Coastal Treasures

The route takes in quiet lanes and tracks across a landscape of low chalk hills which afford glorious coastal views. This Bircham route is ideal for families.

A short and very accessible route, the Heacham circular often provides sparkling views across the Wash. On clear days ‘Boston Stump’, the tower of St Botolph’s Church in Lincolnshire, can be seen. As well as a long and interesting history, you’ll also find great fish and chips at Heacham.

Circling one of Norfolk’s most important Bronze Age landscapes, this route is a wonderful chance to get off the beaten track and sample high culture in the same day. Houghton Hall offers an array of outdoor sculpture in its gorgeous gardens as well as indoor art exhibitions.

Linked by a series of clifftop greens and gardens, this circular route combines the hubbub of Hunstanton and the relative quiet of its much older neighbour, Old Hunstanton. The two settlements offer a truly wide variety of options for food and drink, to suit all tastes and budgets. This Hunstanton circular walk is not signposted on the ground, but it easy to follow with a map. It leads from Le Strange’s statue at Upper Green, along North Promenade, up toward the cliffs. It then follows the route of the Norfolk Coast Path, past the ruin of St. Edmunds Chapel and Hunstanton Lighthouse. Coming through Old Hunstanton it visits St. Mary’s Church before returning to Hunstanton via the Esplanade Gardens.

Spanning from the village of Snettisham, this short but charming walk takes a route which snakes through the mixed woodland of the Ken Hill Estate. The western tip of the route commands fine views over the estate’s farmland and the Wash beyond.

This peaceful route passes between the sleepy villages of Leziate and Ashwicken, where a history of industrial sand extraction has left the area with a series of artificial lakes. What it may lack in facilities the walk more than makes up for in rural charm.

The longest of these cycle routes is something to be savoured. With plentiful options for refreshment at both ends of the route, it’s easy to make a day of it as you explore the rolling landscapes that Nelson himself once knew. Much has changed since the Lord Admiral’s day, but it is easy to see why he gloried in being a Norfolk man.

Modern Brancaster is a sleepy coastal village, albeit one with a vibrant sailing scene. This circular walk offers a rich and varied past for the heritage explorer to delve into. Why not finish the walk at one of the local pubs, which have a history all of their own?

The Brancaster Staithe walk is a contrast of saltmarsh and sailing regattas, wind and woodland. The views from the highpoint at Barrow Common are breathtaking. From here it is easy to picture traders visiting Branodunum, the Roman fort built near the shore to defend the coastline.

Following in the footsteps of two of Norfolk’s maritime heroes, this stunning route visits three of the historic ‘Seven Burnhams by the sea’. There are numerous opportunities to enjoy north Norfolk’s famous hospitality, whether you are visiting for the day or making a longer trip.

This is the longest of the Coastal Treasures walks. The sense of remoteness that exists along this walk’s green and pleasant lanes is a wonderful experience for the more adventurous walker and the perfect excuse to indulge in some great local food afterwards.

The route takes in quiet lanes and tracks across a landscape of low chalk hills which afford glorious coastal views. With a pub in the village on the longer Ringstead route, it is perfect for leisurely exploration.

From a Norman Castle to a modern royal estate, there is barely a moment of this journey that does not conjure some wonderful sight from the distant or recent past. The Sandringham visitor centre is the perfect starting point for the adventure. The route is suitable for any type of bicycle.

Crossing green grazing fields, traversing a shoreline once overwhelmed by the sea and passing through a pleasant woodland, the Snettisham circular has a wonderful variety of landscapes to enjoy. The route is best enjoyed during dry periods between late spring and early autumn.

Thornham sits in the quintessential north-west Norfolk landscape of saltmarsh and sand flats. This route offers rich history and a vast, natural remoteness without straying too far from the comforts of cafés and pubs that offer the very best in local produce.

The Woottons route has good surfaces throughout and a number of bridges to help visitors through the woods of Ling Common. The spread of these suburban villages across the landscape can almost be charted by looking at the fabric of their buildings.