Thornham Beach

Thornham Beach is one of the most remote and beautiful beaches on the entire North Norfolk coast, tucked behind the Holme Dunes National Nature Reserve and requiring a half-mile walk from the creek car park along the raised embankment to reach it. The walk itself is a highlight: the path passes tidal creeks, salt marshes and wildflower-rich grassland before the beach opens up ahead, covered in fine, soft sand with only scattered shingle at the tide line. The North Norfolk Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty surrounds the beach on all sides, and an old fishing boat sits beached at Thornham Harbour as a local landmark. The beach connects to Brancaster in the east and Holme-next-the-Sea in the west, both reachable on foot at low tide. The village of Thornham, just inland, has two dog friendly pubs, The Lifeboat Inn and The Orange Tree.

There are no dog restrictions at Thornham Beach at any time of year, and the combination of a half-mile access walk and the beach's natural remoteness means it is never overcrowded. Dogs can run freely on the beach itself, but the adjacent Norfolk Wildlife Trust Holme Dunes Nature Reserve requires dogs to be kept under close control, particularly during the bird nesting season in spring and summer. The informal car park by the creek is the main access point.