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With 45 miles of unspoiled coastline, north Norfolk has some of the country's finest beaches. There are Blue Flag beaches at West Runton, Cromer and Sheringham, meaning they are clean and safe. They also have sloped paved access and are fully accessible from the promenade. Many of the beaches are part of the Deep History Coast Discovery Trail, where you can visit Discovery Points to find out more about the area from millions of years ago.
The coastline benefits from some spectacular sunsets and Heacham and Hunstanton, have some impressive displays due to their west facing aspect. Hunstanton, or Sunny Hunny, is an elegant Victorian resort, and is most famous for its striped cliffs. The large sandy beach is ideal for families with rock pools to explore and is a great spot for kite-surfing. Three miles along the coast is Heacham. Its north and south beaches face west and look out to a huge 20 mile bay. The water here is shallow and sheltered, ideal for children.
Go east along the coast and you'll find Brancaster. The beach is stunning with miles of golden sand and is dog friendly. With the tidal salt marshes of nearby Scolt Head and the fantastically flat sands ideal for kite surfing (in designated areas), Brancaster Beach has something for everyone. When the tide is out, you can see an old shipwreck, the remains of SS Vina which was used by the RAF for target practice before the Normandy landing.
Head to nature-rich Holkham for white sands, dunes and pinewoods, the setting for many films. The vast sands are ideal for building sandcastles and family days out. Behind the shoreline lies a basin, which, at high tides, fills to form a spectacular shallow lagoon. Holkham Beach is also part of one of the largest National Nature Reserves in the country and is home to many rare species of flora and fauna.
Just along from Holkham you'll find award-winning dog-friendly Wells-next-the-Sea, also part of the coastal nature reserve. Walk through shady pinewoods from the car park with its excellent cafe, to the sandy beach, and you'll see the row of colourful beach huts. You can walk to Holkham beach by the two mile pine walk, part of the Norfolk Coast Path and Peddars Way. At low tide, children will love splashing around in The Run, which you can walk a mile or so out to its end. Head back when the hooter signals the incoming tide. (Check tide times here).
Popular traditional seaside town Sheringham, is well known for its fine beach. The cliffs are surrounded by picturesque wooded areas to the north with views over the sea. When the tide is out, the sands and rock pools of this pebbly beach are revealed.
Just along the coast from Sheringham is Cromer beach with its Victorian Pier, theatre, and lifeboat station. The beach is sandy and flat and you can enjoy watching the fishing boats catching the famous Cromer crab (and so it's a great spot for trying your hand at crabbing!). Close to the shore you will find the Cromer Shoals Chalk Bed, created when dinosaurs roamed! It is the longest in the world at 20 miles long and you can see it by swimming out and snorkelling. The Cromer crabs feed off the reef, which gives the delicacy its rich and sweet flavour.
West Runton beach, part of the Deep History Coast, is a sand and shingle beach, with rock pools when the tide goes out. The cliffs offer an impressive backdrop to the beach and is the site of the discovery of the West Runton mammoth - the largest and oldest mammoth skeleton ever found. The beach is great for beachcombing for fossils. You can find a cafe along the gangway and car park on the cliffs.
Family-friendly traditional Mundesley has a large flat beach backed by cliffs and a row of pretty beach huts. The resort is quiet, and ideal for beach days away from the hustle and bustle. One of the most eastern beaches on the north Norfolk coast is Sea Palling. It is a wide sandy beach with a series of shallow bays formed by man-made offshore reefs. The calmer waters makes it a great place for small children to play. Whatever time of year you're planning to visit north Norfolk, you'll find a beach ideal for walking, playing and great days out.
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Access to Horsey beach is on foot from Horsey Mill and village (about 1½ miles / 2.4km) or via a track to a small car park at Horsey Gap. Grey seals abound on the sand dunes in the winter.
Norfolk
From the Hunstanton direction, the further around the West Norfolk coast you go, you will discover the quieter pleasures on Brancaster beach, with its natural dunes.
Norfolk
Heacham started to become popular as a seaside resort with the Victorians due to the opening of the railway line between King’s Lynn and Hunstanton in the early 1860s.
Norfolk
Situated only 10 minutes from the market town of Stalham Sea Palling is an area of outstanding natural beauty. Stretches of fine sand create a series of shallow bays, formed by man made reefs just off the coast, providing safe swimming.
Award winning beach at Mundesley in a popular traditional seaside resort. Very clean, sandy beach with very little shingle.
Norfolk
Situated only 10 minutes from the market town of Stalham Sea Palling is an area of outstanding natural beauty. Stretches of fine sand create a series of shallow bays, formed by man made reefs just off the coast, providing safe swimming.
East Promenade
Visit the Discovery Point to find out more about the Deep History Coast.
Cromer
Visit the Discovery Point to find out more about the Deep History Coast.
Beach Road
Visit the Discovery Point to find out more about the Deep History Coast.
Cart Gap Car Park, Cart Gap
Visit the Discovery Point to find out more about the Deep History Coast.
Sheringham’s award winning beach is part of a traditional seaside town well known for its fishing industry.
Happisburgh beach is on the North Norfolk coast between Mundesley and Sea Palling. The sandy beach extends for miles in both directions.
Cart Gap has easy access to the beach and is a popular place to walk along the Norfolk Coast Path.
Holme-next-the-Sea
A quiet sandy beach next with salt marsh and dunes.
Old Hunstanton
Set a little way to the north of Hunstanton is the pleasant little village of Old Hunstanton.
Norfolk
Hunstanton is a gently sloping beach with rock pools at the northern end leading to Hunstanton's famous red and white stripped cliffs.
Water Lane
Visit the Discovery Point to find out more about the Deep History Coast.
Beach Road Car Park
Visit the Discovery Point to find out more about the Deep History Coast.
Pauls Lane Car Park
Visit the Discovery Point to find out more about the Deep History Coast.
Beach Road Car Park
Visit the Discovery Point to find out more about the Deep History Coast.
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