Pretty beach 3 miles long is loved by Prince William and Princess Kate | Travel News | Travel

Holkham beach is the jewel of the North Norfolk Coast. At low tide the beach stretches for miles and miles and you can walk in an unspoilt landscape of just sand, sea and sky. On hot days the pinewoods provide some welcome cool shade.

Holkham Beach is part of the Holkham Estate, boasting 25,000 acres of rolling parkland, a magnificent Palladian Hall and the internationally important Holkham National Nature Reserve.

The beach is vast – at low tide, smooth, pristine sand stretches away into the distance as far as the eye can see. Unlike most beaches, Holkham Beach is horse friendly. In summer, the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR) undertake regular ride-outs onto the beach. It’s a remarkable sight. It’s also dog friendly, but keep clear of any cordoned off areas protecting nesting birds.

It’s a great beach for families and nature lovers, and of course, it’s stunningly beautiful. It should come as no surprise that Holkham Beach has featured in several movies and TV shows, including the Oscar-winning Shakespeare in Love and the 2018 Netflix film Annihilation.

The three mile long stretch of sand and dunes has won numerous awards. Holkham Beach was named Beach of the Year in 2018 by BBC Countryfile and has been named among the best beaches in the UK by TimeOut, one of The Telegraph’s favourite white sand beaches, and a top beach for walking dogs by Canine Cottages.

Holkham beach was crowned the Best British Beach in the Coast Awards for the third year running and has also received a Travellers’ Choice Award.

Not surprising then that the beach is also a favourite of the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children. Conveniently situated close to their Norfolk holiday home Amner Hall, the stunning beach is just a 35-minute drive away.

Followers of the Wales’s may have noticed that this backdrop has appeared in previous imagery shared by the family to mark significant events, with beachside scenes appearing to have been filmed at Holkham Bay.

It is thought to be where Kate took a heartwarming snap of her husband William jumping off sand dunes with Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six. The same beach is believed to have been featured in a video shared by the Wales in 2021, to mark their tenth wedding anniversary.

Kate and William shared an unprecedented glimpse into their family life via a candid video, to thank supporters for sending ‘kind messages’ on their milestone date.

According to Hello! magazine, the video was filmed in the dunes of Holkham Bay, which the outlet described as being ‘relatively secluded throughout the year which could explain its popularity with the royal family’.

Holkham Bay is described as offering miles of unspoilt beach – which is accessed by walking through a small forest – notably, the video also showed the royal family of five spending time in a forest.

The beach is a part of Holkham National Nature Reserve and is home to large flocks of wintering birds. It is an important site for breeding Little Terns, Ringed Plover and Oystercatcher. These birds nest on the ground so are vulnerable to high tides and disturbance from people and dogs. During the winter large flocks of shorebirds can be found along the shore edge and on the developing saltmarsh in Holkham Bay.

Holkham Beach is accessed via Lady Anne’s Drive, just off the main coastal road, A149, and opposite the entrance to Holkham Village and The Victoria. Opening times vary throughout the year depending on the season.