2 Bedroom North Norfolk Coast cottages

The curvature of the North Norfolk coastline gives excellent panoramic views over the North Sea and the Wash, enabling visitors to look out to sea to the west, north and east. The variation of coastal landscapes - ranging from traditional windswept sand and pebble beaches, through some of the finest examples of salt marsh and lagoons, and on to cliffs of varying hues - from fine white to darkest red - means that the county has much to offer a wide variety of visitors, from the most committed naturalist and birdwatcher, to the general holidaymaker who is simply in pursuit of leisurely days out.

Things to do on the North Norfolk Coast
Walkers, cyclists, nature-lovers and those in search of the ultimate family holiday will all find things to do on the North Norfolk Coast.

The Norfolk Coastal Path runs for more than 45 miles along the varying landscape, and stretches from the end of the ancient Peddars Way near Hunstanton in the west, through one of the largest coastal nature reserves in England and Wales, until it connects with the Weavers Way on the eastern reaches of the region at Cromer. Near to the western end of the Path, the RSPB reserves at Titchwell Marsh and Snettisham attract both human and avian visitors in abundance. The Snettisham reserve faces the Wash, the wide, almost square-shaped estuary, fed by the four rivers of the Great Ouse, the Nene, the Welland and the Witham; Snettisham is regularly visited by Bar-Tailed Godwits, Shelducks, Knots and Pink-footed Geese. At Titchwell Marsh, to the east of Hunstanton, the reedbeds, marshes and lagoons also attract great numbers of migrating birds. Pied Avocets, Bearded Tits, Marsh Harriers, Terns and Great Bitterns all breed in the area, and the reedbeds also encourage Reed Bunting, Sedge Warblers, Little Egrets and Reed Warblers.

The North Norfolk Steam Railway - nicknamed by locals as the ‘Poppy Line’ - runs from Sheringham, through Weybourne before ending its progress inland, in the fine Georgian market town of Holt. There are a number of excellent cycle routes in North Norfolk, and the Norfolk Coast Cycleway takes in some of the best scenery in the county, running parallel to the coast for over 92 miles, from King’s Lynn, via Cromer, to Great Yarmouth.

Top Destinations

Great Yarmouth – One of the leading resorts for family holidays in the UK, Great Yarmouth offers all that is best for the traditional British family holiday. With huge expanses of sand beach: ‘The Golden Mile’, two fine piers, a racecourse, and numerous hotels, B&Bs and holiday camps, there is always something to entertain visitors. At South Denes, the Britannia Monument, a precursor to Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square, celebrates the local hero, and faces inland towards his birthplace in Burnham Thorpe. Great Yarmouth is also home to the Norfolk Nelson Museum and to the Time and Tide (herring) Museum, ensuring entertainment whatever the weather.

Cromer and Sheringham – These two fine Victorian seaside towns take life at a slower pace, but are nevertheless popular holiday spots, not least due to their continued mainline rail connections with Norwich and beyond. 

Wells-next-the-Sea – Once a busy trading port, the long sandy beaches and almost genteel amusement arcades contrast sharply with the adjacent salt marshes and the pretty rolling countryside beyond the town. The availability of several camping sites and the closeness of the nearby grand Holkham Hall estate, underline the careful balance that the town treads between becoming a ‘full-on’ seaside resort and retaining its more select local ambience as a coastal fishing town.

Brancaster– Just three miles beyond Burnham Market, and at the edge of the marshland and lagoons of Brancaster Bay and Scolt Head, Brancaster is close to the ancient Roman settlement of Branodunum, although only the earthworks of the Saxon Shore fort are now visible to walkers. The Royal West Norfolk Golf Club is situated on the edge of the salt marsh and coast, with some course holes that are actually liable to flooding when the tide is particularly high. The road out to the Clubhouse and the beach car park are also subject to severe flooding at times of high tides. As with many places along this coast, the town is associated with the childhood of Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, who was born at the rectory in nearby Burnham Thorpe, and is said to have learnt to sail in the numerous small muddy creeks around Brancaster.

Hunstanton – Facing westwards towards the Wash, Hunstanton is one of the few places on the east coast of England where the sunset can be viewed over the sea (Whitstable in Kent being another). Although the town is largely adjacent to wide, flat sandy beaches, to the east of the town a run of distinctive red and white striped limestone and chalk cliffs lead round to the beaches of Old Hunstanton and Holme-next-the-Sea. Because of its proximity to the Wash, it is said that on a fine day it is possible to see across the estuary from Hunstanton, and into Lincolnshire and the high church tower that is known as ‘Boston Stump’.

King’s Lynn – Birthplace of naval officer and explorer Captain George Vancouver, this sea port and market town is perfectly positioned between the rolling hills of north-west Norfolk and the wide-open expanses of the Lincolnshire/Cambridgeshire fens.