The key characteristics of the North West Norfolk are:

76. North West Norfolk

The key characteristics of the North West Norfolk are:

• Large-scale arable and grassland landscape on big rolling upland terrain, with frequent long views over remnant heath and large belts of mixed woodland. Very open, apparently 'high' and remote, contrasting with smaller scale to east and within river valleys.

• Huge estates giving a unified and well-managed quality to the landscape, enhanced by the rectilinear network of late enclosure, contrasting with the open heath of the north/south Lower Greensand ridge on the western edge.

• Comparatively few, straight roads which often have wide verges especially in the northern part of the area and with uniform hawthorn hedges set well back and well-maintained. Few hedgerow trees or copses.

• Large and widely spaced villages, often clustered around a green or common, frequently with isolated outlying farms with Georgian farmhouses. Usually clay tiled and in flint but with 'carstone' and/or chalk on the western escarpment.

For further details on this character area and for an introduction to the region, please see the PDF documents in the box at the top right hand side of this page.