Sunday Times – 24 March 2013

Best places to live in Britain

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We missed seeing Santon Downham’s inclusion in a recent Sunday Times list of the best places to live in Britain but got on the case when we saw a mention in a newsletter from local Councillor Ian Horner.

Thanks to our counterparts in Marple, Cheshire, we now have photos of the article in question. They were ranked 9th, and Howard from Marple has kindly also copied the section about Santon Downham for us and we’ve typed it out below.

The ‘Best for outdoors’ list, published on 24 March 2013, was part of a series ‘Best places to live in Britain’. The article began: “Whether you want white-knuckle adventure or a Sunday stroll, here are the finest country escapes”.

The Santon Downham entry said:
“For those in search of adventure, Thetford Forest is an ideal base and the pretty village of Santon Downham lies at its heart. The largest lowland pine woodland in England, Theford was planted after the First World War to create a strategic reserve of timber. Amid the douglas firs and scots pines, there remain some oak, sycamore, beech and birch trees, and an avenue of 100-year-old limes.

Many trails cut through the forest and along the Little Ouse Valley, ideal for walking, riding and orienteering. It is also a centre for moutain-biking, with marked trails ranging from the family-friendly to the gravity-defying.

If you yearn for the Norfolk coastline, you can follow the Peddars Way footpath all the way there.
Would suit
Tree-huggers, dog walkers and riders – or those who do all three.
Property prices
Cottages rarely come up, but when they do, they sell for close to £200,000. There is a more plentiful – and cheaper – supply of property in neighbouring Brandon.