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Hunstanton Walks

5.84 miles (9.4 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap Hunstanton has some beautiful coastal walking to enjoy with the Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path National Trail passing through the town. The seaside town faces west across The Wash, making it one of the few places on the east coast where the sun can be seen setting over the sea.
This walk takes you along the waymarked trail to the nearby village of Thornham. It's about a 6 mile walk on flat trails with lovely beaches, sand dunes and nature reserves to enjoy.
The walk starts in the lovely cliff top gardens in Hunstanton where there's a very pretty Sensory Garden. The route heads north along the cliffs to St Edmund Point where you will find the remains of St Edmund's Chapel and Old Hunstanton Lighthouse. The present lighthouse was built in 1840 although there has been a Lighthouse on the site since 1665.
The trail continues towards the village of Holme-next-the-Sea. The position of the village on the North Sea coast makes it a prime site for migratory birds in autumn. There are two nature reserves on this section including the Holme Dunes National Nature Reserve. The reserve's sand dunes, salt marsh, pasture and pools are important for breeding birds like pied avocet, and wintering ducks, geese and waders. There are a range of coastal habitats including, freshwater pools, grazing marsh and saltmarsh.
After passing through the lovely coastal reserve the route turns inland to take you to Thornham.
You can extend your excercise on our Thornham Walk which will take you to the nearby village of Brancaster and the Titchwell Nature Reserve. Continuing east will take you to the Holkham National Nature Reserve which is a major highlight of the Norfolk Coast.

Hunstanton OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Hunstanton Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Walks near Hunstanton

  • Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path - The Peddars Way & Norfolk Coast Path begins at Knettishall Heath Country Park in Suffolk and takes you to Holme next the sea on the Norfolk coast along designated footpaths
  • Thornham - The pretty Norfolk Village of Thornham has some lovely trails to try along the beautiful north coast of the county
  • Sandringham Country Park - This huge country park surrounds the Queen's splendid country retreat in Norfolk
  • Heacham Circular Walk - Enjoy fine views of The Wash on this circular walk from the Norfolk village of Heacham
  • Sandringham Country Park - This huge country park surrounds the Queen's splendid country retreat in Norfolk
  • Wolferton - This historic North Norfolk village includes a noteworthy old Royal rail station and a 13th century church
  • Dersingham Bog - This circular walk explores the Dersingham Bog Site of Special Scientific Interest in North Norfolk

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Head south from the town and you can visit the pretty village of Heacham. Here you can try the Heacham Circular Walk and enjoy a stroll along Stubborn Sands. The village itself is also interesting with a noteworthy Norman church and several good pubs. Near here you can also pick up the Snettisham Walk and visit the splendid RSPB Nature Reserve.
Just to the east is Sandringham Country Park. The expansive park surrounds the Queen's famous country retreat. In the park you'll find miles of excellent woodland and parkland walking trails. On the western side of the estate there's also the interesting village of Wolferton. Here you can visit the noteworthy Wolferton Railway Station. The now disused station was well known during the 1800’s through its association with the Royal Family who used the station because of its proximity to Sandringham House. There are also trails to pick up around the Dersingham Bog in this area. The reserve is part of the wider Sandringham Royal Estate and includes attractive heathland with interesting flora and fauna to see.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Norfolk Walks page.

Photos

Cliff top gardens, Hunstanton. - geograph.org.uk - 353887

Cliff top gardens, Hunstanton.

Fountain at Hunstanton - geograph.org.uk - 452066

Fountain at Hunstanton

Sensory Garden - geograph.org.uk - 332731

Sensory Garden

Unusual seaweed covered tufts on beach at Hunstanton. - geograph.org.uk - 492286

Unusual seaweed covered tufts on beach at Hunstanton.

RemainsOfStEdmundsChapelAndLighthouseHunstanton(ChristineMatthews)Jul1992

Remains of St Edmund's Chapel and Lighthouse, Hunstanton

Sea defences - geograph.org.uk - 832718

Sea defences

The beach at Holme next the Sea - geograph.org.uk - 832548

The beach at Holme next the Sea

Path through Holme Dunes National Nature Reserve - geograph.org.uk - 832613

Path through Holme Dunes National Nature Reserve

GPS Files

GPX File

Hunstanton.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Hunstanton.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)