Brilliant beaches are a given when you visit Norfolk, so we’ve found 10 different ways to spend your hols…
10 See the seals by boat
During the Summer there are two boat trips a day with Beans Boats from Morston Quay to see the seals at Blakeney Point. It’s the largest seal colony in the country and they’re very curious mammals, so some might be basking on the sand while others swim over to have a look at you.
At Hunstanton you can enjoy a Searles Sea Tour to see seals in The Wash on their cool amphibious Wash Monsters.
Where to see the seals in Norfolk
9 Crabbing
A very simple pastime – you just need a line, a bucket with sea water in it and some bait.
Top spots are Blakeney and Wells-next-the-Sea quays and Cromer, from the pier.
You can also try the estuaries at Titchwell, Brancaster Staithe and Burnham Overy Staithe.
8 Fish and chips on the Prom
Cromer Promenade is a great place to do this. Get your traditional seaside fayre in of the many top quality establishments in the town, walk along the seafront and find a seat from which to consume your takeaway while enjoying the fine view that includes the magnificent Victorian pier.
Lots of vinegar and salt on your fish and chips – go on, you’re on holiday!
7 Walk the Norfolk Coast Path
All 90 miles of the coast is covered by the national trail and if you’re not doing the full stretch choose a few miles and use the coast hopper bus to get back to where you started.
There are lovely views all the way around, but the best are possibly when you head up the cliffs at Sheringham and the Runtons.
6 Discover the Deep History Coast
Come to north-east Norfolk’s unique Deep History Coast, cradle of British civilisation, and walk in the footsteps left by the UK’s first tourists nearly one million years ago. Yes, in Norfolk!
There are interpretation points and an app where you can discover about the near-million year old human footprints found at Happisburgh and the world’s best-preserved mammoth skeleton found at West Runton. And that’s just the beginning!
The Deep History Coast
5 Count the beach huts
You’ll find beach huts all around the coast, but on the beach at Wells-next-the-Sea there’s a seemingly never-ending stretch of higgledy-piggledy, multi-coloured beach huts. Enquire at nearby Pinewoods Holiday Park in advance and you might be able to hire one for the day.
So the big question is, how many huts are there exactly? You’ll need a lot more than ten fingers and ten toes!
4 Go birdwatching
Norfolk has some Premier League birdspotting, with nature reserves including Cley-next-the-Sea, Holme Dunes and Titchwell.
If you’re an early riser, enjoy the Snettisham Spectacular at dawn – hundreds of thousands of waders taking off from the mudflats and doing aerial manoeuvres over your head. Amazing!
3 Go rockpooling
When you’re at the seaside there’s nothing more magical than exploring the depths of a coastal rock pool.
Get a glimpse into the depths for an intriguing snapshot of life under the waves – this is the easiest way to get up close to marine wildlife.
You can rock pool (they’re also known as tide pools) at any time of the year but the best time is from late spring to early autumn when the weather is best and the water is still. The water tends to be warmest in September.
The best places to rock pool in Norfolk are at West Runton, Cromer, Sheringham and Hunstanton.
2 Dunes day scenario
There are fabulous marram grass-topped dunes around the Norfolk coast at places like old Hunstanton, Brancaster, Holme Dunes, Sea Palling, Horsey Gap and Great Yarmouth North, but perhaps the most interesting are at Winterton-on-Sea where you’ll find extensive trails backed by a gorgeous beach and you might even get to see a few seals.
1 Enjoy the Golden Mile
Yes, we’ve got fabulous natural landscapes to enjoy, but you need the ying to the yang so how about the wonderful mile of seaside amusements, arcades and rides at Great Yarmouth? Buy yourself an ice cream or fresh donuts and pootle along… or take a horse-drawn landau.
When you get to the end, pop into the Pleasure Beach and take a white-knuckle ride on one of the last wooden rollercoasters.
