Norfolk health, heritage and biodiversity walks - Enjoying the Norfolk ...

Norfolk health, heritage 

and biodiversity walks 

Griston 

Road 

Thompson 

Church Road 

Walks in and 

around the 

Watton area 

Norfolk County Council 

at your service

Contents 

Introduction page 2 

Walk 1 Loch Neaton/Church Walk page 6 

Walk 2 Watton Church/Town Green page 10 

Walk 3 Watton/Merton page 14 

Walk 4 Watton/Wayland Wood page 18 

Walks 5 and 6 Ashill Church/ Ashill Panworth page 22 

Walk 7 Caston/Stow Bedon page 28 

Walks 8 and 9 Thompson’s College/Sparrow Hill page 32 

Walk 10 Carbrooke page 40 

Walk 11 Merton Sally’s Walk page 44 

Walk 12 Great/Little Cressingham page 48 

Project information page 52 

Explore further page 53 

Walks locations page 54 

Useful contacts page 55 

1 

Norfolk Walks 

Norfolk County Council – Health • Heritage • Biodiversity

Introduction 

Welcome to a land of enormous skies and open spaces; quiet walks 

and peaceful lanes; rolling farmland and secretive woods and 

enchanting villages which surround the ancient bustling market town of 

Watton; the heart of Wayland. 

Wayland is a place of mystery and legend. It is steeped in history with 

much evidence of its past visible across the area. The name ‘Wayland’ 

dates from the 11th Century and the time of William the Conqueror. It 

is thought to mean the ‘Dark Land’ or ‘Marshy Land’; perhaps a reference 

to the then densely wooded nature of the area. Much of the forest has 

been cleared over the years and the wood used for construction leaving 

the land free for farming. This has left an open landscape studded with small 

patches of woodland which, combined with the gentle undulations of the 

countryside, facilitate the beautiful views that are so typical of the Brecks. 

The parishes of Wayland are full of attractive features, interesting 

architecture, history and wildlife. Like the town, each village has something 

unique to offer as well as many paths and bridleways for walking and riding. 

The Peddars Way National Trail runs through the Wayland area and links 

with the Great Eastern Pingo Trail with its many Ice Age pools. 

The walks in this booklet will help you uncover the beauty and diversity 

of Wayland. 

2 

Why Walk? 

These walks have been carefully selected to encourage exploration of your 

local area on foot, making it easy for you to discover and enjoy the natural 

and man-made heritage of Norfolk. 

Exposure to nature simply makes us feel good. Nature is free therapy with 

no side effects. If there is blue sky, green vegetation and water in a scene, 

we like it even more. Contact with natural surroundings offers a restorative 

environment which allows us to relax, unwind and re-charge our batteries, 

improving our happiness and reducing our stress levels. 

Moderate physical activity such as a regular brisk walk in the fresh air is a 

simple and enjoyable way of keeping fit. To gain maximum benefit, aim 

to walk at a pace where your heart beats a little faster, your breathing 

becomes a little heavier and you feel a little warmer. Regular exercise can 

help to prevent major conditions, such as coronary heart disease, type II 

diabetes, high blood pressure, strokes, obesity, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, 

bowel cancer and back pain. 

Getting around 

For details of public/community transport, contact Traveline on 

0871 200 2233 or visit www.travelineeastanglia.co.uk. 

Walking from Schools 

Some of these walk routes pass close to schools providing ideal 

opportunities for teachers, parents and children to enjoy walking, whether 

this be walking to and from school or after school. The walks could also 

provide the basis for outdoor educational opportunities such as local school 

trips and projects as well as providing an additional and enjoyable form of 

physical activity. 

3

Walk information 

Information about the walks includes details such as the start point, 

distances, path surfaces, gradients and facilities available. The following 

symbols will help you to decide if the walk is suitable: 

Start point The start of the walk with Ordnance Survey grid references 

and Postcode 

Parking Nearest parking; 

not always the same as the walk start point 

Distance Distance of the walk 

Details Gentle gradient, 20% soft 

Steps 

Stile 

Suitable for buggies/ 

wheelchairs... 

Cattle (or other farm 

animals) could be grazing 

in some meadows 

Café nearby 

Public house nearby 

The route could contain muddy/ 

uneven sections and stout shoes 

or boots are recommended 

Toilets 

nearby 

If you have not exercised for a while, it is better to start with the shorter 

routes before moving on to the more challenging walks. 

Tread lightly and safely 

Some of the walks take you through or close to areas designated for 

conserving or protecting vulnerable/rare species and habitats such as 

County Wildlife Sites and nature reserves. Some of the routes also pass 

through areas grazed by cattle, sheep or horses. Please respect the 

surroundings as you walk; stay on the designated footpaths, leave gates as 

you find them and take any litter (including dog litter) home or use bins 

provided. Please take some time to read any advice that is given about the 

area in which you are walking. 

Please note that dogs must be kept under close control on public rights 

of way and must not be allowed to stray from the line of the path. 

Stanford Military Training Area 

The land to the west of Peddars Way, as indicated on the route maps for 

Thompson Sparrow Hill (page 36) and Merton Sally’s Walk (page 47), 

forms part of Stanford Military Training Area. The area is used intensively 

for military training, including live firing, and has been since World War II. 

Due to the risks associated with live firing and the presence of legacy 

munitions on site public access to the training area is strictly prohibited. 

Warning signs are in place to highlight the boundary of the ranges. 

County Wildlife Sites 

• County Wildlife Sites (CWS) are areas rich in wildlife – together with 

Sites of Special Scientific Interest they represent the most important 

habitats in the county. 

• Many of these habitats and their associated species will be priorities 

under the UK and Norfolk Biodiversity Action Plans (BAP). 

These plans set out strategies for conserving our most vulnerable wildlife. 

Visit www.norfolkbiodiversity.org for more information. 

Long Distance Paths 

Some of these walks incorporate sections of 

the Peddars Way National Trail. To find out 

more visit www.nationaltrail.co.uk/peddarsway 

4 5

Walk 

1 

Loch Neaton/ 

Church Walk 

Start point War Memorial (Memorial Way, Watton) 

Grid reference TF917006 • Postcode IP25 6BS 

Parking Free parking on Thetford Road by the War Memorial/ 

various town centre car parks 

Distance 1.8 miles 

Details Minor gradients, 10% soft 

Walk instructions 

Please note that walkers are asked to keep dogs on leads in the 

grounds of Loch Neaton. 

1. Start at the war memorial and turn right on to Thetford Road towards 

the High Street. Turn left onto the High Street and after a short 

distance, cross at the zebra crossing, turning right into Middle Street. 

2. Follow the road round to the right in front of the town hall and then 

turn left at the end. Almost immediately, turn right onto Dereham 

Road (one way street). 

3. Turn left at the T-junction on to the A1075 Dereham Road. Follow the 

road for just under half a mile and then turn left on to Loch Lane. 

Buggies, wheelchairs and mobility scooters: enter at the green gate 

near the Sports Centre on Dereham Road. Follow the path left and then 

bear right around the loch on a wide gravel track to an open grassy area. 

Return to Dereham Road the way you came. Note that tracks around 

the loch can be uneven and narrow. 

4. Shortly after walking through the remains of the dismantled railway 

bridge climb the steps on the left and go through the green gate to the 

picnic area. 

5. Follow the wide gravel track to the right of Loch Neaton, turning left in 

front of the gates of the sports centre to walk on the raised path around 

6 

(Easy access option 

avoids steps on 

Loch Lane) 

the end of the loch. Alternatively, you could follow the rough paths 

around the loch for a closer view; watch out for raised tree roots. 

6. Leave the nature reserve via the green gates and turn right on to 

Dereham Road again. 

7. Retrace your steps back along Dereham Road and then turn left 

through the white gates on to Church Walk, a wide lime tree-lined 

pathway. At the end, turn right along Church Road past St Mary’s 

Church. 

8. Turn right at the T-junction and walk along Norwich Road to the traffic 

lights. Turn left on to Memorial Way to return to your start point beside 

the war memorial. 

Loch Neaton 

This late nineteenth century pleasure ground was formerly the site of a 

railway ballast pit created by the construction of the railways in the early 

1870s. At some time between 1883 and 1893 the pit was flooded and 

an ornamental lake was created. By 1907 a wind driven pump had been 

erected at the northern end of the site to pump spring water into the lake. 

In 1907 the site was presented to the town, a bandstand was constructed 

and provision made for bowls and croquet. By the 1920s the emphasis 

was changing from pleasure ground to sports usage. Please visit the 

website for more information: www.lochneaton.org.uk 

7

Walk 

1 

Loch Neaton/ 

Church Walk 

An easy-going figure of eight walk 

around picturesque Loch Neaton 

and St Mary’s Church. 

Church Walk 

This tree lined walk is also known as Walsingham Way. The western 

end of the walk appears on a map of 1792. The footway was 

allotted to the inhabitants of Watton, as a way to their church, by the 

enclosure commissioners in 1801. The avenue was bisected by the 

railway in the 1860s and a period of decline followed. The walk was 

replanted with lime trees in 1903 resulting from proposals made in 

commemoration of the coronation of King Edward VII. Ornamental 

iron gates dating from the 1830s 

were given by Lord Walsingham 

and relocated from his Merton 

estate. The iron gate piers, 

embossed with ‘1902’ and 

‘Walsingham’, survive, however 

the gates have been removed. 

Key 

Walk 1 

Parking P 

Church 

0 ½km 

8 

¼mile 

Sports 

Centre 

Dereham 

Road 

Middle 

Street 

Thetford 

Road 

Start 

A1075 

Loch Lane 

Loch 

Neaton 

 

 

P 

War 

Memorial 

 

 

Dereham 

Road 

Church Walk 

Norwich Road 

9 

Church 

Road 

Memorial Way 

St Mary’s 

Church 

Watton 

© Crown copyright and database rights 

2011 Ordnance Survey 100019340

Walk 

2 

Watton Church/ 

Town Green 






Details Minor gradients, 100% firm 


1. Starting at the war memorial, turn left 

on to Memorial Way. At the traffic 

light junction cross to Cadman Way. 

Cross to walk along the right hand 

side of the road, pass Kittle Close 

and then turn right on to Church 

Walk via the white gates. 

2. Continue ahead at the end on to 

Church Road. Pass St Mary’s Church 

which will be on your right and follow 

this quiet country lane to the end (note 

Church Road becomes Town Green Road). 

3. Turn right at the T-junction to Watton Green and follow the road 

around the corner to the end. 

4. Cross Norwich Road on to the cycle way opposite (there is a safe 

crossing point a little to the left). 

5. At the end of the cycle way turn right on to Griston Road and walk all 

the way to the end. Turn left at the T-junction on to Norwich Road. 

6. Turn left at the traffic lights on to Memorial Way and return to your start 

point by the war memorial. 

10 

• Peacock butterfly 

Nissen Huts 

Look to your left as you walk along Town Green Road; there are some 

old Nissen huts that are being quietly reclaimed by nature. A Nissen 

hut, named so after its designer Colonel Nissen is a pre-fabricated steel 

structure made from a semi-cylindrical skin of corrugated steel. The 

Nissen hut was first produced in 1915 and was used extensively during 

both World Wars. The huts in Watton were erected during World War 

Two and relate to the airfield which lies to the east of the town. The site is 

one of several World War Two military sites on Town Green Road that are 

visible on RAF aerial photographs taken in 1946. 

A tangle of wild plants now dominates the military remains. Ivy and 

brambles scramble over the ruins, whilst scrubby hedgerow species such as 

hazel and elder provide a great habitat for many birds and insects. 

11

Walk 

2 

Watton Church/ 

Town Green 

On this walk you will see nature quietly reclaiming some 

of Watton’s old military remains; creating a new use for 

structures that once sheltered troops during the war. 

• Blackthorn 

• Iron gate pier, 

Church Walk 

12 

Key 

Cadman 

Way 

 

P 

Start 

War 

Memorial 

Memorial 

Way 

Walk 2 

Parking P Church 

0 ½km 

¼mile 

St Mary’s 

Church 

Church Walk 

Watton 

Church 

Road 

St Mary’s Church 

This church has a Norman round tower of 13th century date, although 

the top of the tower is a later addition. The core of the church is of this 

date, with the chancel and south arcade being in the Early English style. 

However, the north arcade is in the later Perpendicular style. The church 

was altered in the 15th century and the exterior reclad in the late 19th 

century. Inside, there are screens dating to 1852 and a wooden poor box 

in the form of a stiffly standing parson which dates to 1639. The churchyard 

is a regionally important example of an ornamental churchyard. 

Norwich Road 

Town Green Road 

Griston Road 


2011 Ordnance Survey 100019340 

Watton Green 

13

Walk 

3 Watton/ 

Merton 





Distance 3.7 miles (or shorter walk 2.7 miles) 

Details Minor gradients, long walk 25% soft, short walk 30% soft 


1. Starting at the war memorial, bear right along Merton Road. Pass all 

the houses and the High School and follow Merton Road out in to the 

countryside. 

2. For the longer walk stay on Merton Road until reaching Merton 

Green. Turn first right before the village shelter on to Tottington 

Terrace and then bear right at the T-junction on to The Green leading 

to Home Farm Lane. 

3. Follow the road past Merton Village Hall to the junction and turn right; 

the hard surface gives way to a farm track. Follow the restricted byway 

to the end (now follow instruction 5 below). 

4. For the short walk (continued from instruction 1): approximately 

500 yards after passing the last of the houses on Merton Road, turn 

right on to the public footpath opposite the wood (Rabbit Plantation). 

Follow the path around the edge of the field, keeping the hedge on 

your right. At the end, turn right to cross a footbridge (now follow 

instruction 5 below). 

5. Cross the footbridge over the stream and bear left along the track 

called Long Bridle Road. After approximately a third of a mile, look 

out for a row of houses on your right. Turn right on to the hard 

surface path leading into the housing estate; then bear left on to Stokes 

Avenue. Pass Bridle Road on your right and keep walking to the end of 

Stokes Avenue. 

14 

6. Turn right at the T-junction on to Brandon Road. Continue ahead over 

the roundabout onto the High Street. Walk all the way along the High 

Street and then just before you reach the traffic light junction, turn right 

on to Thetford Road and walk back to your start point beside the war 

memorial. 

Flints 

An abundance of flint in 

nearby fields indicates 

that buildings such as 

these cottages will have 

been constructed using 

local materials. 

The Clock Tower 

The clock tower is narrow with three 

storeys and is thought to have been 

erected after the great fire of 1674 which 

destroyed many of Watton’s buildings. 

The clock itself dates to 1827 and is set 

below the lintel of a medieval cross and 

above a shield depicting a hare and barrel. 

Additionally, wooden spandrels in the 

clock tower may have come from another 

medieval market cross. The tower is 

topped with a cupola in which a bell was 

placed, supposedly to warn inhabitants if 

fire broke out again. It is thought to have 

been re-faced in the 19th century. 

The Cupola is mounted by a weathervane 

dating to 1820, also in the form of a hare 

and a barrel. Virtually all the visible façade 

is of latter date. 

15

Walk 

3 

Watton/ 

Merton 

A great example of the close links between rural 

Wayland and the bustling town of Watton. You can 

walk to the pretty village of Merton from the town 

and it’s an ideal length to fit in with everyday life. 

Ancient Trees 

There are a few ancient oak trees on Merton Road near 

the school. Ancient trees support life forms that can live 

nowhere else. They are full of nooks and crannies, holes 

and dead and rotting wood. As the years go by they 

provide perfect homes for thousands of species of plants, 

animals and fungi, including many rare and threatened 

species. Clusters of ancient trees are even more 

important because together all the trees will offer a 

really wide range of niche homes for lots of different 

specialist species in just one small area (Woodland 

Trust, 2011). See www.woodlandtrust.org.uk for 

more information. 

Farmland hedgerows also provide 

valuable habitats for wildlife. 

Visit www.norfolkbiodiversity.org 

for information on the Biodiversity 

Action Plan for hedgerows. 

• Lords and ladies 

(or cuckoo pint) 

growing in the 

hedge and 

in flower. 

16 

Home Farm 

Lane 

Brandon Road 

Long Bridle 

Road (track) 

Stokes 

Avenue 

Merton 

Common 

Village 

Hall 



Merton 

17 

Watton 

(County 

Wildlife Site) 

Rabbit 

Plantation 

Key 

High Street 

Merton Road 

Start 

P 

War 

Memorial 

Walk 3 

Short cut 

Parking P 

0 ½km 

¼mile

Walk 

4 Watton/ 

Wayland Wood 








Please note: to prevent disturbance to wildlife, dogs are not allowed 

within Wayland Wood Nature Reserve. 

1. Starting at the war memorial, turn left along Memorial Way to the traffic 

light junction and then turn right on to Norwich Road. 

2. Just after the right turn to the industrial estate, turn right on to Griston 

Road. After approximately a quarter of a mile, turn right on to Field 

Maple Road. Bear right into Whitebeam Crescent and then bear left 

around the green. 

3. Follow Whitebeam Crescent to the end and then leave the housing 

estate, turning right on to a path behind the houses and around the 

outer boundary of a field which will be on your left. 

4. At the fenceline, turn left to follow the direction of the public footpath 

across the field to the opposite hedge. Go through the gap in the 

hedge beside the waymark post and continue in the same direction 

across a second field, heading for the corner of Wayland Wood. 

5. As you approach the hedgeline, follow the path through the field 

boundary. Go through the kissing gate to Wayland Wood in front 

of you. 

18 

6. Follow the path straight on (don’t follow the public footpath to your 

right). Pass a pond and go through/round a gate before heading straight 

on over a small earth bank. 

7. Follow the path until 

it opens out to a 

main track. Here 

you will see some 

Norfolk Wildlife 

Trust waymarker 

posts. Follow the 

Norfolk Wildlife Trust 

waymarked circular 

trail through the 

wood, ignoring all 

paths leading off the 

main wide grassy path. 

Please note: there is an information panel by the car parking area. 

8. Eventually you should come back to the point at which you joined the 

circular trail and you can retrace your steps back out of the wood, over 

the earth bank, through/round the metal gate and then through the 

kissing gate. 

9. Cross the track and go through the hedgeline in front of you. Retrace 

your steps back across the field. Go through the hedge with the 

waymarker post and then turn left along the footpath cross-field. 

10. Go through the hedgeline at the waymarker post and turn right to 

follow this footpath past some houses to the road. 

11. Turn left, crossing Abbey Road to head straight along Vicarage Walk. 

Follow Vicarage Walk round to the right. Turn left onto Monkhams 

Drive, then turn right at the T-junction on to Thetford Road. Continue 

along Thetford Road to return to your start point at the war memorial. 

19 

Photograph © David North, Norfolk Wildlife Trust

Walk 

4 

Watton/ 


This walk takes you to the wonderful ancient Wayland 

Wood; thought to be the setting for Babes in the Wood, this 

peaceful retreat is especially beautiful in spring with carpets 

of bluebells and other woodland flowers. 


Wayland Wood Nature Reserve 

Wayland Wood is a wonderful ancient 

woodland of oak, ash, hazel and bird cherry. 

In spring you will find carpets of bluebells, 

bugle and wood anemones and may spot 

rarer woodland flowers including early purple 

orchids and yellow archangel. At any time of 

year you are likely to see both muntjac and roe 

deer. Birds to look and listen for include great 

spotted woodpecker, tawny owl, treecreeper, 

woodcock and 

sparrowhawk, plus 

in spring and summer many migrant warblers 

including blackcap, chiffchaff, willow warbler 

and garden warbler. Some people believe 

this woodland is a direct descendent of the 

original ‘wildwood’ which covered much 

of England many thousands of years ago. 

• Bugle (above) and 

Red Campion (left) 

Photographs © David North, 


Babes in the Wood 

Legend has it that Wayland Wood is the place where two young children 

died as a result of their wicked uncle’s plan to get his hands on their 

inherited fortunes. 

20 

P 

War 

Memorial 

Key 

Thetford Road 

Start 

Norwich Road 

Watton 

Monkhams 

Drive 

Vicarage 

Walk 

 

A1075 

Walk 4 

Parking P 

0 ½km 

¼mile 

Abbey 

Road 

21 

 

Griston Road 

Field Maple 

Road 

Whitebeam 

Crescent 


(SSSI) 

Follow 

waymarked 

circular trail 



Walk 

5 

Ashill 

Church 

Start point Community Centre (Hale Road, Ashill) 

Grid reference TF886048 • Postcode IP25 7BL 

Parking Community Centre car park – free 




(Village shop 

on Hale Road) 

1. From the community centre, turn right along Hale Road. 

After approximately 200 yards and just before you reach Chapel Lane 

and the Methodist church, turn right on to a public footpath between 

the houses. 

2. Follow the footpath right and then at the end, turn left on to a track. 

At the end of the track, cross the drain via a footbridge and turn left. 

Keep following the public footpath along the field edge as it turns right 

and then left. 

3. At the end of the footpath, turn left on to Swaffham Road. Just after 

St Nicholas Church, continue straight on to Church Street. 

4. At the end of Church Street, turn left on to Hale Road. Follow Hale 

Road back through the village to the Community Centre on your left. 

22 

Church of St Nicholas 

This is an impressive late medieval church with a west tower, a nave 

with just one aisle and a series of upper windows. The tower has an 

extraordinary main doorway formed with a flame-like ogee arch. 

The church is built in a mixture of styles including Early English, suggesting 

that the parishioners of Ashill felt wealthy enough to continually rebuild 

sections of their church. The nave roof is dated 1618. The church was 

restored in the 19th century. 

23

Walk 

5 

Walk 

6 

Ashill Church/ 

Ashill Panworth 

Fascinating walks which include the deserted medieval 

settlement of Panworth and the impressive Church of 

St Nicholas. There are some wonderful views across 

Breckland farmland. 

Ashill Common 

Look out for skylark and linnet 

across this open grassy area. 

Willow warblers have been found 

to breed here. Hawthorn found in 

the Devil’s Dyke is ideal for small 

mammals, birds, insects and other 

invertebrates to nest, roost or 

hibernate in. It supports many 

insect species such as shield 

bugs, earwigs, bumblebees, 

cockchafers, etc. These in 

turn are eaten by predatory 

insects such as the violet 

ground beetle or harvestman 

spider, as well as small birds 

such as the wren or blue tit. 

The bright red berries in the 

autumn (pictured) provide 

essential autumn feeding for 

blackbirds and thrushes, finches 

and yellow hammers along with 

winter visitors such as redwing 

and fieldfares. 

24 

St Nicholas 

Church 

Swaffham 

Road 

Community 

Centre 

P 

 

Hale Road 

Walk 5 

Start 

Walk 6 

Start 

Goose 

Green 

The Green 

Church 

Street 

Ashill 

Dunnetts Close 

Green 

Farm 



• Hawthorn 

berries 

Ashill 

Common 

Panworth 

Cottages 

Short cut 

25 

Key 

Panworth 

Hall 

Panworth Hall 

Farm Cottages 

Walk 5 

Walk 6 

Short cut 


0 ½km 

¼mile

Walk 

6 

Ashill 

Panworth 

Start point Community Centre (Hale Road, Ashill) 

Grid reference TF886048 • Postcode IP25 7BL 

Parking Community Centre car park – free 

Distance 2.2 miles or short walk 1.4 miles 



1. Starting at the Community Centre, cross over Hale Road to Dunnetts 

Close opposite. Walk along Dunnetts Close for almost half a mile. 

2. Turn right on to a public footpath along the drive to Panworth Hall. 

3. Follow the drive left at Panworth Cottages and then immediately after 

passing the cottages turn right, climbing a stile, onto a public footpath. 

See map for short walk: After climbing the stile, do not cross the field 

diagonally but instead, follow the hedge on your right and then bear right 

over to another stile. Follow the public footpath and turn right onto a 

grassy track. Now follow instruction no. 8 below. 

4. Walk diagonally across this field to the far left hand corner. Turn right on 

to the lane. 

5. At Panworth Hall Farm Cottages, turn right, still following the public 

footpath (this is a wide farm track). 

6. At the corner, continue to walk straight on following the grassy footpath 

along the field edge, keeping the hedge on your right. 

7. At the end, cross the drain via the footbridge and turn right along a 

wide grassy field margin. Follow this until you reach Green Farm. 

8. Follow the farm track straight on past the pond on your right and then 

bear left past the farm buildings. 

26 

(Village shop 

on Hale Road) 

9. Keep walking straight on to The Green. Pass the playing field (Goose 

Green) on your right. 

10. Turn right on to Hale Road and continue until you arrive back at the 

community centre on your left. 

Deserted medieval settlement of Panworth 

The route takes you through the site of the medieval deserted settlement 

of Panworth, mentioned in the Domesday Book, but which does not 

appear on a map of 1581. The earthworks of the former manor, moat and 

houses are visible on the ground. Part of the moat appears to have been 

made out of the Panworth Ditch. The field crossed diagonally by the public 

footpath is protected by Scheduled Monument status. 

Panworth Ditch/Devil’s Dyke 

The Panworth Ditch or Devil’s Dyke is one of only four similar linear 

earthworks in western Norfolk. The surviving section is a Scheduled 

Monument, about 300m long and comprises a ditch and bank. Its date is 

uncertain, although it could be Iron Age or Early Anglo-Saxon. The existing 

gap in the earthwork is original and may have been where a Roman 

road crossed. If Early Anglo-Saxon, it probably served as a tribal or estate 

boundary or allowed travel and the transport of goods to be controlled and 

tolls to be levied. 

27

Walk 

7 

Caston/ 

Stow Bedon 

Start point Caston Village Green 

Grid reference TF958975 • Postcode NR17 1DB 

Parking Caston Village Hall car park – free 


(add approx 2/3 mile to distance if parking at village hall) 

Details Minor gradients, 100% firm 


Caston Village Hall coffee drop-in – every 

Friday morning. Toilets available if using 

village hall for refreshments. 

Note: please park at rear of the village hall and avoid parking here 

when the hall is busy and in use by other groups. You are welcome 

to drop in to the village hall for tea or coffee on Friday mornings 

between 9:30am and 11:30am. 

1. From the village green, walk past Holy Cross Church on your left and 

continue straight on along this road. Continue walking until you reach 

Stow Bedon. 

2. At the road junction in Stow Bedon, turn right along Mere Road. 

3. At the end, turn right and follow this road all the way back to the village 

green in Caston. 

Remains of the Caston village cross 

The remains of the medieval standing stone village 

cross is said to have been a stopping point for pilgrims 

on their way to Walsingham Priory. The shaft of the 

cross was taken down in the 19th century but the 

three tiered circular base is still there. 

Holy Cross Church 

The medieval period following 

the Norman Conquest has left 

the parish with its oldest surviving 

building, Holy Cross Church. 

The oldest part of the church is 

the 13th century chancel, the 

west tower, nave and two storey 

north porch (now a vestry) being 

from the 14th and 15th centuries. 

A very fine 17th century brass 

chandelier hangs in the chancel. Legend has it that it comes from Hampton 

Court and was given away by Charles I, eventually ending up in Caston in 

1871. The building underwent restoration in the 19th century. 

St Botolph’s Church, 

Stow Bedon 

Take some time to visit 

St Botolph’s Church 

at Stow Bedon. It is a 

little off the route but 

this pretty church in its 

picturesque setting is 

certainly worth seeing. 

Great Breckles 

Nearby Great Breckles was once a separate parish but is now 

incorporated into Stow Bedon although it still has its own church 

(St Margaret’s). There was also a medieval settlement of Little Breckles 

which was mentioned as a separate town in Domesday. This village had 

become abandoned by 1547, having had its church demolished during the 

reign of Edward III (1327-77). 

28 29

Walk 

7 

Caston/ 

Stow Bedon 

With particularly fantastic views across a vast agricultural 

landscape, this walk is extremely uplifting. 

Stow Bedon Mere 

Although this walk is entirely on quiet country 

roads, the route takes you beside a series of 

County Wildlife Sites in Stow Bedon. There are 

approximately 1,300 County Wildlife Sites in 

Norfolk supporting a wide range of biodiversity. 

Behind the trees to the south of Mere Road is 

Stow Bedon Mere, a large shallow lake with a deep 

silty bottom. The lake is surrounded by a mixture 

of wet woodland and fen species. The nationally 

scarce marsh fern grows both here and on Caston 

Common, another 

excellent wildlife-rich 

area comprising a mix of 

grassland, broad-leaved 

high forest and coppice 

along with a lake and 

several ponds. Please 

note there is no public 

access to the Stow Bedon 

County Wildlife Sites. 

Walk 7 


0 ½km 

Mere Road 

Stow Bedon 

Mere 

P 

Village 

Hall 

30 31 

Key 

¼mile 



Stow 

Bedon 

Caston 

Start

Walk 

8 

Thompson’s 

College 

Start point The Chequers Inn (Griston Road, Thompson) 

Grid reference TF922968 • Postcode IP24 1PX 

Parking Chequers Inn car park – free 



The Chequers Inn during 

opening hours, toilets available 

if using pub for refreshments. 


1. Starting at The Chequers Inn, turn left along Griston Road. Walk for 

just over half a mile (ignoring the public footpath on your right) and 

then turn right on to a public bridleway (Drove Lane), immediately after 

passing the white railings. 

2. Follow the bridleway all the way 

to the end and then turn right 

on to Stow Bedon Road. 

3. At the island, turn right. Stow 

Bedon Road becomes Church 

Road. Follow the road as it 

bends left and then right through 

the village. 

4. At the church, follow the road 

left. At the end of Church Road, 

bear right onto School Road. 

5. At the crossroads, turn right on 

to Griston Road and walk back 

to The Chequers which will be 

on your left. 

32 

The Chequers Inn 

This Grade II Listed, thatched Inn has a mid 16th century core although 

the majority of the fabric dates to the 17th to 18th centuries. It is timberframed 

with clay lump and brick infill and sits on a brick and flint plinth. 

Chantry College of St Martin, 

Blessed Virgin Mary and All Saints 

Around 1349, Sir Thomas and John de Shardelow founded the chantry 

college of St Martin, Blessed Virgin Mary and All Saints. The date of the 

rebuilding of the College building is a little vague since it is believed there 

may have been a small chantry of earlier date on the site which may 

have been altered or enlarged some time after the 1350 endowment. 

The college was surrendered in April 1541 with the Dissolution of the 

Monasteries. The remains of this building survive as part of College 

Farmhouse, although there were substantial alterations in the 

17th to 19th centuries. 

Drove Lane 

Look to the right 

through the trees when 

walking along the 

Drove Lane bridleway. 

Stunning highland cattle 

graze the meadows 

beside the stream in this 

biodiversity-rich County 

Wildlife Site, where plants 

such as water mint, marshmarigold, 

wild angelica, 

greater bird’s foot trefoil 

and ragged robin flourish 

in the wet meadows. 

33

Walk 

8 

Thompson Common 

nature reserve 

Norfolk Wildlife Trust Thompson Common Nature Reserve 

Please note: dogs are allowed on leads along the pingo trail route but 

not elsewhere on this nature reserve due to livestock on site. 

This area is famous for its pingos – more than 300 shallow pools are found 

on the reserve and support a dazzling array of water plants. In spring and 

summer they are perfect spots to enjoy watching dragonflies and brightly 

coloured damselflies. Experts still argue about exactly how these ponds 

formed. However it is generally thought that they date back more than 

10,000 years and were formed by the action of sub-surface ice which 

melted leaving shallow depressions. 

Today the nature reserve is a wonderful mix of Breckland habitats including 

grassland, fen, scrub and woodland and supporting a huge range of 

wildlife. More than 400 species of plants have been recorded including 

water violets, marsh pennywort, bogbean, marsh orchids, tormentil and 

agrimony. Birds to look for include kestrels, barn owls, grey partridges, 

woodcock, reed buntings, yellowhammers, bullfinches and linnets. 

You can follow the Great Eastern Pingo Trail through the reserve which 

leads to Thompson Water, a 6 hectare man-made lake originally designed 

for fishing by Thomas de Grey in 1854. Today it’s a great spot for water 

birds. Look for great crested grebes, gadwalls, tufted ducks and in summer, 

reed warblers. You may also spot otters here. 

When you walk on this reserve look out for the 

Konik ponies. Norfolk Wildlife Trust uses these 

small hardy ponies to graze the wet grasslands and 

open fens preventing too much scrub developing 

and shading out more diverse plant communities. 

You may also spot native breeds of sheep on the 

reserve. You can access the reserve from Butters 

Hall Lane. 

34 

35

Walk 

8 

Walk 

9 

Two walks full of variety. Don’t miss visiting Thompson 

Common, a Norfolk Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve where 

you will see the many Ice Age pingos clustered around the 

Great Eastern Pingo Trail. 

Merton 

Wood 

Sparrow 

Hill 

Peddars Way 

Stanford Military 

Training Area 

Thompson’s College/ 

Sparrow Hill 

War 

Memorial 

Tottington 

Road 

Watton Road 

Marlpit 

Road 

The Chequers 

Inn Walk 8 

Start 

Mill 

Road 

Tottington 

Road 

Walk 9 

Start 

P 



School 

Road 

St Martin’s Church 

The church belonged to the adjacent college 

of canons which was a small community of 

priests. This explains the surviving stalls in the 

chancel with carved misericords. The building 

is mainly 14th century with an impressive west 

tower. The aisleless nave has its original 

scissor-braced roof although it underwent restoration in 

1974. The style of the chancel is firmly Decorated. 

There is much surviving woodwork of interest, 

as well as some fragmentary wall paintings 

from the 14th century. 

Griston 

Road 

Thompson 

Church Road 

Drove Lane 

Beware of live firing! 

The land to the west of Peddars Way 

(shaded on the map) forms part of 

Stanford Military Training Area. 

36 37 

Key 

Walk 8 

Short cut 

Walk 9 


0 ½km 

Thompson 

Common 

Stow Bedon 

Road 

¼mile 

Due to the risks associated 

with live firing and the 

presence of legacy munitions 

on site, public access to 


is strictly prohibited. Warning 

signs are in place to highlight 

the boundary of the ranges.

Walk 

9 

Sparrow 

Hill 

Start point The Chequers Inn (Griston Road, Thompson) 

Grid reference TF922968 • Postcode IP24 1PX 

Parking Chequers Inn car park – free 



The Chequers Inn during 

opening hours, toilets available 

if using pub for refreshments. 


Please see important note on page 5. 

1. Starting at The Chequers Inn, turn right on to Griston Road. At the 

crossroads, walk straight on to Tottington Road. 

2. Walk past Hallfield Road and then at the junction with Marlpit Road, 

bear left, heading straight on along Tottington Road. Follow the road as 

it bends right. 

3. At the end of Tottington Road, turn right along the Peddars Way which 

follows the edge of the Stanford Training area. 

4. When you reach the road, turn right. This is Sparrow Hill. Walk all the 

way to the end of Sparrow Hill. 

5. At the junction (where you will see the war memorial), turn right along 

Watton Road. 

6. At the crossroads, turn left along Mill Road and then at the next 

crossroads, turn left on to Griston Road and make your way back to 

The Chequers Inn which will be on your left. 

38 

Breckland Farmland 

Many of the walks in the 

Watton area pass through 

a predominately large 

scale arable landscape with 

long, open views which 

provide a valuable habitat 

for farmland birds. With 

rare birds such as the stone 

curlew nesting in cultivated 

land which has plenty of 

bare ground and very short 

vegetation, much of the 

area is under National and 

European protection. 

Some of Breckland’s 

farmland is designated Site 

of Special Scientific Interest 

(SSSI) characterised by its 

climate and soils. Situated 

in the driest region in Britain 

it is subject to great extremes of temperature and the soil is a complex mix 

of free draining chalk, sand, silt, clay and flints. Some Breckland farmland 

is also designated a Special Protection Area (SPA). SPAs are designed 

to protect internationally rare breeding birds (in this case, stone curlew, 

nightjar and woodlark) and form a European network of ‘Natura 2000’ 

sites, designed to protect Europe’s most threatened wildlife. 

This walk passes Merton Wood (County Wildlife Site), a traditionally 

managed coppiced woodland. Many of the oaks are over 150 years old 

and scattered amongst them are exotic curiosities such as the monkey 

puzzle tree and sequoia. 

39

Walk 

10 

Carbrooke 

Start point Carbrooke Village Hall (Church Street) 

Grid reference TF949021 • Postcode IP25 6SW 

Parking Carbrooke Village Hall car park – free 



Note: please park at the rear of the Village Hall to keep front access 

and hall access areas clear. 


1. Starting at the village hall, turn left on to Church Street and follow the 

road through the village (Church Street becomes Shipdham Road). 

2. Turn left along a public footpath towards Fen Farm (you will see a large 

sign for ‘Fen Farm’ at this turning). 

3. Follow the track sharp left when you reach the farm buildings. 

4. Bear right, continuing to follow the track through the trees and ignoring 

any paths to your left. 

5. After almost three quarters of a mile, turn a sharp left at the junction of 

tracks, still following the track through open fields. 

6. At the corner, bear left, still following the track. 

40 

7. At the water works, go under or around the gate and turn right on to a 

hard surface lane. 

8. Turn left at Water House and then when you reach the road, bear left 

(effectively walking straight on). 

9. At the road junction, turn left. Follow the road through Caudlesprings 

and continue on as it becomes Drury Lane. 

10. At the end of the road, turn left on to Bridge Street using a raised 

pavement on the right. Follow Bridge Street (which becomes Church 

Street) back to the village hall on your left. 

Church of St Peter and St Paul 

A massive late medieval church with a tall west tower and aisled nave. It is 

all 15th century except for the chancel which is late 13th century and has 

very elaborate Geometric tracery in its east window. It has a collection 

of late 16th century armour and the oldest identifiable tombs in Norfolk - 

those of Matilda de Clare and her son - dating to the late 13th century. 

And then there was one… 

Originally the Manor of Carbrooke was split in two, 

with two churches: Carbrooke Parva, where a 

church was sited to the right of the bridge on 

Ovington Road at Caudle Springs; and 

Carbrooke Magna, where the Church 

still dominates the village. In about 

1424 the Church at Carbrooke Parva 

had fallen down, but stone from 

the ruin was removed and used 

to extend the other church, thus 

making it the large church it is today. 

www.midnorfolktimes.com/ 

41

Walk 

10 

Carbrooke 

A peaceful and pretty route; you won’t miss the church with 

its extremely tall tower; stunning in the evening sunshine. 

The Preceptory of the Knights of St John 

The modern village of Carbrooke is now centred around the 

medieval site of the commandry or preceptory of the Knights 

of St John of Jerusalem (a military monastic order similar to the 

Knights Templar) that was established in 1193 and was in use 

until Henry VIII closed it down in 1540. In the 14th century the 

Commandery at Carbrooke was the largest in England. 

The great crested newt 

The walk passes close to four County Wildlife Sites (none with 

public access). One of these is noted for a cluster of ponds 

supporting great crested newts, which are the largest European 

newt and are fully protected under European law. The male has 

a splendid orange belly with black spots and a dinosaur-like ridge 

along its back in the breeding season. It spends the spring and 

summer in ponds, but at other times inhabits damp terrestrial 

places such as wet grassland. The site is managed solely for nature 

conservation by seasonal mowing and light grazing by sheep 

resulting in a mosaic of species-rich grassland and fen-meadow. 

Visit www.norfolkbiodiversity.org and read the Species Action Plan 

for more information on the newt. 

Key 

Walk 10 


0 ½km 

• Great crested newt 

Photograph © Karl Charters, Norfolk Wildlife Trust 

42 

¼mile 

Water 

House 

Water 

Works 

Caudlesprings 



Drury Lane 

43 

Church 

Street 

Start 

Village P 

Hall 

Bridge 

Street 

Carbrooke 

Fen 

Farm 

Shipdham 

Road

Walk 

11 Merton 

Sally’s Walk 

Start point Merton Village Hall (Home Farm Lane) 

Grid reference TF905989 • Postcode IP25 6QU 

Parking Merton Village Hall car park – free 




Please see important note on page 5. 

1. Starting at the village hall, turn left on to the road. Walk along The 

Green and past Tottington Terrace. Head straight on to Crow’s Lane. 

2. Take your first right on to a gravely lane where you see a public path 

post. After a few yards, bear left on to Sally’s Walk. 

3. Follow the grassy path, continuing straight on along the edge of the 

field. You will see a belt of trees ahead. Bear left along the path as you 

pass the trees on your right and continue through the wood. 

4. At the end of this woodland track, turn 

left on to an open track. You will see a 

view of the church through the trees. 

Go past The Lodge on your left and 

walk through the gates straight ahead 

of you to the road. 

5. Turn right along the road. Walk for 

just under half a mile and then turn 

right on Sparrow Hill (you will see a 

war memorial at this junction). 

6. Walk for just over three quarters 

of a mile and then turn right along 

Peddars Way. 

44 

7. Follow Peddars Way all the way to Home Farm and Hawthorn Farm. 

Go through a gate and continue past the farm along Home Farm Lane. 

8. At the end of the track (where Peddars Way goes left), turn right on to 

the road (still Home Farm Lane). Walk for a quarter of a mile and then 

turn left in to the village hall. 

St Peter’s Church 

This church has an attractive setting 

in the park of Merton Hall with the 

great house nearby (superb views 

from behind the church). The 

west tower was built during the 

late 11th or early 12th century; 

some of it may date to before 

the Norman Conquest of 1066. 

The rest of the church dates to the 14th century, with later 15th and 16th 

century alterations. 

Merton Hall and Park 

Merton Park is part of the estate of 

the de Grey family, who have held 

the Manor of Merton since the early 

fourteenth century. In 1780 William de 

Grey was ennobled, becoming the first 

Baron Walsingham. 

Merton Hall was built of red brick in 

1613, with a wing and extra rooms 

added during the 1830s and 1840s. All but the 1840s wing was destroyed 

by fire in 1956. There is a surviving 17th century red brick Jacobean style 

gatehouse to the east of the Hall. The landscape park was established 

by the early 18th century and was expanded during the late 18th century 

when woodland and an ornamental nursery were established. The great 

pond is one of several late 18th and 19th century additions to the park. 

45

Walk 

11 

Merton 


Visit the church and you will find a stunning view of Merton 

Hall with its great pond; a lovely spot to enjoy a quiet 

moment before enjoying the rest of this pretty route. 

The Squares 

‘The Squares’ is a County Wildlife Site; an area of broad-leaved plantation 

situated between Merton village and Merton Hall. The wood is old 

parkland type woodland, visually attractive with a mixture of tree species 

such as oak, silver birch, sweet 

chestnut and beech. There are 

some large old trees with spreading 

boughs. Sally’s Walk runs north to 

south through the wood. 

Merton Wood 

Merton Wood is another County 

Wildlife Site. Look out for bluebells 

as you pass; they are abundant 

across much of the woodland here in 

spring. You may also spot oak trees 

over 150 years old at the eastern 

end of the site. 

Ancient trees 

Due to the risks associated 

with live firing and the 

presence of legacy munitions 

on site, public access to 


is strictly prohibited. Warning 

signs are in place to highlight 

the boundary of the ranges. 

This horse chestnut in flower is just 

one of several ancient trees growing 

beside the road on the edge of 

Merton Wood. 

Beware of live firing! 

The land to the west of Peddars Way 

(shaded on the map) forms part of 

Stanford Military Training Area. 

Village 

Hall 

Hawthorn 

Farm 

Home 

Farm 

Stanford Military 

Training Area 

Home Farm 

Lane 

46 47 

Home Farm Lane 

Peddars Way 

P 

Key 

Walk 11 


0 ½km 

Start 

The 

Squares 

Merton 

Wood 

Sparrow 

Hill 

Merton 

Crow’s Lane 


The 

Lodge 

¼mile 

War 

Memorial 

Watton Road 



Walk 

12 Great/Little 

Cressingham 

Start point Great Cressingham village sign (St Michael’s Crescent) 

Grid reference TF851017 • Postcode IP25 6NH 

Parking The Olde Windmill Inn car park – free 


Details Gentle gradients, 20% soft 

100% hard avoiding Green Lane 


The Olde Windmill Inn, Water End 

(just over ¼ mile from south-west 

end of The Street. Toilets available 

if using the pub for refreshments. 

If you have parked at the Windmill Inn, turn left on to the road and 

walk for just over a quarter of a mile. Turn left on to The Street and 

walk for a little over 350 yards to St Michael’s Crescent. 

1. From St Michael’s Crescent (by the church), walk straight on along 

Priory Drove, passing the church which will be on your right. Priory 

Drove becomes Priory Road. 

2. At the end of the road, turn right to follow the Peddars Way along a 

quiet road. 

3. At the crossroads, walk straight on, still following the Peddars Way 

towards Little Cressingham. 

4. At the end of the road, when you reach Little Cressingham, turn right 

on to Fairstead Lane. You will walk past the disused mill. 

5. After approximately 500 yards, bear right off the road onto Green Lane 

(track). At the T-junction, turn left. 

Buggies, wheelchairs and mobility scooters: continue following 

Fairstead Lane and turn right at the T-junction. 

48 

6. When you reach the road, turn right and follow the road back to 

Great Cressingham. 

7. If parked at the Windmill, walk straight on past The Street and back 

to the pub on your right. If you started in the village, turn right on to 

The Street and make your way back to your starting point. 

St Andrew’s Church, Little Cressingham 

Originally a large 14th century church, St Andrew’s is partly ruined. 

The building contains Norman fragments although it is mostly in Decorated 

style. It was repaired and restored in the 18th and 19th century. A storm 

in 1781 brought down the tower and damaged half the nave but it was 

restored with a brick wall separating it from the ruined tower. In 1990 the 

tower, still ruined, was secured with help from the Norfolk Churches Trust. 

St Michael’s Church, Great Cressingham 

A medieval parish church dating from the 13th century, with extensive 

15th century alterations. The church contains 13th century wall arcading, 

a 14th century piscina and late medieval poppy head bench ends. 

In 1086 Great Cressingham was almost entirely 

in the hands of the Bishop of Thetford, before 

passing to Norwich Cathedral Priory who held 

land in the parish until the Dissolution. Manor 

Farm, once known as Priory Farm, was thought 

to be the site of a monastic manor. In fact, 

there was never a religious foundation on the 

site, and although the manor has been linked to 

the Priory of Norwich, the double moated site 

is thought to be that of Risley's Manor, recorded 

from the 15th century. In the mid 16th century 

the house was acquired by the Jenny family who built an elaborate and 

substantial courtyard house, only a small portion of which survives. 

Manor Farm is surrounded by earthworks relating to the medieval village 

of Great Cressingham. 

49

Walk 

12 Great/Little 

Cressingham 

With breathtaking views, particularly across to 

the mill at Little Cressingham, this walk will fill 

you with a sense of energy and inspiration. 

The Olde 

Windmill Inn 

P 

The 

Street 

Wind and Watermill, 

Little Cressingham 

This combined wind and 

watermill is a unique type in 

Norfolk. It was built in 1821 and 

lies on the site of an earlier watermill 

marked on Faden’s 1797 map. A 

waterwheel turned two pairs of stones 

on the first floor of the mill whilst the sails 

Priory 

Drove 

Start 

Great 

Cressingham 

turned two pairs of stones on the fourth floor. 

There is a decorative pump house on the site 

built around 1806 that housed a Bramah pump 

and later two hydraulic rams which were used to 

raise water to Clermont 

Lodge. There is also a 

19th century Miller’s House 

adjacent to the mill. The 

mill last worked by windpower 

in 1916 though it continued by 

waterpower and an oil engine into 

the 1950s. The site (excluding the 

mill house) is managed by the Norfolk 

Windmill Trust. Some restoration work 

was carried out during the 1980s and 1990s. 

Priory Road 

Fairstead 

Lane 

Green Lane (track) 



Peddars Way 

Disused 

Mill 

50 51 

Key 

Walk 12 

Parking P 

Church 

0 ½km 

Fairstead 

Lane 

¼mile 

Little 

Cressingham

Project information Explore further... 

Acknowledgements 

Many thanks to the following organisations for their support of the Health, 

Heritage and Biodiversity Walks project, for their help in developing the walking 

routes and their general input to the publication: 

Wayland Partnership; Watton Town Council; Breckland District Council; Active 

Norfolk; Breckland and Brandon ‘Fit Together’ Walking for Health Scheme and 

its volunteers; NHS Norfolk; local parish councils; local village hall committees; 

local landowners; local public houses; Norfolk Wildlife Trust 

Further information 

Watton’s Tourist & Local Information Facility (Visitor Centre) is staffed 

wholly by volunteers and is located in the Dragonfly Gallery & Visitor 

Centre at the address below: 

The Wayland Tourism Association: 

c/o Wayland House, High Street, Watton, Norfolk, IP25 6AR 

Tel: Administration 01953 884224 

Telephone (when open): 01953 880212 

We are open during the season: 

10am – 4pm Mon-Fri, 10am – 1pm Saturdays & Public Holidays 

Also by appointment: Please telephone: 01953 883915 (office hours) or 

884224 or email: waylandtourism@aol.com 

Wayland Trails 

The Wayland Word Journey contains four trails for visitors and local people to 

explore by car, cycle or on foot, offering a challenge to find Wayland’s treasures. 

The poetry and reflective thoughts in this attractive, colourful book have been 

written by members of the local community who wanted to celebrate the 

distinctiveness of this quiet and lovely part of Norfolk. All trails start from the 

Dragonfly Visitor Centre at Wayland House on Watton High Street 

(01953 880212). The book is priced at £3.00. 

The Watton Heritage Trail includes 20 places of particular interest. These 

are listed and illustrated in the Heritage Trail brochure with a short background 

note about each one. You can pick up free copies of the brochure at Wayland 

House. Guided walks of the Heritage Trail can be arranged for small groups; 

contact the Visitor Centre for more information. 

The Peddars Way is an historic Roman Road dating back to 61AD. Starting at 

Knettishall Heath Country Park in Suffolk, the Peddars Way National Trail runs 

for 46 miles through the Brecks and on to the rolling open farmland of northwest 

Norfolk where it meets the Norfolk Coast Path. 

The Great Eastern Pingo Trail is an 8-mile/12.9km circular (waymaked) walk 

and includes parts of the Peddars Way, the old Thetford to Watton railway line 

and crosses Thompson Common Nature Reserve. There is an access for all 

trail situated at the main car park just off the A1075 Watton to Great Hockham 

Road in the former Stow Bedon station yard. The trail is 300m long and 

follows part of the old railway line with a firm and level surface. 

Visit the Countryside Access website for more information about the 

Great Eastern Pingo Trail. 

See ‘Useful contacts’ for more websites. 

52 53

Walks locations 

A47 

Ashill 

Carbrooke 

Great/Little 

10 

Cressingham 12 

Merton 

Caston 

Thompson 9 8 

5 6 

1 

2 

3 Watton 

4 

11 

7 

A1065 

B1077 

B1108 

A1075 

Are you interested in walking with a group? 

Walking for Health 

The Breckland and Brandon Walking for Health Scheme delivers a series 

of led walks in the Watton area. 

Visit www.activenorfolk.org/fittogether/ or call 01603 732333 for 

more information and contact details. 

54 

A1075 

B1077 

A11 

B1108 



Useful contacts 

Active Norfolk 

www.activenorfolk.org 

Breckland District Council 

www.breckland.gov.uk 

Breckland Society 

www.brecsoc.org.uk 

Brecks Partnership 

www.brecks.org 

English Heritage 

www.english-heritage.org.uk 

Loch Neaton 

www.lochneaton.org.uk 

National Trail 

www.nationaltrail.co.uk 

National Trust 

www.nationaltrust.org.uk 

Natural England 

www.naturalengland.org.uk 

NHS Norfolk 

www.norfolk-pct.nhs.uk 

Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership 

www.norfolkbiodiversity.org 

Norfolk Churches Trust 

www.norfolkchurches.co.uk 

55 

Norfolk Countryside Access 

www.countrysideaccess.norfolk.gov.uk 


www.norfolk.gov.uk 

Norfolk Heritage Explorer 

www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk 

Norfolk Online Access to Heritage 

www.noah.norfolk.gov.uk 


www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk 

Traveline 0871 200 2233 

www.travelineeastanglia.co.uk 

Wayland Trails 

www.wayland-tourism.org.uk/ 

waylandtrails.htm 

Wayland Walking and Cycling 

www.wayland-tourism.org.uk/ 

walkingcycling.htm 

Wayland Partnership 

Development Trust 

www.wayland.org.uk 

Watton Town Council 

www.wattontowncouncil.gov.uk

Download 

You can download a copy of this booklet at 

www.countrysideaccess.norfolk.gov.uk/health-walks.aspx 

Contact 

If you have any comments regarding these walks, 

whether good or not so good – tell us what you think! 

Write to: Norfolk County Council, County Hall, 

Martineau Lane, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 2SG 

Email: environment@norfolk.gov.uk 

Phone: 01603 222769 

• All information correct at time of going to press (July 2011) 

• Printed on recycled paper using vegetable based inks 


at your service 

56 

G25473 7/11 CB

Going for a walk in natural 

surroundings is one of the easiest 

and most enjoyable ways to maintain 

good health, to relax, unwind 

and re-charge your 

batteries. This book 

has 12 walks of 

varying lengths, ideal 

to fit in with daily life. 

The locations have been chosen 

to help you enjoy and appreciate our 

Norfolk heritage, both natural and 

man-made, linking history 

to nature and health. 


at your service 

Norfolk Walks 

Norfolk County Council – Health • Heritage • Biodiversity 

Enjoy the walks!

Norfolk health, heritage and biodiversity walks - Enjoying the Norfolk ...

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