walk norfolk

Reepham; walkers paradise?

2011-04-25T15:53:00.004+01:00

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

2011-04-25T15:47:00.002+01:00

Just don't ask where I've been for for so long. One day I'll tell you about Mrs O.B. and my walking adventures in Australia and Switzerland, but now we are back on our home turf. We've both got new walking boots and we're ready to hit the trail.

Old Boots

2006-08-28T17:58:00.000+01:00

Colourful ling and gorse on Marsham Heath

2006-08-28T17:56:00.000+01:00

Track to Marsham Heath

Marsham Circular Walk (Norfolk County Council)

2006-08-28T17:37:00.000+01:00

I walked this route today; well most of it, though I cut off one section and got lost in another. The highlight is Marsham Heath, which today was a riot of yellow gorse and purple ling. (I'll put a photo on www.walknorfolk.blogspot.com) I managed to get lost at MR 166237 so spent some time exploring Gully Hill, eventually rejoining the route via Marsh Plantation.
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.

2006-04-24T23:06:00.000+01:00

No attempt to keep this path clear

2006-04-24T23:02:00.000+01:00

Here's the route of my Hethel walk

Hethel 3 miles

2006-04-24T22:52:00.000+01:00

Yesterday the dog and I walked some of the paths around Hethel, Norfolk (TG172004) using the OS Explorer 237, Norwich map. This was mostly a pleasant experience, spoiled only by half a mile on the B1135 and an obstructed path at TM165998.

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 English Park cattle, but I’m no cow expert. However, they and I kept our eyes on each other as I crossed there home to visit the “Hethel Thorn”.

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 Wymondham Road. I found this path difficult going between a wire fence and a scrubby hedge, so I took a parallel course in the adjacent grassy field. With traffic on the road in sight I came to a barbed wire fence, ditch and a further rabbit wire fence. As I was trying to negotiate these obstacles, the helpful farmer showed me a better route where he had placed some straw bales to form a temporary stile, which I crossed, clutching the, by now wet and dirty, dog in my arms.

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 Wymondham Road and turned left. After half a mile and just before the road junction, we turned left to cross the unimpressive Hethel Bridge. Over a stile to the left a FP brought us back to Bond’s Green.

Old Boots

Discover the Heart of the Broads

2005-07-26T19:17:00.000+01:00

Discover the Heart of the Broads follow this link to the Wherryman's Way website. This is the new path from Norwich to Gt Yarmouth and the site is not easy to find by searching Google.

Home - National Trails

2005-07-26T19:14:00.000+01:00

Home - National TrailsFollow this link to the National Trails website

2005-05-08T19:06:00.000+01:00

Public Rights of Way in North Tuddenham. Surveyed between summer 2004 and spring 2005.

2005-05-04T11:06:00.000+01:00

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)

Conservation paths at Binham, Norfolk

2005-05-03T21:35:00.000+01:00

Dear DEFRA,

Yesterday I walked around Binham, Norfolk and used the path maps, which are posted at various sites near the village. In part the route was difficult to follow, so today I visited the DEFRA website to review the route, but I was unable to find any reference to Binham. Are the maps for Binham published on the web? Are there other “conservation walks” in Norfolk which are not published? How can we view these maps?

Adrian Hodge

2005-05-02T22:18:00.000+01:00

Baconsthorpe 5.5 mile walk. Route shown in magenta. Diversion from previously published route is yellow. DEFRA "conservation walk" green.Location: 4 miles east of HOLT, Norfolk.

Baconsthorpe conservation walk

2005-05-02T20:54:00.000+01:00

See the DEFRA site for an alternative route near Baconsthorpe Castle

Walk Norfolk meeting place

2005-04-29T18:10:00.000+01:00

Walk Norfolk meeting place Vist "Walk Norfolk" for various links including OS Get a Map.

Baconsthorpe 5.5 miles

2005-04-29T18:00:00.000+01:00

This walk, which is the first in Joy and Charles Boldero’s “Circular Walks in Norfolk” has suffered a minor path realignment since they published the book several years ago. One section has been diverted around the field edge and is clearly marked with NCC discs, but the footpath map on display in Hempstead continues to show the old route. Which is correct?

However, this remains a very pleasant walk through quiet lanes and paths with the added interest of Baconsthorpe Castle, wild fowl on the lake at Bodham and wild flowers beside the path between Bodham and Hempstead. I walked this route in late April 2005 and found no obstructions.

Park: At the free car park at Baconsthorpe Castle (TG122383)

Start: Turn right out of the car park and follow the track between farm buildings to leave the castle and moat on your right. Follow the track through a field with horses and down to a stream. Then through a gate to join a gently rising track, which takes you to a minor road. Turn Left. Look at the houses that you pass. Although much altered, close inspection reveals their early origins; possibly 17^th century.

Continue past a swampy woodland area on your left, bright with marsh marigolds in spring. In Lower Bodham turn left and left again at 106395. To your left is an artificial lake. (tufted duck April 05). Where the road bends right go straight ahead on footpath. You enter an area of managed coppiced woodland, where the ground was carpeted with celandine and a generous crop of bluebells was on the point of flowering.

Here the path deviates from the previously published route.

Turn sharp left (108379) and follow the path marked with yellow discs. Turn sharp right (110378) leaving the parish circular route and following the field edge to a minor road. Turn right and follow the field edge to a waysign pointing across the road and the path to Hempstead, where you arrive between cottages.

Turn left and follow the road through the village taking a few moments to visit the partly thatched church.

Take Chapel Lane and after 100 yards turn right at FP sign. The path follows the field edge and emerges onto a minor road where you turn left.

As the road starts to climb turn left onto an unsurfaced track and almost immediately right. Climb the ladder(!) and set off across a large field. The route was well marked by previous walkers, but if it is unclear, keep to the right of the water tower to join a minor road (115366). This road leads you to Baconsthorpe. Take the first turning to left and soon left again. As you head for the Hare and Hounds PH look at the gable wall of the house on your right, where you can see remnants of an earlier roofline. And look out for the brick mullion window in the east wall of the large farm building on your left, which probably dates from Tudor times.

At the Hare and Hounds turn right pass a pig farm with a barking dog and take a potholed and, in part, muddy track which leads you back to the start.

Walking for Health

2005-03-27T17:46:00.000+01:00

The Walking for Health scheme has been launched in the Dereham and Swaffham area and Old Boots wishes Michael and his team every success. Come on everyone, the good weather is here, so get your walking shoes on and get out there.

2004-07-23T15:11:00.000+01:00

North Tuddenham FP10 (TG056137 to 065144) North east section.

Defra, UK - Conservation Walks and Rides

2004-07-22T17:04:00.000+01:00

Defra, UK - Conservation Walks and Rides