The 10 Best Dog-Friendly Beaches In Norfolk

If you are looking for a fabulous beach holiday what better companion to have with you than your four-legged friend? We’ve sniffed out the 10 best dog-friendly beaches in Norfolk, many on the famous North Norfolk coast that we think you and your dog will love. Perfect for long walks along the lovely sandy beaches, guaranteeing sandy paws, that stretch for miles.

Not only are many of these beaches dog-friendly all year round, but they also include favourites like Holkham Beach. There are beach and cliff-top walks as well as recommendations for dog walkers including dog-friendly beach cafes and pubs along the way.

Explore our collection of PetsPyjamas’ dog-friendly hotels  and dog-friendly holiday cottages close to these beaches where your dog can stay free.

1. Brancaster Beach

With miles of golden sand, Brancaster Beach is definitely one of the best dog-friendly beaches in Norfolk. Part of the Brancaster Estate, now owned by the National Trust, this stretch of coast is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and home to important natural features such as the tidal salt marshes of Scolt Head. At low tide the shipwreck of the SS Vina is visible.

Enjoy a dog-friendly holiday to Brancaster >>

2. Wells Beach

Just a short walk from the harbour town, Wells-next-the-Sea, Wells Beach is another of Norfolk’s fabulous dog-friendly beaches. This is a wide beach dotted with colourful beach huts and part of the Holkham Estate in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

You can take your dogs towards the sea at low tide when the sand stretches for miles. After a wonderful walk, shelter in the sand dunes for a picnic or make your way to the dog-friendly Beach Cafe, for tea and cakes with your best furry friend. There’s a large car park at the entrance to Wells Beach.

Enjoy a dog-friendly holiday to Wells-next-the-Sea >>

3. Holkham Beach

The beautifully unspoiled Holkham Beach is one of our favourite dog-friendly north Norfolk beaches. It features a huge swathe of sand backed by dunes and pine forests with a lovely walk from the car park through the trees. As you stroll along the boardwalk to this gorgeous dog-friendly beach watch out for local wildlife.

Dogs are welcome year-round and can run free on most areas of the beach throughout the year.  There are some on-lead areas to protect nesting birds during the summer months in this national nature reserve. There are dog-friendly cafes and pubs in the village of Holkham.

4. Old Hunstanton Beach

Just north of Hunstanton is the charming village of Old Hunstanton. The beach there is quieter than neighbouring Hunstanton beach and best of all it’s dog-friendly year round! A sprawling vista of big sky and golden sand as far as you can see backed by dunes and amazing striped cliffs and with shallow tidal water – it is a pleasure beach just perfect for dogs. You can fly your kite whilst your dog scampers along the beach.

Enjoy a dog-friendly holiday to Hunstanton >>

5. Snettisham Beach

Norfolk’s only west-facing beach. Snettisham is a quiet, mainly shingle beach with an abundance of wildlife backing onto the coastal path with reed beds, scrub and marshland.

The tide goes out a long way to uncover a vast expanse of beach for your dog to run along off the lead. Low tide reveals the sand and mud flats which are a magnate for birds such as knots, avocets and bar-tailed godwit. The RSPB Snettisham Nature Reserve is next to the beach where you can also walk your dog.

Enjoy a dog-friendly holiday to Snettisham >>

6. Heacham South and North

Just down the road from Snettisham, is Heacham Beach another great dog-friendly beach in Norfolk which is separated into two beaches, ‘North’ and ‘South’. Heacham South Beach, is backed by sand dunes and provides a fabulous walk for you and your four-legged friend. Heacham North Beach has a promenade where you will need to keep your dog on the lead.

Just like Snettisham, both beaches are shingle and the tide goes out a long way which leaves a large expanse of hard sand – perfect for playful dogs to run along the beach.

Enjoy a dog-friendly holiday to Heacham >>

7. Happisburgh Beach

Happisburgh Beach is a quiet, secluded beach located close to the village of Happisburgh and a great place for dog walking and bird watching. Famous for its red and white lighthouse and backdrop of cliffs it makes a gorgeous place for a beach stroll with your best furry friend.

Enjoy cliff-top walks with footpaths which connect the central beach to the countryside. After a day of beach walks there’s a lovely coffee shop in the village as well as a dog-friendly pub.

Enjoy a dog-friendly holiday to Happisburgh >>

8. Burnham Overy Staithe

Truly one of the most unspoilt beaches in Norfolk and dog-friendly year-round, Burnham Overy Staithe is very secluded and can only be reached via a flat one-mile walk. You will be walking within the Holkham National Nature Reserve so you need to take care during nesting times.

Because of the time it takes to reach this beach, it guarantees that the beach is never overly crowded, leaving plenty of space for you and your dog. 

9. Mundesley

Mundesley Beach is a lovely long sandy beach – another of our favourite dog-friendly beaches near North Walsham. Reached by walkways down from the cliffs, there are some restrictions in the summer months at this popular dog-walking beach but if you head west or east from the promenade you can still find plenty of sand for your dog to run around to its heart’s content.

This beach has been awarded Blue Flag Status which ensures its cleanliness and it’s patrolled by lifeguards in the summer months. You can walk for a long stretch without really seeing anyone else although it is busier near the promenade where there are an array of colourful beach huts. Parking is easy at the top of the beach.

Enjoy a dog-friendly holiday to Mundesley >>

10. Cley Beach

Cley Beach is situated between the sea and Cley Marshes, a lovely nature reserve which is owned by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust. The Norfolk coastal path runs down Beach Road and along the beach to the East towards Salthouse.

Dogs can walk along the dog-friendly shingle beach at Cley throughout the year. Afterwards, pop along to Cley Village which has a famous 18th century windmill and a charming spot for coffee, The Barn at Artemis. Enjoy a reviving coffee, delicious sausage roll or homemade scone – it’s right on the coastal path with lovely views of the Cley marshes.

If you’re travelling to Norfolk for a dog-friendly holiday, check out our selection of places to stay which includes hotels, pubs with rooms and cottages. If you book with PetsPyjamas, your dog will always stay free.

Share below your favourite beaches to visit in Norfolk with your furry friend and we may even feature you on our Social Media!