An attractive ancient port after which the coastal spit is named. Now a pretty village full of quaint flint fishermen’s cottages, it is busy with yachts and other pleasure craft which can make the passage up the narrow channel from the sea. Boat trips run from the quay to see the seal colony on Blakeney Point.

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Haunting at sunset. Sparkling and alive at high tide. Brancaster is a jolly sort of place full of bustle and boats. Where the sea air has a extra frisson of anticipation. A great place to take part or observe, this is what messing about by the water is all about.

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The largest of seven ‘Burnham’ villages, Burnham Market has affectionately been given the alternative name of Chelsea-on-Sea. The 18th century houses, refined green and selection of craft, book and antique shops lend it undeniable serenity and elegance. The Burnham’s were the area most local to Nelson whose father was Rector at nearby Burnham Overy.

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Once an important wool port, Cley is now charming little village of flint and brick cottages with the occasional seafood shop and tearoom. It is most famously recognised by its redbrick tower mill which punctuates the landscape, looking out over the marshes towards the sea and the Norfolk Coast Path.

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An Iceni tribal village reconstruction believed to be on an original site.

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Head down to the beach here for some of the widest sandy stretches you may ever see, or have yourself a superb day out exploring the home of the Earl of Leicester, the magnificent Holkham Hall. An 18th Century Palladian-style mansion and true treasure house, it is one of Norfolk’s gems. The grounds are graced with opulently carved fountains and wonderful walks afford some fantastic views. There is also a Bygones Museum with over 4000 artefacts.

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Known as England’s only resort on the East Coast to actually face west, Hunstanton is an attractive seaside haunt with wide greens lined sedately by Victorian and Georgian architecture. The beaches here are large and sandy. To the north the carr stone village of Old Hunstanton graces the distinctive red and white striped cliffs.

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Cobbles, cottages and a cluster of lanes and quaysides, Morston is as quaint as Norfolk comes. The surrounding marshes turn purple with sea lavender come the summer months and as well as welcoming sailing boats, the quayside is home to boat trips out to Blakeney Point to see the seals.

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Little boats still bring in a daily catch to this traditional seaside resort which grew up out of an old fishing village. At low tide, the large, sandy beach reveals rock pools and fossils can be found on the stretch between Sheringham and Cromer. The North Norfolk Railway operates steam and diesel train rides along the ‘Poppy Line’ from here to the picturesque Georgian market town of Holt.

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In the safe-keeping of the National Trust, Sheringham Park has some superb watch-tower views across rolling landscapes towards the coast. A great place to get a view of the steam trains as they cut through the timeless countryside.

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Titchwell Marsh is a popular RSPB bird reserve on the North Norfolk coast. A mosaic of wetland and coastal habitats carefully safeguarded to attract a diversity of bird species; the reserve boasts nationally important numbers of Marsh Harriers, Bittern, Bearded Tits and Avocets. Reed beds and shallow lagoons lead down from the visitor centre to the sandy beach. The village has a small Norman church with a round tower and unusual spire.

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A little village lined with flint and red brick cottages, renowned for its smuggling history, creeks and sandy beach. During the 18th and 19th century, it had a large harbour and was a popular place for smugglers who would sink their contraband off the coast in waterproof containers, then meet up in the Lifeboat Inn to share it out! Historic All Saints’ Church houses a bell from the minesweeper HMS Thornham which was named after the village.

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A town of narrow streets and flint cottages with a lovely sandy beach one mile north (linked by a narrow gauge railway). Wells is a small port used by coasters as well as local shrimp and whelk boats.

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