North Norfolk is well known for it's stunning coastline. Home to six Blue Flag beaches, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Deep History Coast, the north Norfolk coastline is a popular place to visit. There are also plenty of quieter sandy stretches, and so here, we reveal our ‘secret’ beaches off the beaten track so you can discover some real hidden gems.
OVERSTRAND
Overstrand's sandy beach is great for building sandcastles; when the tide is out there is flat sand left behind. The beach here is a lot quieter than neighbouring Cromer. If you fancy stretching your legs, you can start the coastal circular walk or the Norfolk Coast Path from Overstrand, offering spectacular cliff top views.
The beach is part of the Deep History Coast, so you may well find fossils and sea stones if you do a bit of beach combing (please steer clear of the cliffs, do not dig into them and ensure you visit during low tide). There are cafes, a pub, shop and toilets so there's everything you need for a great day out.
MUNDESLEY
Mundesley’s Blue Flag wide sandy beach, with colourful beach huts and shallow rock pools, is an ideal playground for children of all ages, with safe swimming at low tide and all the amenities of a charming seaside resort.
Mundesley village is within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and it is a great starting point for country walks with plenty of footpaths, circular routes and walking trails including Paston Way and and the Norfolk Coast Path. Close by is Southrepps Common, an important area for wildlife with woodland and wild flowers.
In the village, there are tea rooms, shops, pubs and cafe, plus a crazy golf course on the seafront. There’s easily plenty to do for the day and the chance to set up a base in one of the beach huts along the prom which can be hired through North Norfolk District Council.
Take a walk along the Deep History Coast Trail with a Discovery Point by the beach which provides visitors with lots of interactive information about how the area looked millions of years ago. You can find out about how one of the largest mammoth leg bones was discovered at Mundesley beach.
WALCOTT
Walcott is a small village on the north Norfolk Deep History Coast nestled between Mundesley and Happisburgh. The coast road runs right along the edge of the sea providing great views.
The beach here is vast and sandy and you can often see seals bobbing around in the water! Just behind the sea defence wall, there is a shop, pub, café and fish & chip shop as well as places to stay.
Walcott also sits on the Norfolk Coast Path as well as the Deep History Coast Discovery Trail, so provides easy access to neighbouring coastal places and stunning seaside walks.
SEA PALLING
Sea Palling is a lovely sandy Blue Flag beach with offshore reefs which creates calm waters, ideal for paddling and swimming.
Along the coastline, you will find sand dunes separating the low lying land from the sea. The dunes offer amazing views of the coast and countryside. The quiet beach is ideal for walking, and dogs are allowed in certain areas.
In the village, there are plenty of cafes, shops and amusement arcades and a pub.
WAXHAM
Close to Sea Palling is Waxham with its rural beach, and is a wonderful location to spot seals close in-shore. The beach is hidden away amongst trees and sand dunes, it feels like a real hidden gem, offering a peaceful day out. It is popular with dog walkers.
Waxham village is home to one of the largest and most famous 16th century tithe barns in the country, with a small exhibition of Elizabethan agriculture and a cafe.
WEYBOURNE
Weybourne has a quiet shingle beach with a backdrop of cliffs running all the way to Happisburgh, while the beach stretches east to Blakeney Point. A three-mile walk along the cliff top will take you to Sheringham beach. The deep waters at Weybourne make it popular with beach anglers, as well as with smugglers in past times who took advantage of the sheltered quiet aspect!
You can reach the beach by following the coast path across the cliffs to the east of Weybourne beach before dropping down to the shingle beach. Here you will often find boats drawn up on the shingle.
In the village there is a pub/hotel, shop and 15th century church; within the grounds is a ruin of an Augustine priory. Just above the village is the North Norfolk Railway station where you can catch a steam train into Holt and Sheringham.
There are miles of footpaths and bridleways to explore in the surrounding area of Kelling, Kelling Heath and Muckleburgh Hill and areas of outstanding natural beauty with magnificent views.
Make sure you visit the Deep History Coast Discovery Point at Weybourne beach and you can find out about how this area looked millions of years ago!
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