Kitesurf Travel Guide: Old Hunstanton, Norfolk

Most of England's east coast faces the sunrise, which makes Old Hunstanton an odd one out. This stretch of Norfolk looks west across The Wash, so the local kitesurf scene gets something nobody else on this coastline has: a sunset session with the wind at your back instead of in your eyes.

Why Old Hunstanton?

Old Hunstanton sits just north of Hunstanton town, where the coast bends to face west into The Wash. That bend cleans up and accelerates the wind, and the wide tidal flats keep the water mostly flat rather than wavy, which makes this a freestyle and flat water spot rather than a wave riding one. Sandbanks exposed at low tide across The Wash add a safety margin that beginners and experts both benefit from.

→ Wind from the southwest round through west to north is what works here, which covers a wide band of directions compared to most UK coastal spots.

↳ The spot rides at most tide states, but low tide means a long walk out to the water, and a big spring high tide leaves only a thin strip of beach to launch from.

Getting There and Getting Around

Old Hunstanton is on the Norfolk coast, a short drive north of Hunstanton town via the A149. The nearest train station is King's Lynn, served by Greater Anglia from Cambridge and London, with a Lynx bus route covering the final stretch to the coast.
→ By car, leave Hunstanton on the A149 and take the left exit at the sharp bend with the pitch and putt course on your left. Park in the clifftop car park or the grass car park by the Le Strange Hotel, which charges a small fee. Do not use the hotel's own car park.
↳ Lynx buses also connect Hunstanton to Sandringham, Wells next the Sea, Sheringham, and Cromer, so a car is useful but not essential if you are based in town.

When to Kitesurf

The spot is ridable across a wide range of tides, which gives it more flexibility than most UK beaches, though conditions change through the tide cycle rather than staying constant. Local reports do not single out one best season over another, so check a current wind forecast for Hunstanton rather than assuming a specific month will deliver.

Safety notes: Stay well clear of the large cliffs at high tide, since they create updrafts that can lift a kite unexpectedly. Small wooden stakes appear around mid tide, and local advice is to ask another kiter for their positions before you ride through that area. Avoid setting up or packing down near the main beach entrance by the lifeboat launch, since that access point needs to stay clear.

Kitesurf Spots

Old Hunstanton: The main flat water spot, with cliffs to the north and sandbanks exposed across The Wash at low tide.
Water: Mostly flat with some chop, suited to freestyle more than wave riding.
Level: Beginner to intermediate at most tides, with the cliff updrafts and mid tide stakes as the main hazards to learn.
Hunstanton main beach: The town beach, with groynes to avoid launching between and a good reputation for sunset sessions given the west facing coast.
Water: Flat at low tide over the outer sandbar, less rideable as the tide reaches the groynes.
Level: Beginner to intermediate.
Heacham South Beach: A short drive south, best worked around high tide in a southerly wind.
Water: Mostly mud at low tide, so this one is a high tide specialist's spot.
Level: Intermediate, with no designated launch area, so use common sense around other beach users.

Where to Stay

→ Hunstanton town is the practical base, a short drive or bus ride from Old Hunstanton itself.

Budget

Seafront caravan parks and self catering cottages
Several holiday cottage agencies, including HolidayCottages.co.uk, Cottages.com, and Toad Hall Cottages, list properties around Hunstanton for a simple self catering base.

Mid-Range

The Neptune
An 18th century coaching inn on the High Street with guestrooms above a well regarded restaurant, a comfortable base right in town.

Luxury

Titchwell Manor Hotel
A boutique hotel a short drive along the coast in Titchwell, a good option if you want a nicer room without leaving the area.

Food and Drink

Fish and Chips: Henry's of Hunstanton and Fishers of Hunstanton
→ Two long running chip shops in town, both regularly mentioned together as the local favorites.
Waterfront Food: Waterside Bar
→ A waterfront bar serving food all day, a convenient stop before or after a session.

Photographing Old Hunstanton

A kite lit up orange against a sunset over The Wash is not a shot you get on England's east facing coasts, and it is worth more than a blurry phone photo from the car park. If you shoot a session here, consider uploading it to Surf Snaps so the rider can find their session later by sport, place, and date. If you were the one riding, browse Surf Snaps to see if your Old Hunstanton session was caught on camera, and check out the kitesurfing photography tips on the blog if you want to start shooting your own sessions.

FAQ: Kitesurfing Old Hunstanton, Norfolk

Why does Old Hunstanton face the sunset?

The Norfolk coast bends here to look west into The Wash, which is unusual for England's east coast and gives Old Hunstanton proper sunset sessions instead of sunrise ones.

Is Old Hunstanton good for beginners?

Yes, at most tide states, since the water is mostly flat with sandbanks exposed at low tide. The main hazards to learn are the cliff updrafts at high tide and the mid tide stakes.

What wind direction works at Old Hunstanton?

Southwest round through west to north, which is a wider working range than most UK coastal kite spots offer.

Are there hazards to know about at Old Hunstanton?

Yes. Stay clear of the cliffs at high tide because of updrafts, watch for wooden stakes that appear from mid tide, and avoid the lifeboat launch access point when setting up or packing down.

Where can I find photos of my Old Hunstanton session?

Search Surf Snaps by sport, place, and date on the explore page to see if a photographer caught your session on The Wash.