WalkPeddars Way
Guided Inn to Inn Walk
Thetford To Cromer: 8 nights accommodation and 7 days guided walking
Our guided inn to inn walking holidays include expertly chosen quality accommodation, baggage transfer and an experienced walk leader with local knowledge of the route.
Guided Walking Holiday: The Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path - Detailed Itinerary
Overnight accommodation in Thetford
Day 1: Knettishall Heath To Little Cressingham - 14.5 miles/23km (Transfer from Thetford included in the tour price).
The Peddars Way begins very pleasantly in pretty and atmospheric Knettishall Country Park. Following the clearly way-marked path the trail emerges from the woods and is greeted with the beginning of the old Roman Road, marked by a long straight mound that will become a familiar feature for the next few days as it arrows towards the sea. The trail crosses the Little River Ouse and continues through open pastureland, a chance to enjoy the solitude and big skies synonymous with this area, through farms and fields littered with flowers in Spring and early Summer. The Peddars Way route finally deviates from the old Roman road temporarily down a quiet country lane into Little Cressingham.
Day 2: Little Cressingham To Castle Acre – 12.5 miles/20km
Leaving Little Cressingham, the ancient trail follows quiet country roads with traces of the old Roman road appearing sporadically. The path wends its way through North Pickenham, a charming lunch stop, after which walkers are rewarded with magnificent views of picturesque rural English scenes with rolling farmland, cornfields and copses. Peddars Way strides pleasantly towards the beautiful village of Castle Acre, our night’s accommodation. Castle Acre is truly delightful with its 11th century castle, stunning priory ruins, a chocolate-box village green and church, completing this rural idyll.
Day 3: Castle Acre To Hunstanton - 20 miles/32km
This is the final day of the ancient Peddars Way trail, a day marked by a fine sense of space and panoramic views as the trail heads towards the sea. From quaint Castle Acre the trail passes through chalky farmland along an incredibly straight route for 16 miles reminding walkers of the routes ancient Roman heritage. This is a chance to stride out and enjoy the serenity of the Norfolk countryside. The sea is now tantalisingly close and soon enough this ancient path arrives at the vast, sandy shores of the North Sea and our night’s accommodation in Hunstanton, marking the end of the Peddars Way and the halfway point of this walking adventure.
Day 4: Hunstanton To Brancaster - 10 miles/16km
The trail now welcomes the Norfolk Coast Path and promises some fantastic coastal scenery and walking ahead. From Hunstanton, with the sound of the sea and gulls ever present, the route passes through quaint Holme-next-the-Sea following a sandy path along a nature reserve by the vast sand dunes. Cutting inland the path passes a windmill, an image synonymous with the county and follows country lanes until serene Brancaster and our night’s accommodation.
Day 5: Brancaster To Wells-next-the-Sea - 12 miles/19km
The Norfolk Coast Path leaves Brancaster by the saltmarshes, a favoured spot for local birdwatchers, before continuing to Scolt Head nature reserve and the village of Burnham Overy. The village is proud of its maritime tradition celebrating locally born admiral Lord Nelson with ‘The Hero’ pub named in his honour. From the village, the trail follows a sea wall through the sand dunes and opens up to reveal a truly panoramic and stunning view of the coast ahead. With the firm sand underfoot it promises to be a great walk ahead. Holkham Hall, a sumptuous stately home offers an inviting diversion 2 miles inland. Otherwise, the trail follows the edge of a fragrant pine wood past the lifeboat station into the lively working harbour village of Wells-next-the-Sea, our night’s accommodation.
Day 6: Wells-next-the-Sea To Cley-next-the-Sea - 10.5 miles/16.5km
The trail heads out from the harbour cutting inland past the busy boatyard with the clanging of rigging against the masts your early soundtrack for the day. At Morston, boat trips are offered out to the seal colonies at Blakeney Point, often visible at low tide. The Norfolk Coast Path follows the sea wall into the village of Blakeney with its varied eating options, and out past the saltmarshes, one of the largest in the UK, before arriving in Cley-next-the-Sea, our night’s accommodation. The village is historic and quaint, famed for its maritime trading wealth of the 15th century, now more famous for the saltmarshes and vast beautiful nature reserves of the area.
Day 7: Cley-next-the-Sea To Cromer - 13 miles/21km
The final day of the Norfolk Coast Path begins by twisting and turning out of the old town with its historic narrow lanes, past a pretty windmill and back along the sea wall. The trail continues past more nature reserves emphasising the rich opportunities for nature lovers in this area, then climbs steadily along the cliff tops and into the popular tourist town of Sheringham, complete with steam engine trips and varied eating options providing temptations for those passing through. The Norfolk Coast Path follows the promenade over Beeston Hill, past a Roman camp replete with earthworks, before finally winding into the seaside town of Cromer and the official end of this historic and beautiful walking trail. Cromer is a chance to reflect on this great walk perhaps with an ice-cream on the promenade or even a celebratory paddle in the sea.
Please be aware that slight variations to these itineraries may have to be made due to the availability of accommodation.
Please ask for details of single occupancy rooms.
Dates Of Departure For Guided Walking Holidays
Please contact us for group guided bookings for 2011 by filling out the booking forms quoting the date required.
Please enquire for the price of single occupancy rooms
