Norfolk


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="833" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Deb-Jordan1-833x1000.jpg" alt="Deb Jordan with spaniel on Holkham beach" class="wp-image-39413" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Deb-Jordan1-833x1000.jpg 833w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Deb-Jordan1-667x800.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Deb-Jordan1-768x922.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Deb-Jordan1-438x525.jpg 438w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Deb-Jordan1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 833px) 100vw, 833px" /></figure>



<p>What&#8217;s a former photographer with a background in fashion doing at the helm of a nature reserve in rural Norfolk you may ask? Deb and her husband Bill Jordan, of Jordans Cereals fame, bought <a href="https://pensthorpe.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pensthorpe</a> 20 years ago. A local girl with a life-long love of nature, Deb was born on a farm in Ringstead and wanted to raise her own family amid bucolic surroundings. I guess an entire nature reserve would fit the bill! </p>



<p>Deb, Bill and their team have grown the site to a stunning 700 acres and their conservation work has won them great acclaim &#8211; not to mention being hailed the Best Family Attraction in the Muddy Stilettos inaugural National Awards. So when she&#8217;s not busy with the many projects she oversees at Pensthorpe, where does Deb choose to spend her free time &#8211; and buy her favourite jeans? Over to you, Deb.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gurneys-fish-shop-drove-orchards-thornham"><a href="https://www.gurneysfishshop.co.uk/gurneys-the-fish-box-thornham.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gurneys Fish Shop</a> &amp; <strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/droveorchards/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Drove Orchards</a>, Thornham</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Gurneys-Fish-Shop.jpg" alt="Gurneys Fish Shop" class="wp-image-39416" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Gurneys-Fish-Shop.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Gurneys-Fish-Shop-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Gurneys-Fish-Shop-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Gurneys-Fish-Shop-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Many moons back in my early 20s, my Dad would park on the side of the main road in Brancaster to visit a small lean-to flint shack, fondly known locally as the Hole in the Wall, to pick up the most amazing homemade fish pâté, mussels, and fresh kippers for his breakfast. Forty years later, Mike Gurney’s tiny first fish shop has morphed into two busy, hugely popular outlets. One at Burnham Market and now thankfully one at Drove Orchards, selling the very best in locally produced smoked fish and unique ranges of homemade fish products.&nbsp;</p>



<p>As a big lover of fish, it’s a tradition that remains steadfast in our family, so when I am close by, I pop there to pick up supplies of Thai fishcakes, roasted salmon and homemade focaccia. </p>



<p>The Orchards has become a thriving year-round shopping destination with plenty of parking, a nursery, farm shop, beautiful homewares, and <a href="https://www.nelle-dk.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nelle</a>, a brilliant lady’s boutique where I buy my favourite jeans. Such a variety of diverse businesses all together in one space.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><a href="https://www.kingsheadnorfolk.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Kings Head</a>, Letheringsett</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Kings-Head-Letheringsett.jpg" alt="Kings Head, Letheringsett" class="wp-image-39417" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Kings-Head-Letheringsett.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Kings-Head-Letheringsett-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Kings-Head-Letheringsett-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Kings-Head-Letheringsett-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>This is my perfect definition of an ‘English pub’, filled with home comforts, an obligatory roaring fire and most importantly dog friendly for our cocker-spaniel, Finn.&nbsp;</p>



<p>We often go together as a family for our daughter Inca’s birthday, which unfortunately for her is three days before Christmas. At Christmas time when you’re trying to celebrate a birthday, it&#8217;s amazing that they don’t insist that you order from their Christmas party menu. Fabulous food, wonderfully friendly atmosphere and always incredibly well looked after.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Old Hunstanton Beach</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Old-Hunstanton-Beach-Huts-credit-Gary-Pearson.jpg" alt="Old Hunstanton beach with beach hut, dunes and sunrise." class="wp-image-39419" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Old-Hunstanton-Beach-Huts-credit-Gary-Pearson.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Old-Hunstanton-Beach-Huts-credit-Gary-Pearson-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Old-Hunstanton-Beach-Huts-credit-Gary-Pearson-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Old-Hunstanton-Beach-Huts-credit-Gary-Pearson-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption><a href="https://www.facebook.com/GaryPearsonPhotography" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gary Pearson Photography</a></figcaption></figure>



<p>My parents were lucky enough to have a beach hut at Old Hunstanton, which has been passed down to my brother, sister, and myself. It has become an incredibly special place for us all to meet with our families.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Family is huge for me, and through illness and Covid, we have weathered storms and snow to sit socially distanced in the dunes with a bottle of fizz putting the world to rights.&nbsp;</p>



<p>On Christmas Day, we took Champagne and bacon rolls over so the mad members of the family could swim and the not-so brave snuggled in the hut. It is such a beautiful place to go to watch the sun set over the sea.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><a href="https://pensthorpe.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pensthorpe</a></strong>, nr Fakenham</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Pensthorpe.jpg" alt="Aerial view of Pensthorpe" class="wp-image-39421" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Pensthorpe.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Pensthorpe-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Pensthorpe-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Pensthorpe-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Clearly, I’m biased because Pensthorpe is my home, however, during Covid and months of chemotherapy, I have never been more grateful to be able to call this place my home.&nbsp;</p>



<p>To live on a nature reserve during lockdown where everything was left in peace to just be and surrounded by the beauty of nature and wildlife, was a real blessing in disguise. Every day the wildlife crept closer in, leaving the stresses of illness and the pandemic parked somewhere just beyond.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Being brought up on a working farm was a fine way to instil a healthy passion for waking up early to enjoy nature and bird song, well before breakfast and school.&nbsp;Dawn at Pensthorpe is glorious. The early dog walk is a fine way to start work here. I wander the paths and trails picking up debris and torn off branches from windy nights and catching up with the ever-changing landscape where something has altered or needs maintenance.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><a href="https://www.nhm.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Natural History Museum</a></strong>, London</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Natural-History-Museum.jpg" alt="Outside the National History Museum" class="wp-image-39418" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Natural-History-Museum.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Natural-History-Museum-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Natural-History-Museum-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Natural-History-Museum-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>To our delight, for some years we were asked to host the travelling version of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year in the large gallery at Pensthorpe. It was a wonderful exhibition that inspired many people to visit and encouraged all age groups to get out amongst nature all over the world for that ever-elusive photo of wildlife at its best.</p>



<p>People would drive for miles to see the exhibition and it was something that I personally looked forward to every year. Both the children so loved it that we followed the main exhibition to the Natural History Museum in London visiting every October half term. Happily, this continued well beyond their school years and became a special calendar event, meeting in London to share the experience of seeing the world’s best wildlife photography with incredibly moving descriptions of how and where the photos were taken.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Holkham Beach</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Holkham-Beach-credit-Gary-Pearson-1.jpg" alt="Dunes, sand and blue sky at Holkham beach." class="wp-image-39422" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Holkham-Beach-credit-Gary-Pearson-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Holkham-Beach-credit-Gary-Pearson-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Holkham-Beach-credit-Gary-Pearson-1-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/02/Holkham-Beach-credit-Gary-Pearson-1-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption><a href="https://www.facebook.com/GaryPearsonPhotography" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gary Pearson Photography</a></figcaption></figure>



<p>Space and freedom are words that come to mind when describing another of my favourite beaches. A winter favourite, and we love nothing more than a blustery walk, feeling the cold wind hit your face whilst marvelling at one of the most beautiful stretches of Norfolk coastline.</p>


My favourite places: Deb Jordan, co-owner of Pensthorpe

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