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Beetley and Hoe Rough Walk

3.5 miles (5.7 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This circular walk explores the Hoe Rough and Beetley Meadows Nature Reserve near the village of Beetley in the Breckland district of Norfolk.
You can pick up the waymarked trail just south of Beetley and follow it east through the reserve. Here you will find peaceful riverside trails with wildlife such as otter, water vole and great crested newt to see. There is a car park at the route start giving access to the trails.
After exploring the reserve the trail then heads through the countryside to Hoe village.
To continue your walking in the area head west to Gressenhall to pick up the Wendling Way. Part of the walk also uses a section of the Wensum Way.
Please scroll down for the full list of walks near and around Beetley. The detailed maps below also show a range of footpaths, bridleways and cycle paths in the area.

Beetley and Hoe Rough OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Beetley and Hoe Rough Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Walks near Beetley

  • Wensum Way - This route takes you from Gressenhall to Lenwade, passing through the lovely River Wensum Valley in Norfolk.
  • Walsham Le Willows - This Mid Suffolk village is located near Stanton and Thornham Magna.
  • Thornham Magna - This attractive Suffolk village includes a 14th century church, a fine 15th century pub and wonderful walking trails in the Thornham Hall Estate.
  • Diss - The attractive market town of Diss has some nice options for walkers with the pretty mere and the River Waveney in the vicinity
  • Mid Suffolk Footpath - This footpath runs from Hoxne to Stowmarket through the Suffolk countryside
  • Angles Way - This splendid walk through the Norfolk Broads was voted the best waterside walk in Britain by waterscape.com in 2003
  • Boudicca Way - Follow the Boudicca Way from Norwich to Diss on this walk through the beautiful, unspoilt South Norfolk landscape
  • Stowmarket - Enjoy a walk along the River Gipping on this walk from Stowmarket to Needham Market
  • Gipping Valley River Path - Follow the River Gipping from Stowmarket to Ipswich on this pleasant riverside walk
  • Ipswich - A circular walk around Ipswich with lovely river views and visits to a series of attractive parks
  • Needham Lake - Enjoy an easy stroll around Needham Lake on this short walk in Needham Market
  • Bradfield Woods - This National Nature Reserve near Bury St Edmunds is one of the best places in Suffolk for wildlife
  • Eye - This walk visits the Suffolk market town of Eye
  • Wortham Ling - This walk visits the Wortham Ling Site of Special Scientific Interest near the village of Wortham in Mid Suffolk
  • Saint Botolphs Way - This circular walk explores the countryside around the villages of Rickinghall and Botesdale in Mid Suffolk.
  • Wendling Way - The Wendling Way is a waymarked walk forming part of Norfolk's Platinum Jubilee Trails

Photos

View west along stream - geograph.org.uk - 1310215

View west along stream. This stream separates Hoe Rough (at left) from pastures adjoining on the other side. The concessionary path leading through Hoe Rough forms two loops - one runs along a stream and an adjoining meadow, the other traverses the somewhat higher ground to the east. Unimproved meadows such as these as Hoe Rough Nature Reserve are becoming increasingly rare. A number of old oak trees grow here, one of which is believed to be at least 330 years old. The rough is now continuously grazed by sheep and cattle but the crab apple trees probably originate from the time when pigs foraged here, the seeds having originated from swill fed to them. Hoe Rough Nature Reserve is managed by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust.

Flowering crab apple trees (Malus sylvestris) - geograph.org.uk - 1310191

Flowering crab apple trees (Malus sylvestris)

Pastures adjoining stream - geograph.org.uk - 1310220

Pastures adjoining stream. The stream is obscured by the vegetation growing alongside it - the stock fence seen in mid-distance denotes its course.

The River Cam - geograph.org.uk - 3064591

The River Cam

Cows graze Hoe Rough - geograph.org.uk - 390936

Cows graze Hoe Rough

Shaded path through Hoe Rough - geograph.org.uk - 1310167

Shaded path through Hoe Rough

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Beetley and Hoe Rough.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)