California Cliffs Norfolk: Exploring the Coast and Mundesley
The Norfolk coast is one of those places that is easy to enjoy at a slower pace. There are long stretches of beach, wide skies, grassy cliffs and plenty of little coastal towns and villages to explore. On one of our trips, we spent some time around California Cliffs before heading further along the coast to Mundesley.
It was the sort of day that was mostly about being outside, walking along the coast and taking in the scenery. As always, I took plenty of photographs along the way, particularly of the cliffs, beach and changing colours of the Norfolk coastline.
Exploring California Cliffs
California Cliffs is on the east coast of Norfolk, near the village of California and the popular coastal resort of Scratby. The area has a very different feel from some of the more built-up seaside towns further along the coast.
What I liked most was the open feeling of the coastline. The cliffs run alongside the beach, with views out across the North Sea and plenty of space to simply walk and enjoy the surroundings.
There’s something particularly nice about this part of Norfolk when the weather is good. The combination of sandy beaches, green vegetation and the blue-grey colours of the sea gives the landscape a character of its own.
Walking Along the Norfolk Coast
We spent some time walking along the coast, taking our time rather than trying to cover a particular distance.
The views change as you move along the cliffs, with different sections of beach appearing below and the coastline stretching into the distance. It’s the sort of place where you can stop every few minutes to look at another view or take another photograph.
I always find coastal walks particularly enjoyable because there’s so much to look at without needing to do very much at all. The sea, cliffs, grasses and changing light are enough to keep things interesting.
The Beach at California Cliffs
One of the things that makes California Cliffs interesting is the relationship between the cliffs and the beach below.
From the top, you get a different perspective of the Norfolk coastline, while down on the beach the cliffs give the landscape a much more dramatic feel.
The beach is also a great place to slow down for a while. We spent some time enjoying the views and taking photographs rather than rushing on to the next place.
It was a good reminder that you don't always need a long list of things to do to enjoy a day by the sea.
Taking Photographs Along the Coast
I always seem to take more photographs than I expect when I visit the coast. There’s something about the changing scenery that makes it difficult to put the camera away.
At California Cliffs, I was drawn to the contrast between the cliffs, sandy beach and open sea. The wide views also gave me plenty of opportunities to photograph the coastline from different angles.
Some photographs were wider views of the landscape, while others were smaller details that caught my attention along the way.
The Norfolk coast has a fairly natural colour palette, with sandy tones, greens, blues and softer colours depending on the weather. I particularly liked how different the same view could look as the light changed.
Visiting Mundesley
After spending time around California Cliffs, we also visited Mundesley, another lovely coastal spot further along the Norfolk coast.
Mundesley has a traditional seaside feel, with its beach, promenade and views across the North Sea. It felt like a nice contrast to the more open landscape around California Cliffs.
We spent some time walking around and taking in the atmosphere before heading back towards the coast.
There was plenty to photograph here too, from the beach and sea views to the little details around the town.
Enjoying a Norfolk Seaside Day
One of the things I enjoyed about this trip was that there was no need to rush between different attractions.
We could spend time at California Cliffs, walk along the coast, take photographs and then continue on to Mundesley. Each place had its own character, but they both gave us that feeling of being beside the sea and away from everyday life.
There’s something very relaxing about a day like that. A walk, a beach, somewhere to stop for a drink or something to eat and plenty of time to look around is sometimes all you need.
Check out our digitally enhanced photograph Poster of the Mundesley Beach Huts
Exploring More of the Norfolk Coast
One of the great things about visiting the Norfolk coast is how many different places there are to discover.
There are larger seaside resorts, quieter beaches, coastal villages and long stretches of open coastline. You can easily spend a day exploring one area or make a longer trip of it and visit several different places.
California Cliffs and Mundesley were just two of the places we explored, but they gave us a good taste of the variety you find along this part of the Norfolk coast.
If you enjoy walking, photography or simply spending time beside the sea, there are plenty of reasons to keep coming back.
Why I Enjoyed California Cliffs and Mundesley
What I liked most about the day was the combination of scenery and simplicity. California Cliffs gave us the open coastal views and sandy beach, while Mundesley added the atmosphere of a traditional Norfolk seaside town.
Neither place felt like somewhere you needed to rush around. We could take our time, enjoy the views and stop whenever something caught our eye.
It was also one of those trips where the photographs ended up being almost as important as the places themselves. The coastline provided so many different views that I came home with plenty of images to look back on.
Bringing a Little Bit of Norfolk Home
One of the reasons I enjoy taking photographs when I travel is that they give you something to remember the day by.
A photograph of the coast can bring back much more than just the view. It can remind you of the weather, the sound of the sea, the colours of the landscape and how you felt while you were there.
Some of the photographs from California Cliffs and the Norfolk coast have inspired prints for Travel Whispers.
I like the idea that a photograph taken during a day out can eventually become something you have at home. A coastal view can bring back memories of a favourite walk, a day at the beach or simply a place you enjoyed visiting.
For me, that’s what travel photography is really about. It isn’t necessarily about taking the perfect photograph. It’s about capturing the places and moments that make you want to remember them.
Check out our digitally enhanced photograph of California Beach in Norfolk
