North Norfolk - Coast and Country

North Norfolk boasts a spectacular coastline, with miles of glorious beaches and wonderful coastal villages. Inland you’ll picturesque market towns and a wealth of historic houses. With an abundance of wildlife, seaside fun and visitor attractions, it’s easy to see why North Norfolk ticks all the boxes for a great UK Staycation!

The stretch of coast between Hunstanton, in the North, and the pretty town of Sheringham is spectacular. Much of this coastline is designated as an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’.

Hunstanton retains much of its Victorian charm and is a popular holiday destination in its own right, with the usual seaside attractions and SEA LIFE Sanctuary and Aquarium.

Next along the A149 coastal road is Thornham Old Harbour, RSPB Titchwell Marsh and the lane leading to Brancaster Beach – popular with wind- and kitesurfers.

A little further you’ll find The Burnhams – a group of adjacent villages, including Georgian Burnham Market with gift shops and boutiques.

The landscape changes at Holkham, where sweeping golden beaches are backed by pine woods. Here you’ll find the Holkham Hall and Estate, privately owned but a popular day out to visit the Hall and Walled Gardens.

In contrast to Holkham’s vast stretch of sandy beach and dunes, Wells-next-the-Sea has a bustling vibe. Almost midway between Hunstanton and Cromer, this pretty port has plenty to explore and its colourful beach huts are pure Instagram fodder!

Stiffkey (often pronouced ‘stew-key’) and Morston sit at either side of Blakeney Harbour, and it’s from the latter – at Morston Quay - that a variety of seal watching trips set off to view the marine mammals and summer breeding birds at Blakeney Point.

From here to Weybourne, you’ll pass the famous Cley windmill, Salthouse and the Muckleburgh Military Collection, which is definitely worth a visit.

Inland from here you’ll find the lively town of Holt, packed with delightful shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants, and Kelling Heath with acres of woodland and heath.

Back to the coast – by North Norfolk’s Railway ‘The Poppy Line’ perhaps? This heritage steam railway runs between Holt and Sheringham. Sheringham is a traditional seaside town with a Blue Flag beach and high-tide rockpools to explore.

Further to the East is the imperious clifftop setting of Cromer, with its Victorian pier and attractions including the RNLI Henry Blogg Museum and nearby Amazona Zoo and National Trust’s Felbrigg Hall, Gardens and Estate.

Children are served their Fish and Chips in a keepsake bucket and spade set at No 1 Cromer and you’ll find the ubiquitous Cromer Crab at every turn!

The coastline then meanders southward to the secluded beaches of Mundesley and Happisburgh, with its striped lighthouse, and inland to the traditional market town of North Walsham.

A little further inland, towards Aylsham, is the National Trust’s Blickling Estate and RAF Oulton Museum – a fascinating 17th Century Jacobean stately home, used as a base during WWII.

Don’t overlook a visit to Norwich itself, which is full of surprises. This historic city is compact and easy to get around, with a variety of shops and restaurants, cafes and pubs – and of course Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery.

Check out the choice of caravan and holiday parks en-route:

www.caravanclub.co.uk

www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk

www.visitnorthnorfolk.com/stay

Traditional pub lunches, fish and chips and afternoon teas can be enjoyed all along the coast, but don’t forget to try the famous Cromer crab, Brancaster mussels or Stiffkey cockles. Some of the best malting barley is grown in North Norfolk and the area has an abundance of microbreweries to sample!

Did you know?.. There are many facts and features unique to North Norfolk.

Burnham Thorpe is Nelson’s birthplace.
Cromer Chalk Reef is the world’s longest, at over 20 miles long and over 100,000 million years old.
Norfolk has 120 round tower churches … and one pyramid – a mausoleum built at Blickling in 1794!