Overstrand

Overstrand is a charming coastal village just two miles east of Cromer and is part of the North Norfolk National Landscape. The beautiful sandy beach makes Overstrand popular for family holidays and the surrounding peaceful countryside offers a wealth of walking trails. 

The village of Overstrand is a charming spot with a small village shop and clifftop cafe, offering wonderful views over the sea. The pub and hotel both offer places to stop for a bite to eat and with Overstrand's long history as a fishing village, locally caught seafood is often on menus. Fresh crab and lobster can be bought in season from the Crab Shed.

Overstrand was once known as 'the village of millionaires', reflecting its popularity in the late Victorian to Edwardian period with well known people of the day. This included Winston Churchill and the London journalist and travel writer, Clement Scott who was so charmed by the area when he visited in 1883, he named it ’Poppyland’. You will see several impressive buildings dating back to the end of the 19th century, including The Pleasaunce, a house and gardens built in the late 19th century by Sir Edwin Lutyens for Lord and Lady Battersea.

Overstrand is on the Norfolk Coast Path, so offers wonderful walks taking in stunning scenery. The walk from Overstrand to Trimingham offers a picturesque clifftop walk and the beach car park is the start of an 8.5 mile coastal circular walk, taking in the Cromer Lighthouse, two fine medieval churches and Royal Cromer Golf Course along the way.

The Deep History Coast Discovery Trail passes through Overstrand and there is a Discovery Point in Overstrand where you can find out about how the area looked millions of years ago.

The sandy beach is often quieter than neighbouring Cromer beach but when the tide is in, you are only left with a promenade so check tide times ahead of your visit.

As with much of the Norfolk coast, erosion was and continues to be a major problem.  The cliffs of soft boulder clay slump because of the water running through the clay, and the resulting material on the beach is removed by the succeeding high tides. So, you can sometimes see evidence of cliff falls along this stretch of the coast. 

With coastal walks, a charming village and beautifiul beach, Overstrand is the perfect destination for enjoying the outdoors and being close to main coastal towns.