It was only a small boat but it enabled us to explore part of the River Ant and Barton Broad.
We picked the boat up at Stalham and drove at a steady speed along the waterways.
We passed the beautiful Hunsett Mill, a recently restored Grade II listed water pumping mill that has stood since 1698. The mill keepers cottage is now available to rent for holidays.
This afternoon we visited another of our favourite beaches, Sea Palling.
This week we have been looking for Hag or Witches Stones - a stone with a hole in it. In folklore they are believed to have magical properties and to be able to mysteriously ward off witches. The theory goes that only good things can pass through a hole, so while good fortune and good wishes will find you through a hag stone, bad luck and evil thoughts are too big to be able to pass through the hole and become stuck in the middle. This belief is also bolstered by the old belief that magic cannot work on moving water. So, since the hole in a hag stone was created by moving water, it works as a sort of ‘shield’ against spells and the like. Hag Stones are often hung above or beside a front door to ward of evil spirits. Today we found several Hag Stones on the beach.
Today we spent the day at Felbrigg Hall, a National Trust Property. It was not our first visit but is a lovely place to visit, especially at this time of year when the property of often decorated for autumn.
We visited the walled garden with its octagonal shaped dovecote, flower borders, vegetable beds and fruit trees.
Chickens roam freely around part of the garden.
Elsewhere other metal ornaments were hidden amongst the plants.
Whilst the gardens were certainly past their best, there were still lots of colour in the flower borders.
In the garden there were lots of pumpkins.
In the very grand house, there were also lots of pumpkins in the huge harvest display in the kitchens.
