Rob Garratt Pensthorpe Nature Reserve, near Fakenham, stole the limelight once more when it became the official launch spot for a new guide for holidaymakers visiting the county.

Rob Garratt

Pensthorpe Nature Reserve, near Fakenham, stole the limelight once more when it became the official launch spot for a new guide for holidaymakers visiting the county.

People visiting Norfolk might now find themselves tempted to extend their stay thanks to a new guide that spells out the wealth of attractions the county has to offer.

The region's tourism industry is set for a boost thanks to a brand new countywide map that ties together all the major outdoor activities into a single package.

The Outdoor Norfolk map lays out more than 100 top spots for open air pursuits like walking, birdwatching, fishing and boating into a single easy-to-use guide for the first time.

Deb Jordan, who co-owns the reserve with her husband Bill, said the map could help the rest of the county the same way reaching a national TV on BBC's flagship nature programme Springwatch had.

She said: “We've been very lucky with the Springwatch effect and we're thrilled Norfolk has been highlighted to extra visitors.

“There are a lot more people coming to Norfolk now and a map like this is such a boost. It makes it very clear to anyone visiting Norfolk how many wonderful attractions there are and what really interesting places there are to visit, and makes it very simple for people wanting to plan a day out.

“It's doing a huge amount of work for people that they now know they don't have to do themselves.”

The guide was launched on Tuesday and has been put together by Norfolk Tourism. Director Lydia Smith said: “We are trying to give visitors more reasons to choose Norfolk for their holidays by showing just how much there is on offer in the county.

“Very often you find people know the broads but not the North Norfolk coast, for example; this gives them the breadth of what is on offer and a flavour of what you can do.”

The new guide is the first step in an ongoing Outdoor Norfolk campaign, which will see more promotion drives in the future. Project coordinator Virginia Edwards added: “We've never set it all out across the county in one map before. People don't want five or six bits of paper - they want one.”

The guide can be downloaded from www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/outdoors , or to request a paper copy send a stamped addressed envelope to Norfolk Tourism, Room 501a, County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 2SG.