Wells-next-the-Sea
Wells beach is a vast, unspoilt stretch of soft golden sand, peppered with candy coloured beach huts and backed by pine trees. It is wonderful spot for families with car-parking, toilets and Beach Cafe just a short walk from the beach. There are lifeguards on watch during peak season. The beach is a great spot to relax, swim, build sandcastles or watch the wading birds and boats. If you're lucky you may spot a common or grey seal basking in the sun.
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The beach and parking areas are owned by Holkham Estate. For morning information on Holkham's phased reopening, please visit their website.
Just 3 miles from Chapel Cottage, Wells-next-the-Sea has a beautiful working harbour and boasts one of the best sandy beaches in North Norfolk.
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Wells and the surrounding area is a popular holiday destination. Miles of soft sandy beaches, beautiful beach huts, stunning stately homes, crabbing on the quay, steam train rides, sailing, windsurfing, walking, cycling and bird watching are just some of the activities you can undertake all within a few minutes of Chapel Cottage.
The Pay & Display parking can fill up early during peak season.
The miniature steam train which has been popular with children young and old has sadly closed permanently from Autumn 2021.
For those looking to explore the area the walk along 'the mile' from the quay to beach is lovely.
The Quay
Wells still has a working harbour. Watching the fishing & sailing boats come and go make for a lovely pass time. Popular for Gilly crabbing, dangling a piece of bacon over the edge of quay, your almost bound to get a nip. Great fun for young and old. Local fisherman sell fresh shellfish at Frary's stall and eating fish'n'chips on the harbour wall is quite a tradition. The Albatros a former Dutch carol ship keeps watch of the harbour. She is one of the oldest sailing ships still afloat and is currently being restored by Wills Coffee and will be open again soon.
You can now hire crab lines and buckets at the quay. It's also a great spot for watching the world go by. There are day boats, fishing boats and sailing boats.
Formerly a granary built in 1903, the new £5m arts, heritage and community complex. The development comprises the restoration and repair of the Grade II-listed building and houses a state-of-the-art theatre and cinema café and bar and visitor information centre.
The Lifeboat Horse
Created by artist Rachel Long as a tribute to the horse that used to pull the town's lifeboat the tow miles from the quay to the open sea. It is now located at the Harbour having been purchased by the people of Wells after the sculpture was original commission for the Wells Heritage Art Train in 2018. The three metre sculpture is fully visible at low tide becoming partly submerged by high tide.
The Buttlands
The Buttlands is a historic area of Wells, a green lined with historic buildings and Lime trees. Many of the Wells Carnival events take place here. Two of Wells' most popular pubs, the Crown Hotel a former coaching inn and the Globe Inn.
Wells Lifeboat
The RLNI lifeboat station houses an all-weather lifeboat and an inshore lifeboat. The lifeboat station is an easily recognisable landmark Regular open days and open evenings are held with visits onboard and a chance to meet the volunteer crew members.
Alpaca Trekking
For a truly enjoyable and unforgettable experience become an alpaca trekker for the day by taking one or more of our groups of alpacas for a walk along the bridleways and coastal paths here at Wells-next-the-Sea & Stiffkey.
Harbour Tours
Explore Wells Harbour aboard the “Wells Ferry”. Trips allow you to explore the sights and sounds of Wells Harbour, its beach and Salt Marsh. Most trips last one hour. Trips run most day from the end of March to the end of October, weather permitting. Trip times are displayed on the website and on boards on Wells Quayside.
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More sailing options can be found here. ​The Wells Guide may also useful.
