North Norfolk has always held a special spot in my heart. My first visit was over fifteen years ago, and I fell in love with the scenery and the incredible wildlife. During the years I spent living in the Midlands, I would frequently venture east (balancing my time between there and Scotland) to see the amazing creatures I had come to adore, like brown hares, little owls, and barn owls.
Around mid-April, close to my birthday, my late father (whose birthday was the day before mine) and I would usually rent a cottage in the Wells-next-the-Sea area. We enjoyed the local atmosphere, took in the views (and the local beers), savored delicious meals, and spent countless hours observing wildlife.
Those amazing trips are forever etched in my memory, but the last one I shared with him was in 2018. After that, he expressed that traveling had become uncomfortable for him, and I hadn’t returned since.
Living in Inverness makes trips to Norfolk a bit tricky, but this April, with a couple of weeks free and a friend eager to explore North Norfolk, I rented a cozy cottage in a new spot and set off south, first to Birmingham and then east to Norfolk.
Would it stir up too many memories of my past? Would the wildlife still be just as remarkable?
The answer was both yes and no. We revisited some favorite places my dad and I had frequented, and it was wonderful to be there again. Some areas had changed, with new developments; others had limited access, unfortunately, while many remained just as I remembered, with the same wildlife present.
I must admit, it took some motivation to wake up at 5 am for dawn outings, but it was so rewarding. I drove us to a spot that had been great for spotting barn owls and brown hares back in 2018, and eventually, my efforts paid off.
The sun began to rise over the hedgerows when a barn owl flew by and began to survey the meadow, gliding along the hedge toward my hiding spot. I captured several photos at a high ISO (3200), but they turned out well, providing the perfect image for this month.
I can honestly say that this trip was one of the best weeks I’ve experienced in years. We shared laughter, witnessed breathtaking wildlife, enjoyed the charm of the east coast, were lucky with the weather, feasted like kings, and created memories that I will cherish for a lifetime.
Now, I just need to plan another visit for next year!
