7 Dog Friendly Beaches in Norfolk

The stunning Norfolk Coast is the perfect destination for families and couples holidaying with dogs thanks to the variety of seaside towns, villages and resorts that offer dog friendly beaches, dog friendly accommodation and dog friendly amenities.

Couple that with the 84 miles of Norfolk Coast Path… and you’ve basically got what some would could call dog holiday heaven! To help you choose where to base yourself for your next self-catering coastal break, we’ve listed seven of the best beaches suitable for dog friendly holidays in Norfolk.

Mundesley

Mundesley oozes old world Norfolk charm with its traditional Victorian village appeal. There are so many pretty coastal cottages that are pet friendly close to the beach and plenty of lovely walks to enjoy with your pup. Attractions include The Adventure Island Golf park, the Maritime Museum and the huge beach! This coastal gem is located within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and boasts a gorgeous blue flag beach with excellent facilities and convenient parking.

The highlight on the coast has to be spotting the seals that like to swim near the beach or lounge around the rocks near the shore. There are plenty of dog friendly zones on Mundesley Beach, even though there are dog restrictions from May – September around the promenade. Local amenities welcome dogs in most establishments.

Hunstanton

Hunstanton also retains its Victorian charm thanks to its origin as a bathing spa resort built around 1846 and offers some fun attractions including the Sea Life Sanctuary and boat tours to spot the famous Norfolk seals. Hunstanton is actually known as “Sunny Hunny”, because of its West facing beach and awesome sunsets. There are many coastal cottages here too that welcome pets and dog owners can take their dogs to Old Hunstanton North Beach, which is perfect for kids and pups who appreciate a good rummage in the rock-pools.

There is a great dog friendly beach café with doggy snacks on offer and kids and their four-legged friends can be seen relishing nature here all year round thanks to the fantastic crabbing opportunities in the rock-pools. This is a very picturesque shore with plenty of space and south of the promenade is also dog friendly, and there are amazing layered cliffs that not only look like a cake but add protection from the off-shore winds. Dogs are not allowed on the town beach during the high season, this is the section from the end of the promenade to the power boat ramp. They are allowed on the promenade on a lead all year round though.

Heacham

Heacham is Hunstanton’s quiet neighbour and enjoys the benefit of a truly dog friendly beach called Stubborn Sands, a long sweep of shingle mixed with sand, which is also known as Heacham North Beach. This is a lovely peaceful shore backed by dunes with far-reaching views over the north coast. Here you and your dog can walk for miles and enjoy the west facing sun sets that Hunstanton enjoys.

In fact, because Heacham is so close to Hunstanton, you are always just minutes away from all the amenities and attractions that Hunstanton has to offer, whilst still enjoying the tranquillity of a less crowded seaside village. Again, there are many lovely seaside cottages that welcome dogs by the sea.

Holme Next the Sea

A little further north along the Norfolk coast lies another little seaside village that is very dog friendly and worth a visit for its nature, wildlife and historical value. It too enjoys golden sunsets and is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with a beach and salt marsh that is a nature reserve with no dog restrictions, although sometimes there are areas that are roped off to protect bird nesting.

There are some incredible walking trails here for you, your family and dog, which follow a Roman Road. This site was also the location of a 4000 year old archaeological find known as the “Seahenge”, which is preserved at the nearby Lynn Museum. Holme Next the Sea village boasts some delightful coastal cottages by the sea that are totally pet friendly.

Wells Next the Sea

Wells Next the Sea is a fabulous seaside destination for dog owners, especially for those families looking for plenty of fun. Here you will find plenty of attractions and plenty of nature. The dog friendly beach is sandy and wide, with the bonus of being backed by a wonderful wood, providing plenty of dog friendly spaces for your canine to run wild. It is a little distant from the main town but that is great for those who like to give their dog and family a long walk before relaxing a bit on the beach. There are lifeguards too, so you can rely on an extra safe eye while you all go about your fun on the sand with that extra piece of mind.

This beach is a particularly gorgeous one thanks to its two hundred multi-coloured beach huts that sit on dunes, backed by pines and the sand is fine and golden. Dogs are allowed on the beach all year round with a just a few restrictions. There is a dog-free zone in the 200 yards from the main entrance so kids can play in the sand without finding anything untoward, but the rest of the beach is a dog friendly area where they can leap and bound to their heart’s content. They are allowed in the water, but currents can be strong, and we’d advise rock pooling and paddling in the shallows for the smaller pups.

Cromer

Cromer has a particular theatrical appeal thanks to its Pavilion Theatre that draws crowds from far and wide in the summer and winter to enjoy theatre events. This impressive theatre resides on the Cromer Pier, a 150 metre grade II listed Victorian treasure, which is dog friendly and in fact one of the many things that you can do with dogs here. Now, although Cromer is a very dog friendly place in terms of accommodation, restaurants and sights, its town beach does impose dog restrictions between May and September.

That said, there is an alternative beach close by called West Runton Beach, which is more dog friendly and also great for fossil combing and rock-pooling. Back in Cromer there are many other dog friendly activities and locations including Felbrigg Hall and the Happy Circular Walk through woodland and cliffs where your pup can get in touch with nature. There is an abundance of dog friendly accommodation near the beach available for rent.

Sheringham

Another classic Victorian seaside resort is Sheringham. Despite being a little busy during the summer months thanks to a vibrant roster of events and attractions this is a great location from which to explore the coast around Norfolk as it lies close to so many landmarks and other resorts. The main beach does have restrictions on dogs from May to September around the promenade, however at either end of the promenade there are dog friendly areas as long as they are on a lead.

There are tons of great things to do here including visiting the Mo Museum, riding on the Poppy Line Stream Train, joining the Treasure Trail, enjoying the zoo or climbing the BeWILDerwood tree top trail! Sheringham offers numerous dog friendly holiday cottages close to the sea.