Getting There

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The A149 coast road runs from King's Lynn via Hunstanton to Wells-next-the-Sea. Holkham village is just west of Wells. The 'proper' car park is located in 'Queen Anne Road'. The entrance road is opposite the Holkham Hall entrance in the middle of the village (can be missed - look for 'The Victoria' pub on the corner). Please note that by paying for car parking - flat rate fee £3.00, gates open until 9pm - you will be encouraging the private owners of this beach to continue to allow naturist use. Having parked, walk through the gate and turm left (northwards) toward the sea.

The easy access path is 1.5 - 2 miles long, past the pond, past the bird hide, past the house and outbuildings until the path takes a slight bend to the right and through a some trees. At this point paths cross - turn right (seaward) and pick your way through the trees. The path is not well marked and is not suitable for wheelchair access. Eventually the path emerges on the edge of the dunes where you will find notices requesting naturists not to use the dunes, but only the beach. Please observe them - this is private land and naturist use is generously allowed by the landowners.

Access Update 2003
".. a much quicker route via the dunes and a single track road into the nature reserve. The first gate on the left after leaving the car park seemed to be the best route. After about one mile along the road there is a wooden walkway on the right hand side of the road, this is a path for disabled / infirm walkers. Walk along the walkway until you come to the viewing platform at the end.
From here you have 2 options, 1) Walk onto the beach, go to the point on your left and walk along the beach until you see the sign denoting the start of the naturist area. 2) Turn left and walk along the dunes until you see the sign."

As an alternative, it is possible to walk along the seafront from the car park, and then along the edge of the sea shore, out of the large bay, across or around (depending on the tide) the next inlet, and then you'll find yourself at the naturist area. - a good 20 minutes 'slog' along the beach, particularly where the sand is soft - "about as far as I would walk in any heat".

Description
This is an extensive, wide and sandy beach with dunes and woods behind and a nature reserve nearby. 'Bags of space available for bare foot exploring, building sand castles, roaming the dunes and swimming'. The sand is very very fine indeed and full of shells. Another fan of this beach says 'well worth going nearer the sea, but you'll NEED a wind break. The beach is a "typical windswept north anglia beach"- which means there is a constant breeze. Good for families nearer the sea, choose your spot nearer the dunes. The beach IS patrolled by Police and Wardens from time to time to PROTECT the naturists.'

"This beach is really beautiful but can be very windy. There are posts across from the trees behind to the beach itself announcing the Naturist area but these signs do say that naturism is not to be practised in the dunes but only on the beach!"

If you park at the Holkam beack car park, walk on to the beach and head west for half a mile or so - there are wonderful sand dunes and the Queen's bathing hut is in the woods just behind the nudist beach.

Facilities

None on the beach itself, there may be some at Holkham, but best to 'stock up' with everything you will need in Wells. There are no toilets.

Water Quality

The sea water at Wells-next-the-Sea meets the lower standard of the EEC Bathing Waters

Selected Visitor Comments

2000

August - "What a great place for the first timer!... how nice to find such friendly people with no hang ups regardless of age or size. A very liberating experience and very good for the soul as you are taken as a person rather than being judged by what you wear."

2001

August - "A very fine clean beach indeed. The best way to get there is to turn left at the track next to the gate at the end of the car park, follow it past the chalet and turn right at the crossroads with another large track... Most naturists still seem to use the dunes, rather than the beach, [which] looks very furtive and appears to be an admission that you are doing something wrong... This is our beach - use it as texiles use other beaches..."

August - "...it's really off-putting the way odd-looking lone men keep standing up in the dunes and staring around [and] then sitting down again, only to stand up and stare around again a short while later, and so on. This odd behaviour has definitely increased in the last couple of years and is presumably the reason why English Nature has put up the 'no naturists in the dunes' signs... If I didn't have my girlfriend there to protect me I wouldn't feel comfortable getting my kit off on this beach."

2003

July - "First time naturist, first time at Holkham, wonderful, a glorious day and a fabulous beach too... .Didn't see or find anything to spoil the experience"

July - "..the beach is big, beautiful and very relaxed. I would recommend it again and again...heaven on earth."

August - "What a fantastic beach... Beautiful scenery and a really peaceful setting. The beach is immense when the tide is out, it took me about 10 minutes to reach the sea! The wet sand is full of shells but the overall impression is of a beach that was designed for naturists."

August - "...a lovely beach and scenery, ideal for naturists to sunbathe, swim and play beach games, you couldn't have wished for a better place to be. On the down side though, I did notice a lot of single males, this not being a problem, but some that I can only describe as exhibitionists and if in a different environment “Flashers”. On the whole though, I had a lovely day there and would recommend anyone a visit."

August - "2003 could not have been better for enjoying the pleasures of Holkham, the weather has been really hot and the sea unusually warm. Both my wife and I are regular visitors to Holkham...and find this an ideal place to enjoy the sun and the fresh air. Although getting to Holkham is a long walk from the car parks, the exercise makes it worth while."

August 14th - "Despite the super weather and peak holiday period... we were surprised at how few people there were on the beach then we became aware of people behind us. Altering my position so I could keep an eye on what was going on behind me revealed more activity than on the beach. Yes you have probably guessed it, as others have mentioned it was these lone males doing their impersonation of 'meercats', bobbing up and down in the dunes...The longer you watched them the more amusing it became. Were we put off by this? No, we had a super time, next to the sea."

August - We often go as a family with our children and at other times its just us.... what a great place it is, clean, safe and with a good sunny day you couldn't want for a better place...we wouldn't swap the Norfolk coast for anything. Its the people who make the place and what a friendly lot they are, sometimes if you just talk to the folks it puts a totally different perspective on things. Just try it once and like us you will be coming back time after time."

2004

July - "...when I am with my wife we use the beach (room for frisbee etc.), when I am alone, and being too lazy to carry a windbreak, I do go onto [the] first row of dunes. I therefore have to admit to being an occasional "meerkat". It gets VERY hot in the marram and standing up allows you to cool down and, yes, to have a look around. As for the people who "patrol" the dunes please remember that many of the folks there are regulars and will stroll along the dunes chatting to friends. In my experience very few are truly exhibitionistic. To conclude... a stunningly beautiful beach, well worth the 20-30 minute walk from the car park. And for those who obviously felt a little uncomfortable, don't be put off, most of what you see is totally innocent."

July - "...my first time going nude in public... I have never felt freer or unworried before, my partner joined me later as well for her first time too...We will return, I am just sorry it has taken me this long to go anywhere like this."

August - "...the hottest day so far this year... and this was our first visit to an offical uk naturist beach - and it was brilliant!. The walk to the beach was wonderful - through pine woods and very reminisant of being abroad. The beach was easy to find and stunning - an open expanse of clean sand and certainly not the crowd we expected from the full car park. Ok - heads did keep popping up from the dunes - but that did not detract in any way from the enjoyment of the beach. On the strengh of our short day visit we are hoping to holiday in the area next year and spend much more time on this great beach"

August - "I have used this beach on several occassions, both as a single male and in the company of my partner. The naturist area is fairly large and the dunes do appear to be occupied predominantly by single males... [and I] have been a little put off using the dunes. I am quite comfortable just in front of the dunes although I have to say that the best area is further down the beach nearer the sea. It is this area that is most frequently used by couples and families. I would not hesitate to take my family to this beautiful piece of coastline."

September - "Even when it is busy it never seems to be crowded, it really is that large.This really is my favourite beach of this area. Most of the naturists genuine and there are many couples and families who use this beach. In peak season there is a refreshments van at the bottom of the car park."

September - " Bags of space, only a couple of lads old enough to know better than scan the beach and the bathers with their binoculars...for goodness' sake lads! We've been back twice since and our only regret is that we didn't discover this earlier in the summer! All in all, a very safe spot to sunbathe or swim. The best route to the beach seems to be via the wheelchair/pushchair friendly ramp reached by taking the left path at the head of the car park - going straight on takes you a little too far east."

2005

May - "What a beautiful place Holkham Bay is...the delights of a carefree afternoon in fleetingly brief periods of late May sunshine. You can sure we'll be back when it's a little warmer."

July - "What a lovely place...the walk to the naturist beach was so nice... having set myself up in one of the dunes I found it the best place to be as I was out of the wind....mostly just nice poeple to talk to even though I knew I was being chatted up. A very nice day out and I will be going back every chance I get , Well worth the £3 parking for the day."

August - "I visited Holkham today and it was gorgeous, not too many "meerkat" and I felt comfortable walking all over the beautiful beach totally naked, as a woman that is a bonus. Lots of nice men too..."

September - "This year is the first year I have ever taken my clothes off on a beach - but I love Holkam bay and have seen naturists there before and simply could not resist. It was beautiful - I was a female, alone and yet I never at any point felt threatened... It is a wonderful place and at all times I felt confident and safe, quite happily leaving all my possessions in a pile in the sand and wandering off for a walk. I would urge anyone who who has ever wondered what it would be like to come here and give it a try."

2007

December 26 - "...the girlfriend and I have never been disappointed at Holkham. It's a good walk from the car park, but a nice cool one if you take the route through the woods. It was very busy over the August bank holiday weekend, older couples and families mainly, which made finding dry sand when the tide was high surprisingly difficult for such a large beach, especially below the dunes...fantastic stuff; soft sand, with wading birds along the surf line, the water generally calm enough for a good safe swim. Plenty of dog-walkers and horse-riders pass by, not a gawper among them."

2008

April 30 - "Very surprised to find a lovely beach and a scattering of male and female naturists. Pat and I were at leisure to be completely naked until it got a little too cold."

June 11 - "...I thought I would be given the cold shoulder and put in the "Meerkat" brigade, but act natural as a naturist and Holkham is fantastic."

June 11 - "As a single woman, I was nervous but excited to go onto the beach. I found a spot, and well what a lovely, friendly place it is. I came home just wanting to go back, So now just to say today was first of many."

June 22 - " This is a magnificent beach, lots of it, as the sea was a long way out! Apart from that the beach is a really great place, great views of the coastal dunes and woods, big skies and sheltered at the edge of the dunes from the wind. Need to watch the band of embedded razor shells left at the high tide mark as they are sharp when you go down to the sea. Well worth a visit and I have been pleased to read the other accounts of first timers and lone women who feel safe here."

July 29 - "my wife who is no prude, said she was fed up with the Meercats popping up and down in the dunes openly watching us on the beach below the dunes. We moved our windbreak out to the exposed sand nearer the sea where we enjoyed a pleasant hot afternoon.."

August 16 - "It is a shame that such a beautiful beach experience can be ruined by the 'meerkats' in the dunes. As a lone male (and no, I'm not gay) they make me feel very uneasy, and I have moved on before."

August 25 - "On a weekend if the weather's good then there's a great atmosphere among the group of people nearest the water. It's mostly couples there. We keep well away from the back of the beach and the dunes. The beach is very wide and flat... That makes the meerkats less of a problem. Look at the weather forecast carefully before deciding to go. It's really got to be at least 22 or 23 degrees, with a wind of no more than about 10 or 12 mph, to make it enjoyable. Because the beach is so exposed, if it's any windier than that you're going to get sandblasted. A beach tent is a must, even when the wind is light."

September 10 - "What people visiting this naturist beach need to know is that there is also a gay beach adjoining the naturist beach further on. The gay beach also practices naturism and it is obviously inevitable that the two will mix, particularly at the edges. But, like naturists, gays are usually polite, sensitive and respectful to those who do not share their preferences. So do not be surprised to see gays and if you are a single male to be approached by them. A polite no thank you with a smile is all that is necessary."

September 26 - "There is no such thing as a 'gay' beach here or anywhere else. Homosexual men have tended to gather at the far end, that's all....Unfortunately a great many homosexual men frequent naturist beaches in order to pursue physical exploits. This is not acceptable, just as open sexual behaviour by heterosexuals is not acceptable."

October 01 - "We enjoy naturist beaches and are approached by all kinds of guys. All that is required is a polite 'we want to be alone' and in most cases we're not bothered by anyone at all."

2009

April 28 - "Had to divert to North Norfolk for work purposes and was very pleased to find Holkham’s naturist area had beautiful wide open soft sandy beaches. Must have been over half a dozen couples and various assorted singles Friday afternoon. I find it hard to imagine a better site in the UK."

June 12 - "What an amazing beach!!! Loved it, we were at the very edge/begining of the nude bit just at the edge of the beach and start of the dunes."

June 15 - "This must have been the best day of the year so far even having a warm breeze (which is rare) we started off in the dunes in the morning but by the afternoon we were on the main beach by the sea not even needing a wind break! I find it so special and romantic walking naked hand in hand with with my wife, it was the first time I have had a paddle for years and loved every minute.... it was great to see many more couples enjoying the day, the only down side is I have ended up with a burnt backside!!!

June 28 - "A really beautiful beach! I went to Holkham for the first time two weeks ago and will be back most of this week to enjoy the sun and sand...had a great day and loved sunbathing with nothing on!"

August 10 - "I went for a walk in the dunes, trying to avoid invading other peoples spaces. In my ignorance I attracted some attention when sitting down at one point. An older man came up to me and we angaged in what I thought was a very enjoyable conversation about the area. We talked for some time and then he brushes my leg with his hand and then touched my penis. I was stunned for a moment but asked him not too. Then he walked off. That moment aside I think it's a stunning beach and plan to go again one day - this time a little wiser."

September 07 - " what a fantastic beach it is. I am gay and usually stay in the dunes. I do bob up and down occasionally just to see if there are any other guys around. No way do I bother people, I wouldn't dream of it. I just like being outside and getting my kit off when ever I can, and Holkham is a great place to do it."

September 17 - " just had a great week at holkham beach 5-12 sep spent 3 days on the beach kept to just in front of the dunes a few couples around but dunes full of single males no hassle from them but do take a wind break..."

November 12 - "...what started as a dare between my partner and I has turned into a life changing experience. I now find that you are not taking [just] your clothes off, you are taking your troubles and stress of every day life off and putting it all in a pile at the side of you, even if it is for just a few hours. As for the comments on all the 'sexual happenings' that goes off in the dunes, I have never seen anything untoward at all, not even an erection, and I have been at all times of the day, early morning, late evening etc. So if your thinking of visiting this beach, please do its a fantastic spot with friendly people. Give it time and give it a chance and if your like me who just likes to chill out and enjoy a good book, the only way you'll see anything sexual is if you go looking for it."