Wells-next-the Sea (10 miles)

Wells next the Sea harbour view

Once only a day tripper’s destination, complete with arcades, ice cream parlours and the large campsite near the beach, Wells-next-the Sea (Wells) now attracts a wide range of visitors including holiday home owners and their guests.

It’s a small town with lots of shops and some good pubs and restaurants, good for a visit at any time of the year. Suggested things to do:

  • Walk around the harbour and out to the beach (1 mile each way). You can also drive out and park there, but the walk is good, especially on a warmish day. Wells beach awaits. Walk behind the pines and further down to get to the dunes and wilder part of the beach. Walking west either behind th oines (wet days) or along the beach, you’ll arrive at Holkham Gap in about 30 minutes (2 miles).
  • Go ‘crabbing’ on the side of the harbour wall as the tide comes in. Great fun. Alternatives for crabbing are Burnham Overy Staithe or Blakeney. Check the tide times and don’t forget your uncooked bacon rind – crab’s favourite snack.
  • Buy fish and chips at French’s or Plattens. Both are good in my opinion, but Plattens seems to have a longer queue these days. You can also get fish and chips in the Golden Fleece pub or Sands restaurant, where you can also have a drink with it and sit down.
  • From the harbour, walk up or down Staithe Street – the main shopping street joining the harbour to The Buttlands. The Crown and The Globe in are both very good gastro-pubs good for lunch or dinner.
  • Instead of turning right at the top of Staithe St. towards the Buttlands, turn left and immediately right down High Street. This used to be the main shopping street but is now residential. Walk down to Church Plain and then cut through one of the alleys back to the Buttlands for a circular walk.
  • Walk to East Quay, past the chandlery shop. This leads past the sailing club to the fisherman’s huts. It’s a dead end there, but nice views and less traffic.
  • Leffley’s supermarket at the top of Staithe Street is a useful place to pick up extra bits and pieces for a picnic if you’ve forgotten something.