Horsey Windpump
Horsey, Norfolk NR29 4EF
Right by the cut that leads to Horsey Mere, Horsey Windpump is an early twentieth-century replacement of an earlier drainage mill and is now owned by the National Trust. You can climb to the top deck and look out over the Mere and fens, viewing various displays on the way – Arthur Ransome featured Horsey in a number of his stories and gets a mention, as do the memorable storms of 1938, which flooded most of the area. Once you’ve seen the mill you can either have a cup of tea and a cake at the café by the staithe, or, more energetically, hike across the fields to the coast and back – a two-hour walk that could take in the excellent Nelson Head pub. This walk is best, believe it or not, between November and January, when you can’t get onto to the beach because it’s of the large local seal colony’s new pups – a wonderful sight, though you can usually see seals at any time of year.
