How to have a stress-free and relaxing dog friendly beach visit with your dogs!
Norfolk Reactive Dog Friendly Beaches : Our Real Life Guest Reviews & Ratings
We are all about inclusivity here at Pack Holidays We love taking on board everyone’s views, reaching out for feedback and asking our experts advice, who just so happen to be our fabulous and wonderful guests.
Here are the 12 best dog-friendly beaches in Norfolk that your dog will love –
- Winterton Beach and Dunes: A Fabulous 3 Star Reactive Friendly Rating
- Waxham Beach: A Fabulous 3 Star Reactive Friendly Rating
- Bacton Beach: A Fabulous 3 Star Reactive Friendly Rating
- Sea Palling Beach: A Fabulous 3 Star Reactive Rating
- Happisburgh Beach: A Fabulous 3 Star Reactive Rating
- Cart Gap: A Fabulous 3 Star Reactive Friendly Rating
- Trimingham Beach: A Fabulous 3 Star Reactive Friendly Rating
- Walcott Beach: A 2 heading towards a 3 Star Reactive Friendly Rating
- Overstrand: A Reasonable 2 Star Reactive Friendly Rating
- Mundesley Beach: A Reasonable 2 Star Reactive Friendly Rating
- Cromer Beach: A 1 Star Reactive Friendly Rating
- Sheringham Beach: A 1 Star Reactive Friendly Rating
And we have done just that! We have asked our guests, new and regular, what they think of our local dog friendly beaches in Norfolk. There are lots of local Norfolk dog friendly beaches to visit all year round.
We have asked what our wonderful guests think about their best dog friendly beaches in Norfolk, specifically in relation to reactive dogs and we have had some marvellous responses with their views about which local Norfolk dog friendly beaches are suitable for reactive dogs, and more importantly, why they feel they are good!
In much the same way as our Reactive Friendly Ratings for our cottages, our gorgeous guests have rated Norfolk beaches on a star rating scale of 1 to 3, where 1 is the least reactive friendly, to 3 being perfect for reactive dogs. Our lovely guests have rated each beach on the basis of 1 being not suitable for reactive, 2 being manageable for reactives and 3 being excellent for reactives.
Do read on for personal views, real life experiences of exploring our best local dog friendly Norfolk beaches and we hope this information helps you on your visits to our local dog friendly Norfolk beaches when you are here on your Pack Holiday.
Winterton Beach and Dunes: A Fabulous 3 Star Reactive Friendly Rating
Winterton has been given an overall fabulous top Reactive Friendly rating of 3 by our fabulous guests. It is perfect for timid, shy or dog-reactive pooches.
The large expanse of the beach and the utter dog friendliness of the beach, combined with the almost always deserted view, means it is a perfect place to bring a reactive dog.
Some guests have found that even on New Years Day (which can be a traditionally busy time), the beach was deserted and not a single soul was seen on the whole walk.
The deep and vast dunes (on the way to the beach) is usually very, very quiet, due to lots of different walk ways and great views on all side to see approaching people and dogs.
Dogs Allowed – Yes
Car Park – Available
Summer of course, can be a bit busier but the views to left and right as you enter the beach mean that for ‘sniper view’ owners, like me, with a reactive dog, we have lots and lots of warning and a proper heads up….
Waxham Beach: A Fabulous 3 Star Reactive Friendly Rating
Waxham Beach has been given an overall reactive friendly top rating of 3 star. Again, with excellent views to left and right as soon as you enter the beach, it is perfect for scouting to see if anyone is coming from either side. Some of our guests have said shhhhhh! Don’t tell everyone 😉 😉
Things to consider at Waxham are sometimes there are sheep on the other side of the dunes, but there is also a fabulous circular walk back along the dunes. Remember to stop off at Waxham Barns (Dunes Café) for some fabulous cakes and scones!
Dogs Allowed – Yes
Car Parking – There isn’t a designated parking area; instead, you can park alongside the road and then proceed to the beach.
In pupping season (November to January) do remember that seals will be on the beach. Parts of this section along towards Horsey Gap, will be closed off during this time of the year.
Bacton Beach: A Fabulous 3 Star Reactive Friendly Rating
This is one of my absolute favourites with my reactive collie boys! A nice easy car park where you can scan the horizon from the entrance and if you feel you want to, you can let them off lead at the car park exit and roam free. The entrance further down also has an easy slope and even at high tide the water doesn’t come in too far.
Turn left on entrance to the beach to walk all the way to Mundesley
Dogs Allowed – Yes
Car Park – Available
Sea Palling Beach: A Fabulous 3 Star Reactive Rating
A wonderful 3 star given to Sea Palling beach due to its expanse, clear views left and right and generally quiet out of season
Dogs Allowed – Yes* (From 1st May to 30th September dogs are not allowed on certain parts of Sea Palling beach)
Car Park – Available
Do remember to turn right on the beach with dogs and that it can be a bit busy during peak season (especially when the tide is in, as there is less space to walk). Parking is in the private car park at the entrance to the beach or a 3 min walk to the council car park. Again watch out in busy times, as it can be quite busy with cars.
Happisburgh Beach: A Fabulous 3 Star Reactive Rating
What a wonderful top 3 Star reactive friendly rating for Happisburgh beach. It’s a clear stretch to see each way along either side of the beach but do note that the ramp into and off the beach can be harder for elderly dogs. Parking is good (car park right at the end of the track)
Some guests feel during summer holidays it is of course a bit busier and do watch out for those owners who ‘don’t worry they’re friendly’ during that season 😉
Dogs Allowed – Yes
Car Park – Available on a pay and display basis. Charges – £1.50 per hour and £7 for up to 24 hours
Cart Gap: A Fabulous 3 Star Reactive Friendly Rating
A very easy access beach with a ramp (watch the gaps walking down) and from the car park is more accessible than Happisburgh. Again clear views to either side and plenty of room but do watch at high tide as the water can come right up to the ramp
It seems significant that other dog owners who use this area of our coastline are more aware and tend to use this beach themselves due to the very quiet nature.
Remember you can always partake of cake and coffee at Smallsticks Café too!
Dogs Allowed – Yes
Car Park – Available on a pay & display basis
Trimingham Beach: A Fabulous 3 Star Reactive Friendly Rating
This is a very unspoilt and generally overlooked beach and our guests who have ventured here have found it really good for reactive dogs.
It is famous for it’s Bee Eater visits but you need to be sharp to spot them in season 😉
One comment from our guests was that they departed when it got crowded (i.e. 2 other people on the beach 😀 😀 )
Dogs Allowed – Yes
Car Park – Available
Walcott Beach: A 2 heading towards a 3 Star Reactive Friendly Rating
So many of our lovely guests rate this as a 3 Star Reactive Friendly beach. Due to its proximity to the village, do watch out at high tide time but you can walk along the concrete walk just above the beach too
Dogs Allowed – Yes. There are dog restrictions on Walcott Beach from 1st May to 30th September, between the main groynes. Other parts are dog friendly, and there is signage at the beach providing more detail.
Car Park – Available
Overstrand: A Reasonable 2 Star Reactive Friendly Rating
Overstrand again is a very unspoilt and hidden beach (not a well travelled track at all!). Do bear in mind that the ramp is a little steep for older dogs but does come well up the scale as a very dog friendly beach with very little people and dogs around. The groynes are particularly helpful to keep a reactive dog in a “pen” 😀 😀
Dogs Allowed – Dogs are banned along the central promenade section of the beach from 1st May until 30th September.
Car Park – Available
Mundesley Beach: A Reasonable 2 Star Reactive Friendly Rating
Understandably, with it being a fairly busy seaside town, the beach itself has more hooman traffic than other local quiet beaches. In addition, there are some dog restrictions on the busy part of the beach during the summer season. There is a fairly steep hill to access the beach (opposite the café on the main road) which we locals call ‘Cardiac Hill’ 😉 😉
If you park in the local car park do remember there is a main road to cross (though there is a pedestrian crossing) but because its next to the local (and very nice) café, it does tend to be quite busy.
Dogs Allowed – Yes. Dogs are banned from the Promenade section of the beach between 1 May and 30 September. The rest of the beach is dog-friendly year round.
Car Park – Available
There are some small access points off the main beach, where wandering dogs might sneak into and depart from the beach. There are some dog restrictions at the main part of the beach in summer season.
Cromer Beach: A 1 Star Reactive Friendly Rating
Cromer is gorgeous, we all love it there! It has hustle and bustle, the pier, lots of shops and quaint streets, local businesses and a real hive of activity
But for that reason, it is perhaps not one of the many beaches to visit with a reactive dog. There are some restrictions on the beach at the main access points and it does tend to be a very busy seaside town.
There are some dog restrictions at the main part of the beach in summer season.
Dogs Allowed – Yes. There are some dog restrictions at the main part of the beach in summer season.
Car Park – Available
Sheringham Beach: A 1 Star Reactive Friendly Rating
Sheringham gets more votes for being gorgeous and welcoming, lots of people, shops and quaint streets. Again its perhaps not one of the reasons to bring a reactive dog as it does tend to be quite busy.
There are some dog restrictions at the main part of the beach in summer season.
Dogs Allowed – Yes. There are some dog restrictions at the main part of the beach in summer season.
Car Park – Available
So, when looking for your ideal Pack Holiday in Norfolk, do try out all the suggestions made by our wonderful guests. All tried and tested, just for you!
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