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Reepham, Norfolk

Difficulty Easy

Walking time 2 hours 45 minutes

Length 8.3km / 5.1mi

Route developer: Robin Segulem

Route checker: Tom Jones

Start location Reepham, Norfolk
Route Summary A circular walk around Reepham ending with a short section along Marriott’s Way, a recreational route along old railway lines between Norwich and Aylsham
*move mouse over graph to see points on route
Getting there

Bus Sanders Coach 43 from Norwich

Description

[1] Turn right along the road then just before the railway bridge turn left along Catchback Lane. Carefully cross the B1145, so you can see (and be seen) around the bend, turn right and soon left along a rough tarmac track, Broom Hill Lane. At the second house the track goes round to the left and becomes a green lane. Turn right on Back Lane between a hedge and a wire fence. The track meets Whitwell Road by the side of Marriott’s Way. As an optional diversion, join the Way and cross the road via the bridge to visit Whitwell Station - a railway preservation society is - planning restoration projects. Return over the bridge then down to the road, turn left and at the top of the hill go right along a track, keeping left by a hedge.

 
[2] Turn left along Mill Road, then immediately before a barn turn right along a hedged path. At a corner, and a junction with a signed Stewardship path (access officially ceased in 2002 but it is apparently still open), turn left with the path, which widens to become more like a track and then a narrow road. When the road is approaching Whitwell Street and bends sharply to the left, turn right over a stile to a footpath. This is the path which might be rather wet, firstly over marshy ground and then after crossing a footbridge. Go straight ahead, ignoring a path going diagonally left. Turn left along a Furze Lane. There are DEFRA Stewardship Walks on the left hand side of the lane, providing an option to walk along field edges. There is access at the most southerly point (as shown on the map) and adjacent to the farm driveways, but no access or egress at the road junction at the far end. Turn left at the T junction along a rather busy road. Ignore the turning to the right and follow the road round to the left, past cottages in Booton and over the river. 
 
[3] Turn right on a track with a locked wire gate, but a stile on the left and a gap on the right. Beyond a large shed the track becomes a field path. Near the end of the field the path bears to the left over a stile and a footbridge then bears round to the right, through a kissing gate, then follows a fenced green track between gardens and out to a road. Turn left, then in a few yards turn right, beside a lovely old house, along a field edge path. Shortly before the path reaches Marriotts Way the track turns sharply left through the trees, then joins Marriotts Way. Turn left and continue to Cawston Road, go left then soon right into Wood balling Road and left under the railway bridge back onto Marriott’s Way. Pass the old Reepham Station, where there is a tea shop and small museum. Before reaching the bridge over Kerdiston Road turn left on a short link path to Stony Lane, turn right then left onto Kerdiston Road and back to the car park. 
 
 
POI information

 

The route ends with a short section along Marriott’s Way, a recreational route along old railway lines between Norwich and Aylsham. The first section of this walk uses the “Themelthorpe Link Path” for the Way, providing a short cut to avoid the full loop of the Way via the Themelthorpe Curve. The 180 degree Curve was constructed in 1960,connecting what remained of the lines after partial closures and was then the sharpest bend in the British Rail Network. However the Curve and the remainder of the line were closed in 1985 when concrete production ceased at Lenwade. Marriott’s Way is named after William Marriott (1857-1943). He was employed initially by the Eastern & Midlands Railway and then, following a merger in 1893, by the Midland & Great Northern. He was Engineer from 1883, Locomotive Superintendent from 1885 and Traffic Manager from 1919 and he continued in all the posts until his retirementin l924. He was an innovative and talented engineer, a pioneer of reinforced concrete and he made many improvements to track design. It is good that his life and achievements are commemorated, but no doubt he would have expected and wished that the railways should continue in use. The idea of a “recreational path” would have been a quite alien concept! 
 
A leaflet about the Marriott’s Way is available from Norfolk County Council (phone 01603 222769) 
 
 
Notes

Maps: OS - Landranger 133, or Explorer 238

Acknowledgements

Walk first published in 'Around Norfolk with The Ramblers - 30 circular walks between four and ten miles devised by local Ramblers'.

Contact Norfolk Ramblers at www.norfolkra.org.uk 

Photo - Reepham Railway Station © (Ashley Dace) / CC BY-SA 2.0

  • Reepham Railway Station
    Reepham Railway Station
    By - Ashley Dace
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