North Norfolk is one of the most fabulous places – I could stay up there for weeks on end without getting bored, there’s so much to do! It’s the kind of place I want to escape to if I’ve had a rough week! Wells Beach, in particular, is my happy place.
I’ve been coming up here for years but in different guises. As a child, as a bird watcher, days out with my husband and our dog, day trips out with groups of friends (including a hen do!), walking holidays and now as a mum. And there really is something up here for everyone. I love this article ‘7 Reasons to Visit the North Norfolk Coast’ – it makes me want to jump into the car and drive up there!
Something else I love about this area is that it’s so dog friendly! They’re welcome in so many pubs and cafes which is fantastic if you’ve come up to the coast for the day.
But back on brief – pushchair friendly walks. Luckily for me, someone has already put the hard graft in here. The Norfolk Coast Partnership has already pulled together a list of ‘Easy Access Walks’ – I’m not sure when this was last updated but I don’t think things will change too much over time!
Unluckily for me, I didn’t find this until I no longer needed the pushchair! There’s so many more that could be added here so please add into the comments box at the bottom and I’ll edit them in! I won’t review all of these as I haven’t visited them all, there’s so many! But for the ones I haven’t, do refer to the easy access walks.
- Walsingham Abbey
- Sheringham Park
- Bacton Woods
- Holkham Estate
- Felbrigg Estate
- Titchwell Nature Reserve
- Holt Country Park
- Wells (Coastal Path to Holkham)
- Blakeney & Cley (Norfolk Coastal Path routes)
- Hickling Broad
- Horsey
- Cromer Pier and seafront
1. Walsingham Abbey (Common Place, Walsingham NR22 6BP)
Somehow I hadn’t visited here before now and what a shame that is – I’m certainly going back! Walsingham has a long history of religious pilgrimage, dating back to the 11th century. It is renowned for its snowdrop walks in February and I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many! It’s absolutely breathtaking and I would strongly urge a visit! My photos don’t do it justice.
But just to say, this is an incredible site without the snowdrops. It’s steeped in history, with the stunning (and HUGE!) 14th Century East Window Arch of the Abbey. My daughter was more concerned with picking up feathers, but I was humbled by the sight of it. It’s also not huge so perfect for little people or to tag onto a trip to the coast.
It’s certainly broadly accessible with a pushchair, but there were definitely muddy patches after wet weather. Some of the boarded parts have started to deteriorate so it will also be a bit bumpy in patches.
- Parking: Yes – in the village nearby at Old Mill Car Park (pay and display)
- Refreshment facilities: Plenty in the village and the Farm Shop is great
- Availability of toilets: Yes (but I had to make a sharp exit and didn’t see if there was baby change!)
- Surfaces: A mix of natural woodland surfaces and boardwalks
- ‘Mud factor’ (1 = minimal, 2 = a bit squishy in places, 3 = oh dear no): 2 It was largely fine but there was a bit of mud
- Obstacles: None
- Seating availability (for impromptu feeds): Yes
- Play area/interesting features: No play area but stunning views
- Dog friendly: Yes (on leads)
- More info at: http://www.walsinghamabbey.com/Home.html
2. Sheringham Park (Wood Farm, Upper Sheringham NR26 8TL)
One of my favourite places! It’s so family friendly! And you can make it as long or short as you want. It has a sensory garden, coffee shop, pushchair-friendly route and even a sea view. Really family-friendly. We had the pleasure of visiting in the autumn and the colours were stunning!
- Parking: Yes – (pay and display – not cheap though, £5.50 but free for NT members)
- Refreshment facilities: Coffee shop
- Availability of toilets: Yes
- Surfaces: Great hard surfaces
- ‘Mud factor’ (1 = minimal, 2 = a bit squishy in places, 3 = oh dear no): 1
- Obstacles: None
- Seating availability (for impromptu feeds): Yes
- Play area/interesting features: No play area but has a sensory area where we were diverted to for an hour!
- Dog friendly: Yes
- More info at: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sheringham-park
- Bacton Woods (NR28 9UE)
Another new place for me until recently. Absolutely love it! We went at peak squish time – there were definitely parts of this that a pushchair will struggle with after wet weather so be warned! But it is just about passable if sticking to the edges and there were only a few parts that were bad. Dens everywhere in this wood and an old sessile oak that is great for a photo opportunity!
- Parking: Yes – free
- Refreshment facilities: No
- Availability of toilets: No – the nearest public toilets are North Walsham Town Centre. Shame. Bushes it is.
- Surfaces: Woodland pathways
- ‘Mud factor’ (1 = minimal, 2 = a bit squishy in places, 3 = oh dear no): 2-3 – there was one patch that was…tough
- Obstacles: None
- Seating availability (for impromptu feeds): Yes
- Play area/interesting features: No play area but an awesome oak tree and a swing hanging off it
- Dog friendly: Yes
- More info at: https://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/englandeastanglianoforestbactonwood
4. Holkham Estate (Holkham Rd, Wells-next-the-Sea NR23 1AB)
Holkham has one of the most amazing beaches I’ve ever seen, but the estate is also great toddler fodder with all the wildlife. It’s an enchanting place, with beautiful trees and deer roaming the park. It has a brilliant play area and you can have a great afternoon here without even going into the hall itself! The café has a great selection of food and the courtyard is great in the summer to sit out in. It’s a place we regularly visit because it’s so accessible and can be combines with a trip to that beautiful beach!
- Parking: Yes – pay on the gate
- Refreshment facilities: Yes – café, plus the Victoria Inn https://www.holkham.co.uk/stay-eat/the-victoria-inn/welcome
- Availability of toilets: Yes
- Surfaces: Hard surfaces
- ‘Mud factor’ (1 = minimal, 2 = a bit squishy in places, 3 = oh dear no): 1
- Obstacles: None
- Seating availability (for impromptu feeds): Yes
- Play area/interesting features: Yes – it’s fab
- Dog friendly: Yes – on leads
- More info at: https://www.holkham.co.uk/
5. Felbrigg Estate (NR11 8PR)
One of my favourite places. If you get the chance to visit ‘Enchanted Felbrigg’ in December, do – it’s very sweet with lots of activities for kids. We’ve visited at various points in the year and love it. The woodland walks are gorgeous and back up at the estate, there is a great café and gift shop. There’s some very old trees up near the hall and the kids love them. The walled garden is really accessible for a short walk. The estate is a bit of a ‘go-to’ for us if we fancy a walk and coffee stop.
- Parking: Yes – pay & display (NT members free)
- Refreshment facilities: Yes – a lovely café
- Availability of toilets: Yes (nice baby change area)
- Surfaces: Grass and woodland
- ‘Mud factor’ (1 = minimal, 2 = a bit squishy in places, 3 = oh dear no): 2 in winter and after wet weather (Front-carrying baby slings and hip-carrying infant seats for loan)
- Obstacles: None that I recall, we made it fine round with a pushchair
- Seating availability (for impromptu feeds): Yes
- Play area/interesting features: No
- Dog friendly: Yes (on leads near livestock)
- More info at: https://www.holkham.co.uk/
6. Titchwell Nature (Reserve Main Rd, Titchwell, King’s Lynn PE31 8BB)
This is an RSPB nature reserve but even if you don’t like birds, it’s a lovely walk. The marsh has diverse habitats that include reedbeds, saltmarsh and freshwater lagoons and there’s also a wide sandy beach which offers extensive views across The Wash. What’s great about this walk is that it’s really geared up for accessibility – compacted surfaces taking you right down to the sea.
- Parking: Yes – pay & display (RSPB members free but £6 from April 2018 for non-members)
- Refreshment facilities: Yes – a nice café with epic scones
- Availability of toilets: Yes (baby change facilities)
- Surfaces: Compact, hard
- ‘Mud factor’ (1 = minimal, 2 = a bit squishy in places, 3 = oh dear no): 1
- Obstacles: None
- Seating availability (for impromptu feeds): Yes
- Play area/interesting features: No but it’s a feast of wildlife
- Dog friendly: Yes (on leads)
- More info at: RSPB Titchwell
7. Holt Country Park (Hempstead Rd, Holt NR25 6ES)
This is a great place to visit for families! The walks aren’t huge, but there’s lots of different length routes you can take, which is great for different aged kids. We went on a dry day and the paths looked really accessible for pushchairs, although we didn’t visit every path as we have to stop every 3 metres to pick up pine cones in woodland! There are so many quirks and well though out parts of this place – sculptures, a sensory garden, a great play area, picnic area… all in the midst of a beautiful wood, so plenty of opportunity for a bit of forest bathing!
- Parking: Yes – pay & display (only £2 for the day which is great value)
- Refreshment facilities: No – but lots of picnic areas
- Availability of toilets: Yes
- Surfaces: Woodland walks (but were quite compacted)
- ‘Mud factor’ (1 = minimal, 2 = a bit squishy in places, 3 = oh dear no): 1-2
- Obstacles: None
- Seating availability (for impromptu feeds): Yes
- Play area/interesting features: Yes (a good one) and a sensory garden and sculptures
- Dog friendly: Yes
- More info at: https://www.north-norfolk.gov.uk/tasks/your-community/find-out-about-holt-country-park/