Dogs and responsible owners are welcome on many Norfolk beaches year-round. In fact, on these beaches you’ll look positively under-dressed if you don’t have a canine friend!
Check time tides as well, because many of these beaches are best at low tide. And always look out for restrictions for things like nesting birds.
Otherwise, have a great time with your four-legged chums…
Brancaster
Miles and miles of unspoilt shimmering sand and shallow water to splash in. A doggy delight. Car park is by the Royal West Norfolk Club.
Holkham
Park at the end of Lady Anne’s Drive, opposite the entrance to Holkham Hall, then walk along the boardwalks through the pine woods until you find yourself on a huge expanse of beautiful sand.
Wells-next-the-Sea
As picturesque as it gets, with 200 higgledy-piggledy multi-coloured beach huts. Enter with dogs from the car park at the far end. Best at low tide, when the beach is, as we say in Norfolk, WHOOGE! The beach café is very dog-friendly too.
Old Hunstanton
With shallow tidal waters this is popular with kite surfers too. Enjoy the backdrop of stripy-coloured cliffs.
Gorleston-on-Sea
Park up on the cliffs and take your pooch to the southern end of the beach.
Great Yarmouth
The marram grass-studded beaches to the north of the resort are a doggy playground.
Winterton-on-Sea
Great for sniffing around sand dunes and then haring off across the sand.
Sea Palling and Waxham
A quiet tucked-away stretch of fine sand which your dog will love.
Mundesley
Lovely sandy beach reached by walkways down from the cliffs. Best at low tide.
Happisburgh
This is on Norfolk’s Deep History Coast so you’ll be treading in the footsteps of the first humans to visit Britain – walking on a land spur from Holland.
Do remember that Norfolk’s coast is home to globally important bird species so please look out for any restricted areas and put your dog on a short lead.
As well as looking out for and observing these restrictions, please:
In the breeding season (April to July)
- Avoid shingly areas near the top of beaches.
- Avoid groups of terns and protective rope and stake cordons.
- Don’t approach too closely. Watch from a distance and avoid disturbing the birds.
- Keep dogs on a lead near any colonies or likely nesting areas.
- Keep a sharp eye out for small waders with chicks on the beach and give them a wide berth.
- Help to inform others.
In the migration and wintering season (August to March)
- Avoid disturbing flocks of waders and wildfowl on beaches or marshes – keep dogs on a lead or under close control if necessary.
- Help to inform others.
