What’s going for it? A cautionary tale about property. Before the North Norfolk Coast was the North Norfolk Coast, the East Norfolk Coast was the North Norfolk Coast. If you see what I mean. The stretch east of Cromer became the place to be seen in the late 19th century, after the Daily Telegraph theatre critic Clement Scott stumbled upon the quaint fishing hamlet of Overstrand and wrote about the idyllic cottages of what he dubbed “Poppy-Land”. Fancy friends, such as actors Ellen Terry and Henry Irving, followed, and soon all sorts of metropolitan types wanted a piece of this patch of Norfolk. Country piles, cutesy cottages and slick hotels were built by cutting-edge architects including Edwin Lutyens, and Overstrand became the “village of millionaires”. Then someone realised they were building on land as sturdy as cookie dough. Cliffs fell, grand designs dissolved into the sea. Less snooty holidaymakers took root in chalets and bungalows. Today this stretch can still be idyllic, with lofty church towers, flinty barns and dunes. Just don’t get too close to the waves.
The case against Pick your spot verrrrry carefully. The advance of the sea is taken seriously here. Some parts are more developed than others, with holiday chalets, bungalows, gas terminals and the like, so you might have to root about a bit.
Well connected? Trains: from North Walsham and Cromer, hourly to Norwich (30-50 minutes). It’s a 40-minute drive to Norwich, and the A149 up the coast takes about an hour from Cromer to Caister.
Schools Primaries: the Belfry C of E, Northrepps, Bacton, Happisburgh C of E, Rollesby, Winterton and Ormesby Village are all “good”, Ofsted says, with Martham “outstanding”. Secondaries: Cromer Academy and North Walsham High are “good”.
Hang out at… Mine’s a battered haddock from Winterton Fish Bar. But the Gunton Arms, inland in Thorpe Market, is my favourite pub in the universe.
Where to buy Not too near the waves. If postwar chalets are your thing, try Caister and California. Most attractive, though, are the old villages: some, such as Waxham and Happisburgh, quite remote; others – Winterton, Munsdesley and Overstrand – more developed, but with old hearts of flinty walls. Detacheds and town houses, £150,000-£900,000. Semis, £150,000-£400,000. Terraces and cottages, £100,000-£200,000. Flats, £70,000-£150,000. Lots of chalets, £12,000-£70,000. Rentals: a three-bed house, £600-£750pcm.
Bargain of the week Six-bed Victorian terrace from Overstrand’s heyday, needs an update; £320,000 with Abbotts.
From the streets
Selina Fellows “Hang out on the fabulous sandy beaches. Explore the Broads by boat or on foot – it’s like a trip back in time. Property is fantastic value, especially compared with north Norfolk.”
Angelo Monni “Culturally, it’s a bit of a desert, unless you go to Norwich. Much of the population are retired, and there are few professional jobs.”
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Do you live in Farnham, Surrey? Do you have a favourite haunt or a pet hate? If so, email lets.move@theguardian.com by Tuesday 15 December.
