Unspoilt UK seaside village with African-inspired cottages is home to ‘one of country’s greatest wildlife spectacles’
A COASTAL village in the UK has been described as one of the county’s ‘best-kept secrets’ thanks to its long sandy beach and African-inspired holiday homes.
Most holidaymakers heading to Norfolk visit places like Norwich, Great Yarmouth and Cromer, which means they often miss Winterton-on-Sea altogether.
Located on the east Norfolk Coast, Winterton-on-Sea is a pretty seaside village that’s home to an unspoilt beach, colourful African roundhouses and seals.
The village has been named one of the region’s “best-kept secrets” by its tourism board.
They wrote: “Bounded by a stunning sandy beach on one side and the Norfolk Broads on the other, Winterton-on-Sea is one of Norfolk’s best kept secrets.”
Backed by beautiful sand dunes, which actually form part of a nature reserve, Winterton-on-Sea has buckets of charm, with one of those highlights being its beach.
Winterton Beach was named one of the most beautiful hidden beaches to visit in 2024 by Time Out.
It’s home to a vast expanse of soft sand, giving it an uncrowded and open feel.
The beach is just a short six-minute walk from the coastal village, which means it can become quite popular in the summer months.
However, even on the hottest days of the year, there’s always plenty of space for all beach-goers, according to its tourism board.
The unspoilt beach is also home to some amazing species of wildlife, including skylarks and seals.
According to the Friends of Horsey Seals, Winterton-on-Sea is home to “one of Britain’s great wildlife spectacles” – the Atlantic Grey seal.
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Lucky beach-goers might even be able to spot the seals bobbing in the water or lazing around on the sand.
However, holidaymakers can also go on seal pup safaris – if they plan their visit carefully.
Between November and January, thousands of visitors descend on the beach to see the seals during their pupping season, with Volunteer Wardens on site to help.
The wardens give visitors guidance on how to watch the seal pups safely.
Several facilities can also be found at the beach, including toilets and a car park.
There are other attractions in the coastal village, including Holy Trinity and All Saints Church.
The church is the biggest landmark in the village, with its 132ft tower (the third highest in the county) opening to the public every Saturday.
Hermanus Holiday Centre, a leisure park in the village, is arguably an attraction in its own right because of its accommodation options.
The leisure park is home to a handful of colourful African roundhouses that overlook the beach.
Each of the thatched buildings are modelled on huts at Hermanus Bay in South Africa.
Holidaymakers can book to stay in one of the thatched roundhouses, with Sun Online Travel finding two-night stays for £125 per person, based on two people sharing a holiday home.
Other accommodation options at the leisure park include chalets and bungalows, with pet-friendly stays also available.
Other facilities at the site include a heated outdoor swimming pool, a children’s play area, a family lounge and a restaurant and bar.
The pretty coastal village, and its beach, has been praised by visitors on TripAdvisor, with one person writing: “A lovely walk along the beach and dunes where I saw plenty of seals, which made my day.”
Another person wrote: “The water is crystal-clear and we saw seals swim past us every day.”
A third person added: “A great beach with vast sand dunes. It’s really picturesque and great for photography.”
Winterton-on-Sea is a 20-minute drive from Great Yarmouth.
It’s also a half an hour drive from Happisburgh – a picturesque village on the Norfolk Coast with one of the oldest working lighthouses in the county.
Swimming safety advice
Experts have revealed some of their top advice for both adults and kids heading to the water this summer:
How to stay safe at the beach
Gareth Morrison, Head of Water Safety at the RNLI said: “If you find yourself being swept out to sea in a rip, try to relax and float until you are free from the rip and you can then swim to safety.
“If you see someone else in danger, alert a lifeguard or call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.”
How to stay safe at the swimming pool
Tiny Hearts Education, former paramedic and CEO Nikki Jurcutz said: “Always put your little one in bright or contrasting colours that would be easy to find in an emergency.
“It only takes 20 seconds to drown, little tips like this could save a life”.
An Auqabliss spokesperson added: “Swimming toys such as noodles, dive rings, floaties and beach balls can be dangerous if left in the pool.
“Children may try to grab these from the pool’s edge and fall in.”
How to stay safe at a waterpark
Ali Beckman, Puddle Ducks Technical Director, said: “Never send a child down the slide on their own, not only are they going to be entering the slide pool area independently, they then have to exit the pool and wait for an adult.
“And wave pools should be avoided until your child is really confident with water going over their faces and you know they are able to regain their feet independently.
“Waterparks are often very busy places and it’s easy to lose sight of a child in a split second.”
Worbarrow Bay in Dorset is also rather secluded, being a 20 minute journey you can only make by foot.
And here’s a hidden cove in Dartmouth that only locals know about.
