Dog friendly beaches near the cottages in Norfolk
The tide times for the beaches near our cottages will be between the times shown below, varying by their distance from them.
One of the main reasons many people come on holiday here are the beaches! So many to choose from, all of them mostly sandy, all of them great places to walk the dogs.
The coastline of Norfolk is over 90 miles long and the beaches are linked so you can walk from one to another along the sand when the tide is out and many of the southern ones have areas of dunes to walk in when the tide is high.
Here is a selection of the most popular ones.
Be sure to click on the links to find out much more about each beach!
Winterton
Awesome! Lots of beach and acres of dunes for running and sniffing. No restrictions all year round.
Really good for reactive dogs as you can stay well away from other dogs as there is SO much room on the beach and the miles of dunes. Some great circular walks inland too from here.
Restrictions: There is a tern nesting colony in the summer and seals breeding on the beach in the winter but these are signposted when applicable.
Access: Easy, slight sandy slope to beach and level access to dunes area.
Facilities: Large privately owned car park - pay and display but not expensive.
Dog friendly pub The Fishermans Return and fish and chip shop in the village - both an easy walk. Public and disabled toilet. Great village shop and post office which also has a little dog friendly cafe - Poppys - attached and sells take away cakes and coffee too. There is also Seal View on the beach car park selling hot and cold drinks, snacks and ice creams.
Nearest to: A very short walk from Ruby Gem and Beachcomber On the doorstep of Jack's Shack, Hidden Gem and Skylark.
Horsey
Really great for dogs. Lots of beach and dunes separating the beach from a level track that runs along the back beside the marshy grazing areas.
You can do a circular walk along the beach and back along the track or do a circular walk across inland farmland and stop off at the quaint little, dog friendly pub, The Nelson Head.
Restrictions: During the winter the beach is famous for its amazing seal breeding colony (see two useful websites here and here for much more info) and there are roped off areas and wardens during these times. Whilst this does limit dog walking to the track and dunes, it is an amazing sight, well worth seeing.
Access: Sandy slope to beach over dunes and steps off the dunes along the beach too.
Facilities: Large National Trust pay and display car park. Poppylands cafe (a wonderful war time themed place) on the road just before the track leading to the beach.Nearby Horsey Windpump has a cafe and shop open in the summer.
Nearest to: Red Roofs but an easy drive from many of the other cottages, particularly those in Winterton and Rollesby.
Waxham
Dog friendliness: 9/10 Very good. Lots of empty beach and a good strip of dunes for walking.
Restrictions: The Horsey seal breeding colony sometimes spreads down to Waxham so there are occasional roped off areas in the winter but you can walk in the dunes instead or on the Norfolk Coast path.
Access: Sandy slope to beach over dunes.
Facilities: There isn't a proper car park which means it doesn't get too busy! The parking is on the track leading to the beach behind the large farmhouse next to Waxham Great Barn. The Dunes Cafe that used to be at Winterton is now here in the Waxham Great Barn yard. Dogs are allowed inside and in the courtyard so there is plenty of seating.
Nearest to: An easy walk to here from East Cottage, West Cottage, Pollywiggle and Bishy Barnaby!
Sea Palling
Dog friendliness: 10/10 Really good. Best for dogs that are happy with other dogs around as this is a popular doggy beach. Lovely, flat sandy beach protected by a rock reef which gives areas of quiet, shallow sea - ideal for dogs (and humans!) that like to swim.
Restrictions: From 1 May to 1 October half of the beach is restricted for dogs but only to the left of the access ramp. To the right is available all year round and is the better part of the beach. You can do an easy walk to Waxham or a longer one to Horsey.
Access: Concrete slope to beach over the dunes at the end of Beach Road. Various other access points over dunes.
Facilities: The perfect amount - the very dog friendly Sandy Hills cafe and Beach Rock Bistro, fish and chips, toilets, a small amusement arcade - all at the beach end of Beach Road along with the Lifeboat Tavern. At the other end of the village there is a shop/post office.
Children's play area and plenty of council pay and display parking - long and short stay.
Cart Gap
Dog friendliness: 10/10 Very good. Lots of beach when the tide is out. Quiet most of the time.
Restrictions: None!
Access: Concrete slope down from the car park. Left takes you to Happisburgh beach and right to Eccles beach.
Facilities: Pay and display car park, toilets and the very lovely Smallsticks Cafe just a short walk inland. The RNLI station and shop are also here.
Nearest to: Dormy, Sea Urchin and Sand Drift are a short walk away. A longer walk from Edelweiss, Corner Cottage and Manor Barn, also from White Cottage Sandmartins and The Crib.
Happisburgh
Dog friendliness: 10/10 Really good. Lots of beach.
Restrictions: None!
Access: Sand slope down from the car park. This does suffer from the weather/sea and can get damaged and closed from time to time but the council work hard to keep it open.
Facilities: Pay and display car park, toilets. The village also has the very dog friendly Hill House pub, small shop/post office and a really good fresh fish shop a little way inland - very worth a visit!
Nearest to: A short walk from White Cottage, Sandmartins andThe Crib. A longer one from Corner Cottage and The Walnut, The Peanut and Bumblebee Cottage - all in Happisburgh Common. And Manor Barn too!
Walcott / Bacton
Dog friendliness: Great! Especially out of season. Can be busy at Walcott but not so much at Bacton.
Restrictions: 1st May - 1st October there are small areas of restrictions for dogs on the beach between certain groins but you can navigate these easily. Most of the beach is dog friendly year round.
Access: Steps from the pavement and ramps.
Facilities: On road parking and privately owned car parks, toilets. Really good village shop and post office, Kingfisher Cafe (very popular and dog friendly), fish and chips next door - both right on the sea front. A lovely little old fashioned ice cream van is often parked up by the beach. We also love dog friendly Watsons cafe and very dog welcoming vegan Cafe Carmel. In the other direction is the great Lighthouse Pub (on the coast road out of the village)
Nearest to: Seaview Cottage overlooks the beach as does The Lookout. Stone's Throw is literally a stone's throw to the beach!
Mundesley
Dog friendliness: Really good. Lots of beach. You can walk miles along it to get away from the small area in front of the main part.
Restrictions: 1st May - 1st October there are restrictions between certain groins but not beyond these.
Access: Various points but main access is concrete ramp by the Ship Inn which takes you down to the promenade and then steps to the beach.
Facilities: Mundesley is a cute little seaside village so there are all sorts of facilities. A cafe and amusements along the sea front, a couple of sea food sales vans, and a pub, The Ship Inn, is right on the cliff with a great dog friendly garden with splendid views up and down the coast. In the village itself there are various shops, a hotel, Chinese takeaway. There's a tourist information centre and a tiny Maritime Museum too - plenty to see and do in Mundesley.
Nearest to: Swallowdale, Sunny Cottage, Rooster Barn and 1 Paynes Cottage
Overstrand
Dog friendliness: Really good. Lots of beach and pretty quiet. Great for a walk to Cromer along the beach and back along the cliff top (or vice versa, depending on tides)
Restrictions: 1st May - 1st October there are restrictions for dogs on the beach between certain groins.
Access: Long concrete walkway down from the car park.
Facilities: Pay and display car park, toilets. The village also has a great little cafe - The Cliff Top Cafe and the Lobster and Crab shack; brilliant for fresh crab and lobster. The local pub - The White Horse - is very dog friendly.
Nearest to: Swallowdale, Rooster Barn, Sunny Cottage and 1 Paynes Cottage
Beaches further afield
So many more lovely beaches further up the coast. Cromer and Sheringham both have all the facilities you would expect of a seaside town and both have an old fashioned charm. The beach at West Runton has a great dog friendly cafe, the beach at Holkham is almost certainly 'the biggest beach in the world' and all of the beaches along the top of the northern part of Norfolk, between Cromer and Hunstanton are well worth a day trip.
Rather than re-write what others have done already, here are some links so you can find out more about our great beaches!
The Barking Bugle have a great post here!
http://www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/inspire/Top-10-beaches.aspx
http://www.nearestbeach.co.uk/dog-friendly/norfolk/
http://www.tournorfolk.co.uk/beaches.html
DOGS ON BEACHES RESTRICTIONS
For full and accurate details of the beaches with council enforced restrictions see here.
And this great website tells you about the beaches all the way round the coast here.
Dog Friendly Pubs & Cafes in Norfolk
Pubs
Greyhound Inn in Hickling.
Is within very easy walking distance of Red Roofs. Not far from Boundary Lodge. Totally dog friendly and a real cosy country pub.
Pleasureboat Inn in Hickling.
Hickling is very lucky to have 2 fabulously dog friendly pubs and this one is right by the water! Views from the pub and the garden over Hickling Broad. Also very close to Red Roofs and not far from Boundary Lodge.
The Butchers Arm in East Ruston.
The nearest one to The Lodge, Vineyard Cottage and Badger's Retreat as well as Bristow's Barn. About a mile or so walk but you can get there along the beautiful Weavers Way footpath or the quiet village lanes. Mostly does takeaways since Covid.
The Gunton Arms at Thorpe Market
Wonderful location and building, amazing art and interior excellent food and a dog friendly bar. The Gunton Arms is in a lodge in a deer park just outside North Walsham. You can walk here from Swallowdale, Sunny Cottage, 1 Paynes Cottage and Rooster Barn -it is a long walk but a good one, mostly across fields and well worth it!
The Lighthouse Inn at Walcott
Properly dog friendly. Good food and friendly. Almost next door to Malthouse Farm Barn and an easy walk along the coast from Seaview Cottage, The Lookout and Stone's Throw. You can walk to The Lighthouse along the cliff top from Happisburgh too.
Hill House at Happisburgh.
Historic pub tucked away in the village, near to the coast. A very short walk from The Crib, Sandmartins and from White Cottage too.
Nelson's Head at Horsey
Great to visit after a walk to see the seals and not far from Red Roofs and Boundary Lodge. Also part of a lovely walk from East and West Cottage, Pollywiggle and Bishy Barnaby. Lots of parking and on a great circular route where you can take in the historic restored windmill too!
California Tavern at Scratby
A seaside pub that is popular with locals and holiday makers. Great for Sunday roasts! An easy walk from Brig Cottage and Woodpecker Lodge.
The Ship Inn at Mundesley.
Has a huge garden with great views up and down the coast. Short drive from 1 Paynes Cottage, Sunny Cottage, Swallowdale and Rooster Barn.
Fishermans Return, in Winterton
A short walk from Hidden Gem, Ruby Gem, Jack's Shack, Beachcomber and Skylark. Dog friendly throughout! Very popular with locals and visitors.
The Farmers in Ormesby.
A very short drive from our Scratby and Winterton cottages. Good food, great atmosphere and dogs very welcome.
The Lion Inn in Thurne
Great pub with good beer and gin! Lovely outside area with individual "greenhouse pods". Right on the Broads and a very short stroll from our Broads Cottage.
Pubs Further Afield
The Red Lion
in Brook Street, Cromer is right on the seafront, with great beach walks and just yards from the start of the Peddars Way long distance path.
Foundry Arms
Church Street, Northrepps, gives a warm welcome to all visitors with dogs and is nice and close to Cromer.
Kings Arms
Main Road Fleggburgh - bar and outside are dog friendly. Excellent food.
Bridge Inn
Acle Bridge, Acle - Water bowls given to dogs and dogs allowed in bar.
The White Horse Pub
Upton, is a community pub and the couple who run it for the village could not be more friendly and welcoming.
The Dog Inn
Ludham Bridge Dogs welcomed inside and out. On the Broads.
Kings Arms
High Street, Ludham. This 400-year old pub welcomes dogs everywhere except in the restaurant.
White Horse
The Street, Neatishead. Dogs are more than welcome in the main bar, upper bar and snug areas at all times.
Water bowls and occasionally treats provided. Great food and they take their beer very seriously!
Many more dog friendly pubs in the county can be found on the Dog friendly pub website.
CAFES we love!
We are SO lucky to have so many cafes that are dog welcoming in our area of Norfolk. Here is a just a very small selection of some of our favourites!
There are SO many more all around the coast and inland too.
Smallsticks Cafe at Cart Gap
Dogs are very welcome, the food is excellent and the staff are lovely! Walk here easily from many of our Happisburgh and Eccles cottages.
Hirsts Farm Shop and Cafe in Ormesby
Always lovely food on the menu and to buy from the farm shop! Dogs very welcome everywhere.
Poppylands at Horsey
WW2 theme, plenty of parking, dogs very welcome and a great menu. Ideal after visiting the seals at Horsey Gap!
The Whelk Coppers Tearoom in Sheringham
Dogs are very welcome, and the cafe caters for gluten free diets. Overlooks the sea!
Watsons in Bacton
Another local favourite with great cakes, lots of space and an easy walk from our Bacton and Walcott cottages.
Shambles in North Walsham
Best cafe/bistro in the town in our opinion! Definitely worth a visit if you are in the town.
Cliff Top Cafe at Overstrand
Pawfectly dog friendly and looks out to sea. Great for fuelling up before a walk along the beach!
Rocket House Cafe, Cromer
Great views of Cromer Pier and a lovely menu. Dogs welcome on the balcony areas. Ideal for seaside views!
Eating Out In Norfolk
A whole website dedicated to finding good places to eat in Norfolk with a really good postcode based search function.
