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Mousehold Heath

1.6 miles (2.5 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This area of heathland and woodland in Norwich, has miles of nice footpaths to try. It's located just to the north east of the city centre and train station. You can park at the car park on Gurney Road to start your walk. From here you can pick up trails heading along the heath on both sides of the road. The common is elevated above the city so there are fine views towards the Norwich skyline. You can clearly see landmarks such as the cathedral, the city hall and the castle from here.
To extend the walk you could climb to St James Hill at the south eastern corner of the heath, for more nice views.
The heath is also a nature reserve so you can look out for a variety of flora and fauna on your walk. Keep your eyes peeled for frogs around the Vinegar Pond and muntjac and roe deer, red fox and rabbits on the heath and in the woods. There's lots of pretty wildflowers to see in the summer including Trailing St John's-wort and Bell Heather.
To continue your walking round the town pick up the popular Norwich Riverside Walk. You could also visit the nearby Whitlingham Country Park where you will find the lovely Whitlingham Broads.

Postcode

NR7 9NT - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Mousehold Heath OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Mousehold Heath Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Dog Walking

The heath is a great place for dog walking and you will likely see several owners out with their dogs on your walk.

Photos

Reconstructed Bandstand Mousehold Heath

The bandstand, rebuilt in 1992 to replace a demolished stand

Mousehold Heath1

Mousehold Heath view

Paths diverge, Mousehold Heath - geograph.org.uk - 277052

Paths diverge on the heath. Mousehold Heath is the last remnant of a huge area of heathland that, in Tudor times, stretched as far as South Walsham and was 22 miles round. It was given to the city of Norwich in 1880 and is now managed by the city council as a nature reserve. The ill-fated rebel army of Robert Kett camped here in 1549 prior to its attack on Norwich.

Norwich UK city skyline

Norwich UK city skyline, taken from Mousehold Heath

St. James' Pit, Mousehold Heath, Norwich

St. James' Pit

The site of St William's chapel in Mousehold Heath (geograph 2062004)

The site of St William's chapel in Mousehold Heath

Vinegar Pond

Vinegar Pond - look out for frogs and other amphibians here

Norwich Prison - geograph.org.uk - 34166

Norwich Prison. Seen from St James Hill, a popular city vantage point. The prison is on the edge of Mousehold Heath. This part of the prison site is the former Britannia Barracks of the Royal Norfolk Regiment.

GPS Files

GPX File

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

Memory Map Route

Mousehold Heath.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)