There's nowhere like North Norfolk
North Norfolk embraces around 400 square miles and is one of the most beautiful coastlines in the UK. As you travel around the area you will come across pretty villages, bustling market towns, secluded sandy beaches and acres of unspoilt countryside.
| | View from the coast
North Norfolk embraces around 400 square miles at the far eastern tip of England. Its coastline stretches for 43 miles and much of it is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The diverse landscape includes wide sandy beaches, pine forests, saltmarshes and mudflats and as the seasons change the countryside takes on very different qualities.
| On the beach
North Norfolk is famous for its long, white sandy beaches such as those at Holkham, Wells and Brancaster - the setting for pop videos, movies and lots of happy family days out. The wide beaches are washed by safe shallow waters and are perfect for sunbathers, swimmers and those looking for plenty of space to play.
Further along the coast, Mundesley is a 'Blue Flag' beach where children can paddle safely in tidal pools and the pebbly beach at Sheringham has also won a Blue Flag award for its cleanliness.
As you drive along the North Norfolk coast road you are bound to discover your own favourite beach.
|  | Towns and villages
North Norfolk has some wonderful and picturesque towns and villages which are perfect for a day out or as the base for your holiday in the county.
Cromer and Sheringham have been popular seaside resorts for almost 200 years and offer a relaxed pace of life for those looking for a really laid back holiday. Both towns have a Blue European Flag for their clean beaches and bathing waters.
Blakeney, Cley and Wells are outstanding centres for wildlife and a paradise for birdwatchers. You can take a boat to Blakeney Point to see the seals or try out crabbing on the quayside.
Holt is a small Georgian town which is a great place for shopping or browsing around the many art and crafts galleries. You won't be able to resist the tempting cafes and speciality food shops.
Walsingham is known all over the world as a pilgrimage centre for people of many faiths. There are several religious buildings in the pretty village and the peaceful atmosphere makes Walsingham a perfect place for those who want to escape for a while from the hustle and bustle of the larger resorts.
| | | The natural choice
North Norfolk forms part of the largest coastal nature reserve in England and Wales. Bitterns and terns, oyster catchers, avocets and marsh harriers are among the species which make North Norfolk a prime site for birdwatching.
The Peddars Way is probably one of the most famous paths in the UK. It starts from Thetford and as it approaches the coast at Holme next the Sea it becomes the Norfolk Coast Path. The route runs all the way to Cromer but there are several optional detours on the way. Walking along the path is a wonderful way to see the North Norfolk countryside from a different perspective. You can click here to see a visual journey of the Norfolk Coast Path.
The Norfolk Wildlife Trust's reserve at Holme Dunes is one of the north Norfolk coasts most attractive landscapes and the combination of mudflats, sand dunes, saltmarsh and reedbeds have an air of mysticism. It is an important birdwatching site where you can look for a huge variety of species including avocets, ringed plovers, redshanks, curlews and lapwings. Holme Dunes is another key site for winter wildfowl.
At Salthouse Marshes, further along the coast, a shingle bank protects the coastal grazing marshes and salt water lagoons from the voracious appetite of the North Sea. Bird watchers can look out for black-tailed godwits, ruffs, redshanks and snow buntings as well as several thousand brent geese in the winter months
| | Chelsea on sea
For those seeking sophisticated exclusivity then the villages of North Norfolk, including Burnham Market, Blakeney and Cley-next-the sea, offer stylish shops and award winning restaurants.
Often referred to as Chelsea on Sea, North Norfolk has become a popular destination for the sophisticated London set and has many celebrity fans. In the numerous restaurants, cafes, boutiques and galleries you will find fine food, beautiful clothes, art and gifts to rival the best Covent Garden has to offer.
| Want to find out more?
In this section we've given you just a flavour of North Norfolk. You can find out lots more about places to stay and things to do by clicking on the link below. | | |   North Norfolk Hotel & Guest House Association
Find out more about Hotels and Guest Houses in North Norfolk. 
Useful Links
Nelson
One of Englands best known maritime heros, Admiral Lord Nelson, was born in North Nofolk. Find out more here.
The Nelson Society
See the seals
Discover more about the seals of North Norfolk here.
Norfolk Coast Partnership
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