Mudpie Fridays >> beach >> Old Hunstanton Beach Norfolk

Old Hunstanton Beach Norfolk

When we visited West Norfolk for the weekend staying in Kings Lynn we were blessed with twenty-two degrees sunshine and blue skies. Wanting to make the most of the good weather we wanted to try and find a beach. Having visited Sandringham House in the morning we were not really prepared for the beach with no suitable clothing or toys. Not letting that stop us we just drove North and stumbled upon Old Hunstanton Beach on the north Norfolk coast. After purposefully avoiding all the amusement arcades and fairground rides. We discovered a huge expanse of fine golden sand and sand dunes. It turned out that we had a great time enjoying the weather despite it being rather an impromptu visit to Hunstanton beaches and cliffs. It was one of the best places we have visited on the Norfolk Coast and should be on your must-see list.

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Location of Old Hunstanton Beach

We do not know the area very well having only previously visited Cromer in Norfolk. So when we arrived in Hunstanton town we headed towards the coast. Immediately we came across static mobile homes that lined the front and a whole host of fairground rides and amusement arcades. Which not only looked really busy, but expensive.

And although the boys do enjoy the penny arcades we really did not want to wander around them in the heat. There was so much going on that we couldn’t even see South beach. It looked like a very popular holiday destination during peak season with lots of modern seaside attractions. Not to be deterred we decided to follow the coast road hoping for something more peaceful.

This took us up past a green with some shops, restaurants and pubs. Again everyone making the most of the weather the seaside town was heaving with people eating fish and chips on the grass. Although we could see the beach now there was a rather large ugly building plonked right in the middle of the view. With the word arcade written on a neon sign. This turned out to be New Hunstanton Beach on the northern end of the promenade.

Doubting if we would reach a stretch of sand that had not been commercialised we carried on. Aiming for the biggest yellow patch on Google Maps north of Hunstanton. And this is when we found Old Hunstanton Beaches or North Beach. As you drive north you will spot a parking sign that takes you off to the left. Use postcode PE36 6EL to reach the Hunstanton cliff top car park.

When we left there were some camper vans setting up for food that evening. I can imagine that it is a popular location in the height of summer as it is a great place to watch the sun go down over the Hunstanton cliff.

Parking at Hunstanton Beach

With it being lunchtime and the other areas of the seaside resort being so busy we did wonder if we would get parked. But it is huge, with 1500 spaces, a grassed parking area which is well kept and relatively flat. Which is just as well as I can imagine it gets busy in the Summer months. We spotted two pay stations one near where you drive in and one at the beach end. There are yellow bars you need to drive through to stop large camper vans using the car park. It is not very cheap either. As we arrived just after two we managed to get the rest of the day for £6. Otherwise, an hour is £2.20, 2 hours £4.20 and 3 hours £6.

The machines take cash. Or you can pay by an app by scanning QR codes. It is not an app we have come across before and we found 4G to be patchy at best. There were several families trying to download it. There seems to be the best signal at the shop end of the car park. Called parking operations it is easy enough to use the car park is location 706520. You may want to download it in advance. The app is white with a large blue P on it.

Facilities Old Hunstanton Beach

I was impressed with the facilities. Especially as we had not planned to visit the beach that day. As you drive in there are public toilets which looked clean enough in front of the outside. We did not use them during our visit. There is also a shop and beach cafés overlooking the beach. The cafe sells a selection of snacks and I can imagine that sitting outside you would see some spectacular sunsets

The shop sells all sorts of beach essentials. Including buckets and spaces, beach mats, beach water shoes, gifts, cold drinks and ice cream. We bought a large bucket and spade for £7 and a ball for £6. Cold water was £2.

Top Tips for a visit

Getting to the main beach is only a short walk. There is a ramp which is not too steep and although there are sand dunes on the beach you do not need to walk up or down them. It is only a little way.
The Hunstanton cliffs are not really cliffs in comparison with somewhere like the white cliffs of Burling Gap. But the iconic striped Hunstanton cliffs are attractive enough with red chalk.
Hunstanton beaches is mainly sand although at the shoreline there is more shingle. Really you need water shoes to enjoy it to its fullest. Although there is plenty of sand to build a sand castle.
At low tide when we visited the sand stretches for miles leaving shallow waters to paddle. But I do not think it is exposed for long. As it was still very wet when we visited. And you need to paddle across to get to the sand flats which is a relatively thin strip of land.
There looked to be some rock pools and beach huts further along. As well as people enjoying kite surfing.
The further right you go (as you look at the sea) the drier the sand and the narrower the paddling bit.
Worthy of note that when the tide comes back in, it can come in quickly. It fills up the sandy beaches behind you first so it is easy to get caught out and need to wade back in. Especially if you are all the way down at the shoreline we saw quite a few people getting very wet.
It is the North Sea so can be rough away with big tides from the shoreline.

Conclusions

Old Hunstanton Beach is such a great spot and one of our favourite beaches we have visited. I would love to go back and explore the pleasant little village of Old Hunstanton. It is the best beach we have discovered so far in Norfolk and is part of the only stretch of Norfolk beach which is unspoilt. It is also the start of the Norfolk coast path that we would like to explore further when the kids get a bit older. Perhaps even visiting the sea life centre and seal hospital. When we visited we stayed in the Premier Inn at King’s Lynn which is about a thirty-minute drive from Old Hunstanton beaches.

Have you visited the East Coast of England? Which is your favourite beach in Norfolk? I would love to hear in the comments below.