Towns and villages
[edit]
- 1 Aylsham
- 2 Blakeney
- 3 Burnham Market
- 4 Cley next the Sea
- 5 Cromer - Home of the North Norfolk District Council Offices.
- 6 Fakenham
- 7 Holt
- 8 Hunworth
- 9 Morston
- 10 Old Hunstanton & Hunstanton
- 11 Sheringham
- 12 Wells-next-the-Sea
Understand
[edit]Several towns line the Norfolk Coast, including Hunstanton with its promenade, Wells-next-the-Sea with its quay and beach hut-lined sand, Sheringham with its narrow streets and steam railway, and Cromer with its pier. The distance between Hunstanton and Cromer is just under 40 miles along the A149 Coast Road.
Norfolk Coast Protected Landscape is mostly flat with some gentle hills. The land is mostly agricultural, but there is publicly accessible parkland throughout - including at the Holkham Estate - and nature reserves set aside for wildlife.
King's Lynn and West Norfolk borough includes King's Lynn, Hunstanton and The Burnhams.
North Norfolk district includes Cromer, Fakenham, Holt, Sheringham and Wells-next-the-Sea.
Norfolk Coast Protected Landscape
[edit]The Norfolk Coast Protected Landscape covers 280 square miles of the coastline. It features a 20-mile chalk reef.
Protections include:
- Norfolk Coast National Landscape - Designated in 1968, it is one of 46 National Landscapes in the UK. It is an area of national importance which is protected "for the nation's benefit".
- North Norfolk Coast Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) - A collection of habitats, including a rich variety of birdlife, between Holme-next-the-Sea and Kelling.
- The Wash and North Norfolk Coast Special Area of Conservation (SAC) - An enormous 416 square mile protected zone covering North Norfolk mudflats, sandflats, shallow inlets or staithes, and the entirety of The Wash, a bay between Norfolk and Lincolnshire.
- The Wash Ramsar site - The Wash and its coastline, including at King's Lynn and Hunstanton, are internationally significant wetlands, protected under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
Climate
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The East Anglia region is drier than more western areas. A coastal area, the Norfolk Coast has a narrower temperature range than further inland with cooling sea breezes in summer. Detailed information is on the UK Met Office Weybourne Climate page or UK Met Office East of England Climate page.
Talk
[edit]The Broad Norfolk dialect is used by some locals. The dialect and accent are easy to understand, but there is some regionally specific 'Norfolk Slang', including:
- allus - always
- bishy barnabee/bishy-barney-bee - ladybird
- duzzy - silly
- ewe - owed
- harnser - heron
- hold yew hard - wait a moment
- King Harry - goldfinch
- mardle/mardlin' - chat/chatting
- pollywiggle - tadpole
- vister - visitor
- yisty - yesterday
The Friends of Norfolk Dialect (FOND) records and preserves the dialect. Look out for the dialect in Wiveton, where drivers could spot the unique "Slow You Down" signs.
Get in
[edit]By train
[edit]There are railway stations in King's Lynn, Sheringham, West Runton and Cromer.
Into King's Lynn, there are Great Northern trains direct from London King's Cross, Cambridge, Ely and Downham Market all day, including in the early mornings and late evenings.
Into Sheringham, West Runton and Cromer, there are Greater Anglia trains direct from Norwich during the daytimes.
From London:
- travel from London King's Cross (interchange: CIR H&C MET NOR PIC VIC ) to King's Lynn direct;
- travel from London Liverpool Street (interchange: CEN CIR H&C MET ELI OGD ) to Norwich, change for trains to Cromer, West Runton and Sheringham;
- travel from London Stratford (interchange: CEN JUB ELI OGD ) to Norwich, change for trains to Cromer, West Runton and Sheringham.
From London Stansted Airport:
- use CrossCountry or Greater Anglia trains to Cambridge or Ely and change for Great Northern trains to King's Lynn;
- use Greater Anglia trains to Norwich and change for trains to Cromer, West Runton and Sheringham.
From The Midlands:
- use CrossCountry or East Midlands Railway to Ely and change for Great Northern trains for King's Lynn;
- use East Midlands Railway to Norwich and change for Greater Anglia trains to Cromer, West Runton and Sheringham.
By bus
[edit]Routes into the Norfolk Coast area include:
- Excel A/B/C - into King's Lynn from Peterborough, Wisbech, Swaffham, Dereham and Norwich;
- Yellow Line X29 - into Fakenham from Norwich;
- Sanders Coaches X40/X41/X44/44A[dead link] - into Cromer and Sheringham from Norwich;
- Sanders Coaches 45 - into Holt from Norwich.
Several firms operate long-distance coaches into Norwich including National Express and Megabus.
By car
[edit]From London and The South:
- Exit
at junction 9 for 
towards Norwich. Leave the route at Barton Mills and join 
towards Brandon, Swaffham and Fakenham. At Fakenham, join local routes or 
for destinations along the Norfolk Coast. - Exit
at junction 33 for 
towards Ely then King's Lynn. At King's Lynn, join local routes, or 
for destinations along the Norfolk Coast.
From Peterborough and the West Midlands:
- Follow
to King's Lynn. Exit at for destinations in the Norfolk Coast Protected Landscape.
From the East Midlands and The North:
- Leave
or 
at Newark-on-Trent. Join 
and follow to King's Lynn. Use local routes, or for destinations along the Norfolk Coast.
From Ipswich and Felixstowe:
- Exit at junction 51 for
towards Diss and Norwich. Follow to Cromer.
From Norwich:
- Join to Cromer.
- Join
to Fakenham. Use local routes or for destinations along the Norfolk Coast. - Join B1149 to Holt. Use local routes or for destinations along the Norfolk Coast.
- Use for King's Lynn.
Get around
[edit]By train
[edit]It is not easy to get around the Norfolk Coast by train, but some short hops are possible:
- Bittern Line (
National Rail) - Greater Anglia trains between Norwich, North Walsham, Gunton, Roughton Road, Cromer, West Runton and Sheringham. You can book tickets using any National Rail ticket retailer. The Bittern Ranger ticket offers one-day unlimited travel on the line. Change at Norwich for trains to London Liverpool Street, Ely, Cambridge, Ipswich, Colchester, Peterborough and Nottingham. Change at Sheringham for The Poppy Line/North Norfolk Railway to Holt, which is not part of the National Rail network. - Poppy Line/North Norfolk Railway - A heritage railway "twixt sea and pine" between Sheringham, Weybourne and Holt. Routes are operated using historic steam and diesel engines. The timetable is limited, especially during winter months. Change at Sheringham for Greater Anglia trains towards Cromer, Norwich and the wider National Rail network.
- Wells and Walsingham Light Railway - A narrow gauge railway using steam locomotives. A visitor attraction, the route closes during winter months except special events. Runs between Wells-next-the-Sea and Walsingham only.
By bus
[edit]The Coastliner and Coasthopper buses hug the Norfolk Coast.
- Lynx Coastliner 36 - King's Lynn, Dersingham, Ingoldisthorpe, Snettisham, Heacham, Hunstanton, Old Hunstanton, Holme-next-the-Sea, Thornham, Titchwell, Brancaster, Brancaster Staithe, Burnham Deepdale, Burnham Market, Burnham Overy Staithe, Holkham and Wells-next-the-Sea (and inland to: Wighton, Little Walsingham, East Barsham and Fakenham). Change at Wells-next-the-Sea for Coasthopper CH1 towards Sheringham and Cromer.
- Coasthopper CH1 - Wells-next-the-Sea, Stiffkey, Morston, Blakeney, Cley-next-the-Sea, Salthouse, Kelling, Weybourne, Sheringham, Beeston Regis, West Runton, East Runton, Cromer. Change at Wells-next-the-Sea for Lynx Coastliner 36. Change at Cromer for Coasthopper CH2 towards North Walsham.
- Coasthopper CH2[dead link] - Cromer, Overstrand, Trimingham and Mundesley (and inland to: Trunch, Swafield and North Walsham). Change at Cromer for Coasthopper CH1 towards Sheringham and Wells-next-the-Sea.
By Coast Road
[edit]The A149 Coast Road covers the 85 mi (137 km) coastline between King's Lynn and Great Yarmouth, in The Broads National Park.
Along the Norfolk Coast Protected Landscape, it passes through King's Lynn, Dersingham (near Sandringham), Snettisham, Heacham, Hunstanton, Old Hunstanton, Holme-next-the-Sea, Thornham, Titchwell, Brancaster, Brancaster Staithe, Burnham Deepdale, Burnham Norton, Burnham Overy Staithe, Holkham, Wells-next-the-Sea, Stiffkey, Morston, Blakeney, Cley-next-the-Sea, Salthouse, Kelling, Weybourne, Sheringham, West Runton, East Runton and Cromer.
Also along the Norfolk Coast are Overstrand, Trimingham and Mundesley - on minor routes.
Burnham Market, a bustling shopping village during the summer months with lots of independent delis, cafés, pubs and shops, is a short drive from the A149 (use B1355 or B1155 - follow signs). Holt with its markets and lunch spots is also a short drive south from the A149, using local routes.
The A149 can become narrow in places, including in Stiffkey, where the road is single-track.
It may be faster to travel across Norfolk using alternative routes:
- A47 - King's Lynn to Great Yarmouth (66 mi (106 km)), bypassing Swaffham, Dereham and Norwich;
- A148 - King's Lynn to Cromer (44 mi (71 km)), via Fakenham and Holt.
By road
[edit]The Norfolk Coast Protected Landscape is a rural area. There are petrol stations in (west-east):
- King's Lynn - several filling stations
- Heacham - BP on A149
- Hunstanton - Tesco in Southend Road
- Burnham Deepdale - Gulf on A149
- Burnham Market - Gulf in Creake Road (B1355)
- Wells-next-the-Sea - Gulf in Polka Road (B1105)
- Binham - Howell's in the village centre
- Blakeney - Blakeney Garage/Gulf on A149
- Holt - BP in Cromer Road
- Sheringham - several filling stations
- Roman Camp - Murco on A148
- Cromer - several filling stations
There are also several filling stations in Fakenham. Petrol station opening times will vary in the countryside and many will not open overnight.
King Charles III England Coast Path
[edit]Norfolk's coastline, including in the Norfolk Coast Protected Landscape, is entirely accessible on foot. The King Charles III England Coast Path (formerly Norfolk Coast Path) follow a series of promenades, boardwalks, coastal defences and pavements. They are National Trails and signposted using the National Trails acorn logo (
).
The footpath follows:
- Lincolnshire
- Sutton Bridge
- West Lynn
- King's Lynn
- Heacham
- Hunstanton
- Old Hunstanton
- Holme next the Sea
- Meets:
Peddars Way - south towards Ringstead, Castle Acre and Thetford Forest - Thornham
- Brancaster
- Brancaster Staithe
- Burnham Deepdale
- Burnham Overy Staithe
- Holkham Beach
- Wells-next-the-Sea
- Stiffkey
- Morston
- Blakeney
- Cley next the Sea
- Weybourne
- Sheringham
- West Runton
- East Runton
- Cromer
- Overstrand
- Mundesley
- Bacton
- Walcott
- Happisburgh
- Eccles on Sea
- Sea Palling
- Winterton-on-Sea
- Hemsby
- Caister-on-Sea
- Great Yarmouth
- Gorleston-on-Sea
- Hopton-on-Sea
- Suffolk
See
[edit]The Norfolk Coast features a series of nationally and internationally significant landscapes, including areas reserved for wildlife. Many of these are publicly accessible with hides or viewpoints for visitors. Restrictions may apply in some areas to protect wildlife, particularly nesting birds during the summer months.
- 1 RSPB Snettisham Reserve, Snettisham, Beach Road, King's Lynn, Norfolk, PE31 7RA, ☏ +44 1485 211973, [email protected]. Lagoons near The Wash, where waders such as Knot, Dunlin and Oystercatchers search for their suppers. Also spot thousands - up to 40,000 - pink-footed geese gather at Snettisham in winter as they arrive from Iceland and Greenland.
- 2 RSPB Titchwell Marsh, Titchwell Marsh, Main Road, King's Lynn, Norfolk, PE31 8BB, ☏ +44 1485 210779, [email protected]. A mix of saltmarsh, reedbeds and freshwater lagoons behind Titchwell's sandy beach. Look out for Avocets, Bearded Tits and Marsh Harriers from the public hides.
- 3 Holkham National Nature Reserve. Muddy creeks meet farmed plains, which meet pinewoods and sandy beaches. Oystercatchers hunt for their food in the mud, where Brent geese also gather. Managed by the Natural England and the Holkham Estate.
- 4 National Trust Blakeney Point, ☏ +44 1263 740241. Home to England's largest seal colony, with around 4,500 pups born on the peninsula during the winter months. Terns breed in the dunes, with restricted access during the summer months. The walk to Blakeney Point is around 3-4 miles from Cley Beach.
- 5 See the seals at Blakeney Point by boat, Beans Boats, Morston Quay, NR25 7BH, ☏ +44 1263 740505. See England's largest seal colony by boat. There are several companies which offer trips including Beans Boats (from Morston Quay) and Bishop's Boats (from Blakeney Point).
Do
[edit]- Birdwatching at Cley, Blakeney Point, Titchwell and Holme.
- Visit Seal Colony at Blakeney Point.
- Walking
- Walk along the Norfolk Coast Path long distance footpath (84 miles) from Hunstanton past Cromer to Sea Palling.
- Walk the Paston Way (22 miles) from Cromer closely following the coast to Bacton then inland to North Walsham.
- Walk the Weavers' Way long distance footpath (61 miles) from Cromer to Great Yarmouth.
- Walk around Sheringham Park, National Trust property.
Eat
[edit]Famous for locally caught seafood including Cromer Crabs.
Drink
[edit]Most towns and villages in the area have pubs & restaurants. In the coastal villages there are often cafes and tea rooms serving traditional tea (or coffee) and cakes.
Sleep
[edit]- There are YHA Hostels at Wells-next-the-Sea, Sheringham and Hunstanton.
- The coast is popular with holiday makers and there are many hotels, B&Bs, guest houses, camp sites, etc. in the area. If only staying one night, check before booking accommodation as some B&Bs and guest houses have minimum stays.
Stay safe
[edit]In case of emergency at sea, dial 999 (or 112) and ask for "Coastguard".
There is a lifeguard service at Cromer, Sheringham, Mundesley and Sea Palling. This operates daily from June until the first week in September, from 10AM to 6PM. The lifeguarded zone is defined by red and yellow flags on the beach, with the beach lifeguard station also flying a red and yellow flag. Do not swim if a red flag is flying.
On occasion live ammunition and unexploded bombs from World War II have been found on the coast. If you do come across a suspicious item leave it alone and report it to the coast guard.
This is a tidal region so be careful, especially with young children.