Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path National Trail

Norfolk, Suffolk

This easy-access National Trail provides both inland and coastal walking. The Peddars Way is one of the links in a prehistoric route, often called the Greater Ridgeway, from The Wash to the South Devon Coast, and it reaches the coast at Holme-next-the-Sea, from where the Trail follows the Norfolk Coast Path east.

The first part of this National Trail follows tracks, footpaths and minor roads along, or as near as possible to, the Peddars Way (a Romanised section of the prehistoric Icknield Way, the extant sections of which are a scheduled ancient monument). From the wooded, sandy Breckland heaths, it passes Castle Acre (linking with the Nar Valley Way) and the ruins of the priory and castle to reach the North Norfolk coast at Holme-next-the-Sea. Here a short section of the original Norfolk Coast Path leads west to Hunstanton, (the measured distance includes the return trip in and out of Hunstanton) while the main Trail heads east along or near to the shoreline over low cliffs, sand dunes, coastal defences enclosing marshes and mud flats, passing woodland, bird sanctuaries and harbours.

Near to Great Hockham, the Great Eastern Pingo Trail (8 miles) provides a circular route through a SSSI in the Thompson Common area. Pingos are glacial features.

October 2023 - March 2024: Norfolk Coast Path closed at Brancaster Marsh till at least end of March 2024.
Replacement of the boardwalk along the south side of Brancaster Marsh has meant the closure of this part of the National Trail from October 2023. The work was planned to finish by the end of March 2024, but current progress* implies that it may take longer. The c3.5km diversion includes a stretch of the main A149.
* https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/short-routes/brancaster-boardwalk-diversion/?trail=peddars-way-and-norfolk-coast-path

March 2024: A clifftop section of the Norfolk Coast Path is closed between Mundesley (TG 329353) and Bacton Green due to cliff erosion where it abuts the high fence surrounding a Gas Distribution Station. There is no suitable inland diversion other than a field path to Paston and then a road walk which includes the B1159. The beach below may be a better alternative: Mundesley high tides at https://www.norfolk-tides.com/mundesley-tide-times

The LDWA National Trails Register offers certificates for completers of several British National Trails.

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Details:

Path Type:	National Trails (England & Wales)
Waymark:	National Trail Acorn
Attributes:	National Trail (England and Wales) Easy Coastal Forest/Woodland Heath
Start:	TL944807 - Knettishall Heath, Suffolk
Finish:	TM535997 - Hopton On Sea, Norfolk
Open Date:	1986
Web Sites:	National Trails - Peddars Way & Norfolk Coast Path Norfolk County Council - Peddars Way Norfolk County Council - Norfolk Coast Path Visit West Norfolk - Peddars Way Visit West Norfolk - Norfolk Coast Path Griffmonster - Peddars Way posts [blog] British Horse Society RideMaps - Peddars Way British Walks - Peddar's Way and North Norfolk Coast Path [blog] Annierak - Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path National Trail [blog] Stephen and Lucy Dawson - Peddars Way [blog] Peddars Way & Norfolk Coast Path [YouTube video] Brian's Walks - Peddars Way & Norfolk Coast Path [blog] Trailplanner - Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path [blog] A walker's journal - Peddars Way [blog] Barefoot Backpacker - Hiking the Norfolk Coast Path [blog]

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Publications, Badges and Certificates:

Guidebook	Norfolk Coast Path & Peddars Way: Hunstanton to Hopton-on-Sea  (Trailblazer  - 2023 )
Guidebook	Walking the Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast path : 130 mile National Trail : Norfolk's best inland and coastal scenery  (Cicerone Press  - 2019 )
Guidebook	Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path: National Trail Guide  (Trails Shop  - 2017 )
Guidebook	Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path  (Halsgrove Press  - 2013 )
General Interest Book	National Trails : 19 long-distance routes through England, Scotland and Wales  (Cicerone Press  - 2015 )
Guidebook	Pub walks along the Peddars Way and the Norfolk Coast Path  (Countryside Books  - 2010 )
Guidebook	Peddars Way : footprints of history  (Pathway Publishing  - 2006 )
Guidebook	East Anglian trackways  (Wimpole Books  - 1990 )
General Interest Book	Big walks of Great Britain  (Summersdale Publishers  - 2007 )
General Interest Book	Big walks of the south  (Summersdale Publishers  - 2010 )
Badge	Badge for National Trails  (Trails Shop )
Certificate	Certificate for National Trails  (Trails Shop )
Certificate	Certificate for National Trails  (Long Distance Walkers Association )
External download	Norfolk County Council - Norfolk Coast Path : overview map  (Norfolk County Council )
External download	Norfolk County Council - Peddars Way : overview map  (Norfolk County Council )
External download	Norfolk Coast Path  (Saturday Walkers Club  - 2020 )
Guidebook	Walking in Norfolk : 40 circular walks in the Broads, Brecks, Fens and along the coast  (Cicerone Press  - 2013 )
Other	National Trail mug  (Trails Shop )
General Interest Book	Tales from the Big Trails  (Vertebrate Publishing  - 2021 )

Click to showhide 15 more Publications, Badges and Certificates

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