Route: Old Hunstanton to Thornham
Area: Norfolk
Date of walk: 12th October 2017
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 5.6 miles
Ascent: 200 feet
Weather: Sunny
On our brief visit to Norfolk we were staying at the excellent Orange Tree in Thornham, voted Norfolk Dining Pub of the Year 2017, and a place I can highly recommend to anyone visiting the area.
We were keen to explore the nearby Norfolk Coast Path and as luck would have it the local bus service, the ‘Coast Hopper’ passes through the village and so this enabled us to plan a linear walk
We caught the early morning bus from the stop opposite the Orange Tree and 10 minutes or so later hopped off in the village of Old Hunstanton. A short walk through the village brought us down to the beach, and the start of the coastal path by the shore. This is where The Wash meets the North Sea. The tide was partly out and we were able to walk along the beach some of the way, an added bonus – the sight of these vast almost deserted beaches reminded us of our recent visit to the Northumberland coast
After an hour or so of easy walking we arrived at Holme Dunes National Nature Reserve. With more time on our hands we’d have detoured into the reserve for some bird spotting, but as it was we had to content ourselves with following the path around the edge of the reserve, where we had some good sightings including huge flocks of oystercatchers out on the sand banks
Beyond Holme Dunes the path turns south and we continued beside the marshes back into Thornham. It had been a very enjoyable walk and a perfect introduction to the beauty of the Norfolk coast
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
The Orange Tree in Thornham where we stayed last night. We cross the road to await our bus
A short while later we arrive in Old Hunstanton to start the coastal walk back to Thornham
It's a short stroll through the unspoilt village to the beach...
Colourful beach huts among the sand dunes
We stroll down to the beach
Waymarking for the Norfolk Coastal Path
We follow the path between the beach huts for a short distance...
We decide to walk along the beach parallel to the coastal path
Looking back to Old Hunstanton
We approach a marshy area near Holme Dunes National Nature Reserve, where we have some good bird sightings...
Oystercatchers - part of a huge flock
Redshank
Little Egret
Looking back as we follow the path over the dunes
Walking the dog
A last look along the beach before we turn inland towards the salt marshes
Looking across the marshes....
We follow the raised footpath towards Thornham...
A well camouflaged curlew
The old Coal Barn by a creek on the edge of Thornham Harbour
A Little Egret on the prowl...
Thornham Harbour...
The Coal Barn again, dating back to the 18th century...
We arrive back in Thornham village...
Back to the Orange Tree, and the end of a wonderful coastal walk
