Visit | Places | Visit Harleston 3/3

Places to Visit

Harleston is an ideal centre from which to explore the beautiful Waveney Valley, an area of great beauty and tranquillity and an unspoilt haven for wildlife. There is plenty here to inspire artists, photographers, walkers and cyclists. With a diversity of artists, writers, actors and musicians living in the area, Harleston has a vibrant arts community. Being centrally located, all these attractions are either in the immediate vicinity or within a 45-minute drive from the town centre.

There is a wide range of things to do and see to please all tastes.

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Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum

The Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum is a museum collection of aircraft and aviation-related artifacts, located near the former RAF Bungay airfield. Formed in 1972 by local enthusiasts, there are over 60 aircraft and more than 30,000 smaller artifacts displayed in large hangars and themed buildings on its eight-acre site. The collection aims to promote preserve and promote the history of aviation history in East Anglia.Beyond the hangars is the Adair Walk, which offers a peaceful stroll along a raised boardwalk to the River Waveney. Winding through a Willow plantation, it stretches for around 350 yards long and is of wheel-chair width, with passing points; there is a seat on the staging overlooking the river bank.There is no admission charge, but donations are encouraged. There is a shop and a NAAFI selling light refreshments. Dogs are permitted when on leads.

Round Tower Churches

Round tower churches are a Saxon and Norman cultural legacy, and feature round, rather than square, towers. There are about 185 surviving examples in England, of which 162 are in Norfolk and Suffolk. The reason for the design is shrouded in mystery but is thought to be due to the smaller Flintstone found in East Anglia being more easily fashioned into round towers, rather than making corners. There are some churches within a few miles of Harleston at Rushall, Needham, Syleham, Thorpe Abbotts and Weybread. A full list of all churches and more information can be found at the Round Tower Churches Society website.

Suffolk Owl Sanctuary

The Suffolk Owl Sanctuary operates a comprehensive facility for the care and rehabilitation of owls from the region, and the promotion of owl conservation throughout the UK and beyond.Flying demonstrations and talks take place throughout the day from April to September, providing a delightful place to visit to watch, study or simply enjoy the company of Owls and other birds of prey. There are over 80 raptors at the Centre, all housed in spacious aviaries and flying free in narrated flying displays or demonstrations.You will also find Red Squirrels, the Raptor Hospital, The Barclays Sensory Garden, an information centre about Owls, a woodland walk with bird hide, picnic areas and plenty of activities for children including a mini-maze, adventure frame, chipmunks, the MeerKat Kastle

Oasis Camel Park

The Camel Park is almost certainly the only place in Great Britain where you can touch and see the camel and their relatives close-up. If you like animals that are friendly and have been brought up like pets then the Camel Park is the place for you.It's not just types of camels and their relations the Llamas, alpacas and guancos, you can also see many more other animals including donkeys, wallabies, mara, goats, sheep, horses and pony, rheas, meerkats, fallow deer, rabbits, guinea pigs, Kune Kune pigs, poultry and cage birds.

Short Walks to Nearby Villages

The full booklet from the Norfolk County Council contains many walks, there are three based in Harleston. Take a short walk to the surrounding villages and build up a thirst and an appetite.

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Starston: 2.8 miles: Quiet rural walk out of the town; at one point no houses or roads are visible, just fields, hedges and lots of sky!

Lushbush: 3.2 miles: This farmland walk is particularly enjoyable during the drier summer months.

Redenhall: 4.0 miles: Another pleasant hilly walk with fine views over the Waveney Valley.

Trelawn Alpacas

A small and perfectly formed herd of nine alpacas that live in the wonderful surrounds of the South Norfolk countryside, a lovely permanent home and sanctuary for the family of fleeced creatures. This small herd are very sociable and they love to have visitors, especially if there is an apple or carrot on offer.

Redwings Horse Sanctuary

Redwings rescue abandoned, mistreated and neglected horses and donkeys from across the UK. Giving them a safe place to live and providing essential veterinary treatment, rehabilitation, and lifelong care. Redwings Caldecott is our largest visitor centre and currently home to almost 120 horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules.

St Peter's Brewery

St. Peter's Brewery is based at St. Peter South Elmham, near Bungay in Suffolk. Brewery Tours take place from Easter until the end of December, on Saturdays & Sundays at 11am, 12:30pm and 2pm, £10.00 per adult including a bottle of beer to take home. Tours include the story of St. Peter’s Brewery, the process of brewing and a tutored beer tasting following the trip around the brewery. The brewery is housed in an attractive range of traditional former agricultural buildings adjacent to St. Peter’s Hall. Locally malted barley is used, together with Kentish hops, to produce a range of classical English cask-conditioned ales. In addition the company produces a range of superb bottled beers. St Peter's brew ‘traditional’ beers (bitters, mild etc.) as well as some more unusual beers such as honey porter and fruit beer, replicating what was common practice up to the Nineteenth Century to add fruits and honey to beers to create special seasonal brews. Thus blackcurrant and gooseberry beers would be brewed when soft fruits were readily available while at Christmas-time dried fruits, spices and orange peel would be added to create a special Christmas Ale. .

Valley Farm Vineyard

Valley Farm Vineyards is set in an idyllic corner of Suffolk where mature vines produce quality grapes. You can take the self-guided tour - map and notes are available; but call beforehand to check opening times to avoid disappointment. Afterwards enjoy a chat and a tasting.If you are a group of 6 or more call to arrange a private tutored tour and tasting session. The tour typically takes an hour, is 1.5 km and is followed up by a tasting session of two wines.If you are looking to join a public tutored tour these will be running on the first Saturday of the month from January - October, subject to sufficient numbers.