here, in March 1771, a young Horatio Nelson set out on his legendary career. The school boasts other fine scholars, including Archbishop Tennyson, who crowned Queen Anne and George I. The founder's amazingly elaborate tomb can be seen inside the Parish Church. The School is now part of a Sixth Form College for the local area. For more information on North Walsham please visit: www.north-walsham.biz. The Cat Pottery and the Motor cycle Museum offers discounts to Bittern Line ticket holders.
1   Home

Gunton
Gunton Station was built primarily for the convenience of Lord Suffield (a major investor in the original East Norfolk Railway Company, who built the railway from Norwich to Cromer), and despite its rather splendid station buildings which are still extent and privately owned, was probably never heaving with local commuters. Although there is no village of this name, the station was built to serve the nearby Gunton Park home to Lord Suffield. This extensive parkland estate was partly landscaped by Sir Humphrey Repton. Built for Sir William Morden Harbord, Baronet who became the 2nd Lord Suffield. The house was burnt out in 1882, with only the shell of the building left. The grounds of the estate were split at some time. The estate is now private and no visitors are allowed. A rather splendid gateway to Lord Suffield's estate was built in nearby Thorpe Market in 1838. Its tall tower, from which Norwich cathedral is visible on a clear day, later served as a lookout for Royal trains arriving at Gunton Station. By the 1980s the tower was completely derelict, but has since been carefully restored. The main station building served as a reception area for royal guests arriving and departing from Lord Suffield’s estate.
1   Home

Roughton Road
After leaving Gunton the train continues North East towards the coast to Roughton Road on the outskirts of Cromer. The station in this mainly residential area is the closest to the National Trust at Felbrigg Hall, a short walk from here or Cromer station.
1   Home

Cromer
On arrival at Cromer the train reverses to access the last short stretch of the former Midland and Great Northern Railway from Cromer to Sheringham. This once extensive system stretched from Little Bytham, just North of Peterborough to Lowestoft North in East Suffolk. The town has a popular annual carnival and all year round attractions; we strongly recommend a visit in the winter months for peace and quiet and a less crowded chance to enjoy the beautiful coast and countryside. Many attractions remain open during the winter including local museums and the pier. We are now in the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty www.norfolkcoastaonb.org.uk and what beauty this area offers…seabirds, wildlife and artists flock to this area for peace, scenery and the sea. Holiday makers have been visiting this town since the railway opened and such was its popularity the town once boasted two train stations. From Cromer station there is a short walk to the town centre, which is crammed full of fascinating shops and eateries. In Bond street there is the little Aristocrat Restaurant which offers super meals and morning tea/ afternoon coffee and delicious cakes. Bittern Line passengers can treat themselves to a discount here when their ticket is shown on ordering.The Pavilion Theatre on Cromer Pier is one of the most famous and successful theatres on the East Coast and is perhaps one of a very few in England that has increased its seating capacity. As part of the £2.4 million regeneration plan for Cromer Pier, the theatre was extended and a new 50-seat balcony put in. The Bar and front of house area was extended and a brand new restaurant ‘Tides’ and gift shop Footprints’ were built at the land end of the pier. This, along with the improvements to the promenade, has made Cromer seafront even more popular with visitors and locals alike. Take a trip on the Bittern Line and see for yourself what a great place it is to visit at anytime of the year.
1   Home

West Runton
West Runton is renowned for its national award winning station gardens maintained by the local station adopters, so do take time to view them even if only passing through on the train. Alight here for some walks around Incleborough Hill, The Links Country Park Hotel and The Hillside Animal and Shire Horse Sanctuary near West Runton railway station, tel: 01603 736200, website: www.hillside.org.uk. Come and see our Heavy Horses, Ponies and Donkeys, also Sheep, Pigs, Rabbits, Ducks, Hens, Goats and many more rescued animals in their home in the beautiful North Norfolk countryside. Visit our Museum and relive the farming days of yesteryear surrounded by our extensive Collection of Carts, Wagons and Farm Machinery. There is plenty of space for Children to play around our activity areas. Try our Animal Friendly’ refreshments in the Cafe and take home a souvenir from the Gift Shop to remind you of your visit. You may even adopt a rescued animal. From West Runton to Sheringham look out on the right as the railway passes the little church of All Saints at Beeston Regis locked between the railway and the sea.
1   Home

Sheringham
Sheringham is the end of the Bittern Line but not your journey; there are things too many see and do here. On arrival at Sheringham (the station is the smallest passenger terminal on the National Railway Network), you can walk just across the road to the Poppy Line Railway, home to the North Norfolk steam railway which runs from Sheringham (the original station) to Holt – a small gorgeous Georgian town. During the summer season a vintage bus service links the station at Holt to the town centre. A through ticket from any National Express East Anglia station is available and offers a discounted price on separate tickets. Please see www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com for details.From Sheringham the number 36 CoastHopper bus runs to Hunstanton.It departs from outside the Tourist Information Office just across the road from the railway station roughly every hour. The service goes to Hunstanton via the many splendid coastal villages between Sheringham and Hunstanton along the North Norfolk Coast to the edge of the Wash. A Bittern Line Rover ticket is valid on this service and you may alight and rejoin at any location on route during the day. For further details on the CoastHopper and to request a timetable, please call 0844 800 8003.
1   Home