Explore Norfolk's National Trail with a Cicerone guidebook

Description

With big skies, wild marshland, dramatic clifftops and sandy beaches, the 96 miles of the Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path National Trail offers eight delightful days of accessible walking with good transport links and accommodation, making it easy to tackle as a series of day walks or a few long weekends.

The 49 miles of the Peddars Way starts in the heart of East Anglia near Thetford. It follows the route of a Roman road through rural Norfolk, passing picture-perfect villages accessed by walkways lined with Scots pine, and ends in Hunstanton, where it joins the Norfolk Coast Path.

From here the 47 mile Norfolk Coast Path follows a spectacular coastline, Hunstanton's dramatic striped cliffs gradually giving way to the wildness of a less commercial coastline, with the opportunity to glimpse rare sea birds above the salt marshes on the approach to the trail's end at the pier in Cromer.

This National Trail is fully waymarked on well-established paths and bridleways. There are no steep hills, but care should be taken on or near crumbling clifftops. The route can be undertaken at any time of year, the Coasthopper bus providing and easy escape from anywhere along the coast should the weather turn bad. Cyclists should note that while the Peddars Way can be followed with just a few minor deviations, bikes are not permitted on the coastal section of the trail.

This guidebook describes the route in eight easy stages perfect for the novice long-distance walker, with plenty of local history, wildlife and accommodation information.

•    illustrated with OS map extracts and inspiring photographs
•    points of interest explained including the Norfolk Songlines sculptures along the way
•    facilities in the towns and villages described in detail
 

• Seasons
  with the least rainfall in the UK and a normally sunny outlook this long distance path can be enjoyed year round
• Centres
  Knettishall, Little Cressingham, Castle Acre, Snettisham, Hunstanton, Brancaster, Wells next to the Sea, Blakeney, Sheringham and Cromer
• Difficulty
  a waymarked National Trail so easy to follow; no huge sections of ascent or difficult terrain; mostly on forest tracks, country lanes, sand, waterside paths and cliff tops; easy-moderate with the length being the only thing some may find a challenge
• Must See
  an old Roman Road, an array of birds (observatories too), windmills, churches, picturesque villages, castle ruins, earthworks, Bronze Age tumuli, carved stone sculptures, sand dunes, striped cliffs, extensive sea views, salt marshes and traditional British seaside resorts

August 2016

The stretch between Weybourne and Sea Palling now officially forms part of the National Trail (and part of the first official stretch of the England Coast Path). This means that the route between Sheringham and Cromer continues along the coastline, rather than diverting inland as it used to. 

This new stretch has been signposted with waymarks and bespoke fingerposts displaying the National Trail acorn symbol. For those who still want to walk the 'original' route, this is still an option, and is signposted as a circular walk instead.

Thanks to Stuart Braddock.

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