Norfolk Coast Path : Hunstanton to Cromer Walk
A quiet coastal path with wide beaches, sand dunes, salt and freshwater marshes, nature reserves, barrier islands, and lots of birds.
Videos
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SWC Free Walk 70, Part 2, Brancaster to Wells-Next-The-Sea. 6/2/12.amib, Feb-12
A further 12.7 miles of delightful Coast Path walking! Though a joy at any time of time of the year, putting some snow into the mix just adds a little extra something...
Initially starting at Wells YHA, the walker is soon on the trusty Norfolk Coast Hopper bus to Brancaster. From there, it's classic Norfolk marshland and sea wall walking right through to Burnham Overy Staithe for lunch.
Thereafter, the walker passes more marshland before arriving at the vast expanse of Holkham Beach, popular with bathers and naturists in season. Continuing on, and for variety, this walker chose to walk amongst the pines to the back of this beach before reaching Holkham Gap and the tranquil lane back into Wells.
(Some of the birds seen today include Fieldfare, Pink-Footed Goose, Lapwings, Little Egret, Brent Goose and Marsh Harrier).
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SWC Free Walk 70, Part 3, Wells-Next-The-Sea to Cley-Next-The-Sea. 7/2/12.amib, Feb-12
Another bracing 10 miles in the snow and fantastic scenery of North Norfolk. Unfortunately though, this is only a short snapshot of this section as said weather drained my camera battery quicker than anticipated!
Leaving Wells, the walker is soon in familiar marshland surroundings; delightfully remote and tranquil today! After a short respite for a hot drink in the hostelry at Stiffkey, there's more marshland walking through to Morston and then on to Blakeney. Intensely bitter Easterly winds killed this walker's camera battery somewhere around Blakeney Eye, meaning no windmill at Cley in this video. Next time!
Another lovely day's walking, despite the chill, providing some less frequently seen snowy views of the coastline here.
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SWC Free Walk 70, Part 4, Cley next the sea to Cromer. 8/5/12.amib, May-12
Continuing on from part 3, the objective of this walk was to complete the Norfolk Coast Path to Overstrand. Unfortunately, the bus service twixt Cromer and Overstrand finishes in the early afternoon, so I was only able to complete the 14 miles to Cromer.
So, setting out from a sunny Cley, the walker is soon walking atop the sea wall out to Cley Eye. From here, there's several miles of quite tough shingle beach walking, but this can be alleviated by walking on the ridge to the rear of the beach, or, by walking along patches of grassland on the landward side of the ridge.
Walking becomes easier after Weybourne and follows a grassy, cliff-top route into Sheringham. After lunch, and an ascent of 'The Bump' at Runton, the path turns inland for some delightful forest walking. This section also marks Norfolk's highest point, at Beacon Hill (103m), so some fine views.
Thereafter, there's a steady descent across meadows into the seaside town of Cromer.
Another very nice section of the Coast Path with a variety of scenery. Apart form the shingle section, relatively easy walking, though it was wet under-foot today, following intermittent showers.
Unfortunately, no adders seen, nor cuckoos heard, despite being in appropriate habitat. Today's weather will explain the absence of the former, but the demise of the cuckoo is a major concern.
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SWC Freewalk 70, Part 1: Hunstanton to Brancaster. 21/2/11.amib, Feb-11
A bracing 10 miles (though my pedometer recorded only 7 miles! 4.5 hours of walking would indicate at least 11 miles) along the Norfolk Coast Path (minus the inland section beyond Thornham).
Relatively straightforward though it's not possible to do the 'beach route' beyond Titchwell unless you get the tide at it's lowest point; I did, and even then, one of the creeks was only just passable. A 1:25000 map might be better if doing this beach route.
(Some wind interference).