BEACHES | Hoste Barn

beaches

Norfolk is home to some of the most beautiful and unspoilt beaches in the UK, offering miles of golden sand, dramatic dunes, colourful beach huts, and wide open skies. From lively seaside resorts with traditional amusements and family attractions to peaceful stretches of coastline perfect for walking, wildlife watching, and quiet relaxation, the county’s beaches have something for everyone.

Whether you are building sandcastles, exploring rock pools, spotting seals along the shore, or simply enjoying the fresh sea air, Norfolk’s coastline provides the perfect setting for a memorable day by the sea.

Mundesley

Mundesley is considered one of Norfolk's finest beaches, long and sandy with safe swimming at low tide and all the amenities and charm of a popular seaside resort. The beach is backed by a promenade lined with colourful beach huts.

Wells-next-the-Sea & Holkham

Wells-next-the-Sea is a jolly, bucket-and-spade beach, a mile from the lively town, with a lifeboat house at its eastern edge and sand which merges into the beach at Holkham. Characterised by its collection of brightly coloured beach-huts, backed by pine woods, it has low dunes and a beach café. At high tide it’s perfect for paddling, and when the water is at its lowest you can swim in the creek.

Holkham is a horseshoe-shaped, pale sand beach sheltered by pine forest, popular with horse-riders and perfect for kite-flying. When the tide is out, it’s a long walk to the sea, so not the best choice if you have small children and lots of gear to carry. However the vast stretch of sand means you can always find a quiet stretch of beach all to yourselves that’s peaceful and away from any crowds. Famous for featuring in the film ‘Shakespeare in Love’.

Cromer and Sheringham

Cromer is a Blue Flag beach—well-managed, long, and sandy. This large resort features a traditional pier, designated watersports zones, and lifeguards in summer. Crab boats unload their catch on the sand, and cafés and ice-cream parlours are nearby. The beach and pier define this vibrant Victorian seaside town. With endless attractions, it is a top family destination. Despite trendy coffee shops and a surf school, Cromer remains a peaceful spot.

Sheringham’s smooth beach pebbles decorate local homes—a tradition called flinting. The Blue Flag beach is pebbly or sandy, depending on the tide. The annual Viking festival, featuring a longboat burning, is a highlight. Just offshore, the chalk reef attracts summer snorkelers looking for eels, lobster, and crab. For a change of scenery, Sheringham Park offers sweeping beach views and vibrant summer blooms.

cley

Cley is not a place for spades or picnics. Instead, it’s a long stretch of smooth stones and shingle, backed by a marshland that's rich in birdlife, accessed by a short walk or drive from the village with its distinctive windmill, the fabulous Pinkfoot Gallery, Cley pottery and a deli for picnics and the dog friendly George pub.

Overstrand

Overstrand, southeast of Cromer, offers a quiet, sandy beach ideal for swimming, surfing, and sandcastles at low tide. It’s a great starting point for scenic coastal walks, including a circular route to Cromer and back along the cliffs. The village has cafés, a pub, a shop, and a unique church tower left behind by coastal erosion.

brancaster

Brancaster has strong tides but the sand is perfect for picnics and sandcastle-building - and the water recedes to leave shallow lagoons where young children can safely paddle and play. At low tide you can also see the 1940s shipwreck of the SS Vina half submerged in the sand. Rich in wildlife, you can spot avocets, oyster catchers, terns and seals which often loll on the shore and a links golf course lies in the dunes, backing the sand.

Horsey Beach

Horsey Beach- with a wild, barren, wonderful feel to it it is a great beach with the added attraction of being a fab place to come and watch seals during the winter months. There are no facilities here but just down the road from the car park is Poppylands Cafe.