Walking in Norfolk
Norfolk’s coast runs from the Wash past the salt marshes and dunes of Holkham, Blakeney and Cley to the cliffs of Cromer and the seal beaches of Horsey, and the Norfolk Coast Path follows it all the way. Inland are the rivers and reed-fringed broads of the Broads, the riverside paths around Norwich and the heaths and forests of the Brecks.
Difficulty is shown only where we have graded the route, so choosing a level hides walks not yet graded.
Walks with a mapped start point are plotted above; the rest appear when you search their town. Zoom, drag or click a pin to explore, or search a town to list its walks.
Choose a starting town
North Norfolk Coast
Cromer & North-East Norfolk
The Broads
Norwich & the Yare Valley
King's Lynn & West Norfolk
Mid Norfolk & the Brecks
Top walks by area
A starting point for each part of Norfolk: well-documented routes that finish back where they start, between 1 and 12 miles.
North Norfolk Coast
- Cley next the Sea via SalthouseCley next the Sea · 9.1 mi
- Sheringham ParkUpper Sheringham · 3.7 mi
- Weybourne via Sheringham ParkWeybourne · 4.7 mi
- Sheringham via KellingSheringham · 10.7 mi
Cromer & North-East Norfolk
- Southrepps Circular WalkSouthrepps · 4.8 mi
- Barton WoodsNorth Walsham · 2.9 mi
- Cromer to OverstrandNorth Norfolk · 3.7 mi
- Overstrand via FrogshallOverstrand · 5.0 mi
- Blickling via Weavers WayAylsham · 9.3 mi
The Broads
- Horsey MereHorsey · 3.7 mi
- Waxham via Sea Palling & Horsey GapWaxham · 7.0 mi
- Horstead Circular WalkHorstead · 3.0 mi
- Circular Walk; Hemsby To WintertonHemsby · 3.8 mi
- Martham Green To Purdues Tea Room LoopMartham · 4.2 mi
- White Horse Pub Circular WalkNeatishead · 2.8 mi
Norwich & the Yare Valley
- River Yare LoopNorwich · 4.6 mi
- Boudicca Way Circular – Caistor St EdmundCaistor St Edmund · 8.9 mi
- Bramerton via Clayton and HellingtonBramerton · 8.7 mi
King's Lynn & West Norfolk
- Onion LoopCastle Rising · 1.9 mi
- Sandringham via West NewtonSandringham · 8.3 mi
Mid Norfolk & the Brecks
- Swanton Morley Circular RouteElsing · 3.5 mi
- WW North Elmham – Worthing Circular RouteNorth Elmham · 4.1 mi
- WW Lyng – Elsing Circular RouteLyng · 4.8 mi
- Hargham via Hargham WoodsBreckland District · 4.0 mi
Popular in Norfolk
Know before you go
Practical points for walking in Norfolk. Rules and timetables change, so check the linked sources before you set off.
Norfolk Coast Path
The Norfolk Coast Path runs 112 miles from the Lincolnshire border to the Suffolk border near Hopton-on-Sea. Much of it is also part of the 129.5-mile Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path National Trail, which starts inland at Knettishall Heath in Suffolk and meets the coast at Holme-next-the-Sea.
Tides on the marshes and sands
At Wells and Holkham the incoming tide can cut people off on the sands and salt marshes. Wells RNLI advises checking the tide times and being back on the main beach, the coast path or the landward side of any channels four hours before high water.
Seals at Horsey and Winterton
Grey seals give birth on the beaches at Horsey and Winterton from November to January. Friends of Horsey Seals ask visitors not to walk on the beach then, to watch from the dune-top viewing areas, to stay at least 100 metres from the seals and to keep dogs on leads at all times.
Dogs and nesting birds
Many beaches have seasonal dog rules. At Holkham dogs must be on leads in the most sensitive areas from 1 April to 31 August, Heacham south beach is lead-only over the same months, and beaches such as Cromer, Sheringham, West Runton and Mundesley have restrictions from 1 May to 30 September.
The Broads
The Broads have similar protection to a national park, with about 120 miles of navigable rivers and broads. The broads themselves are flooded medieval peat diggings, and many of our walks follow riverside paths and staithes between them.
Cliffs and erosion
The soft cliffs of north-east Norfolk are among the fastest eroding in Britain. At Happisburgh the sea advanced about 75 metres in 20 years, so keep back from cliff edges and follow any path diversions.
Maps
The coast is on OS Explorer 250 (Norfolk Coast West), 251 (Norfolk Coast Central) and 252 (Norfolk Coast East), and the Broads are on OS Explorer OL40 (The Broads).
Walking in Norfolk: questions
How many walks are there in Norfolk?
We list 146 walking routes in Norfolk, starting from 75 towns and villages. The typical route is about 7 miles; 26 are under 4 miles and 48 are 10 miles or more. Every route is free to view.
Which towns have the most walks?
Norwich (18), Martham (8), North Walsham (6), Wells-next-the-Sea (5), Upton (4) and Sheringham (4). Use the town search or the town list on this page to see every walk from a particular place.
Are there short circular walks in Norfolk?
Yes. 12 routes under 4 miles finish where they start, including Onion Loop (1.9 mi), Blickling Estate Lake (2.2 mi), White Horse Pub Circular Walk (2.8 mi) and Barton Woods (2.9 mi). Choose Under 4 mi and Back to start in the filters above to see them all.
Can I take my dog on Norfolk walks?
Yes, on most routes, but many Norfolk beaches have seasonal rules to protect nesting birds, such as leads in parts of Holkham from 1 April to 31 August. At Horsey and Winterton keep dogs on leads at all times, especially in the seal pupping season from November to January. See Know before you go for more.
When can I see the seals at Horsey?
Grey seals pup on the beaches at Horsey and Winterton from November to January. Watch from the viewing areas on top of the dunes near Horsey Gap, stay at least 100 metres away and keep dogs on leads. Several of our walks from Winterton-on-Sea and Waxham pass Horsey Gap.
How long is the Norfolk Coast Path?
About 112 miles, from the Lincolnshire border to Hopton-on-Sea on the Suffolk border. Much of it is also part of the 129.5-mile Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path National Trail.
Which long-distance trails pass through Norfolk?
The Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path and Angles Way both pass through Norfolk, and each has its own guide on Walking Rambler.