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Norfolk Coast Walk

Tour: WB-NC6
Hotel To Hotel Walking Holiday
Linear walking holiday

Set out along Norfolk’s magical coastline from Hunstanton’s stripey cliffs to Repton’s rhododendron-filled parkland at Sheringham, to discover meandering creeks and sandy bays, marshlands teeming with wildlife and tiny fishing villages full of flint cottages. England's Norfolk Coast Path is brim-full of breathtaking vistas, inspiring seascapes and excellent nature reserves as well as the heritage haunts of Lord Nelson’s childhood sailing grounds near stylish Burnham Market. With steam railways and stately homes also on route and taxi or Coast Hopper bus rides an option, there is plenty of scope to shorten the day-to-day walks and enjoy the attractions. Definitely a walk where your binoculars will be your best friend if you wish, expect wildlife-watching opportunities a-plenty from wetland birds to seals basking on Blakeney Point, plus lots of local character and some mouthwatering seafood treats on this self-guided coastal encounter with Walking Breaks. Read More

Destination

England

Start Day

Sun

Board Basis

Bed & Breakfast

Prices from

£860.00

Duration

6 Days, 5 Nights

Availability

Jan - Nov

Tour Grade

Grade 1 (Very Easy)

Read Overview
Home > England > Norfolk Coast Walk

Overview

Discover North Norfolk’s awesome conservation coastline on a walk from Old Hunstanton to Sheringham that’s marked by meandering creeks, sandy bays, marshlands teeming with wildlife and tiny fishing villages full of flint cottages. Follow Norfolk Coast Path for breathtaking vistas, inspiring seascapes, excellent birdwatching and explore Lord Nelson’s homelands too. Highlights include Hunstanton’s stripey cliffs; vast sandy Holkham Bay and its nearby stately home; artsy Burnham Market; historic Wells-next-the-Sea, Sheringham Park and the coast-hugging North Norfolk heritage railway known as ‘The Poppy Line’. A self-guided coastal encounter with Walking Breaks that’s full of local character including tempting seafood treats.

Tour Code:
WB-NC6
Activity:
Walking
Type:
Hotel To Hotel Walking Holiday, Linear walking holiday
Country:
England
Area:
Norfolk
Duration:
6 Days, 5 Nights
Board Basis:
Bed & Breakfast
Availability:
Jan - Nov

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive & explore

Arrive in Old Hunstanton, north of King’s Lynn on the only stretch of the East Coast which faces west, where you’ll find the beautiful sandy beach only a short walk across the hotel lawns. Relax, enjoy the view and take in the sea air. Go for a wander by the dunes or near the striped red carstone cliffs perhaps. Your companion for the next few days will be the Norfolk Coast Path, so why not make its acquaintance today, together with the Peddars Way, and stroll south along the coast towards the razzmatazz of family favourite resort, Hunstanton? On route you’ll find historic chapel remains at St Edmunds Point where the future King of East Anglia landed in 855.

If you are able to arrive early and fancy getting straight out on the trail, we’ve a delightful circular coast and countryside walk taking in some of the ancient Peddars Way, Hunstanton and a rare area of Norfolk downland, if you wish.

Whatever you chose to do, be sure to have your trusty binoculars to hand – here, at the coast on a clear day, you may even glimpse Lincolnshire’s beacon church tower, ‘The Boston Stump’ across the wide waters of The Wash.

Overnight: Old Hunstanton

Mileage: Min 0 Max 8.5

Day 2 Horatio’s homelands

Set out north along the Norfolk Coast Path and you’re sure to soon fall in love with some of the county’s most inspiring coastal scenery.

Head past the parish of Holme-next-the-Sea where Sea Henge (now in King’s Lynn Museum) was discovered in the sand and keep your binoculars to hand in the Holme Dunes Nature Reserve as you hug the marshes and pass the creeks en route to the little village of Thornham. Titchwell Nature Reserve alongside Brancaster Bay is a must for birdwatchers and best accessed by the regular Coast Hopper bus services from Thornham whilst the Norfolk Coast Path weaves inland to rejoin the creeks and marshes at Brancaster for the meanders of the boating channels around Brancaster Staithe.

Walk alongside young Horatio Nelson’s early sailing grounds, as you approach the villages, where he grew up. Collectively known as ‘The Burnhams’, you’ll find reference to the naval hero everywhere here around the River Burn. Clock up Burnham Deepdale, nudge past Burnham Norton and Burnham Overy Town en-route to Burnham Market for your overnight stop. Nelson’s birthplace, Burnham Thorpe parsonage, is slightly further inland, but Burnham Market with its smart set of galleries and eateries has arguably become the new attraction these days – it has such a fashionable and modern-day celebrity following that it’s often nicknamed ‘Chelsea-on-Sea’.

If you fancy cutting back on the walking miles today to spend more time exploring Nelson’s haunts or the local bird reserves en route, then no problem –there are all sorts of options from short taxi rides to jumping on / off the much-loved Coast Hopper bus at specific points. We are happy to talk you through options and (if agreed in advance) will organise appropriate taxi transfers for you.

Overnight: Burnham Market

Mileage:  Min 9 Max 15

Day 3 Creeks, pines & Palladian creations

Rejoin the Norfolk Coast Path today at Burnham Overy Staithe and walk through the wonderful Holkham National Nature Reserve and the awe-inspiring, wild, sandy expanse that is Holkham Bay. From Holkham Gap, if you’re feeling energetic, a visit the Earl of Leicester’s Palladian style mansion of Holkham Hall is well worth the detour (additional 2.8 miles). With its awesome interiors and Roman Basilica-style entrance hall by William Kent, impressive fountains and parklands, it is one of Norfolk’s finest great houses.

Finally, the Path takes a sheltered route along the back of the pine wood strip to the beach at Wells-next-the-Sea with beach huts on stilts and lifeboat station. For a unique and relaxing end to the day, why not take the miniature railway for the last 3/4 mile? It follows the beach road to the old fishing town, the quayside and almost to your overnight accommodation!

Overnight: Wells-next-the-Sea

Mileage: Min 9.3 Max 12.1

Day 4 Historic harbours & flint fishing villages

Another day to have the binoculars at the ready! Head east along the sea wall path on the edge of the wild Warham and Stiffkey salt marshes and when you reach the creek, quayside and little village of Morston, there’s nothing like a boat trip to view the seal colony basking on the shores of the National Nature Reserve on Blakeney Point.

Seal-watching boat trips are also available a mile or so further down the Norfolk Coast Path at Blakeney, the truly historic little port where you spend the night. Don’t miss the ruins of the guildhall down by the quay or Blakeney’s impressive church, set on higher ground and a marker to mariners for centuries as well as a reminder of wealthy trading times past. Be sure to go inside, to view the medieval glass, possibly rescued from nearby Binham Priory or the town’s own, long-lost Carmelite priory whose ruins stand on the edge of the haunting marshes.

Overnight: Blakeney

Mileage: Min 7.9 Max 7.9

Day 5 From windmills to wild azaleas

Today you can start the walk either from Blakeney or, with a pre-arranged taxi transfer, from Cley-next-the-Sea, the stylish little village with the occasional artisan shop/ café and iconic five storey tower mill. Beyond Cley, the path hugs the shoreline whilst on the landward side, you pass another of the nature reserves that attracts millions of wild birds to this area. Later the walk takes you inland, where you may catch a glimpse of the bygone age of steam as you cross the North Norfolk Poppy Line before entering the beautifully maintained National Trust (NT) property of Sheringham Park known for its great sweeps of rhododendron species and bluebells, its butterflies and birdlife.

When local lad and landscape designer, Sir Humphry Repton, created his vision for the park in 1812, views of the coast were all part of his plan. Be sure to save some energy for the 192 step climb up the towering gazebo which emerges from the tree canopy – you’ll be rewarded with stunning views back over your tracks across the coast and countryside. It’s a breath-taking sight to the naked eye and another of the walk’s great binocular moments too. From this high-point, it’s only a short distance to your final night’s accommodation at Upper Sheringham, located adjacent to the park.

Overnight: Upper Sheringham

Mileage: Min 9.4 (with taxi transfer at no extra cost) Max 10.6

Day 6 Depart after breakfast

Depart after breakfast. If you wish to linger a while, there’s always a gentle stroll with the binoculars along the wildlife-rich, wooded paths in Sheringham Park, or maybe take a longer walk to the charming Victorian resort of Sheringham. You may even choose to put your feet up and celebrate your achievements with a steam train ride back through the Norfolk countryside on the North Norfolk Railway to Holt.

To return to Old Hunstanton, you can take advantage of the coastal hopper service or, with notice, we can arrange a taxi transfer back (prices on application).

Alternatively, Sheringham is just a short taxi ride from your accommodation. From here you can take the nostalgic steam railway to Holt where there are appropriate bus connections to Old Hunstanton.

At Sheringham also has access to the national rail network with services to Norwich and beyond. 

Mileage: Min 0 Max 6

Dates & Prices

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For tour start days/dates, seasons and all prices, please click on the PRICES button above

PRICE INCLUDES

Ensuite accommodation as described with full English breakfast (prices based on two adults sharing)

Luggage transfer between hotels

Detailed itinerary with meticulously planned and researched routes following theNorfolk Coast Path or other quiet footpaths, tracks and country lanes

Route notes, descriptions and OS 1:25,000 mapping with marked routes

We pride ourselves on our detailed level of documentation which includes plenty of top tips for places to visit or relaxing and sampling the local fare along the way. We send electronic versions of these documents by email approximately two weeks before your stay so you can plan ahead and look forward to your gentle walking adventure

Taxi transfers included: day 2 Old Hunstanton to Brancaster (if requested in advance), day 5 Blakeney to Cley (if requested in advance).

Please note that the price EXCLUDES

Taxi transfer from Sheringham back to Old Hunstanton, but we can arrange this in advance – price on request. A regular bus service is available from the centre of Sheringham back to Old Hunstanton.

Costs of getting to and from Norfolk

Accommodation Options

Selected 4 star hotels in Old Hunstanton and Burnham Market and very comfortable but unrated inns at Wells-next-the-Sea, Blakeney and Sheringham.

We are pleased to discuss details on request.

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