Norfolk Nooks' Guide to the Peaches of the Beaches
My Favourite Beaches...
Dogs are not allowed on some beaches / or are restricted at certain times of year. See the listings below but I suggest that you look them up before you set out, for the very latest information.
Also, note that the continuous coastline means that if a beach is not suitable, driving a little way along will more than likely find you one which is.
Have fun :)
My FAVOURITE beach place, Sea Palling is small and rightly beloved but nonetheless, relatively little used, even in high season. Where Brighton beach is a crush, Sea Palling has loads of elbow room and it stretches so far, you can pretty much always find your own space.
It's dog friendly, too (but only in one direction - East - during the season, so consult the board at the bottom of the ramp when you arrive). If you want a wholly unrestricted, nearby beach - go for Waxham.
Sea Palling is an old fashioned, feel good, unsophisticated mish mash of fish shop, arcade, cafe, pub and a big bouncy castle.
In the evening, when the sun sets, especially viewed from the dunes, it's the most beautiful and peaceful place I know in Norfolk.
Our first AirBnb, Dune Roamin' is practically on top of it.
**
From TAIL END: 10 min (4 miles by car)
From DUNE ROAMIN': 30 seconds on foot!
**
32 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sea Palling Beach
Beach RoadMy FAVOURITE beach place, Sea Palling is small and rightly beloved but nonetheless, relatively little used, even in high season. Where Brighton beach is a crush, Sea Palling has loads of elbow room and it stretches so far, you can pretty much always find your own space.
It's dog friendly, too (but only in one direction - East - during the season, so consult the board at the bottom of the ramp when you arrive). If you want a wholly unrestricted, nearby beach - go for Waxham.
Sea Palling is an old fashioned, feel good, unsophisticated mish mash of fish shop, arcade, cafe, pub and a big bouncy castle.
In the evening, when the sun sets, especially viewed from the dunes, it's the most beautiful and peaceful place I know in Norfolk.
Our first AirBnb, Dune Roamin' is practically on top of it.
**
From TAIL END: 10 min (4 miles by car)
From DUNE ROAMIN': 30 seconds on foot!
**
Another dog-friendly beach (for most of the year), Walcott is beautiful and stark, open and runs along the length of the village itself. Pretty much always bracing when the wind is up because there's no shelter. There are lovely walks from there to Bacton (in one direction) and from there to Happisburgh (in t'other). It's got a superb fish and chip shop which makes special curry sauce and a couple of pubs with good views (including the Poacher's Pocket). It's also only a short hop from there to Bacton Woods, by car - a lovely place for walking you and / or your dog.
**
From TAIL END: 9 min (5.5 miles by car)
From DUNE ROAMIN': 18 mins (10 miles by car)
**
Walcott Stores
Coast RoadAnother dog-friendly beach (for most of the year), Walcott is beautiful and stark, open and runs along the length of the village itself. Pretty much always bracing when the wind is up because there's no shelter. There are lovely walks from there to Bacton (in one direction) and from there to Happisburgh (in t'other). It's got a superb fish and chip shop which makes special curry sauce and a couple of pubs with good views (including the Poacher's Pocket). It's also only a short hop from there to Bacton Woods, by car - a lovely place for walking you and / or your dog.
**
From TAIL END: 9 min (5.5 miles by car)
From DUNE ROAMIN': 18 mins (10 miles by car)
**
Yes, this is the seal place :) And well behaved dogs on leads are OK, too. There are Seal Wardens to give you information and make sure the rules are kept to.
There's a large car park but sometimes, you will need to park on the side of the slip road when it's busy - it's pretty clear what to do.
Just a little further down the road is the 'Forties cafe, which is also dog friendly - see my guide on eating out.
From Dune Roamin' on foot: 1 hr 15 mins (3.9 miles)
From Dune Roamin' (by car): 9 mins (3.9 miles)
From Tail End (by car): 16 mins (7.6 miles)
106 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Horsey Gap
Yes, this is the seal place :) And well behaved dogs on leads are OK, too. There are Seal Wardens to give you information and make sure the rules are kept to.
There's a large car park but sometimes, you will need to park on the side of the slip road when it's busy - it's pretty clear what to do.
Just a little further down the road is the 'Forties cafe, which is also dog friendly - see my guide on eating out.
From Dune Roamin' on foot: 1 hr 15 mins (3.9 miles)
From Dune Roamin' (by car): 9 mins (3.9 miles)
From Tail End (by car): 16 mins (7.6 miles)
Cromer is a gorgeous, historically interesting place with a splendid Victorian pier. It was hugely popular with the Victorians and the Edwardians and the buildings have that air of faded grandeur which is so appealing on a sunny day with a large ice cream and a handy bench. There are pubs galore and there's plenty of parking, though this is outside the town by a little way, so that you will need to park and walk in (not a hardship). The best car park is the one past Cromer town centre, up the hill, on the right, on the West Runto Road - the cliff top car park. A more central, and possibly convenient one, is on Cadogan Road but be quick because it tends to fill up quite quickly. There are also way more than the average number of charity shops.
From Dune Romain' (by car) - 39 mins (29 miles)
From Tail End (by car) - 32 mins (18 miles)
57 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cromer Beach
41 The WarrenCromer is a gorgeous, historically interesting place with a splendid Victorian pier. It was hugely popular with the Victorians and the Edwardians and the buildings have that air of faded grandeur which is so appealing on a sunny day with a large ice cream and a handy bench. There are pubs galore and there's plenty of parking, though this is outside the town by a little way, so that you will need to park and walk in (not a hardship). The best car park is the one past Cromer town centre, up the hill, on the right, on the West Runto Road - the cliff top car park. A more central, and possibly convenient one, is on Cadogan Road but be quick because it tends to fill up quite quickly. There are also way more than the average number of charity shops.
From Dune Romain' (by car) - 39 mins (29 miles)
From Tail End (by car) - 32 mins (18 miles)
Waxham Road
Waxham RoadNo dog walking restrictions at all :)
Sheringham Museum
Lifeboat PlainComing soon...
Overstrand Beach
Overstrand RoadComing soon...
Mundesley Beach
9 Beach RdReally special.
West Runton Beach
Water LaneBacton is a sprawling village and has a lovely beach. It's also interesting for being the site of the vast Shell gas production works which runs along the sea front past Bacton and supplies approximately 1/3 of the UK's natural gas supplies.
Beach Road
Beach RoadBacton is a sprawling village and has a lovely beach. It's also interesting for being the site of the vast Shell gas production works which runs along the sea front past Bacton and supplies approximately 1/3 of the UK's natural gas supplies.
Winterton beach
Lots of marram.
Great Yarmouth beach has a dual personality - arriving from Stalham or Sea Palling, turning left past the Greyhound racing stadium will bring you to the marramy, wild sands where the offshore wind turbines make it even more appealing. You can walk dogs over this rough terrain and they love it. It's also less frequented than the golden sands further along.
Continuing in the car (or by foot) you will reach these golden sands, then the pier, the Pleasure Beach and all the cafes, restaurants, amusement arcades which you associate with Great Yarmouth's Golden Mile. The only thing you can't go to, sadly, is the 'Worst Waxworks in the World' which stood opposite Rosie O'Grady's - it shut its doors for good in 2012 when the owners became ill when the entire collection were sold to a mystery buyer in the Czech Republic.
29 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Isibhede saseGreat Yarmouth
47 Collingwood RdGreat Yarmouth beach has a dual personality - arriving from Stalham or Sea Palling, turning left past the Greyhound racing stadium will bring you to the marramy, wild sands where the offshore wind turbines make it even more appealing. You can walk dogs over this rough terrain and they love it. It's also less frequented than the golden sands further along.
Continuing in the car (or by foot) you will reach these golden sands, then the pier, the Pleasure Beach and all the cafes, restaurants, amusement arcades which you associate with Great Yarmouth's Golden Mile. The only thing you can't go to, sadly, is the 'Worst Waxworks in the World' which stood opposite Rosie O'Grady's - it shut its doors for good in 2012 when the owners became ill when the entire collection were sold to a mystery buyer in the Czech Republic.