The ‘Needs to Know’
Distance: 5.9 miles (9.5km)
Time to walk: It took us 4 hours as we just loved strolling & paddling on the beach & then stopped for a late breakfast in the Cliff Top Cafe in Overstrand
Difficulty: The outward stretch is easy flat walking, mainly along the beach. The climb to Overstrand is steep & the return journey along the cliff paths is undulating &, at times, on narrow, dirt paths. Care needs to be taken with young children & dogs as, at times, the path runs close to the cliff edges
Please be careful to check the tide tables as the sea does come right up at times. The easiest walking is by the sea edge, rather than on the shingle
Parking: Public car parks in Cromer
Public toilets: Public toilets & bars, cafes etc in Cromer. The Cliff Top Cafe, or public toilets in Overstrand car park, half way round
Map of the route:
Cromer lays around 23 miles north of Norwich. The town is known as a traditional tourist resort & for the Cromer crabs which forms the major source of income for local fishermen
Cromer became a resort in the early 19th century, with some of the rich Norwich banking families making it their summer home. Visitors included the future King Edward VII, who played golf here. The resort’s facilities included the late Victorian Cromer Pier, which is home to the Pavilion Theatre
Now it’s famous for Banksy’s ‘Great British Spraycation’ artwork, which we’ll see on this walk
We love it so shall we get going?
Let’s Walk!!
1. Where better to start this great walk than right in front of Cromer Pier….
There are records of a pier in Cromer back as far as 1391, although then it was in the form of a jetty. In 1582, Queen Elizabeth I, in a letter to the inhabitants of Cromer granted rights to export wheat, barley & malt with the proceeds to be used for the maintenance & well-being of the pier & the town
In 1822, a 210-foot long jetty was built, but this structure lasted just 24 years before it was totally destroyed in a storm. This jetty was replaced by another wooden structure, but this time it was a little longer being 240 feet. This jetty soon became very popular for promenading. A keeper was employed to keep order; there were strict rules applied including no smoking, & ladies were required to retire from the jetty by 9pm. The last wooden jetty survived until 1897, when it was damaged beyond repair after a coal boat smashed into it. It was dismantled & the timber sold for £40
For a period of time from this date Cromer was without a pier, but in 1902, the new pier was completed & opened to the public. North Norfolk District Council began a £1.2 million repair scheme in June, 2012 & the work was completed in October 2013, just before the tidal surge of 5 December 2013
Today it has only one of five UK “End of Pier” theatre’s & home to the only full season “End of pier show in the World”. We went to a show in August 2022 & it was wonderful!
2. Facing the pier, turn right & walk along the promenade…please note that dogs are not allowed on this part of the beach at certain times of the year…
Above you to the right’s the wonderfully named Hotel de Paris, which dates back to 1830. The house & property were purchased by Pierre le Françoise who used the site to build the first hotel. Pierre le Françoise had been brought to England as a child by his parents. The family, who were considered aristocrats, were escaping from the French Revolution of 1799. Le Françoise established his hotel to attract the visitors who were coming to Cromer in ever increasing numbers. The hotel was listed in the directory of 1836 as a “boarding house” but by 1845 the venture was listed as the “Hotel de Paris” which is a sign that the establishment had grown & prospered by this date
Pierre le Françoise died in 1841 & is buried in the churchyard of Cromer parish church. His widow had continued to run the hotel with the help of a manageress called Mrs Garthon. In 1845 the hotel was sold to Henry Jarvis who was a businessman in the town. Under his ownership, & later that of his son Alex, the hotel’s reputation grew & prospered. It’s recorded that by 1860 an extra third floor accommodation had been added to the hotel, & possibly some fourth floor rooms
The hotel remained in the ownership of the Jarvis family until 1961 when the family decided to sell the hotel. The new owner was a Mr Bush of Norwich, who also owned his own building company. He undertook to fully modernise & renovate the hotel. Bush died in 1972 & the hotel was sold on to a London-based property company. Since this time it has passed through various ownerships
3. As you walk along the promenade look out for the inscriptions on the ground…
One of these is…”I am not enjoying myself very much, ” the famous line a young Winston Churchill said while visiting Cromer in 1888
4. One thing to remember as you walk along here is that Cromer is still very much an inshore fishing community. If you can time the walk right you’ll see the tractors bringing the boats up the beach…
5. Continue along the hard path…
Look out for the artists!
6. Shortly you’ll arrive at the beach huts…
…& then, in summer, it’s ok to take the dog on the beach
7. As you walk down, turn round & look at the concrete wall – there’s the Banksy, which is really small…
The picture is of a group of Hermit Crabs holding a sign that says “Luxury Rentals Only.” Given that the painting is located right by the beach huts, he may be referring to how expensive they are or pointing out how second homes are driving up housing prices
8. Now the beach is a free for all so get down there for a paddle…
The view back to Cromer’s pretty special too. You can see the impressive church tower dominating the landscape
The Church of St Peter & St Paul dates from the 14th century & is in the centre of the town. After falling into disrepair, it was rebuilt in the late 19th century. At 158 ft the Bell tower is the highest in the county. If you go inside, don’t forget to look at the vast stained glass windows which commemorate various members of the lifeboat crew & other features of the resort
9. Carry on all the way across the groyns until you arrive at the slope leading up to Overstrand where it’s time to leave the beach…
The climb is quite steep, but at the top there’s a treat waiting for you…the Cliff Top Cafe. We were there at breakfast time & saw the full English, but decided on the Bacon & Egg Bap! It’s also a good opportunity for a loo break
10. Suitably refreshed, it’s time to begin our return journey along the cliff paths. Walk through the car park (where there are more public toilets)…
Head to the right corner beside the flag pole to find the path…
11. Walk through the gap & now begin an amazing stretch of this walk. Just be careful as the path is close to the cliff edge &, if you have dogs, keep them on a lead…
And…if your bacon butty’s weighing you down a bit, there’s a great bench to sit on…
12. This truly is spectacular walking…
…however what your now entering is a permissive footpath through the magnificent Royal Cromer Golf Course, somewhere I’ve played about ten times & a place dear to my heart
13. Just keep looking behind you for golfers as you walk along the cliff paths…
…& beware…there’s some big drops!
14. The path is well defined so keep heading up & down…
…& then shortly into view comes one of my favourite golf holes…the 14th at Cromer…the Lighthouse hole…
15. Founded in 1888, Royal Cromer Golf Club immediately attained its Royal status through the patronage of the Prince of Wales who went on to be King Edward VII
The 14th is a classic par 4 & the green is just beside the lighthouse…
16. Continue along the cliff top path where there’s more great benches…
Our route now begins to descend towards Cromer again, passing through bracken. Just keep heading in the same direction, ignoring the paths going off to the left & right
17. Cromer Pier starts to come into view again…
…as the track turns into a hard surface once more
18. Look out for the house with the blue plaque & bust on the left. This is Henry Blogg, (6 February 1876 – 13 June 1954), a lifeboatman from Cromer & the most decorated in Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) history
Blogg is referred to as “the greatest of the lifeboatmen”. From the rescue of the crew of the ‘Pyrin’ and then of half of the crew of the ‘Fernebo’ in 1917, through to his near drowning in the course of the rescue of survivors of the wreck of the ‘SS English Trader’ in 1941, he was awarded the gold medal of the RNLI three times & the silver medal four times, the George Cross, the British Empire Medal, & a series of other awards
19. Continue straight ahead passing the ‘Collectors Cabin’…
…& then turn right down the hill & left at the end of arrive back at the pier
So that’s it, a wonderful & varied walk that has just about everything. To take full advantage of the beach don’t forget to check the tide timetables & take care with small ones & animals on the cliff path
Apart from that enjoy!
Go Walk!