Wells-next-the-Sea to Blakeney: Salt Marshes and the Stiffkey Coast
📍 Wells → Blakeney📏 8 miles⏱ 3.5–4 hours🟢 Easy🚌 Bus back from Blakeney
⚠ Important — Please Read Before Setting Off
NorfolkWild guides are provided for general information only. You are solely responsible for your own safety and the safety of anyone in your group. Always carry out your own research before setting off on any route described on this site.
✓ Study a current OS Explorer map before every walk (OL24 / OL25 for North Norfolk)
✓ Check tide times before any coastal or salt marsh walk
✓ Verify bus timetables directly with Sanders Coaches before travel
✓ Tell someone your route and expected return time
✓ Carry a charged phone, paper map, food and water
✓ Wear appropriate clothing and footwear for conditions
✓ Assess whether the route suits your fitness and experience
No Liability — NorfolkWild and its authors accept no responsibility or liability whatsoever for any loss, injury, accident, death, damage, delay or inconvenience suffered by any person as a result of following any guide, route, advice or information published on this website. Route conditions, path closures, cliff erosion, tidal changes and transport timetables may differ from those described. All information is provided in good faith but without warranty of any kind. Walking in the countryside and on coastal cliff paths involves inherent risks. By following any route on this site you acknowledge that you do so entirely at your own risk. In an emergency dial 999 — for coastal emergencies ask for the Coastguard.
This is the walk that defines the North Norfolk coast. Eight miles of seawall, salt marsh and coastal path from Wells's painted beach huts to Blakeney's ancient quay — passing through some of the most beautiful and wildlife-rich coastline in England. Take the Coasthopper CH1 back from Blakeney. The whole day costs around £12 for an Explorer Day ticket.
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Distance
8 miles
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Walking time
3.5–4 hrs
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Difficulty
Easy
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Bus back
CH1 from Blakeney
Route map — Wells to Blakeney
Start (Wells)
Finish / bus stop (Blakeney)
Point of interest
Walking route
Coasthopper road
🚌 Coasthopper CH1 — Practical Information
Start pointWells-next-the-Sea Coasthopper stop (The Quay)
Finish pointBlakeney Village stop (The Quay)
Bus backCH1 Blakeney → Wells, approx every 60 mins
Journey time by bus~25 minutes
TicketExplorer Day ticket (£12 adult) covers unlimited travel all day
Begin at the Coasthopper stop on Wells Quay — the heart of the town, with its fishing boats, crab stalls and the smell of the sea. Head east along the quayside and join the coast path on top of the seawall, walking northeast towards the beach. The seawall path is wide and easy, with views across the salt marshes on your left and the channel on your right. At the end of the seawall, Wells Beach opens up — famous for its colourful beach huts perched on the dune edge, painted in every colour imaginable. Stop here for a moment and look back at the view towards town. Then continue east through the pinewoods — Corsican pines planted in the 19th century to stabilise the dunes, cool and dark and smelling extraordinary on a warm day.
Stage 2 — Wells Beach to Stiffkey
3 miles · 1 hour
From the beach, the coast path turns east along the top of the seawall, leaving the pines behind and entering the vast open landscape of the salt marshes. These marshes are flooded on the occasion of really big tides, but usually the sea is only a distant glimmer beyond the marsh and, at low tide, tempting wide open areas of sand. The marshes are a haven for all sorts of birds. In July and August, sea lavender turns the whole landscape purple-blue — one of the most beautiful natural spectacles on the Norfolk coast. The path follows the seawall continuously, with marshes on both sides at times — a genuinely remote and atmospheric stretch. The village of Stiffkey comes into view after about 3 miles, its flint cottages tucked into the valley of the River Stiffkey. Stiffkey is famous for its cockles — once called "Stewkey Blues" after their distinctive colouring. The Red Lion pub in the village is an excellent stopping point.
Sea lavender season
Between mid-July and late August, the salt marshes between Wells and Blakeney turn purple-blue with sea lavender. It is one of the finest wildflower spectacles in England and the smell on a warm day is extraordinary. This stretch of the walk is at its best at this time of year — visit on a weekday morning for the full experience without other walkers.
Stage 3 — Stiffkey to Morston Quay
2.5 miles · 50 mins
From Stiffkey, the coast path continues east along the seawall, passing Freshes Creek — a beautiful spot where a handful of boats are moored in the channel, often half-submerged at low tide and floating picturesquely at high tide. The path passes through increasingly wild marsh scenery with wide views out towards Blakeney Point on the horizon. Morston Quay appears after about 2.5 miles — a small quay where the National Trust runs its famous seal boat trips out to Blakeney Point. Even if you don't take the trip, the quay is a lovely spot to stop, watch the boats and eat your lunch looking out across the marsh.
Stage 4 — Morston to Blakeney
1.5 miles · 30 mins
The Coast Path continues past Morston Quay with its fine views of Blakeney Point, and on towards Blakeney, whose tall church tower has been a landmark for much of this section of the route. The final stretch to Blakeney passes along the edge of the marsh with the village coming into view across the water. Descend from the seawall into Blakeney's narrow streets — all flint and brick, unchanged for centuries. The Quay is the heart of the village, with boats moored at high tide and the marsh stretching out to the Point beyond.
Points of Interest
1
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Wells Beach Huts
The painted beach huts at Wells are among the most photographed in England — a row of pastel-coloured wooden huts perched on the dune edge above the beach. They're privately owned and rented by the week, many with waiting lists of years. Even if you can't stay in one, the view back from the beach is striking — particularly at dawn or dusk when the light on the huts is extraordinary.
📍 Wells Beach · At the end of Beach Road
2
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Stiffkey Salt Marshes Sea Lavender
The salt marshes between Wells and Stiffkey hold one of the finest sea lavender displays in England. From mid-July to late August the marsh turns purple-blue, visible for miles in every direction. Picking sea lavender is discouraged — it's a protected habitat — but there is nothing to stop you standing on the seawall and looking at it for a very long time.
💜 Best: mid-July to late August
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Morston Quay Seal Trips
The National Trust operates seal boat trips from Morston Quay out to Blakeney Point throughout the year. The trip takes about 90 minutes and gets you close to the grey seal colony. If you want to see the seals up close without the 7-mile walk to Blakeney Point, a Morston boat trip is the answer. Book online in advance in summer — they sell out quickly. Even if you don't take the trip, the quay is a beautiful spot to stop and watch the water.
A quiet spot between Stiffkey and Morston where a handful of small boats are moored in the creek. At high tide they float beautifully against the salt marsh; at low tide they sit in the mud with a slightly melancholy dignity. One of the most painterly spots on the whole walk — photographers stop here regularly. Keep an eye out for little egrets in the channel.
📍 Between Stiffkey and Morston, on the seawall path
5
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St Nicholas Church, Blakeney
At 30 metres high on a hill surrounded by flatlands, St Nicholas Church has been a draw for all people around the former important seaport of Blakeney ever since it was first built in the 13th century. The tower has a small turret at its northeast corner — originally lit as a beacon to guide boats into the harbour. It's visible from the seawall path for most of the final section of the walk. Worth a visit inside — the church is usually open and the views from the churchyard across the marsh are excellent.
📍 Blakeney village, NR25 7NQ
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Blakeney Guildhall
Blakeney is a worthy stopping point to explore Mariners Hill and the Guildhall and take in the legends of the Blakeney tunnels and the tragic story of the Blakeney Fiddler who is depicted on the village sign. The Guildhall is a 14th century brick undercroft — one of the oldest buildings in Norfolk — and is open to the public. According to local legend, a network of tunnels runs beneath the village connecting the church to the quay, used by smugglers.
📍 Blakeney village · English Heritage site
Wildlife on This Walk
This is one of the finest wildlife walks in Norfolk — the combination of salt marsh, seawall, open coast and the proximity of Blakeney Point means you can see an extraordinary range of species in a single day.
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Marsh Harriers — hunt over the reed beds and marshes throughout the walk. Look for the distinctive V-shaped glide low over the vegetation, particularly around Stiffkey Marshes.
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Curlews — their haunting bubbling call echoes across the marshes year-round. Look for the long downward-curved bill and large size.
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Oystercatchers — noisy black and white waders with vivid orange bills, common on the seawall and shore throughout the year.
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Little Egrets — dazzling white herons now common in Norfolk's creeks and channels. Freshes Creek is a particularly reliable spot.
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Grey Seals — visible on sandbanks off Blakeney Point from the seawall near Morston. Binoculars needed.
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Sea Lavender and Samphire — the marsh plants themselves are the wildlife here in summer. Sea lavender (July–Aug), samphire (June–Aug), sea purslane year-round.
⚠️ Tidal marshes: The salt marshes along this route flood at high tide. Stick to the seawall path and do not venture out onto the marsh itself unless you know exactly when the tide is coming in. The tide moves fast and the mud is deep. Check tide times at bbc.co.uk/weather/coast-and-sea before you go.
Food and Drink
Wells Beach Café
Café · Start of walk
Excellent hot drinks, bacon rolls and cake. Right at the start of the beach section — perfect for an early morning coffee before heading east. Can get busy in summer.
📍 Wells Beach, NR23 1DR
The Red Lion, Stiffkey
Pub · Midway point
A brilliant Norfolk pub with excellent food and a pleasant garden. Roughly at the halfway point of the walk — perfect for a lunch stop. Worth booking ahead on summer weekends.
📍 Stiffkey, NR23 1AJ
The King's Arms, Blakeney
Pub · End of walk
The 18th century Kings Arms in Blakeney has an interior with bags of character including cosy little alcoves and interesting pictures and posters on the walls. Outside there's a nice garden area where you can enjoy your meal on a fine day. Right by the quay — perfect post-walk.
📍 Westgate Street, Blakeney NR25 7NQ
The Blakeney Hotel
Hotel bar / afternoon tea · End of walk
The Blakeney Hotel for afternoon tea in the first-floor Lookout lounge, with its huge glass window overlooking the salt marsh towards Blakeney Point — one of the finest views in Norfolk, enjoyed from an armchair. A treat for the end of the walk.
📍 The Quay, Blakeney NR25 7NE
What to Bring
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Waterproof Walking Boots
The seawall path is grassy and can be muddy after rain. Essential if you want to explore any of the marsh-edge paths. See our full boots guide for Norfolk-tested recommendations.
This walk without binoculars is good. With binoculars it is exceptional. The marsh harriers, waders, distant seals and Blakeney Point birds all reveal themselves properly only through glass. An 8x42 is ideal.
The seawall path is completely exposed. Even on sunny days the wind can be brisk. A packable windproof weighs almost nothing and transforms a cold walk into a comfortable one.
