Welcome to this Signature Hike
Welcome to your ultimate hiking adventure along the stunning Norfolk coast! This journey begins in the serene village of Gunton, known for its tranquil beaches, and winds its way through picturesque coastal paths, charming seaside towns, and captivating natural reserves, culminating in the historic town of Sheringham. As you trek this scenic route, you’ll experience the unique blend of unspoiled nature, rich history, and vibrant local culture that makes Norfolk’s coastline truly special.
Read the infomation below to learn more about your walk before you head off.
Ready to walk?
Be sure to download your PDF guide for the walk and make sure you have the OS maps app downloaded.
Before you start
Here’s 3 important things you need to know before you head off:
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Save This Guide
Save the PDF guide on your device that you’re going to use on the walk. (This contains all the handy information, from how to get there, points of interest and pubs, taxis etc).
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Download OS Map App
This is how you will navigate your way around the route. The link for the route is in this guide and will take you to the OS Maps app.
Click here for Apple
Click here for Android
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Battery
Make sure you have plenty of battery. We hope you have a great walk.
The Curator Andy Sloan
Meet the Curator
Andy is Head of Marketing at the amazing foundation Walking With The Wounded, one of our charity partners. He is an avid walker, and you can often find him out exploring the coastal paths, rain or shine! As a Norfolk local, he brought to our attention not only this stunning area, but also some top places to eat, drink and sleep.
“There are so many wonderful things to do and see in north Norfolk, it’s hard to fit them all in! Both the scenery and the wildlife are brilliant in this corner of the world, and there’s always something to look out for. This route really does include some of the best of Norfolk’s coastal paths and villages. The beautiful, varied scenery is peppered with lots of fantastic places to grab a bite to eat or drink along the way – a personal favourite is Rocky Bottoms and their delicious, fresh seafood! Both Holkham and Hunstanton beaches are particularly beautiful, and with lots of other great places to visit, this hike is the perfect chance for a Weekender. An overnight stay in Cromer or Sheringham is definitely recommended, or for a more remote stay, the art-filled Gunton Arms.”
Adventure Summary
Norfolk Coast
The quaint station at Gunton is a few miles inland from the Norfolk coast and is the starting point for this great walk. The beginning of this hike is filled with fresh country air, as you find yourself amidst green fields and birdsong. Joining the Paston Way, a path linking the medieval churches of the area, you can expect cute country lanes, expansive farmland and romantic old railway lines.
The Paston Way leads you to Overstrand and the Norfolk Coastal Path, home to some of the UK’s most beautiful coastal walking. Our route then heads west, all the way up to Sheringham, passing characterful Cromer along the way.
Hike Highlights
Explore a British AONB
The Norfolk Coast boasts unspoiled beaches, charming seaside villages, and unique wildlife habitats.
A wild dip in the North Sea
If you are feeling brave, take an invigorating paddle in the sea.
View from Beeston Bump
Breathtaking panoramas of the Norfolk coastline, encompassing sweeping sea vistas.
Sometimes, we can get so caught up in reaching our destination that we forget to take in our surroundings. When in fact, some of the best moments on a walk are the ones spent not walking. It is not until you stop and look a little closer, that you truly see the magic of where you are.
Our hikes are not about how fast you walk, but about how much you take in. We share these beautiful trails with an abundance of wildlife and there’s always something to marvel at – so long as you take the time to look around.
Rocky Bottoms’ history dates to the 1800s, where there originally stood a kiln, used for firing bricks. But the arrival of larger competitors meant the kiln could not keep up and it was closed down after WWII. Fast forward to 2008, a local fishing family thought the kiln had some great potential and decided to restore the building. The Matthews family spent years doing up the building and opened Rocky Bottoms in 2015. They serve delicious, fresh-as-anything seafood dishes with a lot of love and care – they believe in “enjoying the simpler things in life”.
Points of interest
Places to enjoy along the route
The insiders guide to
The Norfolk Coast
🍽️ EAT
Shambles Café, North Walsham
Fat Teds, Sheringham
🍺 DRINK
The Gunton Arms, Gunton
The Gangway, Cromer
Suffield Arms, Gunton
👀 SEE
Holkham Hall
Seal spotting in Blakeney
Houghton Hall
📍 DO
Trip to Holkham beach
Visit Sandringham House
Take a trip on the North Norfolk Steam Train
🛏️ SLEEP
Alton House, Sheringham
Hooray Henrys, Sheringham
The Saracen’s Head, outside Cromer
Weybourne Forest Lodges, outside Cromer
What’s Next?
Done the hike? Let us and fellow members know how you got on and leave any tips and advice!