Possibly the best place to camp with dogs in Norfolk
Making a claim such as in the title is no easy case. There are some real challengers to this location, ones we love more than we could express in writing. Walking on the beach for us is a full sensory experience, with or without Poppy; we still feel the same. Hence, I am acutely aware of the need to offer a solid, cut-and-dry case to convince people, but the truth is I can’t. The are three locations that are all contenders for this crown and bring their own merits, so this isn’t going to be a compare and contrast piece; I’ll simply lay out the evidence for Walcott and Happisburgh.
Naturally, Poppy hails from Norfolk, and she's an absolute beach gal !. She catches the scent of the beach before laying eyes on it, discerning the saltiness in the wind, perhaps accompanied by the distant melody of waves. The unmistakable spaniel traits within this Cockapoo are evident. I doubt she would be concerned about the specific beach; as long as there's sand beneath her paws, she's content. Whether it's here at Walcott or in my three-year-old neighbours sandpit, she's unrestrained in her joy. It's not uncommon for us to encounter the sign "Perros no" when arriving at a beach, usually in Spain, and her reaction is usually a mixture inconsolability and distain. Based on our observations, she seemed to relish running on the beaches of Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides the most. Capturing her when we wanted to leave took considerable effort, suggesting her immense joy at being in the canine paradise of beaches.
Camping at the recently established site known as Nelson’s Patch at Walcott, we embarked on a walking expedition, following a route outlined on the Ordnance Survey (OS) App, heading towards Happisburgh. Happisburgh boasts a new bell and a lighthouse, but for more in-depth information on these, you'll need to check out the upcoming videos on the subject on our YouTube Channel. The links are provided below. Feel free to visit now, show your support by liking and subscribing, and don't forget to click the notification bell to ensure you don't miss any updates, though, of course, there's no pressure.
Devastated by the relentless impact of coastal erosion, Norfolk is gradually distancing itself from Holland and inching closer to New York—an unsettling reality for locals experiencing the distressing consequences firsthand. To put a timeframe on this shift isn’t easy, let's just say I won’t be ordering bagels from Manhattan delis in my lifetime. The situation is undeniably serious for residents; houses are steadily succumbing to the encroaching sea with each passing year.
Strolling along the beach in January is a serene and solitary experience, bundled up against the brisk sea air. Poppy, despite her resistance akin to an wild octopus, in trying to avoid having her coat on , joined us on this venture. We set out along the headland towards the village of Happisburgh, covering approximately 3.5 miles with a relatively flat and steady pace. The outbound route follows the coastal path to the RNLI shop at Cart Gap, home to the Happisburgh Lighthouse and an RNLI shop that offers coffee. This path provides splendid views of our cherished lighthouse.
With coffee on board, we embarked on the walk back along the beach, and Poppy, now in overdrive, displayed a level of hyperactivity reminiscent of a Cold War-era East German athlete fueled by performance-enhancing drugs—there was no holding her back. The only thing that restrains her is the sea; Poppy is resolute about not getting her feet wet. I did mention she's only part Spaniel, so there's no venturing into the sea, lest she starts conversing in Dutch before we manage to retrieve her. Charging through the sea defenses, leaping over rocks, collecting stones and shells in her mouth —she's a bundle of energy.
We eventually located the Bell, another topic that takes center stage in Part 2 of our location video on the YouTube Channel. Despite reaching it during low tide, preventing us from hearing it chime, the experience was still intriguing. After admiring it for a few moments, capturing some photographs, we embarked on our journey back down the beach to Walcott and then to the site. Firmly resolved, we concluded that this 7.5 mile round trip, despite the freezing conditions, had been a rewarding day. If you've enjoyed the images, there are more in our freely accessible image gallery at this link. https://www.behance.net/gallery/188819835/Happisburgh-Sea-Defences
Additionally, you can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, where we maintain two accounts—one for tomfoolery and the other for more focused photography.
Thanks with sticking with it until the end .
Best wishes
Helen and Martin
