Winterton-on-Sea, Norfolk – Dunes and Nature Reserve on the Norfolk Coast Path

Wide sands, rolling dunes, and protected wetlands between Horsey and Hemsby

Winterton-on-Sea sits directly on the Norfolk Coast Path along the east Norfolk coast between Horsey and Hemsby. The trail passes through the sand hills and dune paths of Winterton Dunes National Nature Reserve, with grazing marsh and wetland immediately inland forming part of The Broads National Park.

The village stands on slightly higher ground behind a broad dune system. Underfoot, progress alternates between sandy tracks, grassy paths, and compacted sections across the reserve, with occasional short roadside links through the village. The beach is wide and gently sloping, backed by rolling dunes and open skies, creating long views north toward Horsey and south toward Hemsby.

Winterton has a small, settled character with cottages, a village green, and a handful of local facilities close to the coast. Compared with busier seaside resorts further south, it feels quieter and more rural, with the surrounding reserve limiting development and keeping the landscape open.

From the village, the Norfolk Coast Path heads north toward Horsey, following dune ridges and sandy ground, or south toward Hemsby and Great Yarmouth, where the coastline gradually becomes more developed. The terrain remains mostly flat and straightforward, making this one of the easiest and most continuous stretches of the route.