Web Analytics

Holme Dunes Coastal Walk

Holme Dunes coastal walk is an open wilderness of sand dunes, mud flats, salt marshes, water meadows and pine forests, as well as a pretty much deserted beach, well known for its important find in 1998 of “Seahenge” (now housed at Lynn Museum). 

You'll be walking in a designated "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty", and believe me, it is!   This particular area is managed by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust and is in partnership with the Norfolk Coast Partnership who promote conservation and help to aid public enjoyment and understanding in these designated areas. 

Holme Dunes

This walk can be any length, depending on where you want to explore!   If you're looking for just a short stroll, then you can start at Holme beach car park (crossing a section of Hunstanton Golf Course) and walk to the Norfolk Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve tea room and back again.  If you're wanting a little longer, you could carry on through the pine forest to Thornham.  Don’t forget - you can always get the Lynx Coastliner No 36 bus for your return journey to Holme.

The beginning of the walk is either a board walk or compacted paths which makes it easy for walking.

There are also various other circular walks around here, one leading to Old Hunstanton, one around Thornham,  and the other around the village of Holme.  

Holme Dunes Walk

Length:  Approx 3-5miles return (about 1.5 miles to NWT tea room or  2.7 miles to Thornham)
Ease of walk:  easy walking
What you’ll see:  sand dunes and beach, walking alongside the golf course, board walks, information boards, bird watching, walking within the Norfolk Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve, tea room.
Holme Dunes Norfolk Coast Path signpost
Map of Holme Dunes Walk

The beginning of my walk starts at the junction of the Peddars Way and the Norfolk Coast Path.   You can find more details on walking either or both of these National Trails at our Norfolk walking holidays page. 

One option to this particular walk is to park in one of the many car parks at Hunstanton and follow the Norfolk Coast Path which will join this walk at Holme.  (You can then catch the Coastliner bus back to Hunstanton when you've decided how far you wish to walk!).  The distance from Hunstanton to Holme is approximately 2.6 miles, and to Thornham 5.5 miles.

As with so much of our stunning Norfolk Coast, the views are absolutely beautiful, and if you walk to Thornham, this picturesque boathouse awaits you as you approach the village.

The compacted path heading towards Holme Dunes visitor centre

You have two variations with this Holme Dunes walk. 

You can either:

  • enjoy an easy pleasant return walk with a refreshing cup of tea at the half way point, perfect for those less energetic folk!  
  • Or you could venture from Holme to Thornham which is a slightly further, have lunch in Thornham and then return, or catch the Coastliner back to Holme.  

As with much of the stunning Norfolk Coast, the views are beautiful, and if you walk to Thornham, this boathouse is what awaits you as you approach the village.

The boathouse at ThornhamThe Boathouse at Thornham

Start: To reach the car park at Holme-next-the-Sea, turn down Beach Road and drive all the way down until you reach the car park on the right hand side.  Here there is a WC and informative maps.

Start walking by turning right out of the car park and straight over the golf course towards the sea (watch out for flying balls!)  

Before you get to the sea, you come to a well-trodden junction where you should turn right and walk alongside the golf course.  Follow this easily marked path which then turns into a very obvious gravel path and then board walk leading you all the way to the pine woods and the Norfolk Wildlife Trust visitor centre and tea room. 

Holme Dunes walk

Along the way you’ll come across fascinating information boards telling you about the diverse bird life and the unique geography of this special area.   You'll spot a couple of old pill boxes (such as the likes on East Runton beach and Cley beach) as well as seeing the black peat beds on the beach (if the tide is out) which are the ancient remains of a forest that has gradually eroded over thousands of years.

You'll also pass an information board telling you all about Seahenge, a bronze age timber circle which was discovered on the beach here.

Lots to keep you amused at Holme Dunes, and don’t forget your binoculars!  The wildlife is incredible along this part of the Norfolk Coast Path.  You'll probably see redshank, curlews, egrets and much more.

Pill box at Holme Dunes
Holme Dunes information boards

Once you reach the pine forest of this Holme Dunes reserve, you could decide whether you want to continue on to Thornham.   The remainder of this walk is along a sea wall with salt marshes to one side and water meadows to the other side and fantastic views to go with it! 

Once through the pine woods however, you'll see the entrance to the Holme Bird Observatory on your right. Here they carry out all sorts of work on migrating birds, including ringing.  You need to be a member to enter, BUT, you can also buy a day permit which gives you the option of spending an hour or two watching the incredible wildlife whilst also on your walk.   Weather permitting, you can see them at work on ringing the birds.

The Holme Bird Observatory
The geese at NWT Holme Dunes

If you're keen to see more wildlife, then the Cley Marshes circular walk is another great walk for bird watchers.  It's also managed by Norfolk Wildlife Trust and is one of the top sites for bird watching the UK. 

It's an easy 3 mile walk, apart from the pebbled beach, but you can visit the centre, get a ticket and spend hours in the hides along the walk, or just enjoy the barren atmosphere that presides on this particular part of the coast.  There is more detail on the Cley Marshes Circular Walk here.