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More than 180 basset hounds invade Norfolk beach

Essex Basset Waddles A white and brown dog wearing a black and red harness playing in the sea Essex Basset Waddles
About 184 basset hounds were counted at the event organised by Tracyann and Matthew Wright

More than 184 basset hounds invaded a county's beach as part of an annual walking event.

The fifth annual Basset Hound Beach Invasion started at Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, before owners and their dogs walked across the beach to Holkham.

Last year 89 dogs joined the event from across the United Kingdom, including Oxfordshire, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Surrey, Essex, Kent, Suffolk and Norfolk.

Tracyann Wright, from Essex Basset Waddles and the event's organiser, said: "We are aiming for over 200 hounds next year!"

Tracyann & Matthew Wright A white dog with brown ears wearing a pink harness Tracyann & Matthew Wright
Alongside the main event in Wells-next-the-Sea, three smaller walks were held at Sandringham, Heacham and Brancaster

Tracyann Wright and her husband Matthew led the walk with their three hounds Boomer, Moose and Moleskin.

"On Saturday we counted 184 basset hounds from as far afield as Scotland, Wales, Teeside, Nottingham, Oxfordshire, Herefordshire, Kent, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk counties, and a few more besides," they said.

The event is now in its fifth year and the couple said when they first started their own dogs led the group from the front, yet "as the years have gone on, they lead from somewhere in the middle".

Tracyann Wright & Matthew Wright A white dog with brown ears walking on sand on a beach with long ears and its tongue stuck outTracyann Wright & Matthew Wright
In 2023 when the event was last held 89 basset hounds attended

Three smaller walks were held across the weekend with pooches gathering in Sandringham and Heacham on Friday and at Brancaster on Sunday.

While about 200 to 300 people and 184 basset hounds joined the event on Saturday, the couple hoped to get even more dogs together next year.

Tracyann & Matthew Wright Two white and brown basset hounds with a white, brown and black basset hound on a sandy beachTracyann & Matthew Wright
On Saturday pooches gathered from across the United Kingdom including from Scotland and Wales
Tracyann & Matthew Wright White and brown dog with long brown ears wearing a black and red harness, running in the sea with its tongue stuck outTracyann & Matthew Wright
The walk was organised by couple Tracyann and Matthew Wright who led the group with their three hounds Boomer, Moose and Moleskin
Tracyann & Matthew Wright A white dog with brown ears and a bell around its neck running across sand on a beach with its tongue stuck outTracyann & Matthew Wright
The annual beach invasion event took place for its fifth year
Tracyann & Matthew Wright Large group of people and their dogs gathered outside a building and around blue picnic tablesTracyann & Matthew Wright
About 200 to 300 people and their dogs joined the event in Wells-next-the-Sea on Saturday

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