Monday, April 25, 2011
Reepham; walkers paradise?
Hello again. Mrs O.B. and I have been exploring the paths around Reepham during this Easter period. Nice place Reepham, and not least because it is off the beaten track. There's almost everything that you could wish for in the town including a choice of pubs and churches.
Reepham residents are well served with paths and tracks, most of which appear to be well used and are adequately signed. In addition the former railway line, now the Marriotts Way offers level walking for those who don't like getting lost.
We just picked some routes from OS Explorer Map 238. You might find the Norfolk Countryside Access Map at http://www.countrysideaccessmap.norfolk.gov.uk useful too.
Walk 1
We parked the motor on the verge in Whitwell (MR091216). Under the railway bridge we took Back Lane and Broomhill Lane to Hackford Vale, crossed the B1145 to follow Catchback Lane. Under the railway again to join a FP on the right, which led off across meadows (could be wet) to an intersection of paths south of Crowden (MR094245). Very unusual stiles on this path (see above). As I said to Mrs O.B. "I've never seen anything like them in my life." But you might say that I should get out more.
The next section is a bit tricky. Follow the field edge going north and enter woodland just west of Crowden. At the other end of the wood the FP heads for Kerdy Green, but there was no sign of a path on the ground and in the end I had to help Mrs O.B. over an electric fence. However, there is a waysign at Kerdy Green pointing back, so the reverse route should be a doddle.
From Kerdy Green we took a track west, then SW, crossing the Kerdiston Road. Near Carr's Farm (MR075245) we took an ancient track, which eventually linked up with Marriotts Way at the former level crossing on Kerdiston Road. About 20 early purple orchids growing in the bank lifted the spirits and a group of noisy off roaders dampened them again.
Full steam along the old railway track brought us back to the starting place near Whitwell station, where the sounds of hissing steam from a saddletank locomotive and clinking tea cups from the waiting room cafe were music, of a sort, for our ears.
Next walk in another post.
Old Boots
Old Boots is back
Old Boots
Monday, August 28, 2006
Marsham Circular Walk (Norfolk County Council)
The section on the B1145 from MR 164250 to MR 166252 was a nightmare. There's an overgrown, narrow, footpath here, which can be used as a refuge from passing vehicles, but it's not possible to walk along it. This section is DANGEROUS. I suggest the following alternative route, which uses concessionary paths (I think):
From MR165249, turn sharp ESE to MR169247 then NNE to Frog Hall.
Parts of Spa Lane are flanked by ancient oaks, which serve as a memorial to their fellows which have been felled, long since, in the service of agricultural progress. There is rural tranquility and wanton insensitivity to be found in Spa Lane, with an unsightly heap of defunct Portaloos shortly before a turn to the S leads to The Mermaid. This cross field path was unpleasant going today, because the farmer had given the field a dressing of rotting onions. Fortunately The Mermaid was at hand for the dog to have a bath.
I had intended to leave the route at MR 188245 and take the FP to Cambridge, but the cross field section of this path was obstructed by a crop of dwarf beans, so I followed the field edge to rejoin this path, which makes its way through various paddocks and gardens, eventually to emerge onto the road.
In summary: good in part, but could be better.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Hethel 3 miles
Yesterday the dog and I walked some of the paths around Hethel, Norfolk (TG172004) using the OS Explorer 237,
I parked on the green beneath splendid trees at Bond’s Green. Promising myself that I would return to investigate the church another day, I took the FP north leaving Church Plantation and big pond to my right. A sharp turn to the left lead me past a fine display of cowslips and primroses to Cranes Road, having taken a turn to the left in a thicket to reach the road.
Turning north on the road for a few yards I turned to the left passing Moat House, which appeared to have a multiplicity of moats. A left turn off the track passed some farm buildings of clay lump construction. This path followed yet another moat and crossing a stile turns right through small meadows, which were occupied by one black and two white cows, which may have been
The Hethel Thorn, although unimpressive to my eyes, is reported, according to the information board, to be of historical, social, artistic and biological interest. I leave you to judge.
Crossing a further meadow, under the observant gaze of the second white cow, I rejoined the road at a dog resisting stile. Following the unmade road past the delightfully unimproved Church Farm and making a right turn near to yet another moat shown on the map, the path leads through a long narrow meadow, but a turn to the left after only a few yards leads to a rough path to the
The unmarked path then led on through the crop to cross a low bridge and, forging a path through a dense crop of rape, dog and I reached the
Old Boots
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Discover the Heart of the Broads
Home - National Trails
Sunday, May 08, 2005
Public Rights of Way in North Tuddenham. Surveyed between summer 2004 and spring 2005.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
5km around Binham, North Norfolk on "Conservation" paths. The map can be found on the DEFRA website as "Manor Farm near Wells-Next-The-Sea. (See comments for a description of the route)
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Conservation paths at Binham, Norfolk
Dear DEFRA,
Yesterday I walked around Binham,
Adrian Hodge
