Round Norfolk Walk Day 14 - Acle to Great Yarmouth

Distance: 13.5 miles
Ascent: 20m ish
Weather: hot
Egyptian geese, mute swans, cormorants, blue butterflies, greylag, marsh harrier, kestrel, green veined white butterfly, little egret, shelducks and babies, godwit, black-backed gulls

The Travelodge didn't serve breakfast,  so we bought it at the M&S food and coffee shop at the garage opposite. We took our coffee to a bench in woods on the way back to join the Weavers' Way path, and were visited by a friendly puppy.

Out from under the trees, it was hot. The walk took us out of town south through the reedbed of Damgate Marshes. We saw  a kestrel, marsh harrier, flappy grey heron and there were lots of sedge warblers.

Entering a meadow cow field, it was important to remember to avoid the very flat green surfaces, as the ponds and drainage ditches had smooth green scummy tops. It was hot.

A lane lead out to the Halvergate, we stopped briefly to look at oystercatcher and lapwing in the field, and my shoes started sinking into the road. Did I mention it was hot?

Out onto the broads, dry grassy paths led to Mutton's Drainage Mill and around the ditches. A couple coming the other way warned us to beware of the dangerous cows as they'd been chased. Said cows were slightly nervous but not aggressive,  which was good for a few reasons - I didn't really want to run carrying a big bag, there was nowhere to run to and it was sooo hot.

As well as cows, there were lots of butterflies and a hare. We crossed the railway line at Berney Arms Station (which is a bit lacking in stationnicity) and then onto the riverside by Berney Arms windmill. The Berney Arms itself is a pub by the river. It was closed.

We walked along the banks of the Berney Arms Reach and passed Berney Marsh, to reach the River Yare. The tide was in and the water level high so there was no mud flats today.

It clouded over slightly around lunchtime and there was a breeze off the water, so it was less hot here, which was a relief. The route leads into Great Yarmouth along the northern side of the river, sections of path rather overgrown with grass and thistles, which is good for the butterflies and ladybirds but not so good for my legs which have come out in a delightful rash.

Towards civilisation, there was a busy road with cars and buses, and the railway line, slightly at odds with the sight of a sailing boat gliding by. We passed a holiday park where the fun never stops... If it ever starts,  although they do have a laundrette which is quite appealing right now.

Around the end of the river, we were under the bridge and into town (cue broken glass and graffiti) and Asda car park. We walked to the seafront by a slightly circuitous route, to complete the bit of the Angle's Way we'd missed two weeks ago, then thorough the main street to the promenade and our hotel.

We've had a lovely dinner (including surprise snails) and been to the arcade, where I failed to win a Pokémon in the 2p slots but we didn't get seagull'd so I'm calling it a win.

Round Norfolk Walk Day 13 - Wayford Bridge to Acle

Distance: 20.6 miles
Ascent: 20m
Weather: cloudy start, warm and sunny
Solid looking grey bird that we decided was a cuckoo
Little grebe
Bearded tit?? No :(

We were away before 9am, it is cooler today, cloudy with blue sky in the east.
Looking at the map, today promised to be more interesting with quite a few points of interest, but we had to get there first.

There was road, and then road. A dilapidated windmill and a tree tunnel through a hedge full of spiders' webs that was quite horrible, then some road. The biggest, pinkest thatched cottage I've ever seen, then some more road. We walked by the entrance to the nature reserve but there are no paths through it so we didn't go in and we saw the edge of Hickling Broad. From the road I saw brief glimpses of a kestrel, a buzzard, a squirrel, a small mammal scurrying across the road and a flat bunny that hadn't scurried fast enough.

After nearly 8 miles, we came on to a lane that was at least signed as a no through road so there was less traffic to worry about and I started to relax.  Nearly got squished by a tractor.

Very soon after we were on to the nature reserve,  welcomed enthusiastically by Mr Squirrel.

There were some creamy yellow and black big butterflies that were possibly swallowtails (tbc). Lots of sedge warblers, reed buntings, a cuckoo, great crested grebe and a goosander. Tufty ducks, avocets, a grey heron, little egrets and a sparrowhawk with its dinner.

We got caught up in some birding excitement, while watching a crow on a post being flapped at ineffectually by an avocet,  a very enthusiastic lady (who was talking rapidly on the phone) asked us if we were looking for the black winged stilts. We hadn't been,  but we were now. I didn't even know there were birds called stilts. They are rare and we've seen them.
We also saw a crane.

The Thurne Riverside is a strange rivery suburb with chalets, huts and a pretend windmill,  where people paint fences and sit and read the paper.

Higham Bridge is an old medieval stone bridge, still used by normal traffic,  bunches boatyard, where we had lunch and an ice cream,  watching the swans, greylag and Egyptian geese and ducks.

There were lots of boats going up and down the river of various shapes and sizes, from tiny dayboats to bigger yachts driven by a groups of loud, can swilling gents.

The sailing boats in sail glided quietly and elegantly by, compared to the chugging of the engines, however it probably takes more skill. We ended our day in Acle,  trying to cross a busy roundabout at rush hour,  then went for a fantastic tapas dinner.

Round Norfolk Walk Day 12 - Aylsham to Wayford Bridge

Distance: 16 miles
Ascent: 20m ha ha
Weather: hot
Bunny, squirrel, bees, butterflies, mute swans, buzzard, midges

A warm night, including a moment of panic when Rob thought he might have left his trousers behind at the last hotel. He hadn't.

We retraced our steps out of Aylsham via the church yard and lanes. Then we were onto the disused railway line that was our route for most of the day. We crossed the River Carr, seeing two fish. Fish!

It was hot and sunny, with a light breeze, pleasant in the shade.  The buzzing of the bees on the brambles was quite loud, and it was a good day for butterflies. They don't stay still enough to get a good look, but I'm pretty sure there were small tortoiseshell, gatekeepers, small copper, small skipper, peacock, painted lady and speckled wood.

North of Worstead we met some woolly sheep, which looked like cotswold sheep and some balwens.

Crossing a road, there was a sign by the side of the road saying 11 miles from Cromer - we've walked 28...

Lunch was had at bench looking over some nettles at cows in a meadow, while a buzzard looked at the cows and we looked at some small birds, chaffinch, goldfinch and long-tailed tits. Along the way we also saw green yellow stripy dragonflies and some red spiky flowers that could have been willowherb, could have been nightshade.

We met chap on a bicycle with a splendid beard, he could have got at least three kittens in that one, and then were passed by a chap on an electric bike smoking a cigarette, which is cheating. There was also a house called Kia-Ora, which is dedication.

Round Norfolk Walk Day 11 - Cromer to Aylsham

Distance: 18.5 miles
Ascent: 180m
Weather: hot and sunny

The Weavers' Way led us out of Cromer past Cromer Hall and the zoo (not open at this time :( ) , and we were soon out into the countryside, across meadows and along a little sunken lane. We then joined a steady stream of the going to Felbrigg Hall across the parkland - where we came across some gates of confusion which involved chains and pins. The day was warming up considerably, the shade of the big old trees much appreciated. We had cream teas at the Squire's Pantry, because it'd be rude not to.

We left the park via the lake and through woodland, on to quiet country lanes to Sustead village (black and white bird on roof) and up a farm track, which was also the lorry entrance. Thankfully our approach didn't coincide with any lorries.

Hanworth common is a apparently the largest enclosed common in England,  it had some gates and cattle grids, and greylag geese and goslings on pond. Around here a tree tried to steal my hat, and a sign warned us to beware of the peculiar dog.

The tarmac on road had begun to melt and we left a trail of footprints in it. A shady bench on the village green in Aldborough provided a perfect lunch spot, and it was decidedly quintessential. Although it wasn't warm enough for a couple of old timers on their allotment, who'd decided to have a fire.

At Thwaite Common we saw a warbler and some controversial belted galloway cows.

More lanes. And, if possible,  even hotter.
There was some sheep shearing taking place,  up on an open hillside, with skylarks, chaffinches and lots of pigeons. The Weavers's Way is named for the history of fabric in the area before the industrial revolution; we'll be going through Worstead...   now a commonly known woolly term. However although we've seen a few sheep, most of the land is now used for crop farming and posh houses.

One field of crops had a very bouncy deer in it. Also small red damselflies and big blue dragonflies.

Arriving at Blickling Hall, birthplace of Anne Boleyn, we entered the park by Fisherman's lake, where there were lots of benches. But we had no time for seats; we were going to have cake.  Coffee and cake was achieved at the National Trust cafe, which had the bonus of air-conditioning.

Then we were back out for the short walk on the lanes and footpaths (squirrel and mistle thrush) into Aylsham. It is hot, but at least we've managed to open the window. We haven't dared investigate the state of the Dairy Milk bar.

Round Norfolk Walk Day 10 - Cley To Cromer

Distance: 13.5 miles
Ascent: 150m
Weather: warm, sunny spells
Avocet, oystercatcher, common gulls, common terns, skylarks
Yellow horned poppy, teasles, thift, kidney vetch, escaped barley

A late-ish start, we were slowed even more by calling in at the delicatessen for very carefully prepared lunch.

The path follows the other side of the river to the beach - where some brave girls had been in for a dip. The tide was in and we walked along the pebbles a while, before moving down to the shoreline,  the wet sand easier going although we had to avoid the waves. A couple of seals popped their heads out of the water to watch us.

We had a elevenses after only 3.5 miles (shingle is slow) and some flapjack, deciding that the birds diving for fish are common terns.

At a low sandy bank, sand martens were flying in and out of holes, we left the beach to follow the path around the back of the mounds of gravel (apparently they used to move this to maintain the footpath but now just let nature take its course) where there was odd crunchy gravelly grass and patches of still wet bog. Jets were practising maneuvers and I was too  busy watching them and not where I was going, and now have one rather brown sock.

We passed the artillary guns of the Muckleburgh military collection, well fenced in, and walked on the shingle, which is slow going and hard on the ankles.

At Weybourne, various activities were taking place, sea fishing, oil painting,  bird watching and tank driving. Some children on a geography field trip were measuring things with with sticks and string and a couple in deckchairs were settled in for the day.

We left the pebbles and headed up on to the cliffs, which rose steadily higher. Over the fields, the steam trains were chuffing along merrily.

Sheringham golf course has holes on the grass up on the cliffs, partly terraced,  but still steep in places - one player was running down after their trolley. Up on the top of the cliffs is the lookout station with a few benches around it, one of which came free just as we approached so we took advantage and stopped for lunch. The jet fighters circled overhead.

At Sheringham we walked along the prom, passing the beach huts and the groynes. We missed the turning, possibly distracted by the groynes, so had to go back a bit. We went up to Beeston Bump, the top occupied by sparrows,  admiring the view to Cromer - caravans as far as the eye can see. Coming down the other side there is a small nature area with a board showing the things you can see, such as short-tailed voles and kestrels. The kestrel appeared to be holding something - which turned out to be a dead shrew that someone had left there.

The path into Cromer used to follow the cliff top but the cliff top is now cliff bottom in places, so there's some detouring required. Some of the caravan parks have paths along the edge, others are not so welcoming. In town, we visited the pier and have found the start of the Weaver's Way, which we'll be starting tomorrow.

Cley Windmill

Painted by me (a few years ago - as much as I'd love to say I just got my watercolours out and did it yesterday.)

Round Norfolk Walk Day 9 - Burnham Market to Cley Next The Sea

Distance: 20 miles
Ascent: 100m
Weather: sunny
Jellyfish trodden on: 1
Squirrel, green dragonfly, bunnies, hares
Fish, skylarks, marsh harriers, cormorant, redshank, ringed plover and babies, tern (little or sandwich?) Lesser black-backed gull, common gull, shelduck, avocet, sparrowhawk, kestrel,  buzzard, lots of pigeons, yellowhammer
Contests:
Egret vs plover (plover won)
Sparrow vs pied wagtail (sparrow won on points)

Crows vs buzzard (match drawn)

We walked along the sea barrier until we reached the sand dunes at Holkham Bay. The path goes through the dunes but the tide was starting to go out so we were able to walk along the beach. At Burrow Gap we turned inland slightly,  into pine woods, crunchy underfoot with pinecones.

The beach cafe provided coffee and rocky road (very late) elevenses, and tables for a welcome sit down. Lunch was soon after in Wells Next The Sea at the harbour, we found a free bench near to the tugboat yard. I got looked at by a herring gull but thankfully there was no repeat of the Llandudno mugging incident. Lots of people were sitting on the harbour wall crabbing, including a little girl who was very excited to have caught one and also bemused about what to do with it now.

Then we were back out on the sea defences and marshes with the birds, and the occasional tooting of the miniature railway. There were clear views over the marshes of Blakeney Island far off in the distance, with little boats dotted about here and there in the channels.

Cley Next The Sea's windmill guides you in along the river Glaven,  passing fields of  bunnies and a place called Cow Hole. There was a debate about how many buzzards we could see, and a sign about bearded reedlings, I'm hoping to see one of these.

We are staying at The George and our room is on the second floor, which is probably the highest we've been for days.

Round Norfolk Walk Day 8 - Sedgefield to Burnham Market

Distance: 21 miles
Ascent: 200m
Weather: warm and sunny, windy on the coast
Greenfinch, hare, mallards

Today's walk was considerably less straight than yesterday's.  It was very warm as we set off, laden down with water (some in glass bottles that were drunk and binned at the first opportunity)

A bit of walking by the road took us back to where we'd left the Peddar's Way yesterday evening,  and then we were on wide grassy tracks alongside fields, with wild borders and hedges.  Wildflowers including alexanders, devil's bit scabious, white campion, briar rose. Cow parsley, sweet ciciley and an absolutely giant thistle. In the very far distance I thought I had a possible first sighting of the sea, and it was! 5p to me! A bit further on we turned a corner, and there was definitely sand, water, off shore wind turbines and the Lincolnshire coast. Also some really nice houses.

We arrived at the sand dunes  and a sign that marked the end of our Peddar's Way walk. The actual route goes into Hunstanton,  but we're missing the end off and turning east along the coastal path. The salt marshes had lots of little egrets and black-headed gulls, and we saw a couple of terns. (Sandwich or little?)

There were typical seaside plants like thrift, pink and white striped bindweed, birds foot trefoil and tormantil - some people were taking photos, we hope of the flowers, not of dog poo which was also attracting quite a lot of attention.
Ice creams were had at the nature reserve visitor centre and we used their environmentally friendly natural toilets. Not quite so friendly on the nose.

We stopped for first lunch at a bench overlooking the salt marsh, watching the plovers and badly behaved pets.

The path takes a funny detour around Titchwell, up a road, and along a road and the around a field edge before reaching a track that leads back to the coast at Brancaster. This is probably to avoid walking along the main road as there's no access through the marsh there. It looks to be a great spot for blackberry picking later in the year. Up one of the lanes was a scruffy little hippy camp site, and judging by the blankets hung out from the trees, it is wash day.

Back on the coast, there was a section on a narrow strip of wooden board walk, where we met a few other walkers, in various states of cheerfulness. A late second lunch was had at a bench by some reedbeds, where we heard a cuckoo and warblers. There are some very posh houses along here, although the flood markers are sobering, especially the one from 1953 that was almost at head height, well above some of the lower lying properties.

At Deepdale and Norton marshes we walked around the sea defences, a big dyke drained by a water pump creating agricultural land and wetland on one side and tidal salt marshes on the other.

We saw a lot of birds, despite the wind and lack of binoculars, including lapwing, avocets and babies, redshank, golden plover, reed bunting, tufty duck, coot and babies, shoveler, shelduck,pied wagtail and a mute swan. There was lots of activity on some of the farther ponds, but it was too far to see without bins. We decided it was probably for the best that we didn't have ours,  as we'd probably still be out there.

We left the path near the pretty Burnham Overy windmill and detoured inland along Marsh Lane (a green lane that wasn't itself marshy) to Burnham Market . We are staying at The Nelson,  named after the Lord Admiral,  who was from round here.

Round Norfolk Walk Day 7 - Castle Acre to Sedgefield

Distance: 16.5 miles
Ascent: 200m
Weather: very warm and sunny
Number of people who saw stoats: 2
Scrambling bikes 7
Creaky land-rover 1
Walkers 2
Yellowhammer, chiffchaff, buzzard.

Those Romans really knew how to build straight roads. The GPS track of today's route could have been drawn with a ruler.

The first couple of miles out of the village were along lanes, although they were quiet it still isn't much fun walking along a road. For a while the route went along a permissive path by the field edge, which seemed to have been lately mostly frequented by moles. The map shows some really odd field patterns here but disappointingly there was nothing to see when we got there, just normal large arable fields. Apparently the mapping publishers sometimes put odd things on to stop people copying the maps, so it could be something like that. Still a shame.

We left the road at a trig point (92m!) where our route went straight on and the road turned ever so slightly to the right. We stopped to faff with socks, turning around to see a vintage car approaching the corner. It had a proper comedy horn.

For the rest of the day we were on bridleways and flinty green lanes, with arable fields and occasional pig farms, near to Mad Dog Lane and Cockyhoop.

A stoat crossed in front of us, with something in its mouth. Probably a mouse. We stopped for tea and Danish pastries under shade of an oak tree.  An old motorbike trundled by.

Along the Peddars Way there are arty poem stones with inscriptions and we passed one today that included a new word for us.  "Pightle" means small piece of enclosed land often by a hedge.

The path was grassy with tumulus on either side, hares lolloping and a proper norfolk sheep with horns. The iron and bronze age burial chambers form part of a large number around Anmer and Bircham.

We stopped to let a group of bikers pass, followed by a chap on a much bigger bike who looked as though he might be having second thoughts. There wasn't anywhere to stop for lunch for quite a while, as the track was lined by hedges and trees, it was quite tight when a land-rover came along.

We stopped for lunch at a grassy patch where a path to private land joined. It was very warm and we aborted trying to open the dairy milk bar as it was too squidgy.

A warm but pleasant afternoon walk along grassy tracks over rolling hills, under big skies. We turned off the way to detour into Sedgefield, which seems to be world of holiday cottage.

Round Norfolk Walk Day 6 - Wretham to Castle Acre

Distance: 21 miles
Ascent: 150m
Weather: warm and sunny
Number of people who saw a stoat: 1  :(
Number of people who saw a shrew: 2!
Also: Pheasants, yellowhammer, buzzard,  lapwing,  kestrels, hare, squirrels, bunnies
Discarded slippers: 1

We set off at 8:20 after an early breakfast and watching the election results (we'd done our postal votes last week.)

It was a warm humid  morning, the route turning away from the busy main road almost straight away and up a quiet lane with farms dotted about, barley and wheat fields with pheasants. The lane petered out into a track entering tall pine woods, with plenty of squirrels, cuckoos and chiff chaffs calling. The land to the left side was military firing range (including potato fields) and to the right was more deciduous, with green undergrowth and ferns, honeysuckle, tall colourful foxgloves,  pink and white campion, briar rose, forget me nots, thrift and of course plenty of nettles.

The Peddars Way goes north following the course of an old roman road, although it's supposedly even older than that. Peddar comes from ye olde English word for pedestrian, so the name simply means footpath.

The grassy path through Blackrabbit Warren was lined with old trees, through wide fields. It was very peaceful, with birds singing and butterflies flitting about. Explosions and machine gun fire could be heard in the distance.

The path ended at a road, which we had to walk alongside for a while, on the verge and around field edges behind a hedge. We went into village of Little Cressingham,  where we sat by the crossroads for tea and biscuits.  Leaving the village we saw very different designs of windmills, old and modern, side by side.

We walked a while along hedge lined lanes, with the bird song of sparrows, chaffinches and goldfinches. A buzzard was being harassed by a couple of crows overhead and they made it drop the rabbit carcass it'd been carrying.  Thankfully it missed us.

Lunch was had in North Pickenham on a bench by a statue of an Norman soldier... a chap in a helmet stood in a plant pot.

The afternoon's walk was uninspiring; walking on roads, occasionally on verges next to roads, or in fields behind a hedge next to but still pretty much right by the road. A stoat was spotted but I was looking at the map.

South Acre and Castle Acre are very pretty, set in valleys with ruins of old priories and castles, now guarded by rabbits.

Round Norfolk Walk Day 5 - Diss to Wreatham

Distance: 22.5 miles
Ascent: 200m
Weather: overcast,  warm, humid
Mostly: nettles,  pigeons and bunnies
Swears 2
Also: Baby pheasants, skylarks, red-legged (French?) partridge, possible Norfolk sheep sighting, lapwing, curlew,  lost dog, a turkey!

We were up and off early as today's walk would be a long one. The hotel is right on the route, although we did have to cross the car park. We left Diss by Roydon Fen. Which according to the information board was home to bears and beavers. Once. Hopefully no bears now.

We crossed Wrotham heath common, which had short dry heathery moss gorse lichen and was very rabbity. With kestrels and lots of noisy rooks. The bunnies were out later than usual today, but soon made up for it.

Into Redgrave Fen nature reserve by a narrow path alongside a garden which was very overgrown, not helped by the heavy rain last night and we got very wet legs. According to one report I read, they have rare great raft spiders here but I didn't see one. Or even any spiders on crappy rafts.

Rob has found an app which lists the positions of benches, so our break for elevenses was planned with military precision, but when we got there, the bench was crawling with mites so we rejected it and carried on.

We passed the source of the River Waveney,  and saw some squirrel frolics.

Around the back of an enormous poultry factory we descended into nettle hell. An overgrown footbridge led into Hinterclay Fen and the path was abandoned in favour of the less nettly undergrowth.
Finally,  stung over hands and legs, even an armpit,  we emerged onto an area of short grass and relief. There was a carved bench, but it was right next to the big chain link fence, so we rejected that one too. Finally we found a bench overlooking a reed bed where we stopped for elevenses. We were just unpacking the provisions when we were ambushed by a squirrel.

We sat for a while with the birds, including reed bunting, chiff chaff, house marten, swallow, swifts, buzzard, sedge warbler. It is getting noticeably drier around here, leaving the fens, but there were still patches of damp ground with reeds, yellow flag iris and southern marsh orchids.

At Hopton there are a couple of shops plus stalls outside houses where people are selling their wares. We decided that we were OK for ceramics and cabbages.

We crossed some fields,  seeing a deer and hearing cuckoos. There were some cinnabar moths,  flocks of fieldfares, but mostly pigeons. The darkening skies began to drizzle but the shower was short and we soon dried out. 

Riddlesworth Hall is now a big posh school, set in parkland, which are planted with potatoes.

The Angle's Way goes into Thetford,  but isn't marked on the map beyond Knettishall Heath, which is where we leave it, and also start the Peddar's Way. They are at different ends of the country park though, so for a bit we were in walk limbo.

We had our lunch on a bench just before start of the Peddar's Way, and then went to go to look at the signs at the actual beginning. It meant retracing our steps but it wasn't far. The Peddar's Way heads north through tall woods, with foxgloves. Then there was an outdoor pig farm on one side, where the pigs were snoozing, rootling around and bathing in their water troughs.

The path was clear and straight through woodland, there were some scramblers whizzing up and down the straight track next to the path, there were tyre tracks on the path too but we didn't encounter any, and we passed a young couple who asked us if we'd seen their dog, which we hadn't, however a few minutes later said dog appeared and was willing to approach us, so we were able to return it to its owners.

We crossed a busy dual carriage way - 5pm probably not being the best time to attempt it, and then walked down a forestry commission lane with a military firing range keep out signs on one side. A bunny was a risk and sitting in it.
 
Being forestry commission,  there were lots of pine trees.  We'd done about twenty miles by now and feet were hurting. The stone gravel they'd put down was not appreciated.

We passed a smallholding with a field of rhubarb, got barked at again by dogs and saw a real Norfolk turkey!

Arrived at the Dog and Partridge, which is right on the route,  couldn't really be any closer unless the path went through the bedroom. We had a couple of pints, a real country dinner and an early night.

Round Norfolk Walk Day 4 - Harleston to Diss

Distance: 13.5 miles
Ascent: 150m
Weather: windy, sunny spells

Bunnies and hares, oystercatcher, pheasants, kestrel, squirrels, vole

A shorter day today - although 'short' is relative, the receptionist at the hotel nodded smiling, the lady at the bakery where we bought stuff for lunch seemed horrified.

We started with a few miles of pretty wooded pasture, with lots of bunnies and cows, butterflies and crows. This led to a clearing with mown grass and a little bench and table next to the riverbank, complete with fairy lights. We wondered if we'd wandered into someone's garden but the nearest houses were about a third of a mile away.  So we had a sit and it was very pleasant.

We walked through the village of Brockdish, passing the church and then going through a big gate in a massive fence that seemed unnecessarily high to protect their small playing field, which was very overgrown,  certainly not exactly old Trafford. The reason was the busy bypass on the other side of a line of trees.

Our path was mossy tarmac, the old road   now returning to nature. Turning down around a field edge, it wasn't clear which side of the field boundary the path was on, so we plumped for the side nearest the field as there were tracks. After a short while Rob noticed that there was actually a narrow grassy lane down behind the trees, and we should probably be there instead. So we braved a nettley verge to get to the path, about twenty yards before there was a gap we could have easily walked through.

At this point a man in a van drove past and I commented he was coming to tell us off for walking on his nettles.  Ten minutes later he came back and shouted something at us.  The nettle police! But it was fine, he was just asking about the conditions down in the lower footpath and said we could walk up there if we wanted. The footpath was clear (pic below)  so we assured him we were fine.

It was a pretty path lined with big old oak trees and elderflower trees, then passing a meandering river through a buttercup meadow. Above us, skylarks, swifts and goldfinches were flying and there were lots of insects buzzing around.

We stopped for lunch at a junction of a couple of paths, watching the bees on the clover.

At Scole we had a look at a ford across the river, it was quite deep and thankfully there was a little bridge further along. A bird of prey (sparrowhawk?)  flew past with something small and brown in its talons.

We walked through Diss via the Mere, with ducks, coots, pigeons and a great crested grebe, to the Park Hotel. Rob listened to the cricket, I had a nap and we're now going to investigate dinner.

Round Norfolk Walk Day 3 - Bungay to Harleston

Distance: 16.3 miles
Ascent: 250m
Weather: overcast, wind and rain in afternoon
Bunnies,  squirrels, roe deer, buzzard, hares,  green woodpecker.

After posting yesterday's blog, we went out for dinner and called in at the Green Dragon pub for a pint first, as they have their own brewery. The beer was good and there was also morris dancing in the courtyard,  which was very jolly. We walked back to the hotel via Bigod's Castle, a ruin in the middle of the town that was quite atmospheric in the gloom (after a few drinks..)

We were at breakfast at seven thirty, and there were patches of blue sky and it wasn't as wet out as expected.  Yet.

We left town, dodging the traffic (the streets here are really narrow, so they've  introduced a one way system, with the unfortunate side effect that drivers seem to think they're at a street race) and then rejoined the Angle's Way at Ditchingham.

Going through a small wood, we went through a gate and up hill. Quite a steep bit of up hill. The path follows the edge of the hillside around Bath Hills, which is steeply wooded around Outney Common, making a big loop around the north of Bungay. There were deer, pheasants and squirrels along the way, which was a pretty tunnel of trees with plenty of nettles and undergrowth, thankfully recently strimmed.

About half way around the loop, the path joined a narrow lane with some farms and houses, before passing a gravel works, after which the road widened and we encountered more traffic. The gravel truck drivers were friendly and courteous,  the other drivers not so much.

We'd read that a diversion to the path had been put in place last year because of a damaged bridge at Stow Fen, and it still is. It looks like may be in place some time yet. So back to Bungay we went. Most of the detour is along roads (there was an interesting old brick house at Temple Bar which had very tudor chimneys and a thatched roof) which skirt around the village and past a garden centre, so we called in for a cream tea. It started raining and continued raining for the rest of the day.

Leaving the road we went up hill, around the fields towards Uplandhill Farm, seeing a fox making off with his lunch (possibly a rabbit) but mostly it was heads down against the wind and rain, thankful for the occasional shelter provided by trees. We saw a yellow bird that we can't identify, and the peculiar smell was identified as coming from the mushroom farm.

Flixton Park has the ruins of a tudor mansion just visible across a field, but the main thing noticeable are the great big sand and gravel pits. One was full of water and some ducks were enjoying the weather.

We stopped at a bench near the church for a damp lunch, the trees providing better shelter than we'd appreciated at the time, it really was very wet and windy as we left the woods and crossed Limbourne Common. We had a close view of a buzzard, met some cows and saw a higgledy-piggledy house.

Round Norfolk Walk Day 2 - Oulton Broad to Bungay

Distance: 18 miles
Ascent: less than yesterday
Weather: warm and sunny,  breezy
Midge bites: 1
Lizards: 1
Bunny score: two all
Buzzard, cuckoo, partridge, swifts, shallows, mallards, chiff chaff.

We were away from the Wherry just after 8:30am, crossing the broad over the footbridge by the yacht station and into the park.

The path leads out of town to the Carlton Marshes Nature Reserve,  passing a new caravan park which according to the sign should be opening this summer - they'd better get a shift on.

At the nature reserve, we were greeted by a woolly moth caterpillar and some fluffy ducklings. The path follows the River Waveney as it wends its way along through the marshes, grassy flats on either side with cattle grazing, drainage ditches and ponds. There were a couple of people out walking but mostly it was just us.

The path to Beccles is about 7 miles along by the river, with the rustling of reeds, highlighted by yellow flag iris and poppies, and chirping of reed buntings and sedge warblers. We saw a couple of marsh harriers and kestrels flying around and on the water there were families of swans, Canada geese and oodles of greylags, plus the occasional passing boat.

At six mile corner, we'd done five and a half miles. A sternly worded letter of complaint is being drafted.

Towards Beccles the path became a bit more grassy and overgrown, although there were more people, quite a crowd at one point. The only benches of the day were concentrated along a short stretch nearest town, we didn't sit as we hadn't any lunch yet and it was drizzling slightly.

After Beccles we left the river and the path went around arable fields, we stopped for lunch at a grassy spot near to Barsham Hall.

A tree lined path led towards Bungay, before depositing us by the side of a busy road and then along what was probably once a quiet lane but at 4 o'clock was a rat run of school run traffic and lorries. We passed the Warnford Malthouse, which is very industrial looking and crossed a narrow bridge, with care as no one was for slowing down.

We crossed some cow fields, and met some very happy cows. Bungay is very pretty and we are staying at the Castle Inn - it has very authentic olde worlde floors.

Round Norfolk Walk Day 1 - Yarmouth to Oulton Broad

Distance: 20 miles
Ascent: 100m ish
Weather: warm and sunny, bit breezy

After a warm night, complete with fireworks (earplugs went in not long after they'd started)  we were down for breakfast on the terrace for 8am. It was sunny and warm, with a bit of a breeze off the sea and extremely pleasant.

We set off walking at 9:30, heading back through town (spurning Greggs!) and were soon on the Angle's Way (named after the Angles the people, not because it is angled, although bits of it are) and out on the banks of Braydon Water - along with many dog walkers,  although we were soon of our own.

The riverside path is lined with  wildflowers and has on the one side the River Yare,  with boats travelling up and down in the channel marked with posts on either side of the wide mudflats, and to the other side a reedy drainage channel,  where there were lots of reed buntings and sedge warblers. We saw lots of dragonflies and mayflies,  bees, butterflies (including some small blues), skylarks and a man harvesting mud.

Also seen: grey heron, shelduck, redshank, mallards, little egrets, black-backed gull, black headed gull, two marsh harriers, oystercatcher, mute swan and a couple of kestrels.

We left the path briefly at Burgh Castle to look at the remains of the roman fort Gariannonvm, which is pretty impressive, some of the very thick walls were leaning over rather alarmingly.

We stopped for a sit down and elevenses by some moorings by the river, enjoying the blue skies with fluffy white clouds, windmills and boats, then we turned inland, following the footpath signs, which round here also show distances to pubs and fish and chips shops, which is handy.

We detoured through Belton to visit the shop but were soon back on the Way, passing a horse sanctuary, with lots of donkies and then Fritton Decoy, which is a lake which was a secret tank facility during the war.

After here we went downhill, which was unexpected because we hadn't noticed any up, into woods where the paths are lined with dark murky ponds, and there's quite a lot of wooden boardwalks.

Passing a farm, we saw a 'sheep grazing' sign and then got barked at by some funny looking sheep.

We had lunch by thatched church St Mary s Ashby, which is a popular spot, we just managed to snag a bench.

Somerleyton has a big house that we didn't visit, with very pretty houses around a pretty green. There was loud singing of Spirit in the Sky coming from somewhere, either they had a band on at the pub or outdoor karaoke, either way the chap wasn't up for letting anyone else have a go. The path takes you all around the village rather unnecessarily unless you want the train station, so we were treated to much singing..

There was a pretty path along the edge of woods near Blundeston Marshes and Flixton Marshes, the woods were quite dank, but we saw a normal deer, Muntjac deer, swifts, a coot carrying a very long reed, squirrels and bunnies. Coming into Oulton Marshes you can't really see the river due to the big houses in the way.

We are staying at the Wherrybridge and have been upgraded to the King Suite.

Around Norfolk Walk - Day 0

So the day of departure has arrived and we are in Great Yarmouth ready to set off tomorrow on our big walk around Norfolk. I've never been to this part of the country before,  and to be honest I'm not quite sure what to expect - other than it's flat. When Rob was printing out the maps he thought that the printer had broken because there was no shading, but the printer was fine, there just isn't enough elevation or contour lines to register on the mapping software.

The train journey from Manchester went  fine, although it took a very long time on very slow trains that changed the direction they faced numerous times, and on the last bit of the journey the carriages were so old fashioned that the doors had to be opened using the handle on the outside, by lowering the window. We saw deer, bunnies and  buzzards and another bird of prey and there was binocular-regret.

We have been for a walk along the seafront, running the seagull gauntlet.

The view from our hotel room of old trucks, including des horse res, as there is a vintage car rally on this weekend.