Waterways and trails through Norfolk

The Broads National Park offers 200 kilometres of navigable waterways to explore. The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads are also Britain’s largest protected wetland and its third-largest inland waterway.

The landscape can also be explored on foot or on horseback: The Broads has around 303 kilometres of public footpaths and 17 kilometres of public bridleways. The Norfolk Trails network includes more than 1,200 miles of walking, cycling and riding routes across the county. This means there are routes within the Broads area as well as a county-wide network—two different scales for finding your way around Norfolk.

Coastal reserves and birdlife

The Cley and Salthouse Marshes coastal reserve covers more than 300 hectares. Paths and boardwalks lead to several bird hides. Its conservation designations include Ramsar, Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Protection Area (SPA) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC); authorities may update these designations.

The RSPB Snettisham reserve on the Norfolk coast offers sweeping views across brackish lagoons, salt marshes and extensive mudflats. From late summer to early winter, tens of thousands of wading birds gather on the mudflats. On especially high spring tides, large flocks take flight; the timing depends on the tides and bird migration. In winter, up to 40,000 pink-footed geese from Iceland and Greenland gather at The Wash. The periods have distinct seasonal highlights: wading birds are a feature from late summer into early winter, while the geese gather at The Wash in winter.

Holkham National Nature Reserve covers 10,000 acres of coastline between Stiffkey and Burnham Norton. Grazing marshes, salt marshes, dunes and pinewoods are among its landscapes. Holkham Beach offers a separate way to access the coast: a boardwalk leads through pinewoods to Holkham Bay.

Grime’s Graves: mining history and habitats

At Grime’s Graves, exceptional archaeological heritage meets a variety of habitats. Neolithic flint miners used the site around 4,500 years ago, digging more than 400 pits. Grime’s Graves has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) since 1985. Chalk soils, sandy heath and acid grassland support a wide variety of unusual plants. Some of the mines that have been excavated again provide winter roosts for five bat species. Here, traces of prehistoric activity meet protected habitats, whose plant life and winter roosts each reveal a different aspect of the landscape.

Practical information

The North Norfolk coastal section of the King Charles III England Coast Path has long stretches of boardwalks and raised embankments and can be used at all tide levels. Before planning your trip, check official notices for current diversions, closures and seasonal changes. Norfolk’s rail network connects Norwich directly with Cambridge, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Sheringham; if travelling by train, it is worth checking timetables and service updates.

Local events also complement the nature and landscape attractions. The Cromer Crab & Lobster Festival is a spring event featuring cooking demonstrations, food stalls and family activities. Dates and programmes vary from year to year. If you would like to include the festival in your travel plans, check the relevant event dates.

Discover more destinations: Binham, Brooke, Brundall, Garboldisham, Great Massingham, Melton Constable, Necton, North Tuddenham, Sharrington, Spixworth, Stanhoe, Whissonsett, Wighton, Hopton, King's Lynn, Norwich, Fakenham, Snettisham, North Walsham, Great Yarmouth, West Somerton, Bacton, Roughton, Cromer, Little Walsingham, Sedgeford, Foulsham, Aldborough, Hunstanton, Heacham, Burnham Market, Yaxham, Wymondham, Wroxham, Weybourne, Watton, Swaffham, Stalham, Sheringham, Sculthorpe, Scole, Reepham, Overstrand, North Wootton, Northwold, Mundesley, Martham, Marsham, Litcham, Honingham, Harleston, Great Bircham, Gorleston-On-Sea, Gissing, Beechamwell, Aylmerton, Attleborough, Thorpe Market, Saham Toney, Mundford, Dersingham, Hethersett, Costessey, Lessingham, Catfield, Hempstead, Wells-Next-The-Sea, Northrepps, Dereham, Hindringham, Swannington, Coltishall, Salthouse, South Creake, Pentney, Thetford, Yelverton, Outwell, Great Cressingham, Langham, Acle, Gayton, Oulton, Brancaster, Long Stratton, Holt, Narborough, Ringstead, Drayton, Great Witchingham, Grimston, Taverham, Fritton, Tharston, East Harling, Methwold, Hevingham, Diss, Lyng, Gimingham, Clippesby, Lamas, Loddon, Thursford, Horning, Tivetshall St. Margaret, Hemsby, Reedham, Feltwell, Caister-On-Sea, West Runton, Mattishall, Burgh Castle, Banham, Blakeney, North Elmham, Lingwood, Hainford, Hindolveston, Broome, Downham Market, Little Plumstead, Matlaske, Upwell, Thornham, Scratby, Syderstone, Sidestrand, Mulbarton, Ludham, Dickleburgh, Bircham Newton, Billingford, Blofield, Aldeby, Baconsthorpe, Beetley, Colby, Ditchingham, Edingthorpe, Elsing, Freethorpe, Great Plumstead, Great Snoring, Helhoughton, Heydon, Hockwold Cum Wilton, Horsford, North Creake, Wheatacre, Stiffkey, Tattersett, Tuttington, Wiveton, Potter Heigham, Hockering, Clenchwarton, Belton, Aylsham, Barney, St Ouen's, Shipdham, Castle Acre, Great Dunham, Runcton Holme, East Barsham, Edgefield, Bawdeswell, South Pickenham, Wiggenhall Saint Peter, Corpusty, Bradenham, Easton, Spooner Row, Winterton-on-Sea, Toft Monks, Terrington Saint Clement, Swanton Abbott, Waterden, North Burlingham, Tittleshall, Briston, East Runton

For the regional travel overview: East of England.