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Roydon Common

0.9 miles (1.5 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This lovely large area of heathland has some nice walking trails to try. The best time to visit is in late summer when the beautiful purple heather is out. The common is also a nature reserve so look out for a variety of wildlife as you make your way along the paths. Highlights include over 30 species of butterfly and Dartmoor Ponies which can be seen grazing on the common. There's also some nice woodland trails with birds such as nightjars and woodlarks to keep an eye out for.
The reserve is located a few miles north east of King's Lynn where you can pick up a number of different walks. Just to the south of the reserve you can visit Bawsey Pits Country Park where there are nice trails around birch covered hills and a Scandinavian style lake.

Postcode

PE32 1AT - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Please click here for more information

Roydon Common OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Roydon Common Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Dog Walking

The common is a fine place to walk your dog but you are requested to keep them under control because of the livestock. From March to July please keep dogs on a short lead to avoid disturbance to the ground-nesting birds. 

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Just a few miles to the north you'll find Sandringham Country Park. The expansive park surrounds the Queen's famous country retreat. In the park you'll find miles of excellent woodland and parkland walking trails. On the western side of the estate there's also the interesting village of Wolferton. Here you can visit the noteworthy Wolferton Railway Station. The now disused station was well known during the 1800’s through its association with the Royal Family who used the station because of its proximity to Sandringham House. There are also trails to pick up around the Dersingham Bog in this area. The reserve is part of the wider Sandringham Royal Estate and includes attractive heathland with interesting flora and fauna to see.
Just a couple of miles north west is the village of Castle Rising where you will find the historic 12th century castle.
To the south there's the pretty Pentney Lakes and the walk to Shouldham Warren Nature Reserve.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Norfolk Walks page.

Photos

Road by Roydon Common - geograph.org.uk - 544163

Road by Roydon Common. This rough, sandy track runs among the heather along the edge of the common, next to Grimston Warren.

Roydon Common National Nature Reserve - geograph.org.uk - 2050531

Roydon Common National Nature Reserve.
Information boards at the site details the flora and fauna. The common is described by Natural England as "one of the best examples in Britain of a lowland mixed valley mire". There are diverse habitats, including wet acid heath, calcareous fen and dry heath on acid sands. Rare plants, birds and insects, include  black bogrush, marsh fern, cranberry and the black darter dragonfly.

Looking down a sand hill on Roydon Common - geograph.org.uk - 1854997

Looking down a sand hill

On Roydon Common - geograph.org.uk - 1854682

Pond on the Common

A gorse lined path on Roydon Common - geograph.org.uk - 1855065

A gorse lined path in the spring

Roydon Common National Nature Reserve - geograph.org.uk - 1807333

Trail view

Path on dismantled railway line, Roydon - geograph.org.uk - 2050512

Grassy path on dismantled railway line

Entrance to Roydon Common, Norfolk. - geograph.org.uk - 161880

Entrance to the common

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

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

Memory Map Route

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