The Peddar’s Way & Norfolk Coast Path

The Peddar’s Way and Norfolk Coast Path in fact starts in Suffolk at Knettishall Heath Country Park, to then follow the route of the old Roman road to Holme-next-the-Sea on the north Norfolk coast. At Holme the Peddars Way merges into the Norfolk Coast Path, which runs from Hunstanton to Cromer. This is easy walking through fascinating countryside full of contrasts between rolling open farmland, salt marshes, sandy beaches, cliffs, dunes and of course the Brecks (a unique landscape of forest, open heathland and agricultural land, and home to many unique or distinctive birds, plants and animals).

Itinerary:

Peddar's Way

Day 1: Arrive Thetford, for overnight.

Day 2: Knettishall Heath to Little Cressingham. 14 ½ miles (23km). Transfer from Thetford to trailhead is included in the tour price. Start the Peddars Way here, where the last ice age over 12,000 years ago left pingo ponds and curious patterns in the heath land vegetation.

Day 3: Little Cressingham to Castle Acre. 11 miles (18.7km). From the water and windmill of Little Cressingham to the popular village of Castle Acre, the sense of history is ever present. At Houghton-on-the-Hill is the church of St. Mary's and its 11th Century wall paintings.

Day 4: Castle Acre to Sedgeford. 13.9 miles (22km). This is old heathland, ploughed to wide cropped farm fields in the early 20th century, beneath the wide canopy of the sky.

Day 5: Sedgeford to Hunstanton. 8.9 miles (14.2km). Walk along a former railway line, as the local building material of carrstone appears, giving a warm glow to houses. Finally, your first glimpse of the sea.

Day 6: Depart from Hunstanton after breakfast

Price:

£695.00 per person based on two sharing one room

Single supplement on request

Norfolk Coast Path

This is a route of sea, sand, marsh and sky with small harbours and flint villages. This is the Norfolk coast AONB, internationally renown for its wildlife. See winter flights of pink-footed geese, as you have never seen before, silhouetted against the evening sky. Experience the wild remoteness of a lonely sea bank. Intersperse the natural world with the warmth of village life and you have a wonderful experience.

Day 1: Arrive Hunstanton for over night

Day 2: Walk to Brancaster and overnight, 10 miles. On a clear day see the Lincolnshire coast and beyond, the Wolds area of outstanding natural beauty.

Day 3: Walk to Wells-next-the-Sea and overnight, 12 miles. The wild coastal route continues, interrupted, perhaps, by a visit to Holkham Hall, home of the 19th Century agriculture improver, Thomas Coke. Wells-next-the-Sea has a fine mix of historic buildings, and the old port.

Day 4: Walk to Cley-next the Sea and overnight, 11 miles. You might catch a glimpse of bait diggers on the mud flats; or you could take a trip from Morston to see the seals. Walk grassy paths overlooking one of the most important areas of salt marsh in Europe and see a wide variety of birdlife at Cley-next-the-Sea.

Day 5: Walk to Cromer and overnight, 13 miles. Norfolk's cliffs are not huge but, deposited by the retreating ice of 12,000 years ago, these cliffs have yielded mammoth bones. Climb the Cromer ridge before descending through woodland to Cromer itself, with its pier, and its ales and seafood.

Day 6: Departure after breakfast.

Price:

£695.00 per person based on two sharing one room.

Practical Information:

ACCOMMODATION:

Accommodation in Bed and Breakfasts and country inns, all rooms with private bathrooms.

Sometimes it may be necessary to book a bed and breakfast with shared bathrooms, but we would liaise with you to explain why and give you other options (i.e an upgrade to a better hotel) if no other accommodation was available.

WHAT TO TAKE

Sturdy walking boots and walking socks (with a change of socks in rucksack), rucksack/day pack, 1 x water bottle with 1 litre capacity, insect repellent, sun glasses, sun hat, sun block/cream, compass, torch, first-aid kit

WHEN TO GO

April to October. Accommodation will be difficult to obtain on UK national holidays unless booked well in advance (and may require an alteration to the programme).

GETTING THERE:

Peddars Way:

London Stansted is the closest airport with frequent flights, and Thetford can be reached by train from here approx 1hr 30 mins.

Other London airports such as Heathrow or Luton are options as well as Norwich airport.

Hunstanton is not served by railway so public transportation is limited to bus services that run to Kings Lynn from where onward trains can be taken.

Norfolk Coast Path:

London airports are the closest with frequent flights. Trains can be taken to Kings Lynn from where a bus needs to be taken to Hunstanton

Cromer has a railway station and train services can be taken towards London, although journeys may involve changes.

INCLUDED:

B and B accommodation number of nights dependent on chosen itinerary; breakfasts; luggage transportation; route notes and maps.

NOT INCLUDED:

Lunches, dinners, drinks, insurance, anything not mentioned in programme.

INSURANCE

We recommend that you take out appropriate holiday insurance covering you against illness, injury, and loss or damage to luggage. This insurance should also cover the possibility of your having to cancel your holiday for whatever reason.