5 of our favourite quiet, secret & secluded beaches in Norfolk

Norfolk has a well-deserved reputation for being one of the most beautiful parts of the country. An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this region’s immaculate 84-mile coastline leaves you truly spoiled for choice.

While we can’t promise private beaches, we can share some of our top recommendations for the most secluded and secret spots we think you’ll love — the very best places for soaking up sea breeze and jaw-dropping panoramas, without the crowds…

The best quiet, secret & secluded beaches on the Norfolk coast

Although the excitement of Great Yarmouth or Cromer can be a great fun-filled family day out, sometimes a more secluded seaside adventure is in order.But, with so much choice, it can be difficult to know where to start. So we’ve done some of the work for you — here’s our five recommendations of the very best-kept secret beach spots!

1. Titchwell— for wildlife, history and secluded sand dunes

First on our list is the RSPB Nature Reserve, Titchwell. Renowned for its abundant birdlife, this beach offers an incredible mix of fresh and saltwater habitats to keep the keen twitchers out there happy.

However, even if you’re not there for the wildlife, you can take an approximate one-kilometre walk through the reserve to then be rewarded with the sea. You’ll get to enjoy changing landscapes of reeds and marshes as you go, before reaching the dunes and the beautiful, wide beach at the end — incredibly Instagrammable, if that’s your thing!

It’s stunning and usually very quiet, so you’ll get to enjoy the full impact of the amazing views. For any history buffs out there, you can even spot some WWII artefacts — the site is home to the ruins of a former war bunker and remains of two tanks.

Bring Fido too, of course — just make sure he’s kept on a lead through the nature reserve, and keep your eyes peeled for fenced off nesting areas. Once on the beach, however, there’s no dog restrictions at all!

For a bite to eat and a refreshment afterwards, The Jolly Sailors in neighbouring Brancaster is worth a visit. They’re completely dog friendly.

2. Sea Palling— for quintessential Norfolk coast

We’d be remiss to mention what’s on our doorstep at Waxham Sands and Golden Beach — the glorious golden sands of Sea Palling, second on our list.

Not only does it hold Blue Flag status, a symbol of its cleanliness, water quality and impeccable facilities, but it’s also completely dog friendly, making it the ideal destination for ball chasing and stick fetching on those hazy summer’s mornings.

Sea Palling itself is a gorgeous, quiet and quintessentially Norfolk village nestled on the north coast — be sure to call in at the pet-friendly Reefs Bar for a post-walk refreshment, a lovely little eatery overlooking the beach.

It’s very rarely crowded, particularly compared to popular Norfolk coastal hotspots like Yarmouth, Gorleston, Hunstanton or Cromer.

3. Horsey Gap— for seal spotting & wild sense of seclusion

From the aforementioned Sea Palling, stroll a quarter of a mile down the coast, through a small section of the Broads and past Waxham, until you arrive at Horsey Gap, the year-round home to some delightful grey seal colonies and our third suggestion for secluded seaside fun.

It’s not just about the seals, although it’s hard to deny they do tend to steal the show — understandably. The beach itself is part of the largest dune system in the area, backing onto Horsey Warren. You can see for miles around, instilling that sense of quietness, secrecy and seclusion.

Totally accessible, the beach has a small car park. Head slightly inland and you’ll find Horsey Windpump, providing a quintessential ‘Norfolk’ backdrop for any photographers and Instagrammers.

4. Cart Gap— a winding walk to secluded sea views

Just up the coast from Sea Palling and Horsey is lovely little Cart Gap, a stunning slice of heaven hidden away down a narrow lane and farmland. Stick with it, though — you’ll be treated to an incredible stretch of coastline with sand dunes and views you’ll be hard-pressed to forget.

It also boasts facilities including parking, toilets and a cafe, which many of the more secluded beaches do not — so that’s a huge plus if you want to make a day of it. Furry friends are welcome too, of course. Cart Gap is completely dog friendly.

On your way down the winding lane to the beach, you’ll happen upon Smallsticks Café, the perfect little afternoon tea stopoff, with dogs welcome in the garden. Sample their lovely locally-caught crab or lobster, or the eggs and potatoes fresh from their farm.

5. Trimingham— for truly leaving the crowds behind

Our final pick is Trimingham. Now, we promised you remote and quiet and this certainly fits the bill, but it requires a bit of commitment!

We recommend that to enjoy Trimingham, you park further along in Mundesley. You can then walk north west — being mindful of tide times — to find this section of incredible coastline. The walk will take approximately an hour, but trust us, it’s worth it.

You’ll see you start to leave the rest of the beachgoers behind and you’ll reach the spectacular seclusion this beach has to offer. You can easily spend a day playing in the sand, relaxing, or scoring the landscape for fascinating geological finds!

It’s a real favourite with intrepid seaside explorers, dog walkers and water sport enthusiasts.

Looking to discover Norfolk’s incredible coast?

Norfolk’s coast is spectacular and certainly rivals the breathtaking, wildlife-rich Broads for stunning scenery. This is by no means an exhaustive list — there’s so many amazing secluded spots!

For coastal escape to Norfolk, you might want to book a break at Waxham Sands Holiday Park, perfectly placed by Horsey Gap’s sand dunes. We offer luxury touring and camping holidays; whether you’re pitching up or living it up in your tourer, our friendly on-park team can’t wait to welcome you.

If you’re considering holiday home ownership — which we’ll appreciate isn’t something you’ll do on a whim! — you might want to check out Golden Beach, our luxurious park nestled on Norfolk’s coast. That’s not forgetting Azure Seas, our owners-only park in Suffolk, where you’re only a trip up the road from these coastal hidden gems.

Both of our parks are dog-friendly and are mere moments from two of the beaches on this list — Sea Palling, Horsey Gap and Cart Gap — so they’re a great base for your coastal capers and adventures!

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