Norfolk Coast Path Proposed Route ~ Test Griff Walks

Norfolk Coast Path Draft Details Released

Details of the proposed route for the 25.5 miles of the Norfolk Coast Path between Weybourne and Sea Palling

Details have been published for the proposed route of the Norfolk leg of English Coastal Footpath between Weybourne to Sea Palling. Much of the proposed route is along existing footpaths and walked routes as well as beach sections. The entire distance can be walked at present following much of the proposed route or just using the beach given the right tide conditions. This route is a welcome proposal to give official public access to this entire section.

Essential Information

Walk Statistics:

Start point: Weybourne View in OS Map | View in Google Map

End Point: Sea Palling View in OS Map | View in Google Map

Total Walk distance: 25.5 miles

Walk difficulty: Easy

Maps:

Google Route Map: Available here

Walk Notes ToC

On the 16th October 2012 Natural England released their proposed routes for the Norfolk section of the English Coast Path between Weybourne and Sea Palling. The details can be found at Natural England Website with an overview available from here.

The route uses a mixture of existing public footpaths, existing walking routes that do not have formal access rights and sections of National Trails and the Paston Way. If implemented it proposes to align the existing section of the North Norfolk Coast Path between Cromer and Sheringham with the proposed coastal route.

AS much of the route presently exists and is accessible it is possible to currently walk most of the proposed route. I undertook this section during the autumn of 2008 when I spent two days walking between Cromer and Lowestoft. This is a superb section of English coastline and well worth walking. When I undertook this I had no idea of how I was going to get to the destination with the intention of using cliff-top paths where possible and beach where possible. Since then I have walked the entire route a couple more times as sectional and circular walks and parts of the northern sections countless times.

The proposed route consists of four sections as detailed below

Sea Palling to Happisburgh (Chapter 1): This uses a beach route together with an alternative route of tracks landward side of the dunes. The beach route is well worth the effort of walking with the sight of seals basking on the beach in the sunshine at times. (see Seals, sea and sand at Horsey Gap for details of walking this section).

Proposed Route Maps
- Map 1.1 Sea Palling Lifeboat Station to Sea Breeze Campsite
- Map 1.2 Sea Breeze Campsite to Eccles-on-Sea
- Map 1.3 Eccles-on-Sea to Decca Field
- Map 1.4 Decca Field to Happisburgh
Happisburgh to Mundesley (Chapter 2): Once again most of this route can be walked at present and was the route taken for my own walk of the complete Norfolk coast in October 2008. The section from Bacton up to Mundesley is already designated as part of the Paston Way which runs at the foot of the cliff along the beach. Under normal circumstance this is a pleasant beach walk but on spring tides it can become impassable.

Proposed Route Maps
- Map 2.1 Happisburgh to Walcott
- Map 2.2 Walcott
- Map 2.3 Walcott to Bacton Green Map
- Map 2.4 Bacton Green to Bacton Gas Distribution Station
- Map 2.5 Bacton Gas Distribution Station
- Map 2.6 Bacton Gas Distribution Station to Mundesley
Mundesley to Cromer (Chapter 3): In my opinion this is one of the best beach walks in all England and is detailed on this site under the title Ale Trail - Mundesley to Cromer. It is highly recommended although needs to be completed at the right state of tide so consultation with tide times is essential. The proposed route to Overstrand follows the cliff top and declares most of this to be existing walked routes though not public footpaths. I have to admit that I never knew these routes existed and will make a point of hunting them out the next time I am up that way. From Overstrand to Cromer it follow the Paston Way along the beach.

Proposed Route Maps
- Map 3.1 Mundesley
- Map 3.2 Mundesley to Beacon Hill
- Map 3.3 Beacon Hill to Trimingham Village Hall
- Map 3.4 Trimingham Village Hall to Sidestrand
- Map 3.5 Sidestrand to Overstrand High Street
- Map 3.6 Overstrand High Street to Kirby Hill
- Map 3.7 Kirby Hill to Cromer
Cromer to Weybourne (Chapter 4): The proposed route between Cromer and Sheringham follows existing paths as detailed on this site (Sheringham to Cromer Circular Walk. The North Norfolk Coast Path currently navigates inland to Roman Camp on this section but it is proposed that this will be modified to follow the proposed route. Beyond Sheringham the route follows the existing route of the North Norfolk Coast Path.

Proposed Route Maps
- Map 4.1 Cromer
- Map 4.2 Cromer to East Runton
- Map 4.3 East Runton to West Runton
- Map 4.4 West Runton to Beeston Bump
- Map 4.5 Beeston Bump to Sheringham Golf Club
- Map 4.6 Sheringham Golf Club to Old Hithe
- Map 4.7 Old Hithe to Dead Mans Hill
- Map 4.8 Dead Mans Hill to Weybourne

Beach south of Bacton

Directions ToC

The details can be seen in each chapter of the proposed route.

Images ToC

Below are a selection of images taken from from the photo album for this walk. There are links to the entire photo album plus a slideshow of all the images. Feel free to browse through these or click on any image to view a larger version in the Gallery.

View complete photo album

Click on an image below to view the Image Gallery