The Hero

Burnham Overy Staithe to Gun Hill and Holkham

Seven and three quarter miles and close to four hours, the finest dune walk in England: out along the harbour wall, over the boardwalk to the empty sands at Gun Hill, east to Holkham Gap and back inland by field path and the old coach road. Start from the free roadside parking on East Harbour Way at Burnham Overy Staithe, which is limited and fills early, or from Lady Anne's Drive at Holkham and walk it the other way round. The sand between Gun Hill and Holkham Gap is Holkham National Nature Reserve, where dogs must be on leads in the marked breeding zones from 1 April to 31 August, over seventy per cent stays off lead under close control, and cattle graze the marsh on the inland return.