Norfolk’s coast and countryside are in their prime in autumn, with migratory birds putting on a spectacular show and fall’s fantastic foliage segueing into frosty mornings and ruddy-cheeked beach walks. With accessible trails, boardwalks and beach wheelchairs that make exploring super-easy it’s time to plan a Norfolk adventure.

Beach baby, beach baby: hit the sands!

Norfolk’s beaches aren’t just for summer! With over 90 miles of coastline, several nearby beaches are accessible. Closest to Searles, Hunstanton Beach offers wheelchair friendly walks along the seafront with accessible ramps from the paved promenade leading directly to the sandy beach and accessible toilets nearby.

Past the clifftop, Old Hunstanton Beach is famous for its dunes and vast uninterrupted sands. You can borrow a beach wheelchair with over-sized, low-pressure balloon wheels that make navigating sand far easier at the Old Town Beach Cafe – email the team at oldtownbeachcafe@outlook.com or message them on Facebook. With a pay and display car park next the the cafe and accessible toilets just past the RNLI station, Old Hunstanton Beach is one of the coast’s best and the cafe is a fantastic spot for a warming cuppa too!

Further along the coast, Holkham Beach is world-famous, thanks to its appearance in many blockbuster movies including ‘Shakespeare in Love’. With dedicated Blue Badge car parking spaces, follow the one-mile route, turning left at the bottom of Lady Anne’s Drive, past the fragrant pinewoods and George Washington Hide to a new boardwalk, which has recently been upgraded to improve access. Be aware that while the boardwalk is accessible, the ramp leading onto the beach can be affected by the height of the sand left behind by the tide, but the route is stunning with views over the bay and grazing salt marshes, which are alive with wildlife at this time of the year.

Just a little further on, Wells-next-the-Sea is a quintessential seaside town with a working harbour and pretty quayside surrounded by shops and restaurants. Park up and follow the path along the sea wall, which takes about 20 minutes, to Beach Café which is accessible and has adapted toilets, or park right by the café and hire a beach wheelchair to explore the shoreline further – organised by Wells Community Hospital, call 01328 711996 or email admin@wellshospital.uk to arrange hire.

Autumn’s bounty: Norfolk nature trails to explore

While many visitors choose summer to holiday in Norfolk, autumn and winter are spectacular seasons to enjoy nature and wildlife, particularly as the migratory birds stopover on the coast. RSPB Titchwell is a great spot to catch the action with trails that are largely flat, accessible boardwalks and rolled sand and gravel surfaces. With two wheelchairs available for hire, the bird hides are accessible via ramps and there is a unisex accessible toilet near the car park, which has eight Blue Badge spaces. Assistance dogs are permitted.

Or head to Pensthorpe, just outside Fakenham, which has Blue Badge parking, wheelchair hire and accessible paths to follow to enjoy five spectacular gardens and spot the resident wildlife. Check out the latest addition, the Alan Partridge Sound Bath Garden, opened late October 2025, which was gifted by Steve Coogan after its appearance at RHS Hampton Court. Reimagined by Norfolk’s award winning Carey Garden Design Studio, the biosonification sound garden uses the electrical signals given off by plants to create an ever-changing symphony and immersive experience.

Closer to Searles, Sandringham  Royal Park is a wonderful spot to immerse yourself in nature with a 1-mile, wheelchair-friendly hard-standing Scenic Walk and a Blue Route waymarked trail through woodland, which is accessible for most visitors. With accessible parking, the restaurant and café are fully accessible for wheelchair users, there are accessible toilets within the restaurant and a Changing Places toilet in the Courtyard – see our guide to accessible attractions to explore the Sandringham Estate further.

Keep an eye out too for changes to the Norfolk Coast’s National Trails including the Peddars Way, Norfolk Coast Path and new King Charles III England Coast Path, which will be established by the end of March 2026. In addition to the new boardwalk at Holkham, a stretch of the Norfolk Coast Path at Brancaster has been improved with a new, hard-wearing boardwalk which improves accessibility with non-slip surfaces, visual contrast strips, ample width and resting points.

As with all days out, it’s best to check ahead of time to ensure there are no changes or closures which will affect your plans and always be tide-aware as ramps can get covered by sand or water on occasion. With that in mind, wrap up, head out and enjoy days exploring Norfolk’s natural beauty!

Image © of Holkham Estate