Costessey means island or dry ground in marsh. Old Costessey lies between two rivers. The Wensum meanders on the northern border. The Tud to the south serves as the border between the old and the new villages, with New Costessey stretching south to Bowthorpe.
[1] From The Costessy Centre car park turn right up Longwater Lane and cross the old river bridge. Carry on for about a third of a mile, then enter East Hills Wood through a small car park on the left. There are many tracks through these woods but keep to the lower path along the edge of the trees. There is a pleasant glimpse of the Tud Valley through the trees. Carry on through the woodland and nearing the end climb gently to leave the woods and go through a small play area and car park to join Grove Avenue. Turn left down the hill and take the fourth road on the left, Highlow Road. At the bottom of the slope, go straight ahead and enter Bunkers Hill. Turn right and follow a well defined path round the edge of the woodland. Ignore the first set of metal barriers to the right. Continue ahead and go through the second set of metal barriers into Woodlands Road. Forty years ago the land to the left was old sandpits but now it’s all houses.
[2] Continue to the end of the road, then turn right into Hall Road and left down to the bottom of Hill Road. Cross the busy Norwich Road, turn right and keep to the pavement as far as the bend in the road, then take the lane ahead, Gunton Lane, which shortly becomes a rough track. Take the left fork and continue for about three quarters of a mile, after passing the water pump and a car park on the left. When Gunton Lane eventually becomes a tarmac surface, continue for 200 metres, then turn sharp left through wooden bollards and back along Marriott’s Way, a disused railway track. Cross a river bridge over the Tud and immediately go left through a gate and along the water’s edge for a short distance. Cross over a wooden bridge and take the riverside path to the right continuing by the River Tud to an old rustic bridge (Red Bridge). Pause a while on one of the benches to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the gurgling water before proceeding into Red Bridge Lane.
[3] Turn right over the bridge and along the narrow lane with high hedges on both sides. Continue almost to the junction with Marriott’s Way. Turn left into Clint Hill on a path across fields, pausing to appreciate the open views across to Costessey, Drayton and Hellesdon. After three quarters of a mile keep to the left-hand fork and shortly reach houses in Windmill Lane. At the junction, cross straight over Folgate Lane into The Croft and descend a narrow, winding hill for 200 metres. Then enter Green Hills Wood through an opening with barriers on the left. Take the left fork and follow a clear path round the edge of the wood, passing a quiet glade on the right, and continue down a slope into Town House Road. Turn right past Our Lady and St. Walstans Roman Catholic Church, built in 1 841 by the Jerningham family, who still owned Costessey Hall at that time. Continue down to a mini roundabout and The Hart Public House. Keep left into West End and pass St. Augustine’s School. Turn left into Longwater Lane and back to the recreation Ground.