WALKING

Norfolk is a great place to come to walk. The terrain has inacruarely been defined as flat, when in fact it is gently rolling countryside, with nothing more than a few hundred feet. The Norfolk Broads are the largest wetland in Britain and offer water, reeds, marshes and tangled woodlands - a haven for birds and wildlife. The North Norfolk Coast has many creeks, channels and inlets, with nature reserves, churches, windmills, craft centres, and numerous waterside villages with pubs, shops and restaurants. There are many public footpaths that cover Norfolk and there are also a few long distance paths, such the Weavers Way.

Here is our pick of some of the best walks in Norfolk

We start our pick of Norfolk Walks on the Norfolk Broads, which are simply beautiful. They are a mixture of rivers and open Broads, giving miles of lock free waterways and some have footpaths alongside giving good views of the water and surrounding countryside. However, not all the waterways are accessible to walkers and a little knowledge helps here - we suggest you try Ludham Coltishall and Ranworth

On the Norfolk Coast youwill find plenty of walking opportunities. There are many coastal nature reserves and a ridge of heathland just behind a stretch of the North Norfolk Coast gives great views out over the sea. We suggest you try the coast path at Cley next the sea or the heathland at Salthouse.

FEATURED WALK - Cliff Tops to Overstrand - one and a half miles approximately

As you leave Cromer, a path rises from the town to the East and gives good views back over the town and the coast. This footpath takes you on one of the best walks in Norfolk - along the clifftop, past the Cromer Lighthouse and the Royal Cromer Golf Club, and eventually to Overstrand (about a mile and a half). The Cromer Lighthouse was originally built in 1680, but the present lighthouse, a white octagonal tower, was built in 1833 and converted to automatic operation in 1990.

There are walking opportunities in other areas of Norfolk too. For example, the Riverside Walk in central Norwich and all the country parks such as the the one at Blickling Hall (near Aylsham), Holt and Whitlingham.

Norfolk also has several long distance footpaths. The Weavers Way for example, is a 56 mile footpath from Cromer to Great Yarmouth, passing through the Norfolk Broads. You could try the stretch from Potter Heigham down past Thurne. Or the stretch near Blickling Hall at Aylsham.

The 21 mile long footpath and bridleway called the Marriott's Way runs between Hellesdon and Aylsham passing through Reepham. The route is named after William Marriott, who was the chief engineer of the Midland and Great Northern Railway for 41 years. The rails have long gone, but the route remains as a picturesque footpath and a bridleway.

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