The Norfolk Broads has a way of making dogs immediately happy. Maybe it’s the smell of the marshes, the space to stretch their legs after a long drive, or the sheer quantity of interesting things to investigate along the riverbanks. Whatever it is, we see it every time a car pulls through our gate and the back door opens.
If you’re planning a dog-friendly break on the Norfolk Broads, St Olaves is a genuinely excellent base. Sitting at the southern edge of the National Park, where the River Waveney meets the Broads waterway network, it gives you immediate access to some of the best dog-friendly walking in Norfolk and Suffolk, without having to get back in the car first.
This guide covers everything: four circular routes starting directly from Priory Farm’s gate, the best dog-friendly beaches within easy reach, where to find a dog-welcoming pub or café, and a few practical tips that’ll make the trip smoother for you and your dog.
Walking from the Park Gate: Four Routes to Choose From
One of the things guests comment on most is that they didn’t expect to find so much walking on their doorstep. All four of our routes start from the park entrance, all are dog-friendly, and all are free. PDF maps are available to download at caravanparknorfolk.co.uk/norfolk-broads-walks, or you can pick up a printed copy from reception.
1. St Olaves Woodland Wonder Walk (30-60 minutes)
This is the one to reach for when you arrive tired, when the weather is changeable, or when you’re travelling with an older dog who doesn’t need a six-hour expedition. It’s gentle, shaded woodland paths, good underfoot even after rain, and short enough that you can fit it in before or after dinner.
Don’t let the modest length put you off. The woods around St Olaves are genuinely beautiful, and the route passes the ruins of St Olaves Priory, a 13th-century Augustinian site, right on the park grounds, that most guests walk past in quiet disbelief. It’s managed by English Heritage, free to visit, and worth a few minutes of your time even if old stones aren’t usually your thing. Keep an eye out for deer in the field edges as you loop back.
2. One Windmill, One Wood Walk (30–60 minutes)
A step up from the Woodland Wonder in terms of landscape variety. This route takes you out of the trees and into open Norfolk countryside, with views across the Broads that start to give you a proper sense of just how flat and wide and sky-dominated this part of the world is. There’s a windmill en route, one of the iconic structures of the Broads landscape, and the return leg brings you back through a stretch of mixed woodland.
Good for dogs who need a bit more space than a woodland path allows. On a clear day the views are exceptional, and the birdlife is noticeably richer in the open sections: marsh harriers hunting low over the reeds are a common sight, and herons stand motionless in the ditches with the patience of statues.
3. Two Windmills Walk (30–60 minutes)
The Two Windmills Walk covers similar ground to the route above but extends it to take in a second mill, hence the name. Slightly more demanding underfoot in places, particularly on the sections that run closer to the waterway, so boots are recommended over trainers. It’s still well within comfortable reach for most dogs.
This is the route we’d pick on a still, bright morning when you want to feel properly immersed in Broads landscape without committing to a full day out. The combination of open marshes, water views, and the two windmills makes it one of the most photographed routes from the park.
A note on these shorter routes: depending on the season and recent usage, some sections can become overgrown, particularly in late summer. Worth checking with reception before you set off.
4. Haddiscoe Island Walk (4–6 hours)
This is the big one.
The Haddiscoe Island Walk is a full-day route around the tidal marshes of Haddiscoe Island, a loop through some of the most remote and atmospheric landscape in the entire Broads National Park. Two windmills. Long stretches of riverside path with uninterrupted views across the marshes. Wildlife around every corner. And a genuine sense of being somewhere that hasn’t changed much in centuries.
Along the route you’re likely to encounter kingfishers darting low over the water, marsh harriers quartering the reed beds, grey herons standing sentinel in the shallows, and, if you’re quiet and lucky, otters working the riverbanks. Deer are a regular sighting on the meadow sections, particularly in early morning and evening.
A few things to know before you go: this is a marshland route, and it shows after wet weather. Waterproof boots are not optional. Bring plenty of water for your dog, the river is tidal and not suitable for drinking. Don’t attempt it if rain is forecast mid-route; the paths can become very heavy underfoot. Start early if you can.
It’s a brilliant day out, but it earns its place on the list.
Dog-Friendly Beaches Near St Olaves
After a day of walking, some dogs want more walking. St Olaves puts you within easy reach of two excellent stretches of sand that welcome dogs year-round.
Gorleston-on-Sea is the closer of the two, around 15 minutes by car. It’s a quieter, more residential beach than its near-neighbour Great Yarmouth, with a long, wide sandy shore, good parking close to the beach, and a relaxed atmosphere that works well for dogs and their owners. There are cafés and ice cream options along the seafront. Dogs are permitted year-round across the full length of the beach.
Hemsby is a slightly longer drive, around 20 minutes, but worth it for the wide, dune-backed beach that stretches north from the village. Again, dogs are welcome year-round, and the open dunes give dogs plenty of space to run without the crowds you’d find further up the coast in peak season.
Both beaches are well signposted and have car parks within easy walking distance of the sand. Neither is a managed beach with seasonal restrictions, so there’s no need to time your visit around specific windows.
Dog-Friendly Pubs and Cafés
The Bell Inn, St Olaves is directly across the road from Priory Farm, you can walk there from your pitch in just couple of minutes. It’s a traditional Norfolk pub with a proper beer garden, real ales, seasonal food menus, and a genuinely welcoming attitude towards dogs. As a Priory Farm guest you also receive 10% off food and drink, just show your booking confirmation. After a long walk, it’s a hard place to leave.
Beccles Quay is around 15 minutes by car, and well worth the trip on a warm day. The riverside setting is lovely, the cafés along the quay are dog-friendly (several put water bowls out as standard), and the riverside path itself makes for a pleasant leg-stretch after lunch. Beccles is one of those small market towns that doesn’t try very hard to impress and ends up being quietly excellent.
Further afield, Bungay and Harleston are both within 20–25 minutes and both have dog-friendly pubs and cafés in their town centres. Bungay has a Norman castle ruin worth a look, and Harleston is good for independent shops if you want a slower morning.
Practical Tips for Dogs on the Broads
A few things worth knowing before you arrive:
Ticks. The Broads is tick country, particularly in summer. Check your dog thoroughly after every walk through long grass or reed beds, behind the ears, between the toes, under the collar. A tick remover tool is worth packing.
Lead sections. Most of the routes pass through or near farmland and livestock areas. Keep dogs on leads wherever signage asks you to, and use your judgement near cattle and sheep. The farm at Priory Farm is an animal sanctuary, leads are required on site.
Water. The rivers and dykes around the Broads are tidal and brackish in places, not suitable for dogs to drink from. On longer walks like the Haddiscoe Island route, carry more water than you think you’ll need. A collapsible bowl is useful.
Waste bags. Bring your own and take everything home. Most of the routes are on footpaths and open land without bins en route.
Where to Stay: Dog-Friendly and Adults-Only on the Norfolk Broads
Priory Farm Caravan Park welcomes up to two dogs per pitch, no extra charge, no complicated small print. As an adults-only site, we can’t take families with children (we’re situated on the edge of a working farm and animal sanctuary, which presents hazards for young visitors), but for couples and retirees travelling with dogs, the combination works particularly well: the park is calm, unhurried, and the dogs seem to enjoy it as much as the humans.
Pitches are from £24 per night, all-inclusive that covers electric hookup, fresh water, and waste disposal. Awnings and porches are free. The modern toilet and shower block is clean and well-maintained, and there’s laundry facilities on site, too.
We’re based in St Olaves, right on the Norfolk–Suffolk border, which puts you within easy reach of the Broads, the coast, and the market towns to the west, all of it walkable or a short drive.