Top 8 Winter Walks in Norfolk
There’s nothing quite like it. Wrapping up warm, donning your boots and heading out into the crisp winter air, hoping to encounter a welcoming pub enroute. If, like us, you love a winter walk, Norfolk is the perfect place.
We’ve picked a few of our favourite walking routes close to our Norfolk homes. If you’ve recently moved here and are wondering where to walk in Norfolk, these suggestions should start you off on the right path.
Here’s our guide to the top 8 winter walks in Norfolk.
Walk 1: Near Queen’s Meadow, Holt
If you live in or around Holt in Norfolk, you’re in luck: Holt Country Park is a wonderful place for a walk. This 100-acre site has beautiful mixed woodland and a network of paths. We love this six-mile walk that takes in both the park and the pretty village of Letheringsett with its church and watermill.
Grade:
It’s a nice leisurely walk of just under six miles. In wet weather, you can always stick to the paths in the park instead.
Dog Friendly?
Dogs are welcome, but please keep them under control at all times and use the dog bins.
See our Hopkins Homes development in Queen’s Meadow, Holt.
Walk 2: Near Church Farm, Drayton
The Marriott’s Way passes through Drayton. This 26-mile trail runs between Norwich and Aylesford, and so you can head in either direction or choose a short section for a pleasant stroll. This well-maintained Way is a Sustrans cycle path and bridleway as well as a footpath, and because it follows the route of disused railway lines, it is generally easy-going.
Grade:
The whole pathway is easy and flat, and the length of the walk is up to you. You could walk the 5.3 miles from Drayton to Norwich, then catch the 13-minute bus ride home.
Dog Friendly?
It’s a lovely route for a dog walk: just be aware that you share the path with cyclists and riders.
Find out more about living in Drayton in our new homes at Church Farm.
Walk 3: Near Kingsfleet, Thetford
One of our favourite Norfolk winter walks is in Thetford Forest, where the evergreen trees give you colour and cover all through the year. There’s a choice of four trails at High Lodge in the Forest, ranging from 1 to 12 km. We recommend the Heritage Trail, which passes through some beautiful scenery and has a good firm surface for wheelchairs and buggies.
Grade:
This particular 2.6-mile trail is described by Forestry England as “easy access”.
Dog Friendly?
Your pooch is welcome to join you on the trail.
Discover Thetford living in our Kingsfleet homes.
Walk 4: The Norfolk Coast
Blakeney Point is a coastal nature reserve managed by the National Trust, made up from a shingle spit, sand dunes and salt marshes. There’s a bracing four-mile coastal walk along the spit to the old lifeboat house with an extra bonus at this time of year: it’s seal pupping season. If you love ozone-fresh air and wildlife spotting, this is one of the most scenic winter walks in Norfolk.
Grade:
The National Trust grades this route as “moderate” and the soft shingle can be tricky to walk on.
Dog Friendly?
Dogs aren’t allowed on this walk because it’s a sensitive breeding site for various species.
Walk 5: The Norfolk Broads
RSPB Strumpshaw Fen on the River Yare is a lovely place for a winter walk in Norfolk, with its reed beds, woods and meadows. There’s a choice of three trails at the reserve, and the Woodland Trail is the best in the winter (it’s the least muddy). Another reason for choosing this as a favourite winter walk: you can pick up a restorative cuppa here all year.
Grade:
The 1.1-mile trail is pretty gentle, but uneven in places.
Dog Friendly?
Dogs aren’t allowed on the reserve; however, dog walkers can park at Strumpshaw Fen and walk along the path towards RSPB Buckenham Marshes.
Our homes at Brundall Meadows are close to Strumpshaw Fen.
Walk 6: A Walk Through History
Where better for a historic walk than in Norfolk’s capital, Norwich? We love the three new walking routes around the city’s lesser known lanes and narrow passageways called “Norwich’s Nooks & Crannies”. The short walks (each one around 2 miles) start and end at the marketplace and take you off on an adventure through the city’s past. You can join the routes together for a longer walk or treat yourself to three separate trips.
Grade:
All three walks are great in the winter – there’s less mud in the city! The West walk has the most obstacles for wheelchairs and pushchairs and there are the occasional steps; however, because it’s in a city, you can easily stray from the path for a while then pick up the route again on the flat.
Dog Friendly?
While dogs are welcome across town, the city’s streets aren’t always the best fun for dogs. Combine one of the walks with a scamper in Eaton Park?
image credit: Visitnorfolk.co.uk
Walk 7: A Hidden Gem
This 5.5-mile route has everything you could possibly want in a winter walk – but ssssh, don’t tell everyone about the Salthouse Circular Way or they’ll grab the best tables at the Dun Cow at the end. The Way takes in heathland, marshes and the coast, with beautiful views from Bard Hill. Finishing with food and wood fires at the pub make this the perfect cold-day walk.
Grade:
Moderate: there’s a bit of a climb up the hill as well as shingle underfoot.
Dog Friendly?
Dogs aren’t permitted in the Cley Nature Reserve, which the Way passes through. Come back with your pup on another occasion for an invigorating run along the beach at Salthouse.
Walk 8: Longer Winter Walks in Norfolk
Fancy a longer walk? How does 83 miles sound? Well, you don’t have to walk the full length of the Iceni Way in one go; however, covering the route in stages is a great way to spend some sunny winter weekends. A lovely stretch follows the Little Ouse Path that links Thetford and Brandon. This 10-mile route goes along the old towpath for a while.
Grade:
Easy to moderate and can get a bit muddy in wet weather.
Dog Friendly?
It’s a lovely place to take the dog for a riverside walk.
image credit: Visitnorfolk.co.uk
Living in Norfolk
These are just some of the top walks in Norfolk in winter – it was actually hard to narrow it down to just eight. If you love getting out and about on foot, Norfolk could be your perfect new home. Find out more about living in Norfolk from our helpful Hopkins Homes team.