Norfolk

Think of Norfolk and you most probably think of the Norfolk Broads, those lovely stretches of water linked by the rivers Bure, Ant and Thurne. Although the Broads are primarily known for their boating holidays, this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, soon to become a National Park, has beautiful scenery, pretty villages such as Potter Heigham and Horning, and can be enjoyed by walking as well as boating. The Broads were cut in the middle Ages by peat-diggers, and they have been plied ever since by all manner of craft. There are windmills to explore, good pubs for lunch, and abundant birdlife to observe, including Coots, Crested Grebe, and Marsh Harriers. With stunning sunsets in summer, misty mornings in autumn and the breeze rustling the reeds in winter, the Norfolk Broads offer something for every season.

The picturesque North norfolk coastline stretches for 43 miles and three quarters of this coastline is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and an important conservation area. The bustling seaside resorts, once tiny isolated fishing communities, have maintained some of their character and are still working ports with crab and fishing boats still putting out to sea. The coastal and inland areas are ideal for walking, with fresh green countryside in spring, colourful poppies dotted about in summer, and the lovely russet trees in autumn. Towards the west end of this coastline the villages of Titchwell, Thornham, Brancaster and the Burnhams look out across wide windswept marshes towards the sea. Further west still is Holme-next-the-Sea where the Peddars Way long distance path meets the Norfolk coast Path. Further south the Peter Scott Walk follows the old sea bank along the Wash from King's Lynn. This historic port on the river Great Ouse is also the finish of the Fen Rivers Way, a long distance path between Cambridge and King's Lynn that traces the course of the rivers that drain slowly across the Fens into the Wash.

The Fens, an area of dykes, ditches, rivers and remote villages created by centuries of reclamation provide an altogether different landscape. Downham Market, a small hillside town on the edge of the Fens, provides an ideal base from which to explore the surrounding countryside and waterways. The recently restored Denver Mill nearby is well worth a visit.

	Guide Books: [For further information or to purchase]
	100 Walks in Norfolk compiled by: Chris Chorley, Bill Pywell, Bobbie Sauerzapf, James Saunders. An omnibus of local walks covering the whole of Norfolk. The wide choice of routes are predominantly located in the eastern half of the county, including the Broads, but no matter where you find yourself, a walk in this book will not be far away. The walks vary in length from 2 to 11 miles, the majority being in the 4/6 mile range. They are listed in the contents by length, making it easy to find routes that suit your circumstances. In addition to the route descriptions, details are given of points of interest along the way, places to eat and drink and where to park the car.
	Norfolk Walks Pathfinder Guide compiled by: John Brooks. 28 colour-coded routes to choose from, all tried and tested by seasoned walkers and varying from extended strolls to exhilarating hikes. OS Explorer mapping. The guide introduces you to the area and highlights the most scenic walks. OS mapping is included, with the route clearly outlined in yellow. The walking routes include Acle, Aylsham, Shotesham, Breydon Water, Castle Rising and Roydon Common, Great Fransham and Little Dunham, Downham Market, Langmere and the Devil's Punchbowl, Thetford and the Little Ouse, Mannington Hall and the Bure Valley, Narborough, Ringstead Downs, Santon Downham and Weeting Castle, Westwick Woods and Long Stratton. Several of the walks follow long distance paths for a short distance.
	Village Walks in Norfolk by: Liz Moynihan. The twenty routes in this book introduce the walker to nature reserves, watermills, windmills, and a narrow gauge railway. The villages on which the walks are based have been carefully chosen for their interest and beauty. Among the most picturesque are Castle Rising, Burnham Market, Hingham, Kenninghall and the old fishing port of Blakeney. The walks vary in length from 2 to 6.5 miles. In addition there is a seperate section about places of interest to visit such as Sandringham House, Pensthorpe Waterfowl Park and Cockley Cley Iceni Village.
	Adventurous Pub Walks in Norfolk by: Will Martin. In this guide the routes are a little longer, from 7 to 11 miles, and a little more adventurous and challenging. Each walk description includes details of how to get to the start, parking and refreshment details. Key points on the sketch maps are cross referenced to the text and there is information on the area's history, flora and fauna. The twenty walk locations are: Castle Rising; Thornham; Narborough; Oxborough; Warham; Colkirk; Caston; South Lopham; West Runton; Itteringham; Marsham; Honingham; Wreningham; Tivetshall St Mary; Southrepps; Shotesham; East Ruston; Rockland St Mary; Thurne; Halvergate Marshes.
	Best Tea Shop walks in Norfolk by:Norman & June Buckley. The 30 walk locations are: Sandringham Country Park; Snettisham; Great Bircham; North Creake; Burnham Market; Brancaster; Wells-next-the-sea; Little Walsingham and Great Snoring; Blakeney and Cley-next-the-Sea; Holt; Sheringham Park; Pretty Corner and Beeston Priory; Overstrand; Baconsthorpe; Aldborough; Mannington Estate; Heydon; Reepham; Blickling Hall; Coltishall and the Bure Valley; Ludham; Potter Heigham; Horsey Mill; Stokesby; Filby; Wymondham; Thetford Forest; Castle Acre; Oxburgh Hall; Downham Market.