What better way to spend a 3-day break than on the North Norfolk Coast! Filling those three days is an easy task because this wonderful county is so full of surprises.
The beaches in the summer are to die for, with the tide going out for miles and leaving wonderful swathes of hard sand on which to walk and admire the amazing huge skies, which is what Norfolk is well known for. The walks along some of the many trails are beautiful, and history abounds in Norfolk with some of the old ruins and stately homes which are all fascinating.
Day 1: A day for relaxing on a Norfolk beach
You can’t visit Norfolk for a short break without taking a trip to the beach. Which one you choose is up to you, but the North Norfolk beaches are definitely the best! If you’re staying in or near Hunstanton, then Old Hunstanton beach is a real favourite, but somehow, even in the really busy times such as bank holiday weekends, this beach never seems to be crowded.
It’s an uncommercial beach and totally unspoilt, and at low tide you’re in for a treat; the seascape spreads out in front of you, a never-ending horizon, and you just feel yourself totally unwind! Imagine the wonderful hard sand on which to walk and, if it’s a bit windy, why not drop back amongst the sand dunes and beach huts and relax there. Whilst whiling away your day here, you could also take a little stroll towards Hunstanton to admire the three-tiered cliff face as well as explore the shipwreck at low tide.
Day 2: A day for a learning a little bit of Norfolk history!
Norfolk is incredibly rich in history and has certainly got it’s fill of incredible ruins. Castle Rising Castle, just north of King’s Lynn, is one such ruin. So, what better way to spend a day by visiting this fantastic heritage site?
Although it’s classed as a ruin, I think you’ll be surprised by how much of it is still intact. This is well worth a visit, especially as it’s one of the most famous 12th century castles in England. Let your imagination run wild, it’s very easy to do here! You’ll walk along the narrow passages with their arrow slits giving you incredible views over to The Wash, you’ll admire the wonderful stone steps up into the castle as well as the walkways and large rooms which really are very impressive and so well maintained by English Heritage.
For refreshments, you could bring your own food and sit in the grounds on the picnic tables, or even on the ramparts overlooking the village. If you don’t want a picnic, you can visit one of the pretty tea rooms in the village.
Having visited Castle Rising, you may then like to discover a little bit more of Norfolk’s history. A short distance from Castle Rising and close to Sandringham House is Wolfterton Royal Station Museum. This is a little hidden gem in Norfolk. There used to be a train line which ran from King’s Lynn to Hunstanton and Wolferton Station is the old station where Royalty used to alight when they came to stay at Sandringham. It is now a wonderful small private museum and is open most afternoons. It won’t take you too long to look around, but it is so picturesque and beautifully restored that it’s worth popping into on the way back to where you are staying.
Day 3: A day for walking, as well as bit of retail therapy!
This is a day that involves catching the excellent coasthopper bus and taking a bit of exercise and exploring another pretty Norfolk village! When you’re staying somewhere new, it’s always nice to visit the surrounding area and this is a perfect opportunity to do just that. This a lovely easily manageable 5 mile circular walk that you can do, (along with a tiny diversion), that will take you into the popular Georgian village of Burnham Market where you’ll discover some lovely independent shops as well as a couple of pubs and a few restaurants.
The pdf of the map by Norfolk Trails is here
For the small simple diversion, just walk straight into Burnham Market rather than turning right towards the coast at Friar’s Lane.
Once in Burnham Market you can enjoy wandering around the attractive village, have a bite to eat and then, should you choose, you can continue the circular walk back out of the village and into Burnham Norton, joining a little bit of the beautiful Norfolk Coast Path with stunning coastal scenery until you reach Burnham Overy Staithe again. However, if you felt that you’ve had too a good lunch (!) and didn’t want to walk back from Burnham Market to Burnham Overy Staithe then you can easily catch the bus from the middle of Burnham Market.
Suzy Watson is the author and owner of Explore Norfolk UK, an online resource for exploring Norfolk. She also organises walking holidays in Norfolk and has written 3 Norfolk guidebooks on walking and the beaches.