Whilst the world-famous Broads National Park attracts a huge chunk of visitors to Norfolk, there is another tiny sliver of the county that shouldn’t be overlooked.
The North Norfolk coast is an enchanting mixture of salt marshes, sandy beaches and wildlife havens. It’s an area that we instantly fell in love with and have happily returned to.
We’ve been lucky to explore the area’s coastline, from its fossil-rich sandstone cliffs to the ever-popular seaside towns. Based on our experiences, here are 10 of the best beaches in North Norfolk.
1) Holkham Beach
Type of beach: Sandy.
Best for: Possibly the biggest of North Norfolk’s sandy beaches.
For those seeking a beach with plenty of space to roam, Holkham is your best bet in North Norfolk. A short walk from the popular stately home of Holkham Hall, the beach stretches for miles. From Wells-next-the-Sea to the east, the sand stretches to Scolt Head Island to the west.
The walk to reach the beach is a lovely part of the experience. After parking in the spaces on Lady Anne’s Drive, you walk along a small trail. This path takes you through pleasant woodland dominated by towering pine trees.
The trees’ needles litter the ground, mixing with the first hints of sand as you approach the beach. The two combine to create a soft, springy path which is a pleasure to walk on.
Admiring the vastness of Holkham Beach in North Norfolk
When we reached the edge of the woodland and arrived at Holkham Beach, we were astonished at its size. We could never recall visiting such an enormous, endless stretch of golden sand anywhere in the UK.
It was low tide on a sunny April day. We would not be exaggerating to say that the beach stretched as far as the eye can see in both directions.
The water was far, far away in the distance. You could just about make out the faint change of colour where the golden yellow sand melted into the murky brown sea. Far beyond the shore, a distant wind farm looked like tiny needles jutting out from the water. It was barely perceptible through the haze and sea spray.
Mirages on the beach
A mirage effect caused distant walkers to look like they were floating. They hovered a couple of feet above the ground before disappearing out of sight. There must have been hundreds of people out enjoying the stroll, but the sheer scale of the beach made it feel empty and wild.
We spent most of our time at Holkham Beach walking south. Before long, we could just about make out the multicoloured beach huts at Wells-next-the-Sea, over two miles away. With a popular beach cafe and an RNLI visitor centre, this would make for a grand long walk.
Top tip for dog owners: Due to its size, Holkham is one of North Norfolk’s most dog-friendly beaches. There will be plenty of opportunities to let your dog roam free. However, there are occasionally nesting birds on the shore, particularly near the woods. Important nests may be cordoned off and signposted. You should keep your dog on the lead until you are clear of these areas.
How to do it: Most people drive to Holkham Beach. There is a sizeable car park on Lady Anne’s Drive, which costs £10 for all-day parking. Several buses stop at the top of Lady Anne’s Drive. These include the 26A, 201, 36 Coastline and the 414.
2) East Runton Beach
Type of beach: Shingle and sand.
Best for: Fossil hunting in the shadow of crumbling cliffs.
The North Norfolk coast is renowned for its fossil hunting and is known as the Deep History Coast. The area’s huge sandstone cliffs regularly reveal tantalising glimpses into Britain’s history. Everything from tiny fragments of ancient sea creatures to internationally significant remains have been found in the area.
North Norfolk’s most remarkable – and most famous – find was the West Runton Mammoth. Discovered and excavated during the 1990s, it is the finest example of a nearly complete mammoth skeleton ever found in the UK.
Today, thousands of fossil hunters descend on North Norfolk’s beaches each year, hoping to find their own sliver of history. East Runton Beach, just a stone’s throw from Cromer, is one of the best spots in the area for this, with easy access and a great stretch of cliffs.
Top tip: The best time to hunt for fossils is after a storm. The high tides and crashing waves speed up the erosion of the cliffs, giving you a greater chance of spotting a newly revealed find.
How to do it: You can walk to East Runton Beach from Cromer Beach or West Runton Beach. Alternatively, there is a Pay-and-Display car park on Beach Road, where you can also find public toilets.
3) West Runton Beach
Type of beach: Shingle and sand.
Best for: More fossil hunting on the beaches in North Norfolk.
Home of the famous West Runton Mammoth, this stretch of coastline connects with East Runton Beach and is another prime fossil hunting spot on the North Norfolk coast. If you allow yourself the time, you will almost certainly come across a fossil or two – belemnites and crinoids are particularly common.
You can also enjoy excellent rock pooling at West Runton Beach, with opportunities presenting themselves as soon as you step off the concrete slipway. Rocks and fossils aside, much of the beach at West Runton is sandy. With the dramatic crumbling cliffs, fossil hunting and relative lack of crowds, this is one of our favourite beaches in North Norfolk.
There are public toilets onsite, whilst the Seaview Beach Cafe is a popular spot for refreshments – although it shuts during the low season.
How to do it: There is a Pay-and-Display car park at the top of the cliff near the slipway. Alternatively, you can walk to West Runton Beach from East Runton Beach or Sheringham. As ever, be sure to check the tide times before setting off.
If you are travelling by public transport, there is a train station at West Runton. It will take you 15 minutes to walk from the station to the beach. The X44, 44A, X40 and CH1 Coasthopper buses run through West Runton on a regular basis.
4) Cromer Beach
Type of beach: Sandy.
Best for: A classic seaside experience in North Norfolk.
Tucking into fish and chips. Racing to finish a rapidly melting ice cream. Building a sandcastle with a bucket and spade. No matter what seaside tradition you want to indulge in, the beach at Cromer is your best bet for a classic coastal day in North Norfolk.
A stroll on the beach is one of our favourite things to do in Cromer. From the traditional seafront promenade, complete with helter-skelter and colourful wooden beach huts, to the groups of surfers who make the most of the impressive waves, there is plenty to see and explore along the beach.
Unsurprisingly, Cromer Beach is a favourite among families with small children. There is easy access by road, rail and bus, and plenty of facilities for food, drink and bathrooms. It’s an ideal spot to simply set up for the day and enjoy the sea breeze.
We loved: On a sunny day at the seaside, not much beats a takeaway fish and chips. Whilst Cromer is home to one of North Norfolk’s most famous fish and chip restaurants – No.1 Cromer – the queues can be significant during the busy season. There are a few alternatives around the town, including Mary Jane’s Fish Bar. Down at the promenade, you will find a couple of picnic tables on a small platform on the nearby Victorian staircase – an excellent place to enjoy the views whilst tucking into your food.
How to do it: If you are driving, the best place to park for Cromer Beach is at the Runton Road Pay-and-Display car park. There are hundreds of spaces, and you would be unlucky not to find a spot. However, Cromer is easily accessed by public transport, with a train station and frequent bus services.
5) Salthouse Beach
Type of beach: Pebble.
Best for: Some of the best sunrises and sunsets in North Norfolk.
A short walk over the magical salt marshes from the tiny village of Salthouse, this pebble beach is a favourite with fishermen and also offers a sense of solitude that you may not find at some of the area’s busier seaside spots.
We stayed in Salthouse during one of our previous visits to North Norfolk and visited the beach every day. It was always quiet – perhaps due to being a pebble beach rather than sand – and proved to be a perfect spot for morning and evening strolls.
The walk to reach the beach is a treat in itself. Whilst there is a small dirt track leading to a tiny car park, we preferred taking the trails and boardwalks leading through the vast salt marshes that are such a feature of this stretch of the North Norfolk coast. Along the way, you will pass over tiny waterways and small pools, which make for lovely photo opportunities.
Once you arrive at Salthouse Beach, take a look to your right. In the distance, the cliffs at Sheringham jut out into the shimmering sea.
Keep an eye out, too, for seals. Whilst most of North Norfolk’s seal population can be found in spots such as Blakeney or Horsey Gap, Salthouse Beach does get the occasional visitor. If you do see a seal, make sure to keep your distance and do not disturb them.
How to do it: If you are driving, you can park at Beach Road on the edge of the beach. There is also limited roadside parking in the village of Salthouse itself near the small general store. For those travelling by public transport, the 405 and CH1 Coasthopper buses stop in Salthouse.
6) Hunstanton Beach
Type of beach: Sandy with some rocks.
Best for: An all-action family beach on the North Norfolk coast.
Stretching the length of the popular resort town of Hunstanton, this beach has something to offer everybody. With a Sea Life Centre, Adventure Golf course and countless cafes serving ice cream and drinks, Hunstanton is one of the best beaches in North Norfolk for families seeking endless opportunities for fun.
Adrenaline junkies are well-served here, too. Hunstanton Watersports offers everything from kitesurfing lessons to paddle-boarding experiences that cater to all abilities.
Meanwhile, photographers will appreciate the fascinating colourful cliffs on the northern stretch of Hunstanton Beach. The myriad boulders and rock formations also make for lovely foregrounds, as does the wreck of the Sheraton, a small trawler wrecked in 1947.
How to do it: There are several Pay-and-Display car parks in Hunstanton. For beachgoers, the best option is the Southend Car Park. For those travelling by bus, there is a small bus station just a two-minute walk from the beach. There is no train station in Hunstanton.
7) Cley next the Sea Beach
Type of beach: Pebble.
Best for: Birdwatching.
A short hop up the coast from Seahouses, the beach at Cley next the Sea is – in some respects – quite similar to its neighbour. Like Seahouses, this is a pebble beach on the edge of the salt marshes.
However, Cley’s Beach draws visitors thanks to its proximity to the Cley Marshes Nature Reserve, which is one of North Norfolk’s best spots for birdwatching.
Marsh Harriers soar above the waterways and reedbeds. Lapwings and Little Egrets are regular fixtures. If a rare bird has been spotted, dozens – possibly hundreds – of bird watchers will descend with their scopes and long lenses – a spectacle in itself.
Top tip: To make the most of your visit to the beach and the marshes at Cley next the Sea, visit the Cley Marshes Visitor Centre. The knowledgeable staff will be happy to give you hints and tips about the local bird life, whilst the onsite cafe is an excellent place to grab a drink or some hot food.
How to do it: There is a Pay-and-Display car park at the Cley Marshes Visitor Centre. Alternatively, there is a smaller Pay-and-Display car park right next to the beach, at the end of Beach Road, which costs £3 for 3 hours. The CH1 Coasthopper bus stops at the end of Beach Road.
8) Horsey Gap Beach
Type of beach: Sandy.
Best for: Spotting the famous North Norfolk seals lounging on sandy beaches.
For those familiar with North Norfolk, the name ‘Horsey Gap’ is synonymous with seals. Near the southern tip of the North Norfolk coast, the beach at Horsey Gap is home to one of the UK’s largest Grey Seal colonies, which makes for an impressive sight when hundreds of seals laze along the golden sand.
Horsey is at its most popular during the seal pup season, when thousands of baby seals are born on the beach. To see the spectacle for yourself, climb up through the long, waving grasses of the sand dunes, and head to the viewing platforms.
The sandy beach is also a popular spot for families to relax and enjoy an afternoon in the sun. During the summer months, the northern stretches of the beach can get busy with holidaymakers from the nearby Waxham Sands Holiday Park. To find a quieter spot, head south.
Note: You can see the seals throughout the year at Horsey Beach, but the seal pup season runs from the end of October to February. This is when seal life on the beach is at its busiest, and restrictions are in place to keep human disturbance to a minimum. There is no access to the beach during the breeding season from November to January.
If you do encounter the seals at Horsey Gap, you must keep your distance – especially if there are pups around. Stay at least 10 metres away from the seals.
Dogs: Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times at Horsey Gap.
How to do it: There is a Pay-and-Display car park at Horsey Gap Beach, which charges £7 for a day ticket.
9) Sheringham Beach
Type of beach: Pebbles and sandy.
Best for: One of the most popular Blue Flag beaches in North Norfolk with excellent rock pooling.
Sheringham is a famous seaside town just a short drive from its larger neighbour, Cromer. As well as an excellent local museum and the North Norfolk Railway, Sheringham boasts one of the best stretches of beach in North Norfolk.
Classic beach huts line a small promenade, on which you can find public toilets, a coffee shop and a small lifeboat station. Like Cromer’s esplanade, a stroll along the promenade is a throwback to the Victorian heyday of a British seaside beach.
The area of the beach closest to the promenade is mostly pebbles. At high tide, the sandy section of Sheringham Beach all but disappears, leaving just a small sliver of pebbles and shingle to explore.
However, if you can time your visit to coincide with low tide, you will be rewarded with a substantial stretch of sandy beach perfect for sandcastles and strolls.
A note on dogs: To help keep the beach clean and safe during the peak season, dogs are banned on the main sections of Sheringham Beach from May to September.
How to do it: Sheringham Train Station is a five to ten-minute walk from the beach. The nearest bus stop to Sheringham Beach is next to the train station.
If you are driving to Sheringham, East Cliff Car Park is right on the seafront.
10) Brancaster Beach
Type of beach: Sandy.
Best for: Kite and windsurfing
Part of the Brancaster Estate, a National Trust-managed stretch of coastline, Brancaster is one of the best beaches in North Norfolk. With vast stretches of sand and dunes, there is plenty of space to escape the crowds and enjoy a wander in relative seclusion.
As well as walking, Brancaster Beach is also a popular spot for other forms of exploring. Horse riders are a frequent presence on the beach, taking advantage of the fabulous setting and the pleasant sandy surface.
Meanwhile, certain sections of Brancaster Beach have been designated as safe for adrenaline sports, such as kite surfing. Whilst the tidal conditions mean that only experienced kite surfers should use the beach, they are great fun to watch from a distance.
How to do it: There is a Pay-and-Display Car Park next to Brancaster Beach, which costs £10 for stays over 2 hours. Alternatively, the 36 Coastliner bus stops next to The Ship, a popular hotel and bar in Brancaster.
Note: The Beach Road car park often becomes flooded at high tides. This can lead to your car becoming trapped in the car park, waiting for the tide to turn. We recommend checking the tide times before travelling to Brancaster Beach.
Read next: How to spend a day in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire’s most picturesque market town.
The best beaches in North Norfolk: our final thoughts
There is something special about the North Norfolk coast. From quaint villages to busy seaside towns, you are never too far from finding somewhere that fits your needs.
The same goes for its beaches. As you travel along the coast, you encounter a huge variety – from endless expanses of sand to busy beaches packed with families. It is, therefore, hard to say which is the best beach in North Norfolk.
If we were looking for seclusion and space, we would probably pick Holkham Beach. However, for a classic British seaside experience, we would probably head to Cromer to taste the famous fish and chips. That’s not to mention the wildlife watching on offer at Cley and Horsey Gap.
No matter your taste, you’ll never be too far from finding your perfect beach in North Norfolk.