No walk book of Norfolk would be complete without at Least one walk around the Broads area. Fortunately there is a connection with Nelson at Barton Turf on the edge of the Broads just a few miles south of Statham. Barton Hall was the home of Nelson’s sister Catherine and brother-in-Law George Matcham and Nelson often visited them during his stay at Burnham Thorpe. Nelson was very fond of his sister and she and her husband were guests at his home at Merton when he left Portsmouth in September 1805 never to return. Start the walk at Barton Staith car park.
[1] Barton Broad is, like all of the Broads, an area of flooded peat extraction on a river. In this case the river is the Ant. Walk back along the road away from the Staith towards the village. At a T-junction the walk continues to the right but note the white gateposts opposite the turning which is the main entrance to Barton Hall. It is not possible to see the Hall from this point but a view is possible on the return journey. At the next junction carry on straight-ahead and at the next junction keep right. This stretch of road is Low Lying with the reeds and stagnant pools coming right to the edge of the road. Follow the road round to the left to pass by Berry Hall on the right.
(A) Berry Hall was originally attached to St. Benedicts Abbey and the farm buildings and house still include some of the original brick and stone work of the 16th century.
Immediately before the next cottages on the right turn right along a farm track and bridleway.
[2] By the large oak turn left and then right and cross the next field. At Fen Lane turn right and follow the track to some farm buildings on the right. Turn back sharp left through the woods and keep on the path to the main road. Cross the busy main road by the garage and turn right for a few yards before turning left alongside the garage down a tarmac drive into a small car park. Turn left along the footpath to the rear of the houses and follow it across a grassy area and through a wooded area to a hard road. Turn right and follow the road as it gets progressively less used and becomes a grass path. Go through a gap in the hedge and follow the path diagonally across fields and through gates to a concrete farm road. Turn left along the road which improves and eventually becomes School Lane, Small burgh. At the Lane end cross the road and turn left keeping alongside the road.
[3] 400 yards after crossing Hall Road turn right along a broad green lane between hedges. At Church Cottages turn left along a cinder track to the road. Turn left along the road and cross the main A1151 continuing towards Barton Turf. In a little over half a mile pass two cottages and turn left along a footpath which runs through the garden of the next cottage. Follow the path across fields to a hard road. Turn right along the road and in a short distance Left at a junction. At a shelterbelt on the right take the footpath through the wood and across more fields to the road beside Barton Turf Church.
[4] With the Church on the right carry on along the tarmac road to the Neatishead Road. Turn left and follow the road around to the right into the village. On the bend of the road is the village cricket field with an attractive thatched pavilion. From the field it is possible to obtain a view of Barton Hall on the far side of the field. Continue to follow the road back to the starting point.