Saturday, 5 November 2016
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As an aid to navigating and finding a map specific to your geographical requirements, we have generated a Google map of all Suffolk walks that are detailed on this site. The map below is zoomable and uses icons to locate each walk, specified on the geographical location of either the start/end of the walk or its main feature. Click on any icon to display a brief description which contains a link to the full walk details.
Friday, 1 January 2016
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As an aid to navigating and finding a map specific to your geographical requirements, we have generated a Google map of all Norfolk walks that are detailed on this site. The map below is zoomable and uses icons to locate each walk, specified on the geographical location of either the start/end of the walk or its main feature. Click on any icon to display a brief description which contains a link to the full walk details.
Wednesday, 30 December 2015
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As an aid to navigating and finding a map specific to your geographical requirements, we have generated a Google map of all Suffolk walks that are detailed on this site. The map below is zoomable and uses icons to locate each walk, specified on the geographical location of either the start/end of the walk or its main feature. Click on any icon to display a brief description which contains a link to the full walk details.
Saturday, 24 October 2015
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Griffmonster Great Walks website also has a Griffmonster Great Walks Facebook page dedicated to walks and all things walking. Take a look and find more info and anecdotes and photos about walks and walking- www.facebook.com/griffmonstersgreatwalks
Archive , facebook , full-detail , News
Sunday, 31 May 2015
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An easy 9 mile Norfolk coastal walk to visit the Dads Army weekend hosted on the North Norfolk Railway
The third episode of the sixth series of the popular British comedy series Dad's Army was titled 'The Royal Train' in which King George VI was due to pass through Walmington-on-Sea and the platoon were to form a guard of honour. The location chosen to film this episode was Weybourne station on the North Norfolk Railway and each year this is celebrated with a Dad's Army weekend where a group of enthusiasts from the Dads Army Museum in Thetford re-enact this memorable episode.
Thursday, 4 December 2014
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Many of the walks on this site are suitable for any season, but just to get into the Christmas spirit here are a few that were specifically walked during the winter months. Frosty and snowy scenes. A little intrigue and some good old mysteries make a well worthy walk. From simple 2 mile town trails to walks that will use virtually all the daylight hours on these short winter days.
Monday, 27 August 2012
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A simple 11 mile walk across the Suffolk heaths and woodland from Leiston to attend the annual Westleton Barrel Fair.
Despite a brief thunderstorm, a fantastic Summers day was had at the Westleton Barrel Fair 2012 living up to its expectations with all the usual fun and merriment. This years event featured music from Westleton's Doc Cox and Leiston's Random Blues Company, morris dancing from the Rumburgh Morris Dancers, outside bars from the White Horse and the Westleton Crown and, of course, the ever popular, chaotic, breath-taking and entertaining barrel races. This is a unique annual Suffolk event and well worth taking the time out to visit.
Friday, 20 July 2012
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The 11th North Norfolk Railway beer festival
Once again the North Norfolk Railway came up with another outstanding beer festival. Over 100 ales plus ciders were on offer in the perfect surroundings of a working steam railway together with live music. Carriages on platform 2 gave ample seating and cover for the few times when rain began to fall and a bbq in a wagon offered hotdogs and burgers. In my opinion the best beer festival around!
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.
Details of public transport that is required for the walk
For the fourth year on the trot, Kat and I attended the North Norfolk Railway Beer Festival. As per the previous years, our accommodation was at the Woodhill Campsite in East Runton, and although there are sites closer to the venue, Woodhill has become our usual choice offering easy walks to both Cromer and Sheringham.
The Walks
The details of the walk on this page is more of an example walk that can be done, and what we normally complete throughout the weekend. However on this occasion our walks were limited to the cliff top path between East Runton to Sheringham taking in the climb over Beeston Bump. On Sunday a car boot sale offered a diversion into Beeston with a simple walk onward into Sheringham alongside the road. The walks were accompanied with some bus journeys, particular after the Friday evening session when darkness was setting in. Unfortunately the late 10pm bus has been a victim of the government cuts so the latest transport back on the current timetable is 8:50. This was a very popular service, maybe because the beer festival was on, but I would guess there are always customers wanting to return to camp during the summer holiday season.
The Trains
The highlight of the festival with regard to the locomotion was undoubtedly the resplendent B12 4-6-0 8572. This locomotive had just completed a refit and was being displayed with a repaint in the LNER Apple Green livery. A mighty fine sight to behold. Alongside the steam hauled trains was an accompanying diesel train provided by Class 101 DMU 101681 in the old British Rail green livery. It was pleasing to see Aldeburgh displayed on its front destination display, though I would have doubted it could have taken me back there, not that I wanted to go with so many ales on offer! Finally there was the Class 08 D3940 shunter providing shunting duties each time a steam hauled train arrived at the station. Me? An old train spotter? What gave you that impression?
The Festival
I can honestly say that I look forward to this event throughout the year. There's always an excellent array of ales from across the country as well as a selection of local Norfolk ales. Steam trains run throughout the day and there's live music presented on a flatbed railway wagon. Beer, music and steam trains. What more could anyone want or ask for.
I am very glad to say that once again the event fulfilled all expectations and judging by the Sunday Lunchtime session it was a roaring success and virtually all the ale had been drunk by the time we departed. My only slight disappointment this year was that the Ugly Dog Skiffle Band were not in attendance. Even so, the King Size Papas put on some very entertaining performances of Jump Blues, perfect for a warm and sunny Sunday lunchtime, and The Yow Yows provided modern pop tunes during Saturday afternoon.
We managed to put in an attendance on all three days of the event, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Saturday lunchtime was very well attended and one needed a little patience in getting served at the bar, but as Nessa points out in the programme notes 'I've never seen anyone die of thirst at a beer festival!' and everyone does get served eventually, though one would be advised to get a pint rather than a half! On this particular day we were due to attend an evening family meal at the Constantia Cottage Restaurant so could not sample too many ales during the lunchtime session. We departed at 2:30 as throngs of people crowded around the bar in the beer tent, spilling out onto the platform. Approaching the end of the platform we witnessed a Greater Anglia train arriving from Norwich. It seemed as if all of its multitude of passengers headed straight for the festival. And I don't blame them! I only hoped they would be gracious enough to leave a few ales for Sunday. Fortunately, by the time we returned Sunday lunchtime there was a few unsampled ales which made for a very relaxing afternoon.
I must admit, on the Saturday, we nipped into the Wyndham Arms on the walk back to East Runton and was treated to a pint of Humpty Dumpty Norfolk Nectar, a refreshing hoppy ale with the distinctive Humpty Dumpty taste, ending with a lingering honey dryness. Well worth the stop.
Over the length of the festival, between us, we managed to sample 32 ales, mostly half-a-pint each. Most of these were the more fashionable golden coloured ales and every one of these worthy to drink again. It was pleasing to note a few dark ales on offer and I do regret not sampling at least one of these.
Of those we tasted, my personal favourites were:
Great Oakley's Gobble: this 4.5% straw coloured ale was a feast for the palette with a lingering hoppiness that left ones mouth buzzing with the flavours. A fantastic pint of beer and well recommended.
Ironbridge's West Coast IPA: this 4.8% one-off ale had all the hoppiness of a good IPA with a distinct zesty citrus aftertaste leaving each mouthful tingling on the tongue and wanting more.
Marston Moor's Indian Pooch Ale: a traditional full flavoured 4.3% IPA that was very satisfying and true to what an IPA should taste like.
As usual there was a fair share of ales with strange, peculiar and outright funny names. My personal favourite names were:
Northumberland's Zig Zag to the Onion Bag: this 4.0% light golden ale was an easy drinking session beer with refreshing citrus overtones. Not sure where they got this name from but it certainly prompted me to have a sample and very glad that I did.
Tydd Steam's Dr Fox's Cunning Linctus: this 4.4% deep golden ale with a fruitiness which the tasting notes described as Mango though I thought were more akin to pineapple. I don't think I need to say that you should not try to order this after a few pints for fear of asking for the wrong thing! Great name but in busy bar times I recommend asking for a pint of Dr Fox's.
Dancing Duck's Gold: this golden 4.7% ale was full of plum and orange flavours and quite spicy with it too. You may think that the name Gold is nothing unusual - that is true, but brewery name of Dancing Duck was well worth the inclusion.
A complete listing of the ales on offer is available at Google Docs
We marked the end to the festival weekend watching the sun go down from the top of the hill in the quiet area of Woodhill campsite. It was most rewarding and a fitting end to a fantastic weekend. Unbeknown to us the northern lights made a display that night but we did not catch a glimpse. The sunset was awesome enough and a fitting finale.
Roll on 2013 and the 12th Annual North Norfolk Railway Beer Festival.
A simple circular route following clifftop paths in one direction and the beach in the other.
From Sheringham take the prom eastwards. Keep to this until one can get down on to the beach beyond the defense boulders. There now follows a great wander across the sand through to Cromer. You cant get lost! Just make sure this is done so that it coincides with low tide along the route.
Return follows the clifftop out of Cromer. Keep to the Coast Path markers. This will continue along the cliffs until the first caravan park just beyond the large grassed area used for parking. Head to the road, then navigate to just beyond the allotments on the right. The route now takes a footpath down to a track between the caravan parks to emerge in the centre of East Runton. Continue through the village, up the hill and past the grassland on the right used for Car Boot Sales. next field is the Woodhill campsite where the path leads through the first gated entrance, then follows the perimeter road up to the reception block. Turn left just beyond this and cross the entrance road over to the field beyond. The path cuts across this and back to the clifftop. There route now keeps to the cliff tops until Sheringham, leading over Beeston Bump. After it passes a putting green, take the path down to the prom, which leads down a flight of steps next to a small house with the name of The Wee Retreat, a nod to the fact that this used to be a public lavatory.
Sheringham is the terminus for the North Norfolk Railway, also known as the Poppy Line. This preserved steam railway runs the 5 miles between Sheringham and Holt along the former route of the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway and has recently been reconnected to the National Rail network allowing steam specials to run from London and Norwich.
Work on rebuilding the line started in 1965, and on 4 June 1967, two steam locomotives were delivered. The operating company, North Norfolk Railway plc, was launched in 1965 following the granting of two Light Railway Orders. In May 1973, the railway was the scene of filming of the episode The Royal Train of the popular TV programme Dad's Army. The main restoration sheds are located at Weybourne with new carriage storage sheds more recently built near Holt with Heritage Lottery Funding.
Below are a selection of images taken from from the photo album for this walk. Feel free to browse through these or click on an image to view a larger version in the Gallery.
Last Updated: 2021-12-07
Thursday, 24 November 2011
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An 8.8 mile circular walk through the Suffolk countryside to attend the 2011 Suffolk Herring Festival at Middleton.
I have been to music festivals and folk festivals and country fairs and even the novel barrel fair, but I can honestly say that I have never ever attended a Herring Festival until this walk. Held on the grounds of the Farm Shop in the village of Middleton this two day event features food and drink, exhibitions, music and games, competitions, and demonstrations of herring preservation and preparation.
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.
There are more direct routes to Middleton from Leiston but for this expedition we decided to amble out across to the Cakes and Ale campsite. This uses footpaths that I certainly haven't walked before which provided added spice and discovery to the days events. Return was along the Minsmere River to Eastbridge, then following the Sandlings trail back to Leiston.
As expected the festival was truly unique and I am glad to say that it seemed to be well attended, with a makeshift car park set up in the field across the road from the Farm Shop. Although there was no draught ales on offer at the bar, they did have a bottled ale, brewed by the Brandon Brewery for the occasion and named Silver Darling which was a light and refreshing bitter. When we arrived the mini opera Peter Herring was being played out. It was difficult to hear but was nonetheless entertaining, centered around the infamous Aldeburgh sculpture which was dressed up as a crab centre-stage. Lunch was a freshly filleted and BBQd herring in a crusty french stick served with peppers which was very tasty. For those who don't like herrings there was a baked potato stall, though quite why anyone who does not like herrings attends an herring festival is pretty much beyond me! Before leaving we caught some music and singing about herrings and the sea, heard some poetry about the sea and herrings, had a look around the herring sculptures and Farm Shop where the herring beer and herrings were on sale. So, in conclusion, I was somewhat bemused by it all, but the festival is a totally unique event and I do hope that it continues to get better and better in years to come. I will certainly attend again and recommend this to any herring fancier! So if you have a fetish, or just want to attend something totally different then be there for the next festival in 2013.
A simple walk using existing footpaths, lanes and tracks
Head down Victory Road adjacent to the park in Leiston. Contiue along the footpath at the end of the road which eventually emerges at the church and out onto Waterloo Avenue. Turn left and follow the road out of town, beyond the cemetary until a terrace of houses on the right. A footpath on the leiston side of the terrace follows the field boundaries, across the railway, across a country lane, then directly across an open field to Fishers Farm. The path cuts through the hedge and onto the drive to the farm. Follow this down to the road, turn right and keep to the road until there is a junction on the left. Follow this road all the way through to the end junction, carry straight ahead across the field along a footpath into Theberton where it emerges onto the main road through the village. At the church turn right and follow the lane out of the village. Take the first turning on the left and take the footpath on the left, through the gap in the hedge and across the fields. This eventually comes out at Fenn Farm in Middleton. As it meets the road , turn right down through the village.
RETURN: continue through the village until it meets the river bridge. Take the footpath on the right which follows the river through to the Eastbrdge road. Turn right and follow the road through Eastbridge and continue until a track on the left, marked with the Sandlings waymarker, is found. Take this track through to the Sizewell road, where it emerges on a sharp bend. Continue straight ahead and down the hill. At the bottom of the hill a footpath on the right leads through to Valley Road in Leiston. Keep on Valley Road until junctions at Barclays Bank in the centre of town. Turn left up the hill and then turn right at the traffic lights onto Cross street which end where the walk began.
A curious name for a pub; some say it comes from a Heel's Foot, a cobblers implement, others will argue that it is named after the Eel's Boot, a type of woven reed basket used in Eel Fishing. A more fanciful explanation is that it is a derivation of Neale's Boot, named after a medieval priest who trapped the Devil in his boot and tossed him into the river. The Devil escaped disguised as an eel.
The pub is an Adnams establishment and regularly has three of their cask ales on tap, these usually being the Bitter, Broadside and a seasonal ale. The pub is popular with walkers and birdwatchers from nearby Minsmere bird Reserve.
Food and Bed and Breakfast accommodation is on offer and The Eels Foot is renowned for its long tradition of Folk Music which still continue on Thursday evenings with a jam session.
On the interior walls of the pub there is a curious painting of a medieval country feast. If you look closely you will see that some of the men are wearing rather large codpieces. The painting appears to be a corruption of 'The The Peasants Wedding Feast' by Pieter Bruegel. I gather that his son, Pieter the Younger would copy his fathers work and this could well be a humorous copy as the original has a completely different background and no cod-pieces. But then I am no art expert so this is purely conjecture. Nonetheless it is amusing!
Although it was late afternoon by the time we arrived, this lovely village pub still had a few customers. Judging by their walking boots and waterproofs they were mostly walkers or twitchers. A pint of Adnams Bitter was refreshing, well kept as always at this pub. It still amuses me to look at the print featuring the large cod-pieces that adorns the wall.
A biennial event promoting interest in the the Suffolk herring industry
Suffolk has a long historical association with the herring and herring fisheries and although there is little demand for this locally caught fish today, the Suffolk Herring festival seeks to reverse this decline and help people rediscover the humble herring. Autumn was the traditional peak of the herring fisheries and this, the second festival, is timed to coincide with that time of the year.
The Festival is organized by Suffolk Herring Festival Community Interest Company to keep alive the heritage of the Suffolk herring fisheries and promote the use of herrings in present day cooking in both home and restaurants. A varied programme of events take place throughout each day of the two day event and include demonstrations of filleting, preparing and cooking the Humble Herring, singing with Bridget Cousins, Captain Haddocks knotty workshop, Withy and Net Making, BBQ and bar, a mini opera called Peter Herring, Acoustic Guitar with David Harvey, Sea songs from Richard Turner and Brian Barker and an assortment of poems of the sea.
Larger than life metal sculptures and charactatures
This is a real treat that makes walking so worthwhile. The footpath that crosses the fields from Theberton descends across a marsh before coming back up to Middleton where it joins the road by a cottage named Ambleside. This is the residence of Suffolk Sculptor Paul Richardson. He sculpts in metal and his house is surrounded by examples of his work which are larger than life caricatures which, to say the least, are impressive. No-one who walks past this house can escape their curiosity and take time out to look at these magnificent works of art. Other examples of his work can be seen on peering out of the top of an Ipswich public convenience and in Ipswich Hospital.
A piece of local folklore
Mother Lumpkin's Hole is a deep hollow in the bed of the Minsmere River near Rackford Bridge. According to locals this teems with carp as big as pigs, and pike the size of baby sharks. Local legend states that a complete wagon and horses is said to have vanished into the hole and even today folk are warned away from this place for fear of being dragged in by the baleful monster that lives there.
Last Updated: 2026-01-15
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