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Distant view of Burnham Overy Tower Mill near Brancaster, Norfolk
Burnham Overy Tower Mill, Norfolk | © National Trust/Justin Minns
Norfolk

Burnham Overy Staithe walk

Wander through Burnham Overy Staithe near Brancaster, and enjoy beautiful sights of the North Norfolk coast and its wildlife. This circular route follows part of the Norfolk Coast Path and passes through Holkham National Nature Reserve. There's the opportunity to visit Burnham Overy Town, St. Clement church with its Norman tower, and catch sight of the Tower Windmill along the way.

Visit Scolt Head Island

From the harbour at Burnham Overy Staithe, you can go on a boat trip to Scolt Head Island National Nature Reserve.

Total steps: 8

Total steps: 8

Start point

The Hero Bar and Restaurant, Burnham Overy Staithe

Step 1

From the Hero, turn right, then immediately left down East Harbour Way until you reach Overy Creek. Turn right next to a house painted black. Go through the gate and then bear left along the waterfront. The raised bank you are now on is part of the Norfolk Coast Path National Trail.

View of Burnham Overy Staithe harbour near Brancaster in Norfolk, full of boats in summer
Burnham Overy Staithe harbour, Norfolk | © Scenic Norfolk

Step 2

Where the path along the embankment turns 90 degrees left, turn right through a gate into a marshy meadow. This area is a Natural England reserve (part of Holkham National Nature Reserve). Go through a second gate, cross a stile and then continue along a track until reaching the A149. Cross to the lane opposite, and follow this until you’ve passed two fields on the right.

Step 3

Go through a gap at the entrance to the third field, which is marked as a footpath. Keep to the right of the hedge until reaching a way-marker pointing left, across the middle of the field. Keep going in a straight line, through gaps in the hedges following circular markers with yellow arrows until reaching a dirt lane. Cross the lane, and continue down the track opposite with hedges on either side, towards the Norman tower of Burnham Overy’s Church of St. Clement.

View of church interior and passage joining both parts of St. Clement at Burnham Overy near Brancaster in Norfolk
Passage joining both parts of St. Clement at Burnham Overy, Norfolk | © National Trust/Michael Graham

Step 4

Turn left at the end of the track onto Mill Road, and take a grass track to the right called Marsh Lane. Go through the gate and into a field keeping the River Burn to the left, with the round Saxon tower of Burnham Norton in the distance also to the left. Burnham Overy Tower Mill is straight ahead.

Step 5

Cross the A149 with a pond on your left, and take the public footpath into the next field. Cross a stile and keep the hedge to your right.

Step 6

In the distance you will see the sails of Burnham Overy Windmill. Cross another stile and turn right onto the Norfolk Coast Path until reaching the A149.

Step 7

The Burnham Overy Tower Windmill is now in front of you. The mill is looked after by the National Trust but is not open to the public.

Step 8

Turn left at the A149 and follow the path beside the road to East Harbour Way on the left until reaching The Hero public house and the end of your walk.

End point

The Hero Bar and Restaurant, Burnham Overy Staithe

Trail map

Trail map for Burnham Overy Staithe walk near Brancaster, Norfolk
Burnham Overy Staithe trail map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

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Get in touch

Brancaster Beach, Beach Road, Brancaster, Norfolk, PE31 8BW

Our partners

Cotswold Outdoor

We’ve partnered with Cotswold Outdoor to help everyone make the most of their time outdoors in the places we care for.

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