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A visitors guide to the coastal village of Stiffkey (pronounced 'Stewkey'),
which nestles in a valley next to the river of the same name in an area
of outstanding natural beauty on the North Norfolk Coast. There was once
a harbour and a quay here, but this has long since silted up.
Stiffkey Marsh is a continuation of Morston Marshes and is one of the
oldest saltmarsh along the Norfolk coastline and an important wildlife
habitat inhabited by curlews and redshank. In summer months it turns
purple with prairie fields of sea lavender.
A good area for both ornithology and walking, with
the Norfolk Coastal Path running through here. For Holiday
Accommodation in Stiffkey - Self Catering - Holiday Cottages - Bed
and Breakfast check out our Stiffkey Holiday Accommodation Pages.
There used to be a spectacular Hall in Stiffkey that belonged to the
Bacon family, built by Nathaniel Bacon in 1578. All that now
remains is the gatehouse adorned with the Bacon family coat of arms and
the remains of a wing.
The church of St. John the Baptist stands at the east end of the village
with the ruins of St. Marys in the same churchyard. At the other end is
the white washed Red Lion pub with its welcoming atmosphere and good
food. Well behaved children and dogs are welcome. The village has a
village stores and post office.
Wells-next-the-sea is just over
four miles away with a good range of shops and on this road is the
terminus of the Wells and Walsingham Light Railway, whose narrow gauge
steam trains run inland to Little
Walsingham. An ancient and picturesque village which has been a
place of pilgrimage since 1061. Famous for its many ancient buildings,
including the ruined Augustinian Priory, Georgian Courthouse/Museum and
Prison. Morston in the other direction is
superb for the boating enthusiast with delightful walks and boat trips
out to the famous Blakeney Point to see the seals.
Read a ghostly tale associated with Stiffkey
Marsh.
Stiffkey means ‘island of stumps’
and probably refers to the tree stumps that are found in Stiffkey marsh.
An old ditty - Cromer
crabs, Runton dabs, Beeston babies, Sheringham ladies, Weyborne
witches, Salthouse ditches, Blakeney bulldogs, Stiffkey trolls.
An infamous rector of Stiffkey whose
involvement with prostitutes led to a national scandal in the 1930’s. |
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