We leave Diss at about 8.45am to arrive at the Swan Pub at Ringland by 9.45am in good time to order our lunch. At about 10.00am we shall drive the short distance from the pub to the village of Attlebridge where there is a Car Park from where we can start our walk.

There is a very wide range of scenery in this Mid Norfolk area adjacent to the valley of the River Wensum.  A 5 mile walk and plenty to see.  First we head north to Alderford Common and on to the attractive village of Swannington. Many fine houses as we turn east passing the church and on to Swannington Hall.  The mud is beginning to show it’s presence as we reach the large complex called the Woodlands.  Wide pathways often tree lined and more mud although the duckboards are a great help. Through the trees at Upgate and another open area before more woodland alongside a lane. We come to a junction of 5 roads before we aim for a flight of steps down an embankment onto a railway track. No problem. No railway lines, no trains, just a very attractive footpath called Marriott’s Way which we now follow all the way back to the Car Park. We now, I suggest, drive in convoy back to the Swan at Ringland for our lunch at 1.00pm.

This is an easy walk, a few noticeable slopes but do be aware of mud and slippery duckboards.

Travel direction:

Take theA140 to Norwich.  At the Southern By Pass Fly Over bear left and follow the dual carriageway until you reach the roundabout. Get in the right hand lane and take the third exit signed Ringland.  Follow this, often narrow road . After you have gone down a steep wooded slope, turn left and follow the road to the Swan.

After ordering your lunch, about 10,00am we drive to Alderford.  Left out of the Car Park and then right.  Over the river and follow the road up the hill. Turn left at the 20mph sign.  Pass the Taverham School.  At the road junction turn left onto the A1067.
After 2 miles turn right at the Attlebridge sign,  Through the village, past the church, up
the hill to the Car Park on the left just before the 30mph deregulation sign.

Alright for going back to the Swan     ????

Notes

The village of Swannington is famous for an event that happened on 28th August 1549. Two labourers came across an exhausted man and an equally exhausted horse, sleeping in a barn.  They took him to their employer, Master Richards, who detained him. Next morning, the Earl of Warwick, on behalf of the King, sent 20 horsemen from Norwich to arrest the man and take him eventually to London where he was charged with and found guilty of treason.  The man was Robert Kett, leader of the Norfolk uprising.  He was later hanged at Norwich Castle.

On the village green there is a Grade Two listed former pump.

You will come to a large Farming complex called Woodlands.  The Mutimer Family have specialised in farming pigs since 1973 and you will see that it is big business, with the sale of meat being marketed as ‘Farm to Fork‘.

OS Map:  Explorer  238   (East Dereham  Aylsham)
Sat Nav:  Ringland  NR8
Swannington  NR9

Next Walk:  Wednesday April 20    Beccles Marsh

Diss Museum’s project Friends in High Places: The Manning Story begins with a service in St. Mary’s Church at 10.30am on Sunday 6 March. Robert Manning, as narrator, plays his own grandfather as we see the family history enacted.

From 16 March there is a Manning Exhibition in the museum.

Spice Cottage, in the Market Place, hosts a commemorative meal at 6.30pm (note the early time) on Friday 25 March. £15 a head. Phone (01379) 650618 to book

.

.

.

.

We think you are in for a real treat this month, all we need is some good weather.  We begin with a walk on a horse race track, the Ampton Point to Point Course.  Next we pass the isolated church at Timworth before taking a fairly long lane bounded by large trees on either side.  We reach Ampton village with St Peters Church opposite the impressive Ampton Hall.  We leave the village and head for the large open fields. Turning south we reach Ampton Water which is crossed by a fine wooden bridge.  A long stretch of woodland now follows the lake before we emerge from the trees and head for Great Livermere.  Two more churches, including another St Peters of Great Livermere, have commanding views across the marshes of Broad Water. For us, crossing the lake again was no problem as we paused to look across to Broad Water which, if your lucky, could be teeming with ducks, geese and gulls. A long path across the open fields brings us back to Ampton and soon to another church at Ingham and our lunch at the Cadagon Arms at 1.00pm

This is a very varied walk, woodland, open fields, lakes, 5 churches, large mansions. Not difficult but in places it could be very wet and muddy so be prepared.

Travel Directions:
Take the A143 Bury St Edmunds direction.  Pass through Stanton and Ixworth and just after the Bunbury Arms pub in Great Barton, turn right onto the B1106. After about 3 miles, turn right at the roundabout (third exit) onto the A134. On reaching Ingham, go through the village, and the Cadagon Arms is on the right just before the cross roads. Park at the pub.

Lunch arrangements
We must order our lunch before the day. Please let me know your choice by Friday 18th February at the very latest.

Notes:
OS Map:  Explorer  229
Sat Nav  IP31 1NG

Next Walk:  Wednesday  16th  March      Swannington  (mid Norfolk)

We found our way through the village of Bridgham to a small car park on the edge of High Bridgham forest.  It didn’t seem very ‘high’, but this is Norfolk..…..19 of us set off to walk back along the narrow road towards the village and, it seemed, ‘high’ was correct.  There were lovely views across the valley, with Bridgham hidden in the fold.

Then the wellies came into their own.  Back Lane was very muddy!  We were passed by large tractors bearing trailers full of beets and eventually came to a large field where the harvest was taking place.  It was a hive of industry; a small window of opportunity between frozen or waterlogged ground; so we climbed up the bank several times to allow the work to get on (and not be mown down by a farm vehicle).  Even the pigs in the field opposite had a small hillock of mud in their sty to allow them to keep their feet out of the mire………and most of them were using it too!

Roudham Hall is an imposing sight, set in its own parkland, and at the drive entrance, a small,round, thatched Lodge with a ruined church in its garden.  Apparently, there has been a settlement in Roudham for 1300 years and an informative shelter showed us the medieval site and told us that the church of St Andrew was being repaired in 1735 when a rather careless workman knocked out his pipe (clay at that time, probably), the sparks set the thatched roof alight and that was the end of St Andrew’s!  So smoking had bad consequences, even in those days!

We heard and saw the railway line in front of the distant wood as we passed Roudham Farm on Hereward Way, which goes right to Ely.  We walked on, to cross the railway line : “STOP LOOK AND LISTEN”; then under the A11.  We walked past the Combat Paintball (none of us were inclined towards violent sport at that time – too old, if truth be told) and strolled through acres of (mostly) pine forest.  Reaching a track (Peddars Way), we recrossed the railway, past a cottage owned by a Liverpool supporter (a sign for Anfield Road incongruously outside it), then had to recross the A11, no bridge or tunnel, so that got us all moving swiftly.

Along the edge of more trees, with rabbits and hares tearing across the field, not caring about the traffic hurtling along just beyond, until, suddenly, we were approaching the car park from the rear.

18 of us had lunch at the Larling Angel – no, we didn’t lose one on the railway or road, or even trying to find the pub!! (He went home to his wife.)  A wonderful, soul-soothing walk through beautiful countryside, with good company, ending with a tasty lunch.  What a great way to spend a January day!

Leaving time from Diss at about 9.15am in time to begin our walk from High Bridgham  at 10.00am.
Back to the Thetford area for our first walk of the New Year.  We generally head that way as there is always something to see and the conditions underfoot are good.  However this time there are some extensive muddy areas so we are recommending wellies or good strong boots.  Of course, there is always the likelihood of snow, particularly this year.
The Bridgham walk is about 6 miles. We shall start from a small Car Park on the edge of the forest at High Bridgham.  We shall walk back to  Bridgham village admiring the views to the south.  Taking a rather muddy lane, Back Lane, we head north and walk to the village of Roudham. Much to see here with the magnificent parkland and Hall, the remains of St Andrews church and the quaint hall lodge house.  Here we pick up Hereward Way, a long distance path to Ely, and head past Roudham Farm, over the Norwich to Cambridge railway line, and through a tunnel under the A11.  Through large forest areas, we eventually reach the Peddars Way, and following this back to the Car Park we recross the railway and the A11, no tunnel this time, so pick your spot and run for it!  Lunch is at the Larling Angel at about 1.00pm, a 15mins drive from High Bridgham.

Travel Directions:
Follow the A1066, Thetford direction. After 7 miles, turn right in Garboldisham and follow this road to East Harling. Into the village and turn left after the Market Place and the Nags Head.  Past the Church and soon turn left, signed Bridgham.  Into the village, before the church, turn right then left signed High Bridgham.  After a mile, through the trees and the small Car Park is on your right.  If you reach the A11 you have gone too far!

To the Larling Angel.  Back to Bridgham.  Bare left and follow the road back to the T junction with East Harling. Turn left and over the railway. Turn right just before the A11 and carefully follow the signs to the Angel Inn Larling.

Notes:
Please note that the next walk will be the Fourth Wednesday of the month, that is, Wednesday  February 23rd at Ingham,