A mix of general and home-ed (but not organised by WHELC), these events will have a home-ed link in some way. Please contact the venue or organisation directly or the person linked to it to get a more personal insight.
East Point Pavillion
Please contact Heather directly on Heather@firstlightlowestoft.com if you would like to know more. Heather is a home ed mum in addition to her work with East Point Pavillion.
Chrysalis
Please join this Facebook group to learn more about the social meet up once a fortnight outside Beccles.
Nature Play
Please contact Abi on abigail.m.abigail@hotmail.com to find out more about this Lowestoft-based activity centre. Abi is a home ed mum and volunteers for Nature Play. Mondays is Home Ed day at Nature Play which include free flow play along with a structured workshop.
Ideas for when you need to get out of the house…
Aviation
Club Virage. (Just outside Beccles) This cafe is based on Beccles Airfield. It is a very quirky place to have a cuppa but if you can find a seat that has a view, and you go when the weather is good, then you can watch helicopter and fixed wing small aircraft having lessons in addition to parachute jumpers descending overhead into the field next door.
Flixton Aviation Museum. (Outskirts of Bungay) Stuffed to the gunnels with everything to do with planes, this place has heaps of buildings full of every imaginable part of planes. A great brick-a-brack shop to poke about in, a lovely cafe and many incredibly experienced aviators on hand to answer every question. Open seasonally from mid-Feb to the end of October. £10 per person or £20 per family allows unlimited access for a year.
Gourmand
Fen Farm (Outskirts of Bungay). For an alternative shopping experience (self service shed in the farm car park) and to see the cows through the farm gate (best in winter as in summer they frolic in the fields), this is a great place for raw milk, a top quality bar of chocolate or pastry and a delicious cuppa. A place to find Lickety Ice lollies, the most ethical lollies I’ve ever known – most delicious. There’s a bench outside the shed to sit and enjoy the produce if you don’t fancy being cooped up in the car.
Animals
Redwings. Horse, mule and donkey sanctuary between Beccles and Gt Yarmouth. Free entry although donations appreciated. Open Friday to Monday between 10am and 4pm
Fritton Owl Sanctuary Small owl sanctuary between Beccles and Gt Yarmouth quite near to Redwings above. Free entry, again with donations appreciated. Open every day between 10am and 4pm. Next to an eclectic permanent flea market and cafe.
Carlton Marshes. On the outskirts of Lowestoft, this is a great place to watch birds and the occasional cow and deer in their marshland habitat. Fabulous free venue with a play area for children that looks like something from the O.K. Corral and the children treat it as such – not a swing or a bright plastic animal seat in sight. Open all year round from 10am-4pm/4.30pm. Recommended £3 car parking donation.
Minsmere. RSPB reserve beyond Westleton on the coast. Circular walking routes visiting many hides. Free to RSPB members. Great play areas in the woods and dedicated children’s hide. Great shop and cafe but don’t arrange to message anyone when you arrive as connectivity is non-existent. Best places to spot Marsh Harriers and Bitterns.
Coastguard Cottages. National Trust reserve beyond Westleton and near Minsmere. Free parking to members (scan your membership card in the machine to obtain ticket) or £6.00 parking. Great circular walks. Can be an extraordinary place to watch starling murmurations over Minsmere reed beds before dusk although this is random – I’ve usually experienced it when there is a dramatic change in temperature between seasons. Lots of deer sightings on the circular walks – nice little flaps and info posts around the walk if you need an incentive to keep moving.
History
Burgh Castle. On the outskirts of Gt Yarmouth near Belton. Free entry. Extraordinary Roman wall remains with fabulous view across the marshes and Breydon Water. Can be visited along the Angles Way walking route but also has shorter circular walks if you park up at St Peter and St Paul Church.
Orfordness Nature Reserve Not open during the Winter. National Trust reserve with associated costs. As a member, you still need to book and pay for the short boat crossing from Orford – don’t forget to collect your plastic ‘boat card’ from the office as this is needed so you’re not accidentally abandoned on the site! Very dour place. To be honest, as a happy-go-lucky lady of a certain age, I wouldn’t recommend it, but for my history mad son, it is a place of intrigue, imagination and steeped in mystery – something about studying the vibrations of nuclear bombs 😱.
Dunwich. On the coast near Westleton, Dunwich museum, open 2pm-4pm on Winter weekends or from April to October everyday from 11.30am-4.30pm, is a great place to start. At any time of year, take the secret path up the hill behind the museum and approach the ruins of Greyfriars Monastery rebuilt after the storms started in the late 13C that famously started the erosion of medieval Dunwich. Follow the coast path back down the hill to the Fish and Chip cafe in the vast car park.
Wartime Trail at Dunwich Heath. Excellent trail starting from the National Trust car park near Coastguard Cottages overlooking RSPB Minsmere/the sea. Markers along the route align you with the guide given in the link. Both WW1 and WW2 activity can be spotted as you walk around. Trail is roughly 3 miles. If you time this towards returning to the car park at dusk, you may be lucky enough to see the starling murmuration over the reed beds of Minsmere.