With mile upon mile of spectacular countryside and coast, there’s plenty for the whole pack to explore on a dog-friendly holiday in Norfolk.
Whether you’re keen to visit the world-famous Broads National Park, enjoy scampers along the sand, or have stick-chasing adventures through woodland, there is a treasure trove of dog walks in Norfolk to tick off during your stay.
From leisurely park strolls on the lead to energetic bounds beneath vast open skies, discover some of the best dog-friendly walks in Norfolk with our guide. If you need somewhere to rest your paws in between adventures, just click the button below to browse our pet-friendly cottages. And, for other great places to walk your canine pal, check out our complete guide to the UK’s best dog walks.
Jump to:
North Norfolk coast dog walks
Let your four-legged pal make pawprints on the sand with our choice of some of the best dog walks along the North Norfolk coastline.
Dog walks around Cromer
Happy Valley Circular Walk
One of the most tail-wagging dog walks in Cromer is the Happy Valley Circular Walk. This short 1.5-mile scamper rewards those who ascend to the clifftops with epic views of the town and coast. The path then meanders through Warren Woods and, if your happy hound still has the energy to burn, you can extend the walk to take in views of Cromer Lighthouse.
Why your dog will love it: They can feel the wind blowing through their fur from the top of the cliffs as they take in the views with their humans.
Felbrigg Hall
Cultured canines will adore w-a-l-k-i-e-s around the beautiful grounds of Felbrigg Hall, one of the most elegant country houses in East Anglia. Around the estate, your pup can sniff out a variety of waymarked trails, through woodland, around lakes and across open fields. There are plenty of shady spots to stop for a little snooze, as well as water bowls dotted around to quench Fido’s thirst.
Why your dog will love it: The café allows four-pawed pals to join you while you indulge in a cream tea, the perfect post-walk treat!
Dog walks around Hunstanton
Hunstanton to Holme
This 4.4-mile route from Hunstanton to Holme is one of our favourite coastal dog walks in North Norfolk. Starting at Old Hunstanton Lighthouse, you and your pack will follow the Norfolk Coast Path to the small seaside village of Holme-next-the-Sea where one of the best dog-friendly beaches in Norfolk awaits. After a doggy paddle at Holme Beach, you can catch the Coastliner bus for an easy way to return to Hunstanton.
Why your dog will love it: The route is fairly flat, so brilliant for pups of all walking abilities. And if you fancy extending your scamper, you can continue along the coast path to the NWT Holme Dunes Nature Reserve.
Sandringham Country Park
Regal Rovers are sure to go barking mad for an exploration of Sandringham Country Park. If you’re looking for dog walks near Hunstanton, this 243-hectare estate is the place to be, with myriad waymarked walkies to experience. To spot some wildlife, head out on one of the two nature trails (one is 1.5 miles long and the other is 2.5 miles), or explore one of the winding woodland paths for a casual stroll with your woofer.
Why your dog will love it: The country park is open daily and there’s always something new to see, from carpets of bluebells in the spring to golden leaves in the autumn.
Dog walks around Blakeney
Blakeney to Cley next the Sea
One of the most popular Blakeney dog walks is the easy 3-mile route to Cley next the Sea. Following an idyllic section of the Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path, it meanders along the River Glavan, passing the site of the old Blakeney Chapel and the picture-postcard Cley Windmill. With views towards Blakeney Point Nature Reserve, be sure to bring a pair of binoculars as this beautiful area is teeming with birds and wildlife.
Why your dog will love it: When you reach Cley, there’s a great dog-friendly Norfolk pub where your pup can rest their paws while you refuel with a hearty home-cooked meal.
Blakeney to Stiffkey
If you follow the coast path in the opposite direction from Blakeney, you and your pack can enjoy a 4-mile scenic scamper to Stiffkey. Another of the best dog walks in Norfolk for incredible views and abundant wildlife, the trail traverses past Morston Quay where you can admire moored sailing boats, and alongside Stiffkey Freshes where you might spot ringed plovers, oystercatchers, and dunlins.
Why your dog will love it: From watching mussel fishermen wading up the creek to spotting seals hauled out on the sandbanks, there are so many new things for doggos to see on this walk.
Dog walks around Mundesley
Mundesley to Happisburgh
If your playful pup has lots of energy to burn, why not treat them to one of the longer dog walks in Norfolk on our list? Starting at the Maritime Museum, this 6-mile linear walk from Mundesley to Happisburgh will take you onto the beach below Mundesley Cliffs, a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its Pleistocene geology – this is also a great place for spotting seals and porpoises in the waves. Continue to the clifftops of Walcott before eventually arriving in the dog-friendly haven of Happisburgh.
Why your dog will love it: After a little rest, your pup can get a holiday selfie in front of the iconic red and white Happisburgh Lighthouse.
Bacton Wood
A wonderful mosaic of woodland trails and open spaces, Bacton Wood is the perfect option if you’re looking for Mundesley dog walks that offer some good old-fashioned stick chasing! For an easy stroll, follow the Yellow Trail for 1.3 miles as it loops beneath the swaying boughs of over 30 species of conifer and deciduous trees. See how many you can spot!
Why your dog will love it: The walks in this wood are fairly flat, well surfaced, and suitable for all, plus there are picnic tables if you fancy making a day of it (just don’t forget the Bonios!).
Norfolk Broads dog walks
The Broads National Park is a must-visit for dog owners. This unique landscape boasts 125 miles of navigable waterways, surrounded by verdant countryside, beautiful windmills, and chocolate-box villages. Here are some of the best dog walks in the Norfolk Broads.
The Bittern Line
Totalling 5.8 miles, the Bittern Line Walk is great for those looking for adventurous Wroxham dog walks. It’s also a wonderful choice if you’re looking for riverside dog walks in Norfolk as it leads you alongside the babbling River Bure for much of the way. Starting at the Bure Valley Railway, this circular trail will highlight some of the most captivating scenery of the Broads National Park.
Why your dog will love it: There are lots of pup-friendly pubs and cafes along the route to stop for a refreshing bowl of water.
Salhouse Broad
Salhouse Broad is one of the most peaceful places to walk dogs in Norfolk. Here, you can escape the hustle and bustle with your pup by your side on a scamper along this enchanting 40-acre Broad. As well as walking along the waterfront itself, you’ll be able to wander through 20 acres of ancient woodland, dripping in intriguing scents that will drive Rover wild.
Why your dog will love it: This is a great place to spot the elusive swallowtail butterfly, and, in the spring, the bluebell forest is the perfect backdrop for some Insta-worthy holiday snaps.
Horsey Windpump and beach
Experience the unique Horsey Broadland landscape on one of the best dog-friendly walks in Norfolk. The Horsey Estate sits in the heart of the Norfolk Broads National Park and is an internationally important site for wildlife. As you pad along grassy paths through low-lying grazing marshes and sand dunes on this 3-mile trail, you will have the chance to admire the iconic windmill which stands five floors high, along with a variety of butterflies, dragonflies, wading birds, and small mammals.
Why your dog will love it: While Rover is required to stay under control on a lead, the last section of the walk at Horsey Beach is a treat for the whole pack, with the chance to see grey and common seals basking on the sand.
Dog walks in other top spots in Norfolk
From woodland wanders to saunters near the city, here are some more of the best places to walk dogs in Norfolk.
Dog walks around Norwich
Mousehold Heath
Uncover one of the best views of the regional capital’s skyline on a ramble around Mousehold Heath. One of the most popular dog walks in Norwich, this designated Local Nature Reserve boasts over 184 acres of woodland and heathland, with winding footpaths for you and your chum to explore at your leisure. Prized for its wildlife, it’s a place where you can go to escape the bustle of city life.
Why your dog will love it: With the cathedral silhouette as your backdrop, this is one of the most magical places for sunset.
Whitlingham Country Park
Situated on the south-eastern fringes of Norwich, Whitlingham Country Park is one of the most well-loved places for dog walks in Norfolk. In addition to soaking up spectacular views of the Great Broad and the River Yare along the well-marked 2-mile circular route, you’ll be able to trek down forest paths and woodland meadows – and let your dog off the lead to play on a choice of grassy fields.
Why your dog will love it: The path around the Great Broad is one of the top circular dog walks in Norfolk, being mostly flat and wheelchair accessible – perfect for older pups and those with shorter legs!
Dog walks around Great Yarmouth
Burgh Castle
Perched on the River Yare are the remains of this fascinating Roman fort. If you’re looking for unique dog walks in Great Yarmouth, this is a tail-wagging choice. Whilst it is asked that pups are kept on leads (to stop them from being tempted to jump into the reedbeds!), the outstanding scenery will ensure Fido won’t mind being kept under control. From the ruins of Burgh Castle, the 4.5-mile path takes you to Breydon Water, where you can cross the river via a bridge into Great Yarmouth where the Broads meet the sea.
Why your dog will love it: This is a fascinating stroll along the Angles Way, and great for heritage-loving hounds.
Great Yarmouth to Caister-on-Sea
If you’re seeking a longer hike, the 6-mile jaunt from Great Yarmouth to Caister is a fairly easy circular trail. Follow the path along the River Bure to Bure Park and then amble through Caister village, before feeling the fresh sea breeze along Great Yarmouth's North Beach and seafront. You’ll find several pup-welcoming cafes and pubs along the route which can offer lunch or a light snack.
Why your dog will love it: The route passes by Caister Lifeboat Station - the only independent lifeboat station in the UK - where pups are allowed to enter its fascinating visitor experience centre.
Dog walks around Thetford
Brandon Country Park
There are lots of lovely dog walks in Thetford Forest, but Brandon Country Park does offer something special. This wild 30-acre landscape of green forests, open heathlands, and wide horizons straddles the Norfolk/Suffolk border and offers three different nature trails for your pack to follow. Depending on how much energy your pup has to burn, you can choose between the 1-mile red trail, the 3.5-mile purple trail, and the 5.5-mile orange trail.
Why your dog will love it: On your journey around the park, you will also uncover an arboretum, a 'haunted' mausoleum, lawns and a lake, a historic walled garden, play areas, and a café.
High Lodge
At the heart of Thetford Forest Park, you’ll find High Lodge, which is walkies heaven with five different walking trails of varying lengths. Wander through a patchwork of pines, heathland, and broadleaves, with so many unique scents for your tufty-pawed pal to track. One of the largest pine forests in the UK, the woodland is so vast that the more you walk around, the more you’ll find!
Why your dog will love it: Hounds will appreciate the taps and dog bowls on the return, while humans will be happy with the café, picnic areas, adventure play area and gift shop.
Dog walks around Dereham
Neatherd Moor and Etling Green
Bring your canine’s favourite ball and enjoy this 2.9-mile circular route around Neatherd Moor and Etling Green, one of the top dog walks near Dereham. These two important areas of common land lie on the north-eastern fringes of the town and support a varied mosaic of wildlife habitats, from open grassland to leafy woodland, interspersed with small streams, ponds, and footpaths. Some incredibly rare species of wildlife can be found here, including the great crested newt.
Why your dog will love it: Between April and September, this tail-wagging adventure will be accompanied by the soothing sounds of the willow warbler – what pup wouldn’t appreciate being serenaded on their w-a-l-k?
Dog walks around Swaffham
West Acre Common, South Acre, and Castle Acre
If you’re looking for dog walks near Swaffham, this 6-mile circular trail provides a pup-pleasing mix of forest trails and open fields, plus there’s a scattering of historic ruins thrown in for good measure. Including West Acre Common, South Acre, and Castle Acre, this is a great choice for some solitude and the section along the River Nar is particularly beautiful during spring when there’s a profusion of colourful wildflowers.
Why your dog will love it: Although this route is fairly long, it’s generally considered an easy trail, so it’s great for pups big and small.
Dog walks around Fakenham
River Wensum
One of the most captivating dog walks near Fakenham, this 2.9-mile circular path winds along the River Wensum. It’s a great hidden gem of a trail, featuring gorgeous riverside scenery and heading through woods and grassland. And it's unlikely that you'll encounter many other people while exploring, perfect if you’re after a bit of peace and quiet.
Why your dog will love it: There is never a shortage of wildlife regardless of the season, which allows for a steady stroll with ears pricked and eyes peeled.
Dog-friendly holidays in Norfolk
Have these delightful dog walks in Norfolk got you reaching for the collar and lead? If so, treat the whole pack to a stay in one of our dog-friendly cottages in Norfolk, and choose a cosy base for your adventures. Click the button below to browse our full collection of self-catering accommodation.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.