Holkham Beach & Pinewoods

Holkham Beach is one of Norfolk's most spectacular stretches of coastline, with a huge expanse of golden sand backed by dunes and pinewoods. At low tide, the beach seems to stretch for miles, making it a particularly impressive place to explore with your dog.

We've picked out a roughly five-mile circular route starting from Holkham Beach car park. From here, follow the path down to the beach before heading east along the sand towards Wells-next-the-Sea. Once you reach the famous colourful beach huts, you're roughly halfway. You can then return towards Holkham through the pinewoods, following the marked paths back towards the car park.

Dogs are welcome at Holkham Beach all year round, although seasonal restrictions apply in some areas to help protect nesting birds. Between 1 April and 30 August, dogs need to be kept on leads in designated areas of Holkham National Nature Reserve, so always follow the signage during your visit. We also recommend checking the tide times before setting off, particularly if you're planning to walk along the beach. Holkham can also be very exposed and windy, so it's worth checking the weather before you travel.

This is an extremely popular place for dog walking and you'll likely encounter plenty of other dogs along the way. For that reason, it might not be the best choice for reactive dogs. Starting from Holkham rather than Wells-next-the-Sea can make for a quieter beginning to the walk, as Wells tends to attract more visitors.

There are useful dog friendly stops at either end. The Lookout at Holkham is close to the car park and welcomes dogs, while Wells Beach Cafe is a great halfway stop for refreshments and is also dog friendly. You'll find toilets and dog waste bins around Wells Beach Cafe, while the last dog bins before heading onto Holkham Beach are close to The Lookout, so we recommend disposing of any waste before heading further along the beach.

Distance: Approx. 5 miles
Time: Approx. 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy

This walk was explored for Dog Owners Guide by @Ruby_the_chocolate_cockapoo, who provided the first-hand dog friendly information for this listing.

Follow our chosen Holkham Beach & Pinewoods route on OS Maps

This walk was also selected as one of the UK's 10 Most Scenic Dog Walks as part of our campaign with Petgevity.