Hunstanton

Striped cliffs of red and white chalk rise dramatically from the Wash, making this one of Norfolk's most distinctive coastal spots. The geology here is genuinely unusual - layers of carrstone and chalk create those famous candy-striped faces that photographers love. At low tide, the beach stretches for what feels like miles across firm sand, perfect for long walks with views stretching to Lincolnshire.

Hunstanton's traditional seaside charm hasn't been entirely sanitised by modern development. The town green sits proudly above the promenade, while the lighthouse - one of the few you can actually climb - offers cracking views across the Wash. Hunstanton Golf Club provides a proper links experience, with coastal winds that'll test any handicap.

Wildlife enthusiasts should make the short trip to nearby woodlands like Deodara Wood and The Firs, where red squirrels still thrive. The area's lakes - Broad Water, Christie's Pool, and Hun Pool - attract serious birdwatchers, especially during migration seasons.

Driving up the coast reveals a string of villages each marked by their traditional painted signs: Thornham, Holme Next-the-Sea, and Great Ringstead all warrant stops. The coastal path here is part of the Norfolk Coast Path, winding through salt marshes and past ancient churches like the Primitive Methodist Chapel.

King's Lynn, twenty minutes inland, provides the nearest major transport links. But honestly, once you're settled at one of the local holiday parks like Searles Leisure Resort or Deepdale Camping, you'll find plenty to fill a fortnight without venturing far. The combination of that extraordinary beach, the surrounding countryside, and proper old-school seaside atmosphere makes this stretch of Norfolk coast well worth the journey.