Brancaster beach with it's wide expanse of golden sands is perfect for Summer sandcastles or Winter wanders, even on the busiest of days there is room to find your own space and get lost in it’s tranquil calm.
Here is some handy information to help you get the most from your visit.
When you arrive
Car Park
Car park charges applicable, including for National Trust members. £3 for up to two hours and £6 all day. Please note that Brancaster Beach car park is neither owned nor managed by National Trust. Pre-booking not applicable. if the car park is full or you find yourself in a queue then please turn around safely and leave. Do not fly-park in the village.
Toilets
The toilets at Brancaster Beach are currently open 6am to 6pm and are found next to the car park. There is an accessible toilet that can be accessed by a Radar key. Please note that the toilets are closed periodically during the day for cleaning. Please respect the cleaner and allow them to do their clean.
The kiosk opposite the car park has all your seaside essentials including ice cream, teas, coffees, buckets and spades. Please note that this business is not owned or managed by National Trust.
Dogs welcome!
Dogs and responsible owners are very much welcome on Brancaster Beach. There is a small dog-free zone May to September to the left of the entrance once you walk onto the beach but the rest is there for you and your four-legged friends to enjoy. Please keep dogs under close control at all times and clear up after them. Dog bins are available next to the toilets.
Kite surfing is a popular pastime on Brancaster Beach. The use of kites and buggies and the launching of is restricted to certain zones to ensure visitor safety and enjoyment. Please follow our advice in this handy guide.
At Brancaster Beach the shipwreck of the SS Vina can be viewed from the coast. Built in 1894 she spent her working life travelling the Baltic Trade routes before she was requisitioned for the war effort in 1940.
Beach safety
Know the risks
Don’t walk out to the shipwreck of the SS Vina at Brancaster Beach. The fast-flowing channel of tidal water and the quickly changing tides, will put your life in danger. Each year multiple people require rescuing as they get cut off from the land.
When you arrive at the beach, the first thing to look for are the signs, giving you all the information about the beach you’re visiting. It’s worth noting that we don’t have RNLI lifeguards on duty at these beaches, but we'd still recommend following their advice.
Understand the sea
A beach can seem like a vast playground, but the tide can come in surprisingly quickly at Brancaster. Tide times and heights vary throughout the month and can easily catch you out if you haven’t checked them.
Due to a high risk of wildfires at the moment, we're asking you to please not bring a barbecue or light a campfire when you visit the coast and countryside. To help protect wildlife, please also take any litter home with you.
Look after the coast
Litter has always been a big problem on beaches and in the countryside and is hugely damaging to the wildlife and environment. As one of the largest conservation charities in Europe the National Trust relies on public support to help care for special places. We ask that you take your litter home with you.
The unauthorised use of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) or drones as they are more commonly known, is not permitted on or over National Trust land as part of our byelaws without the necessary required qualifications and a licence granted by us. Find out more here.
Here on the Norfolk Coast we love that our visitors can take home and share special moments from their day with us, but for those who are looking to use National Trust locations for anything other than personal use, here's a handy guide for filming and photography on the Norfolk Coast.
Donate to the Coast appeal
With your support we'll be able to protect 780 miles of coastline for the future
Celebrate a special occasion or share a much-loved memory by dedicating a donation to your favourite National Trust place using our interactive giving map.
