Hi! I’m Warren Driscoll. I love to visit fun places. For seven years, I’ve stayed in big, fancy houses in Ibiza and Saint-Tropez. I’ve also been to cozy cabins in the French Alps. Since 2018, I’ve gone to Pinewoods Holiday Park in Wells-next-the-Sea on the Norfolk Coast in England. I share my true stories and easy tips to help you have a great beach trip. I use my own photos to show you what it’s like. This guide tells you all about Pinewoods and the Norfolk Coast in very, very easy words so everyone can understand.
Why Pinewoods Is So Nice
Pinewoods Holiday Park is a quiet place by Wells Beach. It’s part of a big area called the Holkham Estate with pretty trees and sand. The park has nice caravans, fancy cabins, and spots for tents or big vans. It’s not loud or full of people like some beach places. It’s calm and near nature. It’s great for families, couples, or anyone who likes the beach.
The park has been open for a long time, over 60 years. People like it because it’s clean and nice. It has a 5-star rating from a group called VisitEngland, which means it’s really good. It also has a special award for helping the planet. They use sun power for showers and save water. I’ve gone to Pinewoods many times since 2018. I see they keep it clean and care about nature.
What’s at Pinewoods
Places to Stay
Pinewoods has different places to sleep. Here are your choices:
- Caravans: These are nice homes with soft beds. Most are new, only a few years old. You can pick simple or fancy ones. They hold up to six people. Many have sunny decks to sit on.
- Fancy Cabins: These started in 2019. They’re big with nice decks. You can see a lake or trees. They hold up to seven people, good for families or friends.
- Camping Spots: This area is called Spoonbill Drift. It has 116 spots for tents or big vans. You get power and a hard spot to park. It’s okay for dogs, but some say the showers don’t run long.
- Beach Huts: These are colorful huts by Wells Beach. You can rent them for a day to keep things or rest by the sea.
I stayed in a fancy cabin in 2023. It was warm and big. It had big windows for light. I liked sitting on the deck with my drink, watching birds. It’s not as fancy as houses in Ibiza, but it’s cozy and great for a beach trip.
Where Pinewoods Is
Pinewoods is very close to Wells Beach. You can walk there in five minutes. Behind the park is a big place called Holkham National Nature Reserve. It has sand hills, wet land, and trees. You can walk to Wells town in 15 minutes or ride a fun tiny train. Wells town has a cute quay with boats and small shops. A path called the Norfolk Coast Path is nearby for walks to places like Holkham village.
I love where Pinewoods is. It’s quiet but near fun things. I walk to the beach in the morning. The sand is wide, and the sky is big. It’s not like busy beaches in Saint-Tropez. The nature reserve has paths where I see tiny deer and birds like oystercatchers.
Things at the Park
Pinewoods has simple but good stuff. There’s a small shop with snacks, drinks, and local treats like Norfolk juice. It’s not a big store, so you might shop in Wells town. There’s a place to wash clothes, a playground for kids, and a tiny train to Wells. There’s no restaurant, but a café by the beach and food trucks at night have yummy food.
Some say the showers in the camping area are old or don’t run long. When I stayed, I had a small shower problem in my cabin. The staff fixed it fast. They’re kind and want you to be happy. The park has bins to sort trash, which I like because it helps the planet.
Visiting Wells-next-the-Sea
Wells-next-the-Sea is a cute town. It’s a short walk or train ride from Pinewoods. The quay is fun. It has boats and kids catching crabs, called “gillying” here. Staithe Street has little shops with food, clothes, and gifts. There are cozy cafés, too. The Wells Maltings is a cool place with art, plays, and movies.
I like the Albatros. It’s an old boat from 1899 at the quay. It has pancakes and local drinks. I tried it in 2021. If you like fish, the Crab House has fresh crab. It’s yummy. Wells is calm and not too busy, not like bigger towns like Cromer. It’s nice for everyone.
Fun Things to Do Near Pinewoods
Beaches at Wells and Holkham
Wells Beach is super close to Pinewoods. It has soft sand and shallow water. It’s good for swimming or playing. Kids make sandcastles, and some fly kites. The beach huts are colorful and fun. You can walk or drive five minutes to Holkham Beach. It’s huge with lots of sand and no crowds. It’s in movies like Shakespeare in Love. In 2022, I walked from Pinewoods to Holkham at sunset. The sky was pink. It felt like magic.
Nature and Animals
The Holkham National Nature Reserve is behind Pinewoods. It has wet land, sand hills, and trees. It’s great for seeing birds like avocets or marsh harriers. I bring binoculars to watch them. There’s a path to a quiet lake with signs about animals. About 20 minutes away by car, Blakeney Point has lots of grey seals. You can see them on a boat trip from Morston Quay.
Events and Festivals
Wells and the coast have fun events all year. In August 2025, the Maritime Heritage Festival will show boats and have music. The Gone Wild Festival at Holkham Park is in August 2025, too. It’s run by Bear Grylls and has games for families. I went to a music event at Wells Maltings in 2020. It was small and friendly, not like big events elsewhere.
Places to Visit Nearby
- Holkham Hall: It’s a 10-minute drive. This big house has pretty rooms and a big garden. It’s open Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays.
- Binham Priory: It’s a 15-minute drive. This old ruin is from long ago. It’s quiet and good for history fans.
- Norfolk Coast Path: This long path goes by Pinewoods. You can walk a little to Holkham or farther to Cley-next-the-Sea. I’ve walked parts and love the sea and fields.
- Wells to Walsingham Railway: This tiny train is fun for kids and adults. It’s a four-mile ride. I liked it in 2019.
Why Fancy Travelers Like Pinewoods
I’ve stayed in fancy houses and cabins. Pinewoods is special in a different way. It’s not about big pools or shiny things, like places in Macao. It’s about being near nature and feeling calm. The cabins are nice with big rooms, kitchens, and decks. The quiet beach and nature reserve make it feel private. It’s close to Wells town for shops and food, which is a good mix.
The staff are kind. They help fast. In my stays, they fixed small things, like a broken light, right away. It feels like the care in fancy houses, but it’s more friendly. The park helps the planet with electric car chargers and sun power. I like that because I care about nature.
Tips for Visiting Pinewoods
- Book Early: Summer is busy. Book ahead on pinewoods.co.uk. The website is easy. The staff are nice on the phone.
- How to Get There: Pinewoods is an hour from Norwich or King’s Lynn. Use postcode NR23 1DR for your GPS. A bus called Coastliner 36 stops at The Ark Royal. It’s a 19-minute walk.
- What to Bring: Pack beach toys, binoculars for birds, and good shoes for walking. The park shop has snacks. Wells’ Co-op has more food, but it’s not always cheap.
- Dogs: You can bring two dogs. They’re okay in many places and on beaches. I brought my dog in 2022. We loved the paths.
- Best Time to Go: Spring (March-May) or autumn (September-October) is quiet and nice. Summer is fun but full of people.
- Save Money: Pick a cheaper caravan to save money. Renting a beach hut is a cheap way to make beach days fun.
How Pinewoods Is Different
Pinewoods is not like other Norfolk parks, like Caister Holiday Park or Kelling Heath. Caister has games and bars. Kids like it, but it’s loud. Kelling Heath has nice woods but is far from the beach. Pinewoods is great because it’s by the beach, quiet, and near Wells town. It’s good for resting or exploring.
On Tripadvisor, Pinewoods has 627 reviews and a 3/5 rating. People like the beach and clean caravans. Some say camping spots are small or showers are old. I stayed in a cabin and had no shower problems. The park’s nature focus and Holkham Estate link make it special.
Why the Norfolk Coast Is So Nice
The Norfolk Coast is a pretty area from Hunstanton to Cromer. Wells-next-the-Sea is one of its best spots. It’s not busy like Brighton. It has sandy beaches, wet land, and cute villages. Pinewoods feels like part of this nature.
I love how much there is to do. One day, you catch crabs at Wells Quay. The next, you bike the Norfolk Coast Path or visit Holkham Hall’s fancy rooms. The animals, like seals at Blakeney or birds in the reserve, make it exciting. Pinewoods is a great place to stay. It’s close to all this without long trips.
Final Thoughts
Pinewoods Holiday Park is a hidden gem on the Norfolk Coast. It’s a quiet place with nice cabins, a great beach, and nature all around. If you love watching birds, walking on the beach, or visiting Wells’ cute quay, Pinewoods is perfect. My trips since 2018 show why it’s special. It mixes comfort with nature’s beauty.
Disclaimer: This is not a paid or sponsored article. I do not work for Pinewoods or get any money to write this. I only share my own trips and honest thoughts to help others.
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Warren Driscoll writes about luxury travel. He has over seven years of experience. Since 2018, he has stayed in private villas in Ibiza and Saint-Tropez, and chalets in the French Alps. Warren’s stories have been shared by Indvidual Magazine. He writes honest reviews and gives helpful tips to help people plan great holidays. He also shares his own photos and real experiences to make his advice clear and useful.