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

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