Wayford Bridge to Horstead ~ Griffmonsters Great Walks

An 8.5 mile Norfolk Broads countryside walk

The walk connects the Wayford Bridge Inn, on the banks of the River Ant and navigates across country to Horstead. There is a lovely old pub at Neatishead that brew their own beer. Bus services connect each end to the central point of North Walsham

Walk Statistics

Start location: Wayford Bridge
End location: Horstead
Distance: miles ( km)
Total Gain: ft ( metre)
Total Descent: ft ( metre)
Min Height: ft ( metre)
Max Height: ft ( metre)
Walk Time:
Walk Grade: Easy
Terrain: Footpath, Track and Country Lane

Maps:

The following maps and services can assist in navigating this route. There are links to printed maps and links to downloadable GPX route data for importing into navigational software and apps.

Ordnance Survey Explorer Map: OS Explorer OL40 - The Broads
GPX Route File

Walk Notes

The central point of the walk is North Walsham where the Sanders 6 Great Yarmouth bus service links the town to the Wayford Bridge Inn. At the finish, similarly the Sanders X55 bus will link Horstead and North Walsham.

Before starting it is worth taking a look at the Inn, even if it is just to partake in a coffee before the start of the walk and ponder about its history. It is very pleasant inside and reasonably priced. If you do feel like an ale then they do have the local WildCraft brewery beers available which are well worth sampling.

The location of Wayford Bridge has been an essential river crossing point since ancient times, believed to have served as an old Roman road and Saxon ford. In fact, a Saxon dugout canoe dating back to 720 AD was dredged from the river right below the bridge in 1927. For over a century, the primary establishment here was the original Wayford Bridge Hotel, which sat on the opposite side of the road. That historical pub closed its doors for good in November 1961.

The building that houses today’s Wayford Bridge Inn sits on the Stalham side of the River Ant. Its origins trace back to the 1930s, when the original structure functioned as a dwelling and a small local shop. In 1963, shortly after the original hotel across the river closed, this site officially opened as a free house called the Wood Farm Inn. In 1976 as part of a Road Realignment project, the inn gained significantly more front parking space. Around this era, it absorbed the legacy of the old closed establishment across the street and officially changed its name to the Wayford Bridge Inn.

During the Mid-2000s Expansion: Over the decades, the small pub steadily expanded. In the early 2000s, previous owners heavily invested in the property, adding the modern, recognizable frontage seen today from the southern approach, expanding the dining room, and adding the riverside terrace.

From this point, we cross the bridge and follow the pavement alongside the main road through to the junction for Smallburgh. Crossing the road leads onto a track that soon turns to cross the fields down to the hamlet of Pennygate, part of the parish of Barton Turf. The path leads onto across the fields to School Lane. The route provided here will turn left, although an alternative is to turn right and shortly after follow the footpath on the left which leads to Church Lane, emerging opposite the church of St Michael and All Saints.

Whether you choose Church Lane or School Lane, at the bottom where they both junction with Hall Lane, there is a permissive path inside of the fields to provide safe walking through to the first scattered building of Neatishead village. The pub sits on the central junction in the village and is well worth visiting. In addition to their own ales, a selection of other Norfolk ales are generally available (see pubs section),

Leaving Neatishead entails some road walking. These are country lanes but nonetheless carry frequent vehicles, so care is required.

The lanes will eventually lead through to the Bure Valley Railway which runs between Aylsham and Wroxham. This miniature railway has both steam and diesel locomotives and if you are lucky you should witness one pass on the short section along the path beside the track before leaving to head into Coltishall.

Directions

Generally a mixture of tracks, footpaths and country lanes

Leave the Wayford Inn, taking the pavement over the river bridge and continuing to the road junction at some 0.6 miles distance
Opposite the junction is a track on that leads away from the road. Take this, it will bear around to the right.
The track turns to a footpath which crosses several field to emerge into the hamlet of Pennygate on Berry Hall Lane, where it junctions with Pennygate Lane
At the junction there is a small grass triangle between the meeting of the road. Cross over this and a footpath leads ahead between the houses. Take this, and continue across another field
The footpath leads onto School Lane. Turn left and follow the lane to the junction with Hall Road.
At the junction, turn right, but rather than continue along the lane, there is a permissive footpath that runs parallel along the field edge. Take this.
The permissive path crosses Church Road and continues alongside the next field, eventually merging out onto the road.
Keep to the road. At the end junction turn left and follow the road into central Neatishead. The White Horse pub is on the right, on the junction at the end of the road.
Follow the road around to the front of the pub, then sharp left, essentially keeping on the main thoroughfare through the village.
After a furth 220 yards, the road sharply turns right, follow the road round.
After 0.7 miles, take the lane on the right
This will meet the main road, cross straight over and continue following the lane passing through Ashmanaugh and Tunstead before meeting with the crossing for the Bure Valley Road at Belaugh Green. A total distance of 2.2 miles.
Cross the railway and follow the footpath to the right that leads alongside the railway.
The railway and footpath pass under a road bridge, after which there is a path up the bank to lead out onto the road.
Follow the road towards Coltishall. If you go over the bridge you are heading in the wrong direction.
After 0.5 miles, bear off to the right, and follow the lane through to a sharp bend to the right, where two tracks lead away, one straight ahead and one to the left (Chapel Lane). Take this one.
Follow Chapel Lane through until it leads out onto Wroxham Road in Coltishall. Turn right and walk into the village.
Where the road forms a triangular junction with the main Norwich road, bear to the left, pass over the river bridge and there is a bus stop adjacent to the Recruiting Sergeant pub.

Directions

Generally a mixture of tracks, footpaths and country lanes

Leave the Wayford Inn, taking the pavement over the river bridge and continuing to the road junction at some 0.6 miles distance
Opposite the junction is a track on that leads away from the road. Take this, it will bear around to the right.
The track turns to a footpath which crosses several field to emerge into the hamlet of Pennygate on Berry Hall Lane, where it junctions with Pennygate Lane
At the junction there is a small grass triangle between the meeting of the road. Cross over this and a footpath leads ahead between the houses. Take this, and continue across another field
The footpath leads onto School Lane. Turn left and follow the lane to the junction with Hall Road.
At the junction, turn right, but rather than continue along the lane, there is a permissive footpath that runs parallel along the field edge. Take this.
The permissive path crosses Church Road and continues alongside the next field, eventually merging out onto the road.
Keep to the road. At the end junction turn left and follow the road into central Neatishead. The White Horse pub is on the right, on the junction at the end of the road.
Follow the road around to the front of the pub, then sharp left, essentially keeping on the main thoroughfare through the village.
After a furth 220 yards, the road sharply turns right, follow the road round.
After 0.7 miles, take the lane on the right
This will meet the main road, cross straight over and continue following the lane passing through Ashmanaugh and Tunstead before meeting with the crossing for the Bure Valley Road at Belaugh Green. A total distance of 2.2 miles.
Cross the railway and follow the footpath to the right that leads alongside the railway.
The railway and footpath pass under a road bridge, after which there is a path up the bank to lead out onto the road.
Follow the road towards Coltishall. If you go over the bridge you are heading in the wrong direction.
After 0.5 miles, bear off to the right, and follow the lane through to a sharp bend to the right, where two tracks lead away, one straight ahead and one to the left (Chapel Lane). Take this one.
Follow Chapel Lane through until it leads out onto Wroxham Road in Coltishall. Turn right and walk into the village.
Where the road forms a triangular junction with the main Norwich road, bear to the left, pass over the river bridge and there is a bus stop adjacent to the Recruiting Sergeant pub.

Pubs

White Horse, Neatishead

Address: The Street, Neatishead, NR12 8AD
Website: https://www.thewhitehorseinnneatishead.com/

This is a quintessential 18th-century village pub that perfectly captures old-world Norfolk charm. Far from a trendy modern gastropub, this historic free house preserves its traditional roots with features like an unaltered lower public bar complete with red quarry tiles and a black-leaded range. It serves as a vibrant community hub, boasting its own on-site microbrewery (Neatishead Brewing Co.) and gin distillery, making it a favorite stopping point for walkers and boaters arriving from nearby staithes.

Images