Burgh Castle- Breydon Water- Gt Yarmouth 290710 Ref Tg481051

Today a wonderful experience a wonderful walk.

My thanks and acknowledgement to Norfolk County Council for their "Norfolk Health and Biodiversity Walks. Walks in and around Great Yarmouth." A great little publication which with it's bus information lead me to this walk today.

Breydon Water has been a special, almost magical place for me in my 36 years in Norfolk. A little mysterious, looking fabulous in sunset, totally tidal so changing throughout the day. My dream house would have a view overlooking Breydon water.
But to the start. Long term parking just off Northgate Street at £3.50 for over 4 hours and then a 10 minute walk to the Market Gates Bus Station. A number 5 bus for £2.20 took me to the Queens Head at Burgh Castle. I felt I had been dropped off in some strange land, strange because I had never been near this part of Norfolk ever.
Turning back up the road with the pub on my right I walked to the church, a gem in its own right. From here the Roman Fort is clearly signposted across fields. You will not be disappointed by the massive walls and the view the marshes of the Rivers Yare and Waveney. Opposite is the Berney Arms Pub with the towering and dominating black "Berney Arms Drainage Mill" that you can see for miles as you walk in this special river and marsh world.
From the fort step down towards the water and take a path to your right 50 yards form the water. This will soon lead you to another path marked the "Angles Way" back towards the waters edge from here you can walk all the way into Great Yarmouth beside the water. The path is in excellent condition and much more enjoyable that the northern side of Breydon Water which is made up of large bricks with holes in. Demanding on my feet!
The views today included dramatic skies over this big stretch of water, lush green marshland, horses, cows and a family of Mum and Dada Swan with at least 6 cygnets.

Wheatacre Marshes 180710 Map RefOL40-482939

Today I decide to explore some footpaths by Wheatacre Marshes, off the A143, Beccles to Yarmouth road near Haddiscoe.
I parked at the start of a track at grid ref OL40-482939 and walked North East to come to a marked footpath running North West to South East. Footpath was clearly marked with a marker post on my left. This is where the fun started as the path was the most overgrown path I have encountered for some time. Brambles, Ferns and Nettles as tall as me and I'm not short! Had the path not been so clearly marked I would have quite doubted its existence. But persevering I eventually passed a dairy farm and onto Low Common Lane, a bridleway clearly marked.
Walking North I was hoping to meet the footpath taking you across Wheatacre Marshes by "Landspring Dyke" to the river Waveney at Somerleyton by the Somerleyton railway swing bridge. But alas my route was blocked by a "Private Road" sign. Ah well, such is life!
Stuart

Sizewell to Thorpeness 010710

A revisit of this lovely coastal walk. Park at Sizewell car park, £1 for 2+ hours.
There is an excellent Beach Cafe where you can enjoy homemade cake or Sausage and Chips. Its been run for some time by an excellent chap, always smiling with friendly, helpful staff. There are also public loos here too.
Turn south up to the black coastguard cottages where the path starts. This takes you along the top of the cliffs with good views in places. Look back to see Southwold and it's gleaming white lighthouse. Part of the path has been lost to erosion and we all hope that access to this wonderful coastline will remain open.
By a Christian activity centre the path dips down to the shoreline which hosts a rather amazing display of beach growing plants.
Further along there is a steep gully back up to the top of the cliffs. If you miss it you can still carry on along the shore to Thorpeness.
Taking the gully back to the top  of the cliffs takes you onto a piece of grassy common. Continue southwards to Thorpeness and you look to your right. You will see the "House in the Clouds" appear. I think this is such a great and wacky local landmark.
As you walk into Thorpeness you can enjoy all the different architecture which I love. Very English and very quirky!
By the Mere there are tearooms. Coffee and cake are just so important to walkers. They can enhance a very good walk into a walk of utter delight, to be relished in our memories as we relive the experience in our minds.

There is a route that takes you back over the common to Sizewell whose huge building structure means you will never be lost around here. Some of the tracks on this route past the golf course are dry, hard gravel and you may prefer to return to Sizewell back the way you came along the seashore and cliffs.. After all the views are great.
Stuart

Big C Walk of Thoughts Somerleyton 270610

A charity walk today for Big C. The walk of Thoughts is held each year , starting at Fritton House it takes you around 6 miles of the Somerleyton Estate. This includes some formal gardens, the lake, woodland and open fields.
It is a time to reflect on friends and family lost to cancer, those fighting it and those who have had successful treatment. It is something that touches most of us and this for me is a rather wonderful way to think about all those people close to me and to see all the other people walking on this lovely sunny day for their friends and family,.Thank you Big C for organizing another lovely day.
Stuart

Coltishal -Health Walk-260610-3 Miles

A health walk today starting from the Coltishall village hall car park in Rectory Road. Turn right out of the car park and then a left through Coltishall until turning left into a wide path, past a converted chapel, looked good, and onto a path overhung by trees. joining a road we eventually climbed a good few steps to take us onto the track of the Bure Valley Railway.

 This takes you under two beautiful red brick bridges and eventually to Coltishall Station where the stations buildings are now a Bed and Breakfast. Leave the railway here and a right turn at the end of the drive takes you back along the road to the Coltishall Island and the bridge. Cross a busy road and enjoy a wonderful walk along the gently flowing river. You can cross over the river by the sluice and return through a woodland path to the Coltishall Island and back to Rectory lane.

A very lovely walk and my thanks to Ray our leader today and very genial host!

Barsham 200610 Map231 395895

Can you spot Mr Fox on the 6th picture down?
My walk today started at Barsham village hall on the Beccles to Bungay road, well marked by the red telephone box. Parking in lay by.
My first error  was misreading the church on the map to be the one at Shipmeadow. Footpaths went in a similar direction but crossing a road that did not exist on the map showed something was wrong! He Ho!Unfortunatley it did not take long to walk myself off the map, but fortunately my compass helped me get back to the direction I needed. thank you Sylva!
Walking south for the B1062 took me uphill along Sandy lane which was like Rabbit Hilton. Much jumping down holes.
Then south still, through a cornfield with a path well marked by the farmer, thank you so  much! Through City Farm where I missed the path to, my right but got through without challenge along  a wide farm track to Ringsfield Church and Old Hall Farm.
Turning to my right to travel South West along a bridleway is where I encountered Mr and Mrs Fox who poked their noses up, had a look at me and wandered off. Obviously not impressed with me!
After about 3/4 of a mile the bridleway took me to a lane where a turn northwards, although not on my map would I knew take me back in the right direction. Electric Pylons some say are a blight but to a walker they are a great map referencing point and today helped to guide me back onto the southern edge of my map!
Walking North to a bend took me to a footpath on my left, West, which I duly followed. At the pylon the map shows the path as straight on, that's the map I didn't have! But a full field of peas and no sign of  a path made me doubt so a turn right following the field edge and then through a hedge across a ditch took me to a track past a bungalow to the road again. Phew but then such a challenge in a walk does give you a lot of satisfaction when you can find a way through.
Northwards along a lane to Boundary farm and a footpath to my left, West, took me North with some good views and back to the Beccles - Bungay road. I crossed and trekked along the verge eastwards until another footpath took me away from the road and through fields of corn. Again a well marked path, thank you Mr Farmer. This then takes you after 800 metres to a track running south to take you back to the lay-by.
This walk took me 2 & 1/2 hours and although I got a bit lost I really enjoyed myself.
Stuart