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Weavers' Way

59 miles (95 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap Follow the Weavers' Way through the beautiful Norfolk Broads from Cromer to Great Yarmouth via North Walsham. The route meanders through the countryside passing Aylsham, North Walsham, Hickling and Acle before finishing at the popular coastal resort of Great Yarmouth. Highlights on the walk include:

  • Felbrigg Hall Park - This National Trust owned country house boasts a landscape park with a lake and 520 acres of woods.
  • Blickling Hall - this National Trust owned estate is a treasure trove of romantic buildings, beautiful gardens and landscaped park.
  • Hickling Broad - This National Nature Reserve is situated in the upper stretches of the River Thurne, and is the largest expanse of open water in the Broads. Near here there's the pretty village of Potter Heigham where there's a significant 12th century church and a 15th century medieaval bridge to see.
  • Rivers Thurne and Bure - Enjoy a long waterside stretch along these two rivers just after passing Hickling Broad
  • Breydon Water - The final section runs along the River Yare and the delightful Breydon Water into Great Yarmouth. It is a nature reserve run by the RSPB and includes the fine Roman fort at Burgh Castle.

The walk is waymarked with a green and white disc.

Weavers' Way OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Weavers' Way Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

One nice idea is to stop off around the splendid Blickling Hall for some refreshment. The estate has a number of good cafes or you could head to the Bucks Arms if you prefer a pub lunch. The 17th century former coaching inn can be found near the main car park at postcode NR11 6NF. They serve good food and have lovely gardens for summer days.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

For a nice route using the trail see the Weavers Way Circular Walk which uses part of the trail and the River Bure to create a circular route around Acle and Great Yarmouth.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Norfolk Broads Walks page.

Photos

East on the Weavers Way - geograph.org.uk - 631167

East on the Weavers Way through the Wickhampton Marshes. This section of the Weavers Way follows a meandering drain, leading east towards the Berney Arms Station. Berney Arms Mill can be seen in the distance. This drainage mill is 21 metres high and one of the highest in the Norfolk Broads. It stands at the head of Tile Kiln Reach. Believed believed to have been built during the 1870s for the purpose of grinding cement it has more recently been used for draining the surrounding marshes.

The Weavers Way by Aylsham North railway station - geograph.org.uk - 1290586

The Weavers Way by Aylsham North railway station. The path here follows a dismantled railway line which was operated by the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway line, linking the Midlands with the Norfolk Coast. Opened by the Eastern and Midlands Railway, it became the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway, and was later converted to a joint operation of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, with the London and North Eastern Railway taking sole operation in 1936. The line was closed in 1959. The bridge carries Church Road across the dismantled railway trackbed.

To Halvergate on the Weavers Way - geograph.org.uk - 1480264

To Halvergate. This farm track - it is called The Knoll - forms a section of the trail, linking Acle and Halvergate. The long distance footpath bypasses these gates to their right via a stile.

On the Weavers Way from Honing to Briggate - geograph.org.uk - 1053550

On the trail from Honing to Briggate. In mid-November the trees are getting bare and their fallen leaves are covering the surface of the path. 

The Weavers Way - geograph.org.uk - 631187

Following a meandering drain eastwards to the Berney Arms Station. Berney Arms drainage mill can be glimpsed on the horizon.

Marsh gate beside the Weavers' Way - geograph.org.uk - 626365

Marsh gate beside the trail. This section of the Weavers' Way follows Stone Road from Halvergate; it runs past Manor Farm House and onwards through the Halvergate, South Walsham and Beighton marshes to Breydon Water further to the east. The view here is westerly towards Halvergate.

GPS Files

GPX File

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

Memory Map Route

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