Wells Short Break: Big Sky Walking on the North Norfolk Coast

Try a taste of the Norfolk Coast Path. This lovely three-day trip, based in the old fishing port of Wells-next-the-Sea, is the perfect introduction to the National Trail and the habitats and heritage that lie along it. Much of the area explored on this short break lies within the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a place of sweeping salt marshes, tidal mudflats, endless sands and huge skies that attract an incredible wealth of wildlife.

During your self-guided escape, you’ll stay at the heart of this special region, following the Norfolk Coast Path both east and west of Wells – two of its best sections. You’ll stride across beaches that seem to stretch forever, spot a bevy of birds, visit a grand stately home and eat very well indeed – the seafood and fish and chips here in particular are some of England’s best.

Tour Overview

The icons below highlight the distance, difficulty and theme of this itinerary.

Days

Distance

Walks from 10km to 12.5km

Difficulty

Easy

Landscape

Connecting Villages & Towns / By Water

Theme

History / Food & Drink / Wildlife / Coastal

Activities & Experiences

Walking / Heritage

Person walking on sandy beach with blue sky behind

photo EGWT

Wells Short Break: Big Sky Walking on the North Norfolk Coast

Here’s everything you need to help you plan your very own walking and exploring break in North Norfolk. Click on the blue arrow tabs below for more information. To save this itinerary to view later, use the Save to My Rucksack button at the top of the page.

Itinerary

This self-guided short break, based in Wells-next-the-sea gives you the chance to spend a few days exploring one of most beautiful parts of the country: the North Norfolk Coast. Combine walks via world-class beaches, incredible bird-life and one of Norfolk’s most striking stately homes with sampling fantastic local food.

Day 1 Arrive in Wells-next-the-Sea

After a hearty breakfast, catch the handy Coasthopper bus west to the peaceful hamlet of Burnham Overy Staithe to walk out along the creek, past the tidal mudflats. As you wander away from the harbour, keep an eye out: this area is rife with birds.

Continue onto the sand dunes at Gun Hill, which part way to give incredible coastal views. Then stroll among the pine trees of Holkham Nature Reserve or along vast Holkham Beach – one of the best in the country. Next, walk along Wells Beach, via the bright-painted beach huts, to arrive back into town.

Walk: 10.5km. Overnight in Wells-next-the-Sea.

Day 2 Holkham Hall

Today, return to Holkham for a closer look at the elegant estate just inland. This 18th-century Palladian-style house sits within extensive grounds. Explore the elegant hall, visit the museum, refuel in the cafe and follow the network of trails that lead around the estate’s farmland, formal gardens and sweeping deer park. It’s very easy to spend a whole day here.

Walk: 10km. Overnight in Wells-next-the-Sea.

Day 3 Wells-next-the-Sea to Blakeney

Today, head east, to the pretty village Blakeney. This wild and bracing walk leads through salt marshes flush with wildlife, with huge views towards Blakeney Point in the distance. Follow the trail along sea walls and marshes to reach the quay at Blakeney. Stop here – or at Morston, en route – for a lovely lunch: there are places here serving the finest mussels and traditional Norfolk dishes you’ll find. Then take a wander around the pretty harbour before catching the Coasthopper bus back to Wells-next-the-Sea.

Walk: 12.5km. Overnight in Wells-next-the-Sea.

Accommodation

There are a range of accommodation, including campsites, B&Bs, guesthouses, holiday lets and hotels

Food & Drink

The food and drink along the North Norfolk Coast is first-class: expect excellent mussels, crab and other seafood. Wells-next-the-Sea has a wide range of eating options, from quality takeaway fish and chips to lovely delis, family-run restaurants and traditional pubs. There are also many fine dining and Michelin-starred establishments in the local area.

Activities

This grade of this tour is easy – the terrain is largely flat.

Walks

Burnham Overy Staithe to Wells-next-the-Sea, 10.5km
Holkham estate, various trails up to 10km
Wells-next-the-Sea to Blakeney, 12.5km

Experiences

Mix walks with other experiences along the Norfolk Coast.

Holkham Estate – Expansive working estate, with parkland, a fine old house, museum, tea rooms and craft and garden centres.
Seal-watching boat trips run from Morston and Blakeney to Blakeney Point, home to the largest colony of breeding grey seals in the country.

Coastal England

The Norfolk Coast Path stretches around most of the county’s coast line, and will be part of the England Coast Path.

Travel

Wells-next-the-Sea is located on the North Norfolk Coast, approximately 50 minutes by car from King’s Lynn and 55 minutes from Norwich.

There is no train station in Wells-next-the-Sea. You can catch the train to King’s Lynn and then get a bus or taxi to Wells, or a train from Norwich to Sheringham and then the bus from there to Wells.

The local bus service from King’s Lynn to Wells is the Lynx No 36; from Wells to Cromer it’s the Sanders Coaches CH4. Norfolk Green bus services No 10 and 11 also run from King’s Lynn to Hunstanton.

Advice

This trip can be taken anytime between April and October. In order to visit the interior of Holkham Hall, you need to book your holiday to take in a Sunday, Monday or Thursday; the grounds are open every day but the Hall has restricted opening times.

We advise that you check opening times and booking restrictions before travelling.

Please check out these links for latest advice when in the countryside

Countryside Code

COVID-19 Guidance