Relaxing as your stay at Bluebell barn bed and breakfast may be, it is likely that whilst you are staying you will want to explore some of the local Norfolk and Suffolk highlights.

Norfolk and to a lesser extent Suffolk, are flat counties giving an impression of vast open spaces, and Norfolk itself is almost one big nature reserve. The waters of the ‘Norfolk Broads' are well worth traversing, particularly for the wildlife lover and the Norfolk’s long coast provides many treasures.

Important local attractions near Bluebell Barn

Banham Zoo - Less than 3 miles from Bluebell Barn is Banham Zoo; the ultimate fun filled day out for all the family and home to almost 1000 animals from around the world. A delightful time may be enjoyed by “children” of all ages.

Snetterton Race Circuit is just 7 miles from Bluebell Barn and is almost guaranteed to bring excitement. Highlights on the Norfolk circuit's calendar include the British Superbike and British Touring Car Championships, and a double header meeting from the British Formula 3 and GT Championships. There are also two and four wheel club meetings most weekends during the season, with standout events including the Lotus Festival and the Citroen 2CV 24- hour race.

Snetterton track days for both cars and bikes are very popular - The Senna and Revett straights being two of the fastest and longest straights in the UK plus the sweeping Coram curve make this one of the most exciting tracks to drive - Snetterton also offer open pit lane track days and advanced track driving, taster sessions as well as driving experiences from single seaters and BMW M3 and Porsche driving to rallying and 4x4 off road - see www.clubmsv.com for details.

Snetterton also boasts one of Norfolk’s biggest Sunday market and is also the home of the UK’s largest model shop.

Bressingham Steam and Gardens - situated just 9 miles from us this delightful experience transports you back to the world of steam, and has narrow and standard gauge steam locomotives, traction engines, steam roundabouts, fire engines as well as 3 working lines. For the garden enthusiast Bressingham has two beautiful six acre gardens, created by Alan and Adrian Bloom.

Go Ape - in Thetford Forest - Giant obstacle courses up in the trees using ladders, walkways, bridges and tunnels made of wood, rope and super-strong wire, and top it all off with the country’s best zip lines (including the longest at 426 metres – for those who want a more “active” break.

Lowestoft Sea Front Air Festival - 41 miles from Bluebell Barn the Lowestoft Air Festival which takes place in 2010 between 12th and 13th August is well worth a visit. The beach and coastline combine to form a natural coastal amphitheatre that provides a great venue for watching fantastic aerial displays.

Peter Beales Roses - “a treasury of more than 1300 timeless roses with over 300 varieties unique to the UK. Based in Attleborough which is some 9 miles from Bluebell Barn B &B, the nursery is one of the finest around and when you have finished, Attleborough is worth exploring for stately homes, spectacular gardens and Breckland’s museums.

Exploring slightly further afar – just 31 miles away is the historic market town of Bury St Edmunds - a beautiful and relatively unspoilt town with St Edmundsbury Cathedral, the Abbey Gardens, museums, the art gallery, and the Theatre Royal (18th century – one of the oldest and smallest working theatres in the country). For those who enjoy the quirky side of life The Nutshell is definitely worth visiting – reputedly the smallest pub in Britain - it boasts that it seats one for meals!

Gazes - Diss – just 7 miles away has its famous auction rooms – this busy auction house offers over 2000 lots per week over a range of antiques, collectables and specialist sales’

Riddlesworth Hall - which is 11 miles from Bluebell Barn, is perhaps where you may be attending or arranging a wedding – an impressive Georgian-style house set in parkland or of course you may be visiting Riddlesworth Hall Prep School which was the late Diana Princess of Wales’s childhood school. The Diana Princess of Wales International Study Centre is part of Riddlesworth Hall School in the United Kingdom. 

For those guests staying for business purposes, Bluebell Barn is only 21 miles from the bustling city of Norwich but far enough away to escape from the hurly burly of the business world, is 22 miles from the UEA (University of East Anglia), 25 miles from Norwich airport, and 11 miles from Lotus.

There are many things too numerous to mention that we have not covered such as concerts, shooting trips and coastal walks but trust that you can see that although the Bluebell Barn is about peace and tranquillity set in lovely rural surroundings it is far from being sleepy - If you want culture or action during your stay, you are never far from something or somewhere of interest.

For Norfolk’s bird and nature reserves there are dozens within relatively easy reach of Bluebell Barn too numerous to describe but as a “flavour” outlined below are just a few:

• Berney Marshes - wintering ducks, geese and swans.
  
  
• Blakeney Point - Internationally important breeding area for sea-bird colonies and breeding and haul-out site for grey and common seals.
  
  
• Cockshoot Broad - boarded walkway to provide access to a bird hide overlooking the Broad.
  
  
• Foxley Wood - Norfolk's largest ancient woodland.
  
  
• Hickling Broad - Birds you are likely to see include marsh harriers, hen harriers, merlins, cranes and pink footed geese.
  
  
• High Lodge Forest Centre in Thetford forest - “the Forestry Commission's premier recreation site in the East of England”.
  
  
• Honeypot Wood - The small size and colourful plant life of Honeypot Wood make for a fascinating walk.
  
  
• Ranworth Broad - One of Norfolk’s most popular Broads with plenty to see and do for both families and naturalists.