This summer we managed to get away camping and had a amazing stay at Hickling Campsite. We absolutely love Norfolk and have been a few times now. For us, one of the best things about this laid back county, is its proximity to the sea. We live about as far inland as it’s possible to be, so escaping to the coast is a real treat!
You really are spoiled for choice along the Norfolk coast, with beaches to suit everyone-whether you want a secluded, hidden gem or ice cream and arcades. We tend to prefer something in between. With small children, some facilities, such as toilets, make life a lot easier.
Here are our top 3 beaches in East Norfolk.
Sea Palling
We first visited Sea Palling a couple of years back, and we couldn’t wait to head there again this summer. For us it’s just the perfect sort of beach for families. It’s not a massive beach, but plenty big enough and if the tide is out, it’s nice to walk a bit further down and investigate the rock pools.
This Blue Flag beach is lovely and sandy, plus there is a cafe, pub and a fish and chip shop if you fancy a bite to eat. There are public toilets right next to the entrance to the beach, as well as a shop and amusements. It’s also not too far to walk from the beach to the car park, which is great when you’re laden down with everything.
Sea Palling has a lovely sandy beach
This beach is dog friendly and has a lifeguard in attendance. If you’re lucky, you might even get to see a seal or two as they are known to pop up to say hello from time to time (as Luke and Finn found out when they went swimming and had a close encounter!).
Cromer
I know it’s an obvious choice, but I make no apology for including Cromer in my list of top beaches in East Norfolk.
When I think of the seaside, I think of Cromer. It has everything a British seaside town should have: amusement arcades, fish and chips, great ice cream and a pier. But Cromer has so much more.
The pier at Cromer
If you’re a fan of seafood, you HAVE to try some Cromer crab, it is bloody delicious! Plus, you can try and catch your own from the pier. I love walking along and seeing what everyone has caught in their buckets.
It makes a great family day out, there are a few small rides on the seafront that Finn loves, a crazy golf course near the beach car park, plus plenty of places to eat your picnic.
The town is nice to wander round, with lots of shops to browse in and all the amenities you’d expect. I love how the whole place has a lovely old fashioned charm, and a laid back vibe.
Winterton-on-Sea
Winterton was a new discovery for us this summer, and I have no hesitation in putting it straight into our top 3 beaches in East Norfolk.
Of the three, it has the least facilities, but is still a great beach. There’s a car park, toilets and a small beach cafe and that’s pretty much all we need. The beach is lovely and sandy, and like Sea Palling is dog friendly.
Looking down on the beach from the dunes at Winterton-on-Sea
The area is well known for it’s dunes, which have been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and an area of outstanding natural beauty, so Winterton makes a great starting point if you want to explore the area on foot. The dunes are also part of the 84 mile long Norfolk Coast Path, which I’d love to walk sometime in the future.
The only drawback to this stunning beach is the short, steep sandy path back up to the car park. I had to make a few toilet trips with the kids and I was exhausted after going up and down there all day!
Have you ever visited any of these beaches? Do you have any other recommendations?
Looking for more places to explore in East Norfolk?
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