Bracing but beautiful, Holkham bay is an unspoilt stretch of coast backed by sand dunes and a forest on the north coast of Norfolk near Wells-next-the-Sea.

Three to four miles long and up to a half mile wide, this soft sand beach is large enough for everyone. There's a stretch of pine forest to walk in and shells to collect along the sands.

It is reported to be one of the best stretches of unspoiled coastline in England.

The nude beach, on the western side of the Holkham Bay, is a good two mile walk to reach and is an official nudist beach and very well signposted. Privately owned by the Holkham Estate, the home of the Earls of Leicester, and part owned by the Crown Estate. At one point they withdrew its 'official' naturist status, and 'banned' naturism. This was in response to inappropriate public behaviour on the beach.

Historically, the owners have been sympathetic to nudists and have now permitted naturism at the western end of the beach. The landowners prefer that visitors stay off the dunes which are a nature reserve.