If you saw Shakespeare in Love, you saw a lone Gwyneth Paltrow crossing the vast sands of Holkham Bay as the final credits rolled. This is a privately owned beach, part of the
Holkham Estate, home of the Earls of Leicester. The beach, backed by a pine forest, dunes and a nature reserve, is reported to be one of the best stretches of unspoiled coastline in England. The owners of the estate are sympathetic and the nude beach, on the western side of the Holkham Bay, is official and well marked.
Holkham Bay Nude Beach Essentials
- Description: Three to four miles long and up to a half mile wide, this soft sand beach on the North Norfolk coast is big enough for everyone. There's a stretch of pine forest to walk in and shells to collect along the sands. But the landowners prefer that visitors stay off the dunes which are a nature reserve.
- Facilities: Just sand and water. There are no facilities so bring refreshments. The car park of the clothed beach has toilets, showers, a cafe and ice cream stand.
- Warnings: The walk from the car park takes 20 to 30 minutes. The the water can be cold and the beach very breezy - so bring a windbreak.
- Getting there: Take the A149 to the village of Wells-next-the-Sea. Lady Ann's Drive, which leads to the beach parking, is opposite the entrance to Holkham Hall.
