Norfolk coastal break with kids and dog - where?!

[sparklespot]

We are planning to go on a short break (4 nights) with our 14 and 12 year old kids and our dog towards the end of March.

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by the amount of choice/holiday lettings companies and I don't really know the area at all. Been to Brancaster Staithe before which was lovely. People seem to love Cromer and Burnham Market too?

It would be great if we could do big dog friendly beach walks without having to drive. Would also be good if we could walk to a pub/shop in the evenings, though not essential.

Any ideas of which villages would be best, or any holiday lettings companies that are particularly good? Some of the prices seem insane - we don't need uber luxury (no way could I justify over 1k for 4 nights in Norfolk in March!) - but a pretty and cosy cottage would be great...thanks so much.

I stayed inland a bit - it's so much cheaper & the coast is only a short drive away. You'll want to go to different beaches I guess? We did as there are so many ovely ones.

If you have young kids check out bewilderwood.co.uk/

It's by far the most fun we ever had as a family with young dc.

Sowerby’s have nice cottages

Oops just saw the age of your kids. Probably not Bewilderwood then.

@RobinEllacotStrike - thanks but yes, not right for us.

@MississippiAF - thank you. Any ideas about particular areas?

It would be great if we could walk from wherever we rented to the coast I think...xx

This is a great company. https://www.eastrustoncottages.co.uk/

The Happisburgh area could suit?

Wells next the sea is good.

Easy access to Holkham beach and lots of dog walks.

Holkham hall is nice to visit. Walsingham is not particularly teen friendly but very historic.

@SaltBlossom - thank you so much. Finding their website a little hard to navigate but will drop them an email...

@Octavia64 - thank you too. I'll look at Wells. I've been to Holkam Hall before - it is so beautiful and I would like to go back x

Cromer is a typical smallish seaside resort. Burnham Market is a village with posh shops and restaurants.

I think Wells is a good call - combines some of the attributes of both.

Hunstanton if you have children. It has shops and the fairground as well as the arcades and proper seaside holiday attractions like the shark boat trips. Everything there is in walking distance on the fairly level.

Cromer is beautiful as long as the tides are right and the weather - it's windy year round and at high tide there is no beach at all.
There is one arcade, several chippies, gift shops, normal shops because it is a proper town by the sea, but unless you want a bucket and spade holiday with no attractions I'd avoid it.

Sheringham is not dog friendly, and I'd argue Wells isn't either.

Hunstanton has the most beautiful dog friendly beach year round, it's better than the non dog beach.

We love Holkham, Blakeney, Brancaster and Wells. We end up staying slightly inland usually, or at Burnham Market.

Hunstanton is good for a day out, but not as nice to stay in, IMO.

This is all great intel, thank you so much everyone! x

Wells is definitely dog friendly. We've stayed there several times with 2 dogs. There's a tiny bit by the beach huts where you need to put dogs on the lead then you can walk all the way to Holkham off lead (though be very careful in nesting season but that applies anywhere). The beach cafe sells doggy ice cream and bags of dog treats. Great fish and chips by the harbour.

Wells next to the sea is a good place to base yourself. There's posher placers or a big mobile home park depending on budget

There's nothing for teenagers to do in Burnham Market. I'd go to Cromer or Sheringham.

Wells next the Sea would be good for you I think. Barefoot Retreats have some lovely (but admittedly pricey) cottages.

How about Holkham?

The beach cafe at wells is very dog friendly.

I stayed in wells last Easter with family and the beach and village were packed with dogs.

The beach cafe has lots of doggy treats.

There are arguably more dogs than people on Wells Beach. Plus you can walk all the way to Holkham, so a double whammy of beaches.

Mundersley is a nice little village with a lovely beach. Dogs are allowed on some parts of the beach. It's not far from Cromer.

Heacham has some nice open beaches and is just up the coast from Hunstanton which has more going on.

Don't think anyones's mentioned Cley next the Sea. It's quiet but has a pub/pubs and shops, and lovely beach walks, huge skies. The North Norfolk coast is so beautiful, you can't go wrong really.

Yes! Really lovely.

Stiffkey is nearby and has a pub with really nice food too.

Oh brilliant everyone, thanks so much. Sounds like I should check out Wells, Holkham, Heacham, Mundersley and Cley next the Sea.

In terms of Wells itself - I don't think we would do the mobile home park but equally we won't be doing Barefoot Retreats as most of their properties seem to nudge 2k for 4 nights which seems bonkers 😂

We've stayed in Sea Palling a couple of times (through East Ruston Cottages who are incredible) and it was perfect to be able to walk right onto the beach and then either to Happisburgh or the Dunes cafe. Various teenagers liked the arcade/ doughnuts and the very sheltered beaches