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.
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