Horsey Windpump and beach walk

Norfolk

Experience the Horsey Broadland landscape on this walk to the beach and back, following grassy paths and tracks, encompassing low-lying grazing marshes, sand dunes and a narrow sandy beach, with the chance of seeing grey seals.

Near to

Horsey Windpump

Start point

National Trust Car Park, Horsey Windpump: TG456223

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 3 (km: 4.8)

Duration2 hours

Dog friendly***

*Marshes can become muddy and wet outside summer months. Please give seals a wide berth and follow any signs on the site. For further details, please see section marked Terrain.
**For further details, please see section marked Access.
***Dogs welcome but keep on leads or close control, especially when crossing fields with livestock. For further details, please see section marked Facilities.

Weather warning

During wet weather and the colder months, paths around Horsey can become waterlogged, muddy and slippery underfoot. Please take care.

Address
Horsey Windpump, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR29 4EE.
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Great Yarmouth station, 11 miles (18km).
On foot
2.5 miles (4km) from West Somerton; 4 miles (6.4km) from Winterton on Sea, via public paths and highway.
By ferry
Hire craft at Potter Heigham, Martham and Whispering Reeds, Hickling. Access to Horsey Mere via Meadow Dyke from Heigham Sound and river network. NOTE: Please avoid Horsey Mere from November to March to avoid disturbing the wildfowl refuge.
By bus
First 1/1A, Lowestoft to Martham. Visit the First Group website for more details.
First Group
Cycling
National Cycle Network Route 30, Great Yarmouth to Wells. Visit the Sustrans website for more details.
Sustrans
By road
On B1159, 22 miles (35.2km) east of Norwich taking A47 via Acle and Martham, or 11.6 miles (18.7km) north of Great Yarmouth. Postcode NR29 4EE.
Dogs
Dogs welcome but need to be kept on leads or close control, especially when crossing fields with livestock. Please respect other visitors. Please 'Bag and bin'.
Car park
Car park at Horsey Windpump is open dawn until dusk. Free for National Trust members, please scan your membership card to obtain your ticket. Pay and Display for non-National Trust members.
Toilet
Open dawn until dusk. Accessible toilet available.
Café
The café is open daily April–October.
Shop
Second-hand bookshop located in visitor welcome, open daily April–October.
Total stages: 7
Total stages: 7
Start point
National Trust Car Park, Horsey Windpump: TG456223
Stage 1
From the car park, head towards the Visitor Welcome and Information centre or Horsey's café (please check opening times) for information on the area, a warm welcome and a quick cup of tea or coffee. Cross the road (please take care) and go through the gates immediately opposite.
Stage 2
Head straight across the field for 0.3 miles (480 metres) keeping the ditch on your left. Be aware that there may be livestock in the fields, which help to keep the grass short suitable for breeding and overwintering birds such as waders and geese.
Stage 3
At the end of the field turn left and go through a gate and walk for 183 yards (167 metres). Continue along the path for 328 yards (300 metres).
Stage 4
At the end of the track turn right onto a narrow lane and at the junction of two red brick cottages, turn left and continue past a barrier to follow a grassy track.
Stage 5
Follow the track for 0.4 miles (650 metres). The small fields either side are much wetter. In the summer months, look out for butterflies and dragonflies. These marshes have a much more closed-in structure hiding wildlife such as lapwings, redshanks and small mammals. You can see the old network of drainage channels that dissect the area.
A typical Broadland landscape
The Horsey Estate, a mysterious Broadland landscape, is internationally important for its habitats and wealth of wildlife. Some habitats are unique to the area such as Britain’s largest butterfly – the Swallowtail. The estate was acquired by the National Trust in 1948 from the Buxton family who continue to manage it to this day. This walk has been made possible by kind permission of the Horsey Estate Trust and the Buxton Family.
Stage 6
You have now reached the sand dunes that run along this stretch of the coast. Follow designated access tracks that lead up and over them. Grey and common seals can often be seen here. Please give them a wide berth and keep any dogs under control. In the winter the Friends of Horsey Seals are on hand to talk about the seal pups and to give information on how to see them. Please note that the beach is closed October to January to provide a wildlife sanctuary.
Spot a seal
Both species of seal that live in the UK can be seen on the beach at Horsey. Common seals despite their name are fewer in numbers than the larger grey seals, and are more often seen outside the grey seal pupping season. The grey seals come pup on the beach between October and March. The white coat pups are very vulnerable and are completely reliant on their mothers' milk enabling them to wean, as they develop their waterproof coat.
Young grey seals on the beach at Horsey | © National Trust Images/Rob Coleman
Stage 7
After walking the beach, return to Horsey Windpump via the same route. The Nelson Head Pub is located just a little inland along the lane at Point 4. When you reach the road next to the Horsey Windpump Café take care crossing it.
End point
National Trust Car Park, Horsey Windpump: TG456223
Trail map
Horsey Windpump and beach walk trail map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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Horsey Beach and village circular walk

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