Season: winter
A low tide coincided with cold, clear skies that reflected light from the myriad razor clam shells scattered on the beach. The azure blue skies provided a counterpoint to the rich, recently washed sand on this expansive, flat beach. The sense of scale and perspective here can be mesmerising and uplifting at the same time. Take care close to the sea when the tide turns back in, as it returns swiftly to its high water mark.
An adventurous association with the beach.
A bright winter day at Brancaster.
Season: winter
Brancaster has a stunning beach, which stretches for miles in front of the golf course and the sand dunes. At low tide, you can see the wreck of the SS Vina. The soft sand is ideal for making sandcastles, but there are kitesurfers here too on windy days. This is a well-to-do area and there are excellent shops and restaurants, as well as boat trips that run from Brancaster Staithe. Wildlife, particularly resident and migratory birds, features strongly along this stretch of coastline, including marsh harriers, avocets, oystercatchers and terns. Brancaster is also known for its mussels, in season when there is an ‘r’ in the month.
With Norma on the beach at Brancaster.
A bright, chilly start to the day for Margaret and her dogs.
A crisp winter scene at Brancaster beach.
Season: summer
Bright blue sky and sunshine were the order of the day, as seems to happen each time I visit Brancaster beach. The tide was rising quickly over this expansive, flat beach and the fine weather apparently followed an unsettled spell, so the beach was inhabited by returning locals and visitors, many paddling in the warm springtime water at the sea’s edge.
What the beach means to Tiphaine.
…et en francais.
Bright sunshine at Brancaster beach.
Season: summer
The tide was out for this summer re-visit, leaving an awesome expanse of sand to contemplate in the morning light. The clean, breezy outlook was capped by an enormous blue sky, creating an overwhelming effect. This beach is elemental. As the razor clam shells crunch underfoot, there is a time for contemplation, creativity, rebalancing or just fun, whichever sense guides you.
Trevor’s feelings for the beach.
Brancaster Beach is one of the most wonderful beaches in Norfolk, whatever time of year.
Come rain, wind, snow or sunshine this wide open space, is a great space to have a winter walk, a summer family holiday, a great place to walk the dog, chill and unwind from the stresses of everyday life.
Spectacular sunsets, picnics in the sand dunes, kite flying, a family fun game of rounders and a dip in the sea. This special beach brings families back to our holiday cottage year after year! Suzy
Brancaster Beach is a wide, seemingly endless, long stretch of sand that invites you to walk and linger over its fabulous views, whether you look out to the sea and the horizon or down to the cornucopia of shells and wildlife along its shoreline.
And like so many North Norfolk beaches it is never as crowded and spoiled as its more southerly counterparts.
This is a timeless place with translucent light that feels wild and romantic, no matter what the season. The Romans built a fort here – long gone – and their centurions retired nearby because it reminded them of home. Norfolk is the driest county in England, it may be windy, it may be cold but there is less rain here .. Hurrah !
No wonder painters and beachcombers love it here.
In winter. spring or autumn you can stride out and enjoy the company of the charming little waders that love to winkle out the food just under the surface here. The sharply coloured black and white oystercatchers with their long orange beaks lift the spirits with their funny little walk and stabs among the shells, snacking as they go.
In summer you can lie out and watch the endless blue sky meet the endless blue sea. You will have more company in the sunshine – familes, children playing and dog walkers, but Brancaster beach never looks like those Bank Holiday scenes in the resorts down south- there is room for everyone.
Brancaster beach means to me wide open skies, never ending beach, memories of building sandcastles and a dream of riding along the break water.
Brancaster beach
Winter walks, seagull squawks, snuggling from the wind and rain.
Summer sun, sandcastle fun, paddling and digging holes for son.
Beach and harbour, island creeks, muddy marsh, dunes and Wreck.
Adventures…high tide, low tide, ebb and flow,
Whatever, whenever there’s no better place to go.