Stiffkey Saltmarshes
Weaving through muddy creeks carpeted with samphire (it grows in abundance here), crossing little wooden bridges and pausing to breathe in the fresh, salty air are just some of the reasons we love Stiffkey. It’s an almost otherworldly place; as serene as they come. Though you can walk one way to bustling Blakeney or the other to Wells-next-the-Sea, on some days there’s every chance you’ll have the marshes to yourself (save for a few grey seals in the distance, perhaps). Follow the footpaths from Stiffkey village, just up the road from Langham via Cockthorpe or Morston.
Burnham Overy Staithe to the Island
Starting from the boathouse at Burnham Overy Staithe, you can paddle through the creek at low tide all the way to Scolt Head Island, a remote national nature reserve flanked by sweeping sands. This is one of Norfolk’s best beaches, backed by the kind of dunes that kids (or adults, when no-one’s watching) will love rolling around in. Continue west and you’ll eventually reach the spit of the island, with beautiful Brancaster Beach across the creek. A word of warning – it’s easy to lose track of time here, and therefore worth noting the times of the return ferry! Burnham Overy Staithe is about a 20- minute drive west along the coast road from Langham.
Holkham Hall & Beach
Wandering the grounds of stately Holkham Hall is always a pleasure, but the beach is so close (and frankly, unmissable), it’s well worth the walk up Lady Anne’s Drive to the Lookout Café and the bay beyond. Watch the deer roam the grounds, then head to the village and cross the main road. It’s about a mile down the drive to the beach, along a raised wooden walkway. Bear right here and you can walk all the way to the lifeboat station at Wells Beach. Take in the views across Wells harbour before heading back to Lady Anne’s Drive via the Norfolk Coast Path, with the pine forests on your right. Even on a summer Saturday, this golden expanse of dune-backed beach never feels crowded.
