[1] This walk starts at Sheringham YHA, Cremer's Drift. Leave the Youth Hostel, turning right, North, down Cremer’s Drift. Turn left along Cromer Road, the A149. Turn right at the roundabout along Station Road towards the Town Centre and the Sea Front.. Pass a car park/market place on the left, cross a level crossing, and continue straight ahead past many small shops into the High Street which leads to the sea front. Turn left at the sea front onto the Promenade, joining the Norfolk Coast Path and head West for 300m to the Lifeguard Station. Lifeguard Station. (Photo 3) Bear left just after this, following the Norfolk Coast Path and ascend a slope leading to the top of the cliffs. Follow the cliff edge West for 1.4 miles.
[2] At footpath junction. (Photo 4), about 300m beyond the end of the golf course, turn left onto a footpath leading inland, South. Cross a bridge over the North Norfolk Railway (A) This preserved steam railway runs from Sheringham to Holt, a distance of 5 miles. and continue ahead to meet the A149 Holt to Cromer road. Turn right following a good field edge path. At the corner of the wood on the opposite side of the road, cross the road and walk South beside the wood with it on your left. Pass a WWII Pill Box at the edge of the wood.
Optional diversion: When you pass a bench beside the path, photo 7, turn left into the wood and ascend 134 steps to arrive at the bottom of the Gazebo. (B) This is a tower steel on top of a hill in the wood which provides a treetop view over the North Norfolk coast and Sheringham Park. The Gazebo was opened by Prince Charles in 1988. This lookout tower has another 60 steps and provides a treetop view over the local area. Retrace your steps and rejoin the main path at the bench.
Continue ahead to the next waypoint.
[3] Gate into Sheringham Park. (Photo 8)
(C) Sheringham Park is the most complete and best preserved example of landscape gardener Humphry Repton's work. He designed the park in 1812 and proclaimed it 'my most favourite work'. It is now owned by the National Trust. ttp://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sheringham-park/
This gate is at the corner of the field, turn left it towards Upper Sheringham. At the crossroads, (photo 9), overlooked by Sheringham Hall (on your left), turn right. Follow a good path straight ahead which leads through woods for 0.8 miles. As you leave Sheringham Park there is a visitor centre with toilets, refreshments and a car park on your right. Cross the busy A148 main road and walk along the Byway opposite towards West Beckham for 250m.
[4] . Road/Footpath junction. (Photo 10). Turn left onto a footpath. At the start of the third field, turn right. Keeping the hedge on your right, walk South beside this field. At the corner of the field, turn left, East. This keeps the solar farm on your left-hand side. With the hedge still on your right, walk until you come up to a T junction. Turn right, then left and walk past some barns on your right. Pass to the right hand side of a small wood, looking out for a stile on the right, and walk diagonally across the next field, passing a footpath marker on a solitary post in the middle of the field. Note: the waymarked footpath on the ground does not follow the route shown on OS maps. Cross a stile into the next field and continue ahead, Eastwards. At the end of this field, go through a gate to Red Barn Lane with a red brick house ahead.
[5] Alternative Route. Shortcut to waypoint 6 saving ¾ mile. Turn left on Red Barn Lane and walk ? mile to the A148, Holt Road. Cross this road and enter Sheringham Wood. Turn right and walk about 50m to waypoint [6]
Main route. Cross over Red Barn Lane and walk along East Beckham Road. Pass Gibbet Lane on your left, pass Manor Farm farmhouse and walk up the concrete driveway towards the large barns of this farm. To the left of the yard outside the barns is a hedge with a track behind it. Take this track which soon heads to the left of a small thicket and then along a field with a hedge on your right. After 550m the path suddenly turns right, following the hedge on your right towards a barn conversion. Walk clockwise round this barn and head left towards the A148. Turn left, West, along the road. Fork right towards a recycling centre, and pass the entrance to an outdoor centre on your right. Turn right at a stile providing access to the woods, and follow a path to the left near the edge of the wood for about 250m.
[6] This is at the head of a small valley which descends to the North-East. Walk North-East down this valley. The path then bears left to leave the valley. Turn right at a T junction onto a wider path. (D)Most junctions in Sheringham Wood are marked with substantial identifying sculpted wooden posts. These woods have won Green Flag awards and are jointly managed by NNDC countryside team and the Woodlands Trust.At the next junction with a helical snake carving, turn right. Turn left at the next sculpted post. Continue ahead at the next three posts (twisted, tapering and bird footmark carvings), then exit the woods passing between two Anglian Water compounds. When you meet a road (Woodland Rise), take a small unmarked path through Sheringham Common which runs parallel to and just to the right of Woodland Rise.
(EThe Commons of Beeston Regis and Sheringham consist of 24.7 hectares/61 acres of grassland, heath, marsh, fen and secondary woodland. The varied habitats hold a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna. Over 400 flowering plants have been recorded including no less than 14 British orchids and varieties. With such a variety of flowers the site is attractive to butterflies and 26 species have been regularly recorded including green hairstreak, brown argus and Essex skipper. They have SSSI/SAC status. http://www.beestoncommon.org.uk
After 350m, bear left to walk North along Common Lane. Take the last turning on the left, St Joseph’s Road. At the end of St Joseph’s Road, turn right into Cremer’s Drift and return to the hostel.