I thought i would post about Holkham beach as i didn't see any other threads about it. This is the only naturist beach we have been to so far as there isn't many to choose from in Norfolk but we try to go back each year (we haven't been this year as my wife is heavily pregnant). It's a very clean beach with three miles of white-gold sand. The naturist part of the beach is a 1.5 to 2 mile walk from the car park but it's well worth it.
To get there from where you park on 'Lady Anne's Drive' head towards the beach but when you get past the gate and take the path to the left. The walk will take you past a large pond then past a bird hide then past a house and outbuildings until you get to a cross roads. At the cross roads take the path to the right, through the trees over the dunes and on to the naturist beach.
nice one, thank you 🙂
Is it official or just accepted?
Yes it's an official naturist beach that is privately owned by Holkham Estate it is also clearly signposted where the naturist section starts and finishes.
Are there any restrictions on when dogs are permitted on the beach? The little fellow in my avatar loves digging in sand...
Have fun,
Ian.
It's never too late to have a happy childhood.
No, we have taken our dog everytime and always see plenty of other people with dogs.
No, we have taken our dog everytime and always see plenty of other people with dogs.
Thanks.
Keep your eyes open and if you should see a large and remarkably stupid labrador / boxer cross stripping the beach of sand, come over and say Hi.
Have fun,
Ian.
It's never too late to have a happy childhood.
Excellent description of the beach and nice photos. I've been there a few times and think that on a good warm day it is magical. This is not Vera Playa so there is no little chiringuito where you can go for a snack and a beer but beautiful unspoilt Norfolk coastline and one of those places where you can be both a Naturist and a naturalist at the same time. Although quite a hike from the car park to the naturist beach it is on the flat. My only word of caution would be that you might want to invest in a wind-break and of course take whatever refreshment you need with you.
hi we have been there as you say its a long walk but worth it on a nice day
yes, Twe, I turned up to the British Naturism beach day at Holkham.
Well Joeberks (InTheBuff) came up with the wheels, punished overall by the whiplashes of a 240 mile round trip.
How off the beaten track is this venue? Well, Satnav's dulcet tones left us at Well-next-the Sea, whence we had to take further directions (twice), arriving after a further round-trip at about 1:45pm. The powers that be kindly warned us of the ample hike from Lady Anne's Drive carpark, but failed to advise us that there was what seemed a further 2-mile walk from the BN beach campsite to the sea itself. It is the first nudist beach I have ever visited that is wider than it is long! Knowing that the Wash (just up the road) is notorious for it's 20-mile tides, one kept an ever-vigilant look at the long-distance tidal threat to the tentsite. Having never visited the Sahara, I have not seen so much sand.
The usual suspects were there to keep us well fuelled with tea and to cajole us into beachvolley, unsuccessfully in my case (injured reserve; sprained ankle). The refreshment tent was kept busy by over a hundred supporters who largely simpered back to their solitary retreats in the dunes and their exposed windbreaks on the beach itself. Yes, the wind was reasonably strong, so much as to sow the grain of my quinoa lunch across the beach. Next year's maize harvest should be a bumper crop!
The wind had other victims. There had been a proliferation of greenfly in these parts over the months and the email message had obviously reached harlequin@ladybird.eu. The beach was infested with millions of our colourful European invaders, with the xenophobic wind tossing them repetitively on their backs in a humorous flail of tiny legs. The main worry was not the inconsequential nips and bites, but how many made their involuntary way into our lunches.
A changing weather forecast, no matter which website you counselled, turned out to be pessimistic. High cumuli teased us throughout but it was very simply a sunny day at the beach, despite the wind. Considering the North Sea is one of the Northern Hemiphere's coldest seas, rumoured to supply Tesco with ready frozen mackerel, the water was as a warm jacuzzi. Punctuated with the occasional splash of the youthful fry of naturism's future shoals, a keen crowd of BN human basking whales and porpoise dotted the shore line and was ill-advisedly coerced into a hearty photographic run from the sea. Frighteningly, this is due to adorn the pages of next year's Country and Coast magazine with local historic images harking back to naked Vikings, charging and hollering in a coastal invasion.
The peaceful image of the traditional British Naturism day therefore took on a temporary more boisterous hue that eventually saturated into the calm of a warm evening, tempting so many to stay beyond their scheduled departure.
Reluctantly, as the sunny day dozed gilded towards 6pm, I reluctantly folded away my tent and headed back with Joe via the concrete and tarmac confessional boxes to financial penance. The thought prevails of a place in the sun beyond maps, where even the most diligent creditor could never find his David Livingstone.
And yet, Holkham Beach remains enchantingly an escape to rather than an escape from.
Hugs,
Will
I finally made it to this wonderful beach last week as I was camping near Norwich. Made two visits on successive days. The first day had seen heavy rain in the morning so many people stayed at home it seems as the beach was very quiet even though the afternoon turned out to be gloriously sunny.
The next day saw many more people enjoying the beach clothes-free.
The 30 minute walk from the car park wasn't too bad - it was a 10 minute walk down to the sea for a paddle too lol
A real shame I don't live close to Holkham as I am sure I would visit it often.
Hi all,
It was pretty warm today in our MK garden. Was anyone at Holkham today, or is it still a bit cool at the coast.
We love it there as you have the choice of staying on the banks of the dunes or ,due to the tide, on the beach a half mile out towards the sea.
Looking forward to our long weekends in May. 😉
E&T
We were going to go today but after looking at the weather we decided it's still to cold for the beach. As it warms up we'll be spending plenty of time there.
Out of all the beaches around east Anglia this has to be one of the best, i originate, ten miles away from from holkaham, and weather textile or naturist this beach never fails to provide one with peace and quite, along with the natural abundance of wildlife, at any time of the year, true its a very long walk, but makes for me and the wife a pleasant break from our busy business life, its nice to grab a few hours, a good walk, pick a sheltered spot, strip off and chill, forty winks, then re-clothe and make our way back, it just puts your mind back into perspective, everyone is equal, no status, no means of judgement, no phone, no email, hell i wish the forecast was for the weekend as has been today... still summers coming can't wait, holkham will be the first port of call.... highly recommend it, but would rather not if you get my drift, its tranquillity is its asset... 😉
I made my first visit of the year to Holkham yesterday. Pleased to say that all the positive comments made elsewhere in this thread still apply - its still a great beach, still plenty of room, and still very peaceful. Good to see quite a few people there too - especially for a Tuesday in April ! Sure there are some negatives - the trek from the car park gets longer every time I go and seems even longer coming back ! Be aware that the car park is now a pay and display, and if you want to stay more than 3 hours it will cost you £5.
Hope to make many more visits this year - lets hope we get the weather for it !
we notice many people who coment on Holkham beach list the long walk as a minus,we love the walk to the beach,its a real pleasure walking through the woods,the fact that such a lovely beach lies in wait makes it just perfect