EAST
■Distance: 9 miles/14.5km ■Time: 5 hours ■Grade: Moderate
CHOSEN BY… PHOEBE TAPLIN
Fancy a trip to California?
This is the name of a tiny village on Norfolk’s east coast above miles of wide sandy beaches. Dunes and seabirds, beach cafés, amusement arcades, 1920s water gardens and an Edwardian pier: there are several aspects of the seaside packed into this hike along the Norfolk Coast Path. In late 2023, the sandy cliffs at Hemsby were washed away by winter storms so the walk starts along the beach past dramatic evidence of coastal erosion. You currently need to reach Point 3 at least three hours from high tide or start at Point 4 for a shorter walk.
1 Start From Kingsway Shops bus stop near St Mary’s church, Hemsby, cross into Beach Road and walk straight along it, passing several holiday parks. When road turns R, turn L into Hemsby car parks and follow coast path signs to acorn-waymarked gate at far end. Keep straight through dunes beyond, rich in wildlife.
2 1 mile/1.5km
At signpost, turn R through dunes onto beach. Look out for seals. Turn R and walk along beach with water on L. After about a mile, you reach an area where rock-filled gabions (sea defences) have collapsed. This is currently passable only for roughly
PLAN YOUR WALK
ROUTE
Start/parking Kingsway Shops bus stop, Hemsby, postcode NR29 4JT, grid ref TG495174 Is it for me? Check tide times before you leave. Long hike with challenging stretches on sand.
Some steps and undulating dunes, but no hills Stiles None
Nearest town Great Yarmouth Refreshments Kingsway Sandwich bar at start (01493 717787), Coastal Café in Hemsby, and Never Turn Back pub in Caisteron-Sea (01493 722697). Choices in Yarmouth Public toilets Yarmouth Waterways and Conge near end Public transport Bus 1/1A (First) Yarmouth to the start. Trains to Yarmouth Maps OS Explorer OL40; Landranger 134 three hours each side of low tide. If you arrive too soon, you could sit and wait (don’t try to wade too soon – the channel is deep!) If you arrive too late, have a nice walk to Winterton instead and try this route another day.
3 2 miles/3.2km
Once you have safely pa
