Hopton On Sea to Sea Palling
KC3 ECP Leg Number 45
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Overview
Date started:
23rd October 2022
Date completed:
24th October 2022
Official miles:
22.0
Miles we actually walked:
21.2
Guest walkers
Andy, Juliet and Ruby The Dog. And regular Guest Walker Ani The Dog.
We walked 24 miles from Hopton On Sea up the coast to Sea Palling over two days. The initial stretch from Hopton to Gorleston is on the sandy beach and would have been lovely but for the wet weather. We arrived in Gorleston just in time for bacon sandwiches and shelter from a very heavy rainstorm. From Gorleston the path heads away from the sea along the west bank of the River Yare, before crossing the bridge into Great Yarmouth. The path wends its way through Great Yarmouth back to the sea front, reaching our day 1 lunch stop, again well timed to avoid a lashing shower. We headed up the coast on the beach through another squall, to reach Scratby. On day 2, we headed up the beach, diverting into Hemsby for coffee and donuts. The highlight of the trip came as we approached Horsey, where there were thousands of seals on the beach preparing to give birth - we had to divert onto the dunes to avoid disturbance. Soon after, we reached Sea Palling and the end of the leg.
Day by day
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How we approached this leg
We had originally planned a longer three day walk, starting south of Lowestoft, however a nasty chest infection led us to abandon day one and so we travelled to Gorleston arriving late afternoon, with time for a gentle stroll on the beach in the clement weather. The revised day 1 involved a short bus trip on the 1 Coastal Clipper to begin at Hopton, morning coffee in Gorleston and lunch on the front in Great Yarmouth. We finished at Scratby, from where we caught the 1 Coastal Clipper bus back to Gorleston.
Day 2 is technically achievable by using the 34 bus either to or from Sea Palling from Stalham, the 834 bus to reach Stalham, and the 1 Coastal Clipper to get to a bus stop for the 834. The journey is over two hours, and with us still suffering with chest infection, with guest walkers and therefore a second car, we took the decision to use two cars, leaving one in Sea Palling in the Clink Road long stay car park, right by the entrance ramp to the beach, and taking the other back to the start point at Scratby, leaving the car at the California Cliffs beach car park.
Where we stayed
We stayed opposite the Pavilion Theatre in Gorleston-on-Sea, close to the beach. Out of season at the end of October, it was not crowded and several eating places were closed, but we found what we needed and enjoyed the peace and quiet.
Useful links
