Norfolk Coast Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

The Norfolk Coast Protected Landscape is a series of significant landscapes in Norfolk, England, sometimes known as North Norfolk. Some of the towns are popular holiday destinations, while quiet villages meet nature reserves, farms and country estates. The North Sea lies beyond mostly sandy beaches.

• 52.791.2561 Aylsham
• 52.95431.01772 Blakeney
• 52.9458390.728153 Burnham Market
• 52.9511.0434 Cley next the Sea
• 52.9311.3025 Cromer - Home of the North Norfolk District Council Offices.
• 52.8370.8496 Fakenham
• 52.91.097 Holt
• 52.877421.068898 Hunworth
• 52.9540.9889 Morston
• 52.930.4810 Old Hunstanton & Hunstanton
• 52.941.21311 Sheringham
• 52.950.8512 Wells-next-the-Sea

Norfolk has around 90 mi (140 km) of coastline, with the region between King's Lynn in the west and Mundesley in the east part of a "protected landscape".

It is home to several seaside towns. Hunstanton and Cromer have busy promenades close to the shoreline. Hunstanton, affectionately known as "Sunny Hunny", has an aquarium, leisure centre, and manicured gardens with a sea view. The town is famous for its red chalk cliffs, coloured by iron pigments, which rest on red-brown carstone. It is one of the few towns in Norfolk where you can see a sunset over the ocean, if you face west looking over The Wash. Cromer's Victorian pier is 151 metres long, complete with a theatre showing summer and Christmas performances. The town centre lies on a clifftop, while the beach below is a mix of sand and rock.

Slightly smaller is Sheringham, which has a selection of seafront pubs and eateries. They are close to the town's shops, cafes and restaurants which line narrow streets. Heritage steam and diesel trains connect Sheringham with Holt as part of the North Norfolk Railway (Poppy Line), which operates seasonally. Nearby Sheringham Park is a National Trust property, with rolling landscaped parkland, sea views, and bushy, sprawling rhododendrons which are at their best in bloom throughout May and June.

Set back from the North Sea, Wells-next-the-Sea has a working quay. It is home to several fish and chip shops, including French's which traces its history back to 1921. It has a number of spots for crabbing (or "gillying" in Norfolk) with children, and plenty of shops which sell the equipment for a day out on the beach. The annual carnival takes place each summer, with a calendar of events for families and grown ups. Wells Beach with its pinewoods and colourful beach huts is around 1.2 mi (1.9 km) north of the town.

Outside of the towns, quaint villages break up green and brown fields. Burnham Market is one of the busiest of these villages, with a selection of deli-type and clothes shops, bookshops, cafes and restaurants. These are laid out in a roughly oval shape around the village green and a stream. Burnham Market is sometimes known as Chelsea-on-Sea. It was made up of Burnham Sutton, Burnham Ulph and Burnham Westgate, three of the seven Burnhams, which were joined by Burnham Deepdale, Burnham Norton, Burnham Overy and Burnham Thorpe.

Seaside villages play host to independent delicatessens, pubs with a view across staithes and sand dunes, roadside samphire and shellfish stalls, antiques shops, sailing clubs, and nature reserves. These include Titchwell with its RSPB reserve, Brancaster, Burnham Overy Staithe, Stiffkey, Morston where boats depart for Blakeney Point to see the seals, Blakeney, Cley next the Sea and Weybourne.

The Norfolk Coast is also home to several famous country estates. Sandringham Estate, a royal country retreat, lies near King's Lynn and Hunstanton. The monarch is responsible for 6,000 hectares of farmland as part of Sandringham, and the House has been open to visitors seasonally since 1977. The Earl of Leicester's house, gardens and parkland at Holkham is also open to the public.

The Norfolk Coast Protected Landscape is mostly flat with some gentle hills. The land is mostly agricultural.

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.

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.

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.

There is no airport in the Norfolk Coast area.

Norfolk's only passenger airport is at Norwich, where a small number of flights arrive daily from cities throughout the UK and western Europe. Bus route 44/44A/X44/X40/X41 departs from Hellesdon near the airport for Cromer, West Runton and Sheringham.

The nearest major international airport is London Stansted, which lies in Essex. A large number of flights arrive into Stansted from cities throughout the UK, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. There is no direct public transport to the Norfolk Coast area.

Railway stations at King's Lynn, Sheringham, West Runton, Cromer, Roughton Road and Gunton are part of the National Rail network.

Regular trains arrive into King's Lynn direct from London King's Cross, Cambridge, Waterbeach, Ely, Littleport, Downham Market and Watlington.

From Brighton, London Gatwick Airport, Croydon, Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage, Harlow, Bishop's Stortford and Audley End, travel to Cambridge and change for trains to King's Lynn.

From London Stansted Airport, Birmingham New Street, Leicester, Melton Mowbray, Oakham, Stamford, Nottingham, Grantham, Peterborough, March and Norwich, travel to Ely and change for trains to King's Lynn.

Regular trains arrive into Sheringham, West Runton, Cromer, Roughton Road and Gunton direct from Norwich, Hoveton and Wroxham in the Broads National Park, and North Walsham.

Direct trains from London Liverpool Street, London Stratford, Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich, Stowmarket, Diss, London Stansted Airport, Audley End, Cambridge, Nottingham, Grantham, Peterborough, March, Ely, Brandon, Thetford, Attleborough and Wymondham arrive into Norwich, for trains towards Cromer and Sheringham.

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 - into Cromer and Sheringham from Norwich;
• Sanders Coaches 45 - into Holt from Norwich.

There are limited public transport options in North Norfolk. A car or taxi might be the only way of reaching some destinations, particularly at night.

Routes into the region include:

• to King's Lynn from Ely and Downham Market
• to King's Lynn from Newark-on-Trent and Sleaford
• to Cromer from Needham Market, Diss, Norwich and Aylsham
• between King's Lynn and Cromer via Fakenham
• between King's Lynn and Cromer via Wells-next-the-Sea, from Great Yarmouth, Stalham and North Walsham
• to Fakenham from Barton Mills, Brandon and Swaffham
• to Fakenham from Norwich
• to King's Lynn from Leicester, Peterborough, Wisbech, Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth, Norwich and Dereham

The leaves London northbound and passes Harlow, Bishop's Stortford, Stansted Airport and Saffron Walden. Exit at then use for Fakenham or for Cromer.

The crosses East Anglia from west to east. For the Norfolk Coast, exit at:

• then for King's Lynn
• for King's Lynn
• then for King's Lynn
• then for Fakenham or for Cromer
• then for Fakenham or for King's Lynn
• for Cromer

It is not easy to get around the Norfolk Coast by train, but some short hops are possible:

• Bittern Line ( National Rail) - Hop between Sheringham, West Runton, Cromer, Roughton Road, Gunton and North Walsham on the Bittern Line. Trains run throughout the day and you can book tickets using any National Rail ticket retailer. The Bittern Ranger ticket offers one-day unlimited travel on the line, which is also valid to Worstead, Hoveton and Wroxham in the Broads National Park, Salhouse, and Norwich. Change at Sheringham for Poppy Line trains towards Weybourne and Holt.
• Poppy Line/North Norfolk Railway - A heritage railway 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 trains towards West Runton, Cromer, Hoveton and Wroxham in the Broads National Park, and Norwich.
• Wells and Walsingham Light Railway - A narrow gauge railway using steam locomotives between Wells-next-the-Sea and Walsingham. A visitor attraction, the route closes during winter months except special events.

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, Wells-next-the-Sea, 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 towards Hunstanton and King's Lynn. Change at Cromer for Coasthopper CH2 towards North Walsham.
• Coasthopper CH2 - Cromer, Overstrand, Trimingham, Mundesley, Trunch, Swafield and North Walsham. Change at Cromer for Coasthopper CH1 towards Sheringham and Wells-next-the-Sea.

The Coast Road covers the 53 mi (85 km) distance between King's Lynn and Cromer along the Norfolk Coast. It passes through: King's Lynn, Castle Rising, Sandringham and the Sandringham Estate, Dersingham, Ingoldisthorpe, RSPB Snettisham, Snettisham, Heacham, Norfolk Lavender, Hunstanton, Old Hunstanton, Holme-next-the-Sea, Thornham, RSPB Titchwell Marsh, Titchwell, Brancaster, Brancaster Staithe, Burnham Deepdale, Burnham Norton, Burnham Overy Staithe, Holkham and the Holkham Estate, Wells-next-the-Sea, Stiffkey, Morston, Blakeney, Cley next the Sea, Salthouse, Kelling, Muckleburgh Military Collection, Weybourne, Sheringham, West Runton, East Runton and Cromer.

The route runs south from Cromer to Great Yarmouth via North Walsham, Stalham, the Broads National Park and Caister-on-Sea.

The A149 can become narrow in places, including in Stiffkey, where the road is single-track.

It may be faster to travel across the region using the between King's Lynn and Cromer, which passes: King's Lynn, Hillington, Harpley, Houghton Hall and Gardens, East Rudham, Coxford, Sculthorpe, Fakenham, Little Snoring, Thursford and the Thursford Collection of mechanical organs and old fashioned fairground carousels, Letheringsett, Holt, High Kelling, Sheringham Park, Roman Camp and Felbrigg Hall and Cromer.

Several routes cross the region south-north, through the villages. These include:

• B1440 - A148, Hillington, Sandringham, Dersingham, Ingoldisthorpe, Snettisham, A149 Coast Road
• B1153 - A148, Hillington, Flitcham, Anmer, Great Bircham and Bircham Windmill, Docking, Brancaster, A149 Coast Road
• B1155 - B1153, Great Bircham, Bircham Tofts, Stanhoe, Burnham Market, Burnham Overy Town, Holkham, A149 Coast Road
• B1454 - A148, Coxford, Syderstone, Docking, Sedgeford, Norfolk Lavender, Heacham, A149 Coast Road
• B1355 - A148, Fakenham, Sculthorpe, South Creake, North Creake, Creake Abbey ruins and shopping, Burnham Market, A149 Coast Road
• B1105 - A148, Fakenham, West Barsham, Wells-next-the-Sea, A149 Coast Road
• B1156 - A148, Sharrington, Langham, Blakeney, A149 Coast Road
• - A148, Sheringham, A149 Coast Road

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.

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

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.

• 52.85730.44691 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. (updated Jun 2024)
• 52.96280.6038932 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. (updated Jun 2024)
• 52.9690.8133 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. (updated Jun 2024)
• 52.97720.97784 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. (updated Jun 2024)
• 52.9546610.9881195 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). (updated Jun 2024)

• 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.

Famous for locally caught seafood including Cromer Crabs.

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.

• 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.

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.