Travel the east Norfolk coast road and you may come across an unexpected gem.  Rising out of the Broadland landscape is Waxham Barn, one of the country’s most impressive agricultural structures, dating back to the reign of Elizabeth 1^st.  Waxham Barn is a fully restored, thatched Elizabethan barn set in North Norfolk’s area of outstanding beauty.  It is the longest in the country, measuring a gigantic 55 metres.  Magnificent oak beams span the barn, some of which have been dated 1583/4.  The walls are built of an eclectic mix of flint, brick, and stone.  Many of the stones show evidence of being reused from demolished medieval structures.  If the walls could talk, we would hear some intriguing stories about its day-to-day use, but also other less legal local activities might be told, such as smuggling and shipwreck salvaging.  Built by local family the Woodhouse’s it is now open to the public and gives you a great opportunity to marvel at the skills of past generations.  If you leave in the early evening keep an eye out for bats and the ‘owly madet’, or barn owl to the rest of the world.  Their nightly forays in the evening are atmospheric reminders that nature that is never far away.  Listen carefully and scan the fields as you might just hear the haunting calls of the common crane as they move from reedbed to reedbed.  There is a great café at the barn that serves high quality homemade food and light lunches if you fancy just sitting back and admiring the location.