TOP 5 | Winter Beach Walks

This winter, spend some time in Norfolk to discover the beautiful beaches. The countryside feels magical as it sparkles with frost and the sea swirls under stunning sunsets. The water may not be inviting, but wrap up warm as there's nothing better than a bracing walk along the sand. Here are our Top five beach walks we recommend for blowing the cobwebs away this winter.

Hunstanton

Hunstanton beach is one of the sunniest resorts in Norfolk, known as 'Sunny Hunny' even in winter.. Famous for its striped cliffs, dramatic sunsets and extensive sandy beaches, it's perfect for letting your dogs run free! It is also the best beach for kitesurfing and windsurfing, so if you’re feeling adventurous, get in touch with Hunstanton Water Sports and give it a go! It's also part of the Norfolk Coastal Path; you can either walk along the beach itself or amongst the dunes and the beach huts overlooking the swathes of sand.

Holkham

Holkham beach is one of the most stunning areas of coastline to visit in Norfolk. With its endless miles of unspoilt golden sands and large, beautiful landscapes with massive skies, you’ll want to return again and again. More often than not, the tide is out, leaving this wonderful hard sand to walk on, and for all those horsey lovers looking for a new perfect spot to ride on, then Holkham is the place for you. Holkham is also completely dog friendly, and with the beach being so open, they can run for miles! As the beach is an un-commercial beach, make sure to stock up on plenty of nibbles and drink as the walk back to the car isn't a short one.

Horsey

Horsey’s pale sands and huge skies are beautiful any time of year, but Horsey is extra special in winter because it comes to life with seal pups! Horsey is famous for being the home to thousands of seals and their pups this time of year. Although the beach is shut off to the public, you can still view them up close from the top of the dunes, which is a truly fantastic sight. After seeing the seals, you can then take a lovely circular walk around the Horsey windpump and Brograve drainage mill, which was built back in the mid-1800s.

Trimingham

Trimingham is a much loved secret gem, mainly owing to the challenge of finding and accessing it. The high cliffs at Trimingham are composed of some of the youngest chalk in the United Kingdom and are well known as a spot for fossil hunting and collecting shells.

The beach is popular with watersports enthusiasts and perfect for letting your dogs run free, the perfect place to escape to, to enjoy that fresh beach air.

Cley Next The Sea

If you are looking to mix walking with birdwatching, you can do no better than visiting Cley. Cley is home to one of the best nature reserves in Norfolk. To reach the beach you will travel for 1 mile across the glorious marshes, known as a bird breeding sanctuary. The beach, grazing marsh and reedbeds attract wintering and migrating wildfowl and waders, making it a haven for birdwatchers. Cley also sits on the Norfolk Coastal Path, where you can walk from Cley to Holme Next The Sea, which joins the ancient Peddars Way National Trust.