It's one of the UK's most popular staycation locations, boasting as it does over 30 accessible beaches, 5 of them Blue Flag, stately homes and Royal Estates, award winning restaurants and more, but North Norfolk has some exciting new and lesser known attractions for those wanting to do something a little different this summer.

Here, Norfolk Hideaways, the leading boutique holiday home provider and itself an award winner, has searched for what it thinks are weird and wonderful activities the whole family can enjoy.

Alpaca trekking, bee keeping, zorbing, chocolate making, snail racing and more. Read on to find out how you can make this your most action packed holiday yet.

For the best holiday accommodation in North Norfolk, please visit www.norfolkhideaways.co.uk or telephone (01485) 211 022.

Alpaca Trekking, Wells-next-the-Sea

The Inca Trail it is not, but for those wanting to have a truly unique coastal adventure, exploring the countryside and beach by Alpaca ticks all the boxes for family fun. Choose treks of between 1 and four hours and you'll not only see the coast at a leisurely pace but get to have fun with the animals, too. More kid friendly than Lllamas (who have a tendency to kick and spit), choose from any of the authentically named beasts, Machu, Picchu, Pedro, Pepe (you get the idea). For shorter treks, bring an apple to reward the herd, or picnic for longer excursions. Price from £28 per hour for a group of 3. For more information, click on alpacatrekking.co.uk

Where to stay? Choose any of these 53 properties in Wells-next-the-Sea

Snail Racing in Congham

The village of Congham in Norfolk may have few claims to international fame but, surrounded as it is by salt marshes, a favoured breeding gastropod ground, it is home to that most thrilling of sports, the World Snail-Racing Championships. The rules are simple: snails are placed in a small red circle in the middle of a round table and the first to make it to the outside ring is claimed the winner. The time to beat? 2 minutes, 20 seconds, a world record established here in 1995 by 'Archie'. According to organiser, Neil Riseborough, “preparation..is quite important, you know, train it, but don't over train it, feed it propertly, diet is always important as with any athletic process.” Lettuce leaves and loudhailers to the ready, the gastropod games slime off on 16th July.  For more information click on world snail racing championships

Where to stay? Grooms Cottage, Congham, sleeps 8 in 4 bedrooms, private lake.

500 years of Magic in a day

It's only been open for a couple of years, winning the Eastern Daily Press's Tourism award for 'Best Newcomer' in 2014, but for the many who haven't been yet, Davenport's Magic Kingdom is indeed, as promised, a magical day out. Located in North Walsham, it showcases one of the largest collections of magic memorabilia and curiosities in the world. The interactive family experience takes you through 500 years of magic, from a 16th century guide who demonstrates tricks and leads you through the centuries, including a 1920's magic shop, and a 1950's sideshow 'The Butterfly Girl'. Punch and Judy, balloon modelling, juggling workshops and more. At £35 for a family ticket, it's affordable, too. Visit davenportsmagickingdom.co.uk for more.

Where to stay? Click here for nearby properties.

Zorbing at Holkham Hall and Estate

Very few visitors to North Norfolk miss a visit to Holkham Hall and Estate but this year, the ever innovate events team have chalked up some new attractions: kayaking, Canadian canoe trips and, perhaps the most exciting, Zorbing across its expansive lake. Starting from 11th July until the end of the school summer holidays, Zorbing costs from £5 for a 10 minute, tummy-tumbling experience. For more information, click on Holkham Lake Activities

Click here for properties in Thornham and surrounding areas

Discover the small building with a big story

We admit that even though we live and work in North Norfolk, we've only recently become aware of a 'new' attraction and visitor's centre, Langham Dome. In case you are also late to the party, Langham Training Dome, which opened in 2014, over half a century after closing its doors, tells the story of the important contribution made by RAF Langham to the defence of the country in WW2, bringing to life real-life experiences of the brave men and women from all over the globe who were based there. For more information and opening times of the small building with the big story, click on LanghamDome.org

Where to stay? Langham is just a few miles south of Blakeney. Click here for the best accommodation.

Evening Deer Safari's, Snettisham Park

It's not advertised on their website, but for larger groups, Snettisham Park, a 329 acre working farm complete with tea-rooms, walking trails, wildlife and farming activities, hold evening deer safari's as well as their usual daytime safari's (45 minutes where you can feed and stroke the stags and deers). The only catch is you need to be part of a private group, 30 adults or more, but it's a unique and exclusive experience, having the grounds completely to yourselves. The evening deer safaris are only held during the summer months.  For more information, visit Snettisham Deer Safaris

Where to stay? Click here for nearby properties

A dirty weekend in Blakeney

It's a perennially popular coastal holiday town, a place where you can enjoy seal watching boat trips (the seals start arriving in summer, June - August), go ghillying (crab-catching, to you and I), roll in the mud and eat freshly caught sea food. But for one day of the year, you can get down and dirty by competing in the 'Greasy Pole' contest as part of the annual Aquatic Sports day. The tug of war, sandcastle building, crab catching area also popular events.  Even if you aren't up for taking part, it makes for a great spectator sport. Trust us. Date TBC.

For properties in Blakeney and surrounding areas, please click here

Channel your inner Tinkerbell at the Fairy Fair, Sennowe Park, Guist

Described as 'THE children's event of the year', this year's Fairy Fair being held on 29th – 30th May.  Live music, Fairyland Trust workshops, storytelling, puppet shows, free woodland activities, pirate games, craft workshops are all part and parcel of this gloriously whimsical fair, but the main attraction has to be the fairies. Come dressed as one, learn how to make Elf sticks, Magic Wings, fairy gardens and magic animal shields, see the wildflower fairies on walkabout and channel your inner Tinkerbell. Held at Sennowe Park, Guist between 10 – 5pm, tickets £10, under three's go free. Advance bookings are strongly recommended in this word of mouth phenomenon. (Tip, best be on your best behaviour as the Fairy King and Queen will also be attending). Click here for more information.

Beekeeping Workshop

The biggest buzz in the county, that's what's on offer from 'Leigh's Bees', a must-do for anyone with even the slightest interest in apiary. Flexible workshops and demonstrations in various sites in North Norfolk during which, crucially, protective gear is provided. You'll learn how honey is made, what a queen bee looks like, what bees do as well as practical advice from the structure of an empty hive to hands-on time looking through a working honeybee colony. The beekeeping experience days are all question led, so are geared around what you most want to know. Prices from £80 per individual to £200 for a family of four and you get a free jar of honey to spread on your morning toast.

Click here for more Beekeeping Experience Days

A shrine for chocoholics in England's 'Nazareth'

Little Walsingham has been a place of pilgrimage since medieval times but now, chocoholics are also beating a path with what can only be called 'a shrine for Chocolate' – The Chocolate Deli. Having supplied the rich and famous for years, the deli is now offering chocolate making workshops where you can learn how to make chocolate lollies (£28 per person) or truffles (£38 per person).  Chocolate skulls, bagged chocolate, bars, hot chocolate – even homewares - are available for sale.

Workshops can be booked by visiting www.thechocolatedeli.co.uk 

Where to stay? Click here for gorgeous holiday homes nearby

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Notes to Editors

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