To Kelling we do go

At breakfast discussing where to go today, Bob said about a walk we had done before and he would like to do again, on going through my walks we couldn't find it so decided to improvise using memory and ordance survey map.

We arrived at about lunchtime and parked at The Old Reading Room, Kelling and of course had to have a snack and drink to fortify us, i have to say the food and drink there is superb, i had an awsome scone, that just melted in the mouth and the hot chocolate is to die for.

The Old Reading Room, Kelling

 Then we went on our way, it was very warm but breezy, we crossing the road we spotted a countryside access map which gave us a few clues as to direction

we then followed the hedgerow upto a kissing gate, and went through onto Muckleborough Hill

Which is adjacent to the Muckleborough Collection  http://www.muckleburgh.co.uk/

 The Muckleburgh Collection has been so named after Muckleburgh Hill at the foot of which the former Weybourne Military Camp is situated. Weybourne has always been a base for the repulse of invasion from the early days of the Spanish Armada in 1588.

There is a sixteenth century saying “He who would Old England win must at Weybourne Hope begin...” reflecting the ease of landing because of the deep shore water. In 1914 the area became front-line defence with the billeting of troops, and the building of pill-boxes, gun emplacements and trenches. The site became an anti-aircraft artillery base in 1936 and remained in use until the last of some 1.5 million shells was fired on 2nd October 1958.

Sir Winston Churchill and The Princess Royal, Princess Mary were amongst the many important visitors to the camp during the Second World War. To-day the RAF still maintains a radar station within the area and some of the gun emplacements remain although they are not open to visitors.

In 1986, work began to demolish nearly 200 old buildings which were beyond repair and 45,000 tons of rubble was removed to make way for the Collection which was opened in 1988 by Berry and Michael Savory. The heart of the present museum is the NAAFI building which underwent several years of restoration and enlargement. Across the meadow, in front of the main building, is the storage compound. This remains virtually as it was in 1948 and is now used as workshops and for storage of equipment awaiting restoration. One of these buildings also houses a large collection of operational radios maintained by the North Norfolk Amateur Radio Group.

The airfield continues to be used by civilian aircraft and the Kelling Model Flying Club.

When first opened the museum consisted of a few exhibits and a small room describing the camp history. The Collection has since grown to over 120 tanks, guns and vehicles in addition to thousands of other items. The vehicles on display have come from far and wide; Russia, Norway, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Belgium, Holland, Eire, Syria, Kuwait, Israel, the Falkland Islands, the United States and Iraq. Most of The Collection's vehicles have undergone restoration to ensure they are kept in working order.

We meandered up Muckleborough Hill and at the top turned round for a fantastic view of The Pheasant Hotel
http://www.pheasanthotelnorfolk.co.uk/

The Pheasant Hotel at Kelling, North Norfolk, is situated in 2 acres of landscaped gardens, set back off the main coast road between the harbour village of Blakeney and the seaside town of Sheringham. It is in an area where you can almost reach out and touch the past knowing that much of North Norfolk has remained unspoilt with the passing of time. Even now, at times the only sounds that can be heard are the abundance of birds and wildlife or the sea breaking on the shingle bank in the distance.

The Pheasant Hotel

We continued on and reached a viewing point with a seat to have good views over towards the North Sea.

We continued down the hill.

We followed the route over fields towards the North Sea, passing fields of cows.

We passed a Light aircraft in a field

Passing several remnants of World War II

Complete with gun

We had lunch overlooking the North Sea off the North Norfolk Coastal Path.

We passed a small lake

Then continued back to Kelling, we passed a tractor mowing a field at which point i got left behind as Bob rushed ahead trying to avoid the pollen.

The walk was approximately 3 miles.

We then had a drink at The Old Reading Room, and on the way home at Salthouse we spotted a Dairyland Ice Cream van http://www.dairylandicecream.co.uk/ which is surely the best ice cream every and enjoyed a 99.

Dairyland Ices has been producing ice cream for over 60 years.

Managing Director Mr Mike Reeve, the third generation of the Reeve family, is continuing in the tradition of making quality ice cream with recipes handed down from his grand father and with new recipes being introduced to adapt to market trends and fancies.

Our ice cream is freshly made each day to sell to our many outlets using only the highest quality ingredients.

While watching ducks (and horse) at Salthouse