Saltmarsh, dunes and enormous tidal beaches along north Norfolk, with huge skies, seals and first-rate birdwatching
North Norfolk’s coast is right at the edge, where land gives way to marsh, sand and sea — a low, wide country of saltmarsh, shingle and dune under enormous skies. The National Landscape follows 446 square kilometres of it, and the birdlife is why many people come.
Blakeney has a long shingle spit with one of England’s largest grey seal colonies out at the point, reached by boat trips from the nearby harbours. Holkham is a great sweep of beach backed by pinewoods, and Scolt Head Island and Holme Dunes protect nesting birds along the same stretch. The Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path links much of it on foot.
The marshes flood on the tide, and channels fill faster than you’d think, so keep to marked routes and check tide times before walking out towards the sea. Autumn and winter bring the big flocks of geese and waders, and the grey seals come ashore to pup; summer is the busy beach season.
