Fun and games

We've made this a bit of a "catch all" page, principally for the physical (the term has been applied loosely!) activities that don't sit too naturally in the other sections such as Walking, Cycling and Golf, but that should not be seen as a statement that they're of less appeal as this section includes some of the top attractions in Norfolk and North Suffolk in terms of visitor numbers.

Tree top adventure

Thetford Forest is the venue for the original tree-top assault course, 'Go Ape'. Well worth a visit - if you're at least 10, over 1.4m tall, are not scared of heights and are moderately fit.

Ten pen bowling

Hollywood Bowl in the Riverside complex in Norwich (where there are also restaurants, a mulitplex cinema and a large multi-storey car park) is a modern facility with 26 lanes. It's a 35 minute drive from White Lodge Farm. Please check with Hollywood Bowl or Helen & Tony before planning a trip as it closed in the summer of 2007 for remedial works and no date has been set for it to re-open.

A little closer, but smaller, with 10 lanes, is Strikes in Dereham.

Ice Skating

The Ice Experience on the Norwich Ring Road offers two hour sessions throughout most days, the first staring at 10am and the last ending at 10pm. For parties of less than 20 it's simply 'pay and skate' - with no booking needed as the rink can accommodate 450 skaters.

Ballooning

This one is weather-dependant, of course!

Balloons flights, with baskets carrying up to 12 people, take off from several sites with 30 minutes' drive of White Lodge Farm. It's quite an eery, but very uplifting experience.

Clay pigeon shooting

Try you hand-eye co-ordination with some tuition and practice at Mid Norfolk Shooting School or the Suffolk Shooting School. Both are less than an hour away from White Lodge Farm.

Tank driving

Believe it or not, there are two venues accessible from White Lodge Farm Cottages which offer this activity to those over 18 and with a driving licence. The Muckleburgh Collection at Weybourne has 16 working (subject to availability!) tanks in its museum collection of over 120 tanks, guns and vehicles.

Swimming

You really are spoilt for choice here. There's an Olympic sized pool at the Sportspark (UEA, Norwich), with some clever hydraulics that allow the pool depth to be altered and there are modern public pools at Wymondham Leisure Centre and Dereham Leisure Centre and another large pool at Riverside Swimming Centre.

But if you want something a little smaller why not become a day member at Park Farm, Norfolk Golf Club at Reymerston or Barnham Broom Country Club. Park Farm and Barnham Broom also offer beauty treatments and if you book a beauty treatment at Park Farm you'll get half price day membership of the leisure club.

Karting

There are "turn up and drive" and pre-booked sessions on the two tracks at Anglia Karting at North Pickenham, barely twenty minutes from White Lodge Farm Cottages

The fun of the fair

In 2006 over 1.4 million people visited The Pleasure Beach at Great Yarmouth, making it the third most popular "paid entry" attraction in the UK (which is slightly bizarre as entry is free!). The main park has over 20 large rides as well as crazy golf courses, water attractions and children's rides (some of the main have minimum height requirements).

The Roller Coaster is undoubtedly the star attraction at The Pleasure Beach, having been in place since 1933, although the ride actually dates back to 1928, having been operational in France before coming to Great Yarmouth. The traditional coaster is made from wood with a single pull-up. Each car has an operator at the back operating the brakes as, unusually, there is no braking on the track itself.

Aimed principally at the younger visitor, whilst Pleasurewood Hills has six thrill rides, it also has over twenty family rides and activities. The summer of 2007 saw the opening of 'Wipeout' which, according to their website, stands 120 feet tall, touches speeds of almost 50mph and pull over 5-G. But, for those not seeking such adrenalin rushes, there's a miniature railway, racing karts and dodgems. Again, there are minimum height requirements for some rides.

According to their website, "Fritton Lake is one of the most beautiful stretches of water in East Anglia, extending two and a quarter miles from end to end and covering 150 acres". As well rowing boats and pedaloes on the lake, a 20/25 minute guided tour of the lake is available on an electric-powered launch. There's also as adventure playground with an assault course and aerial slides for older children and there's a separate play area for under sevens and a mini assault course for adults and children. Also within the grounds are marked woodland and waterside trails, pony rides, fishing and a putting green.

Contact details

• Dinosaur Adventure Park 01603 870245
• Go Ape 0870 444 5562
• Fritton Lake 01493 488288
• Riverside Swimming Centre 01603 625166
• Hollywood Bowl (10 pin bowling) 01603 631311
• Strikes (10 pin bowling) 01362 696910
• Number Ten (10 pin bowling) 01603 740730
• Anglia Karting 01760 441777
• Brandon Park 01842 810185
• Pleasure Beach - Great Yarmouth 01493 844585
• Fritton Lake Countryworld 01493 488208
• Pleasurewood Hills 01502 508200
• Newmarket Races 01638 675500
• Fakenham Races 01328 862388
• Yarmouth Races 01493 842527
• Norwich City Football Club 0870 444 1902
• Sportspark (UEA, Norwich) 01603 592398
• The Ice Experience 01603 416600
• Broadland Balloons 01603 495004
• Breckland Balloons 01362 687006
• Virgin Balloons 0871 663 0047
• Mid Norfolk Shooting School 01603 860436
• Suffolk Shooting School 01638 751985