Most accessible beaches in north norfolk

North Norfolk has many beautiful beaches, some with Blue Flag status, to be enjoyed by all. We've listed the best beaches for wheelchair (and pushchair) access with facilities nearby.

Cromer, a Blue Flag beach, famous for its pier and crabs, has Blue Badge parking on the west side of the promenade (pay and display) which gives access to the whole of the prom, pier and the beach. For those parking in town there’s a lift from the top of the cliffs down to the east prom. The lift also gives access to the Rocket Café, which has a balcony overlooking the beach as well as indoor seating. Toilets for people with disabilities are available both there and at the west prom. There are some ramps on to the beach but the level of the beach is constantly changing, so these may not always be usable.

Nearby Sheringham Blue Flag beach, has limited free on-street parking and pay and display in the town and on the cliff top. Toilets for people with disabilities are available. The paved promenade is accessible from the road and there are ramps on to the beach. The changes in the levels of sand with the tides may make some easier to use than others.

From the car park at West Runton beach on the Deep History Coast, you can access the beach via a paved slope. This Blue Flag beach is where the 600,000 year old skeleton of a steppe mammoth was found, the most complete skeleton ever found in the world.

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At Wells-next-the-Sea there’s plenty to do in town for those using a wheelchair. The ramp on to the beach is rather steep and care is recommended for wheelchair users. There is the chance to walk from the quay in town to the beach with views over the harbour and salt flats along a tarmac path. It takes about 15-20 minutes and there is a café and disabled toilets once you get there. There is a short boardwalk and views of the beach if you turn left at the top of the ramp from the beach car park.

At Holkham beach there are dedicated Blue Badge car parking spaces. From the car park, there is a sturdy wooden track that leads you to a viewing platform which offers fantastic views of the beach. 

Or you can follow a one-mile route, turn left at the bottom of Lady Anne’s Drive and follow the hardcore track with the pinewoods on the right. Pass a small saltwater lagoon on the left, and after approximately a mile, you will reach the George Washington Hide. There is access here through to the beach via a boardwalk. Looking across the grazing marshes back towards Holkham Park, you will see the monument rising up amongst the tops of the trees. The return route can be varied by going through the pinewoods and turning right along the beach back to the end of Lady Anne’s Drive.

Sea Palling has relatively easy access to a slope to the Blue Flag beach from nearby parking. The slope is fairly steep and can be covered with sand beach side so a bit of care is needed when using the slope. There is a disabled toilet, plus café, pub, fish and chips and amusements.

The slope at Mundesley could also prove to be a little on the steep side, though is it still accessible, with parking and toilets at the top in town. There are also toilets on the prom. At the top of this Blue Flag beach on the green is Mundesley Maritime Museum which is believed to the be smallest museum in the UK.

At Hunstanton seaside resort, disabled access has been provided to all the main public areas including the beach. The paved promenade has several slopes leading down to the beach where you can see the famous striped cliffs. There is also a specially designed sensory garden, which provides opportunities to touch, hear and smell the plants and sculptures.

The Norfolk Coast Partnership has a selection of walks on its website which provide an opportunity for everyone from pushschair users to those with limited mobility to experience the diversity of the landscapes and wildlife of the area, from Cromer prom to Sheringham Park and beyond. Many sites are based on the Easy Access to the Norfolk Coast AONB, a guide to easily accessible countryside sites.

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National Trails also has information about wheelchair access to the Norfolk Coast Path.

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