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Coastal Walks Worth Lacing Up Your Boots For
From wide sandy beaches and peaceful saltmarshes to pine forests and seal colonies, North Norfolk offers some of England's most rewarding coastal walks for families. Whether you're planning an easy stroll with younger children or a longer adventure for older explorers, these five routes showcase the best of the Norfolk coast. Each includes verified distance, difficulty and walking times, along with the nearest Together Travel accommodation to help you plan your next coastal escape.
Which North Norfolk coastal walk is right for you?
| Looking for | Choose |
|---|---|
| Easy walk with young children | Cley Marshes Loop |
| Beach and woodland | Pine Forest Path |
| Longer family adventure | Wells-next-the-Sea & Holkham Loop |
| Wildlife and harbour views | Brancaster Staithe Circular |
| Seal spotting | Blakeney Point |
1. Cley Marshes Loop
The Cley Marshes Loop winds through reed beds, saltmarsh and peaceful lagoons, making it one of the most family-friendly walks on the North Norfolk coast. Boardwalks, bird hides and wide open views provide plenty of reasons to stop along the way, helping younger walkers enjoy the journey without feeling rushed.
Quick facts
Best for: Young families and wildlife lovers
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 3.9 miles (6.3 km)
Route type: Loop
Time: Around 1 hour 35 minutes
Nearest accommodation: Together Travel's Cley-next-the-Sea cottages, located in the village.
2. Pine Forest Path, Wells-next-the-Sea
This gentle circular walk combines the colourful beach huts and harbour at Wells-next-the-Sea with Holkham's beautiful pine woodland and sandy beach. Flat paths throughout make it ideal for younger children, while the changing scenery keeps the walk interesting from start to finish.
Quick facts
Best for: Families with younger children
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 3.6 miles (5.79km)
Route type: Loop
Time: Around 1 hour 35 minutes
Nearest accommodation: Together Travel's Wells-next-the-Sea cottages, close to the start of the route.
3. Wells-next-the-Sea & Holkham Village Loop
If your family enjoys a longer walk, this route combines North Norfolk's coastline with the beautiful Holkham Estate. Passing through parkland, woodland and open countryside before returning to the coast, it offers plenty of variety and opportunities to stop for refreshments in Holkham Village.
Quick facts
Best for: Families with older children
Difficulty: Medium
Distance: 6.5 miles (10.5 km)
Route type: Loop
Time: Around 2 hours 43 minutes
Nearest accommodation: Together Travel's Wells-next-the-Sea cottages.
4. Brancaster Staithe Circular Trail
Following quiet saltmarshes, coastal paths and the harbour at Brancaster Staithe, this walk is perfect for families who enjoy birdwatching and coastal scenery. Keep an eye out for wading birds and sailing boats while taking in sweeping views across the marshes.
Quick facts
Best for: Wildlife spotting and harbour views
Difficulty: Medium
Distance: 4.8 miles (7.8 km)
Route type: Loop
Time: Around 1 hour 40 minutes
Nearest accommodation: Together Travel's Brancaster cottages, including Tennyson Cottage.
5. Blakeney Point Shingle Walk
For adventurous families with older children, the walk to Blakeney Point offers one of North Norfolk's most memorable wildlife experiences. The route follows a shingle spit to one of England's largest grey seal colonies, with spectacular coastal views throughout. Walking on shingle is much more demanding than regular footpaths, so many visitors choose to walk one way before returning by boat from Morston.
Quick facts
Best for: Older children and seal spotting
Difficulty: Hard
Distance: 3.7 miles (5.9 km) one way, around 8 miles return
Route type: Linear (or one way with return boat trip)
Time: Around 4 hours on foot
Nearest accommodation: Together Travel's Cley-next-the-Sea and Salthouse cottages, both within a short drive of the starting point.
Choosing the right walk for your family
If you're travelling with toddlers or younger children, the Cley Marshes Loop and Pine Forest Path are excellent choices thanks to their flat terrain and shorter distances. Families with older children may enjoy the extra challenge of the Holkham Loop or Brancaster Staithe, while Blakeney Point is best saved for confident walkers looking to spot North Norfolk's famous seal colonies.
Many visitors also combine shorter coastal walks with time on the beach, fish and chips in Wells-next-the-Sea or a boat trip from Morston Harbour, making it easy to build a full day out around your walk.
Stay with Together Travel
Whether you're watching seals at Blakeney Point, wandering through Holkham's pine woods or enjoying peaceful marsh views at Cley, North Norfolk offers coastal walks you'll want to return to throughout the year. Staying with Together Travel means you can explore a different stretch of coastline each day before relaxing in a comfortable coastal cottage close to your next adventure.
Browse our North Norfolk cottages to find the perfect base for your walking holiday.