Walk the Beautiful Norfolk Coast

Norfolk Coast Path: 5 days from Hunstanton to Cromer

Itinerary

This level coastal walk offers an easy-going introduction to England’s walking trails with a difference – sleeping under canvas every night! The daily distances are easily manageable at a gentle pace with plenty of time to explore the charming fishing villages and historic ports along the way.

Day 1 - From Hunstanton to Burnham Deepdale

Walk from Hunstanton to Thornham, past the lighthouse and ruins of St Edmunds Chapel along the cliff-top route or along the beach itself at low tide. Holme Dunes provides a rich natural habitat and is perfectly located to attract migratory birds. In recent years the shifting sands exposed the 4,000-year-old remains of ‘Sea Henge’, this Bronze Age monument built from uprooted timbers rather than the more familiar stone megaliths of the British Isles. 12 miles (19 km)

Day 2 - From Burnham Deepdale to Wells-Next-The-Sea

Follow the Coastal Path through to Holkham and on to Wells-next-the-Sea. Walk through beautiful coastal landscapes with views of salt marshes, wander through sand dunes and onwards to one of the UK’s most pristine beaches. See the line of classic English beach huts, with their pinewood backdrop before taking the light railway from the Wells beach inland to the quaint old port of Wells. Have a go at crabbing on the quayside or relax in a cosy seaside inn. 16 km / 10 miles

Day 3 - From Wells-Next-The-Sea to Blakeney

Spend the morning exploring the harbour and independent shops and galleries of Wells before returning to the contrasting pleasures of the coastal path, walking eastwards towards Blakeney through wild salt marsh and beside hidden creaks and inlets. Watch bait diggers out on the mud flats or take a trip from Morston to see the seals at Blakeney Point National Nature Reserve. 14.5 km / 9 miles

Day 4 - Blakeney to Sheringham

Walk along the rabbit-trimmed grass paths overlooking one of the most important areas of salt marsh in Europe, stopping off at the Cley Marshes nature reserve at Cley-next-the-Sea. Walking along windswept pebble strands, the trail continues east along the coast. Looking inland, the succession of medieval church towers along the coastline, provided navigational beacons for returning fishing boats and visiting ships over many centuries. Lunch at Cookies famous crab shack at Salthouse is a must. 19 km / 12 miles

Day 5 - From Sheringham to Cromer

At Sheringham, the natural beauty of the shoreline merges into the quintessential pleasures of a quaint English seaside resort. This stage includes the highest point in Norfolk with expansive views over the North Sea and the coast path to Cromer. There’s plenty of time to explore the Victorian seaside town of Cromer with its traditional pier. Climb the church tower for spectacular views, visit the charming museum or the Fisherman’s Heritage Centre and sample the world-famous Cromer Crab. 6.5 km / 4 miles

Accommodation

The North Norfolk Coast is blessed with some of the county’s finest places to eat and drink – all specialising in locally sourced produce. Choose from places such as The White Horse pub at Brancaster Staithe where you can sit and watch a spectacular sunset over the marshes whilst enjoying Norfolk’s finest produce, or enjoy a drink and a pancake on the deck of the Albatross – a former Dutch cargo ship moored in Wells-next-the-Sea while you watch the fishing boats disappear out to sea.

Travel

Air / Rail

Train from Stansted Airport via Ely to Kings Lynn (1hr 40mins). Eurostar to London St Pancras then Train to Kings Lynn.

Ferry

Stena Line’s Dutchflyer Rail & Sail service provides city-to-city travel by rail and ferry from Amsterdam/Rotterdam to Norwich, via Harwich International. Then either take a train or bus to north Norfolk.

Bus Service

Bus service: Lynx Coastliner bus from Kings Lynn through to Wells-next-the-Sea. Ongoing bus services to Norwich and beyond.

The trail is well-served by the dependable Coasthopper bus service, making it easy to try a different walk every day from a fixed accommodation base or hop on and off the trail to explore whichever sections appeal.

Car

If arriving by car we can recommend accommodation providers who will happily let you leave your car with them whilst you walk the Norfolk Coast with us if you stay for a minimum of one night with them. Contact details will be provided on request.

Local taxi service contact details will be provided on request.

Advice

The Norfolk Coast Path is one of the gentler National Trails and classified as ‘moderate’ by many walkers. The terrain is varied but is generally flat or with only gentle gradients. The route is particularly suitable for anyone new to long-distance walking. Our favourite times of the year to walk the Coast Path are during the months of May, June and early September where you will find you will have the coast path almost to yourself and the campsites are quiet with the best pitches reserved just for you.

Food & Drink

The seafood is incredible and you can’t visit the Norfolk coast without experiencing the famous Cromer Crab and lobster. Visit Rocky Bottoms near Sheringham for a delicious meal of freshly caught and prepared seafood.

Experience Samphire (pronounced Samfer) – a sea vegetable with vibrant green stalks and one of nature’s true taste sensations which you’ll find in abundance on the marshes. We love foraging for samphire and accompanying it with homemade bread, lashings of local butter and a sprinkle of black pepper. It’s also a delicious accompaniment to fresh seafood.

You will also be spoilt for choice with locally produced beers as Norfolk boasts over 50 breweries! North Norfolk has the ideal conditions for growing malt barley for beer – a perfect combination of soil type, height and the maritime climate of salty sea frets (a sea mist).