This is a stile free walk. Wroxham is easy to get to by public transport with a good bus service and regular trains on the Bittern Line which runs between Norwich and Sheringham
1. Start from the tourist information centre. Walk beside the centre towards the river. Turn right, following the path passing the launching area. Turn left to follow the path beside the landing area, then right to pass under the railway. There are good views of the river. Follow the boardwalk, then take the path to your right. Follow to the ramp up to the railway station and go straight on over the bridge. The restored signal box is ahead. Follow the path in front of the station to the far end where the path beside the light railway starts.
2. Keep following the path to a gate to the road and the crossing keeper’s cottage. Pass through the gate. Keep following the path under the railway bridge. Carry on, passing over the bridge. Take the steps to your left down to the road. Turn right. Follow the road to the sharp left-hand bend. Go straight on taking the enclosed path. Follow this path to the road. Cross the road to the common car park. There are two pubs here if you wish for refreshments. There are public toilets in the car park to the right.
3. Leave the car park by the bridge beside the river. Following the river, cross the common to the far end then follow Anchor Street, passing the attractive houses and converted malting. At the end of the road at the five-bar gate pass through the gap to the left then through the kissing gate. Ignore the gate to the left and go straight on. With the hedge on your left, following the meadows through the gates at the end of the meadows, go through the new kissing gate. Go along the lane to a finger post and metal gate on the right. Follow the path through the garden, which will bring you to a gate out onto the Street. Go straight on, passing the staithe and village sign on the right. Follow the road to the corner then take the track Church Lane up to St John the Baptist church, which is usually open. There is a seat to the rear of the church with views across the valley (the path at the rear of the church just goes down to the riverside and back the same way).
4. Leave the church, turn left back to the road. Turn right, then at the crossroads turn left follow to the main Coltishall road. Cross the road with care to go through the gap in the hedge to take the permissive path to the right along the hedge. At the finger post keep going straight on, following the path to the end. This brings you on to the road. Take care and turn left and then left into the Bure Valley Railway car park. Head towards the signal box then right to go back over the bridge. Go down the ramp, turn left under the station then straight onto the road to then turn right into Station Road. Follow the pavement which will bring you back to the information centre.
Refreshments are available at the Bure Valley Railway station.
Norfolk Ramblers' work party replaced the last remaining stile on this walk with a kissing gate funded by the Norwich group and Hike Norfolk.
POINT OF INTEREST
The Bure Valley Railway
The Bure Valley Railway (bvrw.co.uk) is a major tourist attraction, welcoming more than 100,000 visitors a year. The railway is built on the track-bed of the former Great Eastern Railway between Wroxham and Aylsham and is run by a small, dedicated team of staff and volunteers. Norfolk County Council had an enlightened policy of safeguarding closed railway routes for use as footpaths. Through a partnership between local government and the private sector, the narrow-gauge line was built between Aylsham and Hoveton and Wroxham, with a nine-mile-long footpath running alongside.
Hoveton and Wroxham
Hoveton and Wroxham is situated in the heart of the Norfolk Broads and with a nod to the expansion of the railways in the late 1900s, it became, and still is, the hub of the boating industry. Hire a day boat from one of the local yards to explore the waterways - or take a river trip on one of Broads Tours' famous passenger boats and learn some fascinating facts about the magical and unique landscape from the entertaining on-board commentary. If you love shopping, then Roys of Wroxham's department store is a must-visit - as is the food hall opposite, which sells a huge range of tasty regional produce.
FOOD AND DRINK
Wroxham Barns
Serving up sourdough toasties, jacket potatoes and more, the Courtyard Cafe at Wroxham Barns is a great destination for lunch - and there's an array of home-baked cakes and scones to accompany your morning coffee or afternoon tea too. Stop off at Willow Tree Delicatessen for some delicious local foodie goodies, such as chocolate, cheese and beer, to take home.
Rising Sun, Coltishall
The Rising Sun's riverside setting makes it a lovely spot at which to refuel. There's a huge menu, with local produce at its heart, ranging from Swannington steaks, burgers and loaded fries to lighter dishes such as Cromer crab rarebit and their signature ploughman's featuring a Swannington pork pie and Norfolk Dapple cheese. And they also have a wood-fired oven, serving authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas.
COMPASS POINTS
STARTS AT: Park in the medium stay car park in Station Road. The walk starts by the tourist information centre
NEAREST POST CODE: NR12 8UR
DISTANCE: 6 miles, 9.5km
GRID REFERENCE: TG3034 1830
WAHT3WORDS: hazy.alleyway.solve
