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Unexplored beaches – miles of sandy solitude

With over 130 miles of coastline, there are plenty of beaches that are off the beaten track. Here’s some of our favourites where it will be easy to social distance…

Great Yarmouth North

North Denes beach Gt Yarmouth
You’ll know the famous Golden Mile at the East Cast’s top seaside resort, but there’s another 14 miles of golden sand to explore.

Head a little further north from the bright lights, attractions and amusements and you’ll find a huge area of marram-topped beaches where it’s easy to find a quiet spot, have a picnic or just lay back and somnambulantly listen to the gentle breaking of waves on the seashore.

Great Yarmouth beaches

Gorleston

Gorleston beach
Gorleston used to be the wallflower little sister of exuberant neighbour Great Yarmouth, but more people are starting to discover the simple delights of this delightful beach.

Closer to the harbour are the amusements and amenities, but head to the southern end of the promenade and you’ll find a huge stretch of unspoilt sand. Jay Jays is a good place for refreshments.

Great Yarmouth beaches

Southwold south

Southwold beach huts
There are few seaside towns quite so quintessentially British as Southwold, with its unconventional pier and beach huts close to the town centre, but explore just a little further south close to the River Blyth and you’ll find acres of unsullied sand with marram-topped dunes.

Suffolk beaches

Happisburgh

Happisburgh beach
This is Deep History Coast, where the first ever tourists to the UK from the Continent would go beach combing… 850,000 years ago. It’s true! Less a beach for building sandcastles, this is definitely for those interested in archaeology.

But amble a little south and you’ll find Eccles-on-Sea and Sea Palling beaches, with large expanses of sand.

Deep History Coast

Winterton-on-Sea

Winterton-on-Sea beach
Spend the day on the beach, splash in the sea, but don’t forget to explore the remarkable Dunes National National Reserve, be delighted by the thatched roundhouses at Hermanus and enjoy delicious cakes and snacks from the Beach Café.

Great Yarmouth beaches

Caister North


A few miles north of Great Yarmouth, here’s a huge stretch of sand where you can stretch out easily in your own social bubble and while away the time without a care in the world.

Great Yarmouth beaches

Covehithe

Covehithe beach

This beach feels like it’s at the end of the world, down a dead-end lane that ends abruptly – the result of erosion. Look out for the brackish lagoon that is conservation area Benacre Broad, and the dramatic ruins of medieval St Andrew’s Church.

Suffolk beaches

Kessingland

Kessingland Beach

A long and wide beach backed by low cliffs, Kessingland is an enormous stretch of sand meaning it never feels crowded. The marram grass planted by writer Henry Rider Haggard (his character Allan Quatermain is thought to be the inspiration for Indiana Jones), who had a home here, has protected the beach from erosion.

Please, before you travel to the East of England, Know Before You Go – ensure places you want to visit are open, see if you have to pre-book. We’ve supplied click-throughs to attractions for you to check.

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