Winterton to Horsey Gap-21 08 09-5 Hours-198499

Winterton to Horsey Gap, Horsey windmill, Martham Broad, West Somerton and return to Winterton.
Parked on car park, £3, nice bloke, at sea front. As you go through Winterton at the North end look for the church and follow the lane west to the sea.
Cafe and toilets as well. Bonus!
8.8 Miles
Walk north from Winterton, there is a track marked on ordanace Survey but the best but slower route is along the top of the big bank which divides the sea from Broadland. As I stride, slip and slide, along this special path I am looking at the great expanse of sea and wonderful white sand on my right. On my left are the rich pastures of Broadland, virtually on the same level as the sea. All that seperates them is this sandy hill with lots of grass. To me it's amazing.
Continued along till Horsey Gap then turn inland . At the bend in teh road you arrive at turn right and then take path on left to Horsey Church. Wonderfukl tahtched building. Then a permitted footpath along a field that follows the road takes you to Horsey Mill. Tea and Toilets, seats and a view.
The next stage does involve walking south along a busy road with no footpath so take care. Get to a tiny bridge that crosses "Hundred Stream" drain. Here you can turn right off the road a nd follow path. You will see West Somerton Drainage Mill ahead and to your left marking the route you will follow to Martham Broad and West Somerton.
Turn right and follow road to next fooitpath on a bend. A series of paths and concrete private road with footpath acces will then take you atround East Somerton and on to Winterton where you can have a nice cup of tea in the cafe.
Stuart

Yelverton Norfolk-140809- TG293022-2.5 miles-7/10

A Health Walk from Yelverton , Norfolk. Footpaths alongside fields with good views and through wood with enclosed tree tunnel .Most enjoyable. 50 minutes.
Stuart

Dunwich beach and forest-Circular Walk-1.5 hours- 9/10

Approx 4 Miles

Park on car park on Dunwich Beach, not Dunwich Heath

Walk back through Dunwich to the church.

At this junction there is a signposted bridle path, follow this.

Pass cottages on your left and you will then come to a house on your right. At a signposted footpath by the house turn right. This takes you around the garden of the house then across boggy ground over railway sleepers. I like this part.

After the railway sleepers you cross a little bridge and are in the forest. Walk on for 100 yards and turn left onto a path through the trees. Not up the hill ahead.

Follow the path through the trees and enjoy the forest.

You will come to a stone bridleway /path at right angles to your forest path. Turn right going uphill. Continue along this path and eventually it will turn around to your left around a group of trees or just beforehand you can turn left through a well defined tree tunnel. As you come out of the trees turn left along the path.

Follow path, down and up and eventually you will come to a wooden seat with a path signposted left across a small valley. Take this left turn path.

Follow path down track and across side of a field until you come through a small wooden gate with a map signpost.

Path then is either turn left or straight on. Go straight on and continue until you come to another broad stone path at right angles. Turn left here.

Follow path for 100 yards until you come to another map board and take the path to the right through trees.

You will pass by a cottage in the woods and eventually come to the other end of the bridal path where you started your walk by the church.The path is signposted. Take this path to return down the bridleway to Dunwich church.

If by the church you turn left you can walk 200 yds to a little plant nursery with a wonderful tea broom with homemade cake. You will not be disappointed!

Hope Im not telling you to suck eggs but whenever I go near a forest I always take a compass. Otherwise the terrain can be very confusing.

If you do this walk I hope my instructions are ok and don’t get you lost!!

Afterwards you can always pop over to Southwold and sample a few pints of Adnams brewed in the town.

Stuart

Thurne to Repps 100408-2 Hours-Ref 403158-7/10

Thursday 10^th April 2008. Approx 3.6 Miles

Thurne , Norfolk. Situated on the river Thurne, near Potter Heigham

Map Reference 403158

Thurne to Repps and return

2 Hours approx

Great walk 7/10

Going, flat but very uneven, walking pole recommended

Started at Thurne where parked car.

Very picturesque dyke with 3 windmills on view, Glorious views across the countryside.

Start with dyke on your left and follow path round to your left along the river bank.

Walk along the river beside reed beds. Old brick built water mills... Boats and sailing boats, Past Womack water which leads to Ludham. “Toad Hall” is at this junction.

Onto Repps where the picnic site provides a marvellous seat by the river with views left and right. Some very interesting riverside huts and houses, some very palatial!

Turn right along a lane, past hall Farm to a signed footpath crossing the road. Turn right over fields towards a wood.

Cross bridge over dyke into woods, follow path, ignore the next bridge and continue.

Saw several pheasants and a Deer in the distance, Monk Jack I think.

Smelly piggys!

Followed path to crossing of tracks, turn right onto bridleway, walk past cottages, lovely pond, to third cottage where footpath goes off to the right taking you round their garden. Then follow footpath across fields to get you back to Thurne.

And Lion Pub.

Pub looks a little in need but landlord and staff give an excellent welcome and make you feel at home. I will return,

Stuart

10^th April 2008-04-10

Whitlingham to Bramerton Woods End 190508-8 Miles-3 Hours-8/10

A walk to the River

19 05 08

Whitlingham Park to Bramerton Woos End and return via Whitlingham Marshes.

252077 8 miles 3 Hours

Parked at Whitlingham Park and followed the lane eastwards. Enjoyed a new wood bark path through the woods, gloriously dappled green in the sun and saw a mole frolicking in the fresh bark of the path.

Underneath the by pass and past Whitlingham Barn turn lefty through the sewage works. Different smell but not obnoxious. An industrial landscape dominated by plant and machines but the people I met on the way did smile bringing some humanity to this concrete worlds

Turn left after leaving the works and then right up a hill clearly signposted. At the top look back for sweeping views across the southern by-pass towards the edge of Norwich.

Fir trees producing new fir cones blossoming, looking like Christmas trees with white candles.

Continue on with good views to a lane where a left turn along a leafy lane takes you to the Bramerton Woods End Pub by the river Yare. A very popular spot. Sue and Martin the licensees will look after you well.

Retrace my steps then after going through the underpass turn right into Whitlingham Marshes. 276678

This takes you along the river Yare to the Postwick Viaduct. Riverside views, an explosion of buttercups, a tree bent at right angles where it was broken with new shoots growing out, a yellow fungi growing on the side of a tree which was twelve inches high, a mole in the grass and the cathedral like structure beneath the Postwich k Viaduct.

The return alongside the southern by pass is noisy and not pleasant but the first half makes the journey worthwhile

Returned to Whitlingham Park where two parents were looking after their family of sis baby geese. Ah!

Walking back with a view along the Great Broad towards the sailing school with its stretched white structure looking like a bird of prey.

A good days walking. 8/10

Reedham Norfolk 150508

Reedham Approx 3.4 M

Wednesday 15 05 08 Ref 422017

Parked at Reedham Quay (Free). Walked along the quay with the River Yare on my right towards the wonderful railway swing bridge.

Follow the road as it bears left uphill by the pub ad at the school turn right into

Holly Farm Road

.

Enjoy wonderful views across the Swing Bridge and marshes. You are looking south over Norton Marshes towards the very slight hill in the distance of Norton Subcourse and Thurlton.

Follow the lane to see glimpses of the Yare travelling North East ahead of you.

The lane bends sharp left leaving the clearly signposted Wherryman's Way to your right. Climb up onto the bank of the Wherryman way to see the three drainage mills, one wit sails, the North, Polkey's and Cadges drainage mills. Marking the path of the Wherrymans way as it follows the river Yare to the Berney Arms and on to Great Yarmouth.

Down form the bank, bear left round the bend along delightful lane whose hedgerows are bursting with new growth... Just before the level crossing turn left along a marked footpath. There are two paths parallel to each other, take the path on the left. Enjoy a shaded walk with views on your right across the marshes towards Fritton and St Olaves.

When you come to the road turn right, go past the school and then left down the hill to return to the quay.

Follow the road along the quay with the river on your left, past the war memorial and you come to some steps leading down to a path that takes you to the river bank.

Follow the river bank with views across Morton Marshes to the Ferry Inn with its chain link Ferry offering a shortcut to Beccles, Bungay or Lowestoft.

The Wherryman’s Way continues past the pub on the same bank to the junction of the River Chet which goes into Loddon and is marked by a stone cross. At the time of walking I was unable to go this far due to flood protection work blocking the path. At the closure fence you can see directly ahead Norton drainage Mill which marks the junction with the river Chet.

Returning past the Ferry Inn take the road for views across the marshes s towards Cantley and the dominating sugar beet factory. With the derelict Limpenhoe drainage mill marking the course of the river Yare.

At the station stop at the Garage Café, open all day, just ring the bell for home made cakes, very, very good and a proper pot of tea to refresh you.

From the café turn right past the now redeveloped “Railway” Pub for a view down to your left of a still functioning signal box full of shining metal levers and I’m sure a lot of history.

Turn right at the junction and at the end of the road take the path at the edge of the field. At the road turn right then left by the war memorials to return to the Quay. The memorial reminding you of the people form this small community who lost their lives in the two world wars and makes you pause to think how that must have affected all those living here.

Return to the quay and another wonderful view of the swing bridge set on this river by open marshes.

Holkham to Burnham Overy- 210508- 7/10-4miles

Holkham to Burnham Overy

Wednesday 21^st may 08 - 4 Miles - Ref 892440 -7/10

From the Victoria Hotel go north along Lady Ann’s drive to the beach.

Walking west along the dunes the path is not the easiest to follow, fairly uneven and you need a stick!

But all this is more than made up for by the glorious views of Holkham Bay. An enormous stretch of sand as far as the eye can see, flat to the sea. When I walked there were perhaps eight other people in view, but they were perhaps just specs, so vast is this beach. You will not forget the view!

Following on as you come to the end of the trees on your left the “path” continues along the beach. Glorious but hard work on the legs. I am glad I am a Nordic walker and had my sticks to assist in my propulsion. The wind blew the sand along by my feet as I followed the path indicated by the footprints of a party of walkers I had seen walking the opposite way earlier. A bit of Robinson Crusoe in Norfolk.

Turn left inshore at a gap marked by a footpath post to the top of the dunes, gets you puffing and then down to see Burnham Overy and Burnham Overy Mill clearly showing with its white sails.

The path gives good views across the marshes back towards Holkham and great views back seawards over the creeks, marshes and dunes.

You will find yourself greeting and being surrounded by bird watchers with their binoculars or large portable telescopes as this is a Twitcher’s paradise.

The path continues for nearly a mile to take you to the quay at Burnham Overy. The path is well made but the pebbles will make your feet ache!

So a fabulous walk for the views but not so good on the feet and legs! 7/10

Stuart

Shotesham Norfolk 070809 8/10

Shotesham Norfolk 070809 Ref TM 247990- 8/10 -7 Miles -4 Hours incl. 20 mins for lunch.

A really great walk amongst rolling countryside, great views, very little road walking, 4 churches including one magical ruin in a wood. Muddy in parts, one steepish drop from one path to another. One of my best days out.
Taken from "Norfolk Walks" Pathfinder Series by Jarrold. No. 16
Stuart