Miles-long deserted beach you often have to yourself is one of UK's best

The great British weather can really test the meaning of “static caravan”. Our weekend on the Norfolk coast started calmly enough, but a howling hooley came off the North Sea as we bedded down for the night.

We rocked and rolled as the storm roared, making our mobile home a little more mobile than we’d expected. But all held firm and, in truth, it was exciting and dramatic to take little peeks at the tempest outside. Do your worst, thunderbolts and lightning, we’re safe and sound in our cosy temporary home.

It blew itself out by the morning and we woke to find ourselves – mum, dad, two eight-year-olds and the dog – in one of the finest spots in all of England.

A five-minute walk that way, over the dunes, takes you to Horsey beach: a huge, almost deserted stretch of sand that goes on and on for miles in either direction. It makes you understand why the citizens of this island nation are magnetically pulled towards the seaside. Our coast is awe-inspiring in its variety and quirkiness and here is one of the better examples.

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Bobbing up and down in the surf are grey seals, staring with curiosity back at you, and looking like moustachio’d gents in blubbery wetsuits. We could watch them – and the birds and the waves and the girls digging in the sand and dodging the tide – for hours.

We were at Waxham Sands holiday park, a few clicks north of Great Yarmouth, and at the eastern extreme of the fabulous Norfolk Broads, rubbing up along the briny. Lovat Parks has recently taken over a very well-established and well-regarded business here and taken things up a notch, it seems.

Our holiday home was a new, luxurious caravan that wanted for nothing, with three bedrooms, a decent kitchen, two shower rooms and very efficient heating. And a telly and wifi. No wonder some people live on site all year round. They pride themselves on making dogs welcome. There are treats and water bowls here and there and even a doggy shower. Your four-legged pal – sometimes made to feel an inconvenience in lesser establishments – is fussed over and loved. Humans get fewer rubs under the chin, but are looked after nonetheless.

There’s a sort of village green, with a firepit, play area, chairs and tables outside and a covered area in case the weather turns foul (never!).

Food vans arrive nearly every night for takeaway grub if you want to escape the caravan facilities. Escape north, south or west and you’ll stumble across classy pubs and caffs very soon. We had a great meal five minutes away at the characterful Nelson Head pub, surrounded by Horatio memorabilia (the Royal Navy admiral was from these parts). I reckon the fish had been swimming in the North Sea earlier that morning.

We can also recommend Poppylands on Waxham Road with its Second World War theme. In the other direction is the Dunes cafe at Waxham Barn, a magnificent building with an incredible thatched roof. Their food is just as impressive. A little further afield into the Broads, there are classic country pubs and fine dining. And the earthy delights of Great Yarmouth down the road.

After the scoff it’s time to feed the soul again: paddle in the sea, give the dog a run (seal-restrictions allowing) and do some stopping and staring.

And very soon you forget this life

full of care...

Book the holiday

• Lovat Holiday Parks offers a three-night self-catering break in a two-bedroom holiday home (sleeps six) at Waxham Sands Holiday Park in North Norfolk from £330 for dates in September.
• More info at