The Norfolk Broads is probably the best area in Norfolk for peaceful walks. It’s the perfect destination for those who love to explore the great outdoors by foot. With a vast network of footpaths and trails, there are plenty of opportunities to discover the hidden gems and even spot unique wildlife.
In this blog post, we’ll share a range of walks in the Norfolk Broads, from easy circular routes to longer trails, with something for every ability and interest.
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Best Walks in The Norfolk Broads
Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or just looking for a gentle stroll, there’s a walk for everyone in the Norfolk Broads. You can even bring along your dog, but there are areas where it will need to be on a lead to protect the wildlife.
For your convenience, these hikes are listed in order of length, from shortest to longest, but don’t feel obligated to tackle the whole thing. It will still be enjoyable even if you just walk a portion of the trail.
Burgh Castle Circular Walk
The Burgh Castle Circular Walk is an easy one-mile trail starting from the parking area of the English Heritage site. The highlight of the walk is the Burgh Castle ruins that date back to the Roman era.
Along the walk, you’ll enjoy beautiful views of Halvergate Marshes and Breydon Water, so don’t forget your camera. You’ll also see Berney Arms Mill, the tallest drainage mill in the country, in the distance.
The path is mostly flat, but there are some stairs to climb. For easy navigation, use our Burgh Castle Circular Walk Guide that provides step-by-step instructions.
While you can probably complete the walk in 30 minutes, it’s best to allow more time so you can explore the ruins and take in the views. There is no admission fee for Burgh Castle, but you’ll have to pay for parking.
Strumpshaw Fen Trails
Strumpshaw Fen offers two scenic trails, each showcasing a different side of the reserve. The Fen Trail (3.8 km) takes you through wetland habitats, while the shorter Woodland Trail (1.8 km) winds through beautiful woodlands. You can also combine both for a more varied walk.
Trail conditions change with the seasons, and the Fen Trail can sometimes flood in winter, so it’s best to check for closures. Both routes are mostly flat and accessible to walkers of all fitness levels.
Nature lovers will find plenty to see. The tower hide on the Fen Trail is a great spot for watching marsh harriers, bitterns, and other reedbed birds. Along the Woodland Trail, look out for Norfolk Hawker dragonflies in summer and a carpet of bluebells in spring.
As an RSPB reserve, Strumpshaw Fen offers free entry to members. To protect the wildlife, only assistance dogs are allowed.
Get more information about visiting RSPB Strumpshaw Fen here.
Walk Around Whitlingham Great Broad
The circular walk around Whitlingham Great Broad is popular thanks to its accessibility and lovely views. The 2-mile path around the Broad is wheelchair accessible and mostly flat, making it suitable for people of all fitness levels and even kids. Runners and cyclists also frequent this trail, making it a bustling hub of activity especially when the weather is nice.
Even with all the people, it’s a peaceful escape not far from Norwich city centre. If you time your visit right, you can witness the beautiful colours of either the sunset or sunrise across the water. While dogs are allowed on this walk, there is a section that goes through a nature area where they need to be kept on leads.
You can download a map of this walk here. Read about more things to do at Whitlingham Country Park.
Barton Broad Boardwalk Walk
Follow the Barton Broad Circular Walk, a scenic route through the countryside that leads to the Barton Broad Boardwalk, offering views of one of Norfolk’s largest broads. Once only accessible by boat, the nature reserve can now be explored on foot thanks to a boardwalk built by the Broads Authority as part of the Clear Water 2000 project.
As you walk around the boardwalk, look out for different kinds of birds. Take a break and do more birdwatching at the Barton Broad viewpoint. After completing the boardwalk loop, head back to the car park via country lanes and fields.
The walk is about 2.5 miles long and takes around an hour and a half to finish. You can get the map by downloading it here or follow our simple guide to the Barton Broad Circular Walk.
How Hill to St. Benets Abbey Circular Walk
The circular walk from How Hill to St. Benet’s Abbey is covers around 7 miles (get the map here) and offers picturesque views along the River Ant and River Bure. How Hill is the ideal starting point, with plenty of parking and the option to take an Electric Eel boat tour from here.
Along the way, you can make a diversion to visit Ludham, a quaint village known for its charming thatched houses, tea rooms, and the magnificent 14th St. Catherine’s Church. The village served as a film location for the 1954 movie Conflict of Wings.
The highlight of the walk is St. Benet’s Abbey, the only monastery that remained open when King Henry VIII dissolved the other monasteries across England. There is no charge to visit St. Benet’s Abbey, and you can find more information about it here.
The gatehouse ruins are unique, with a mill built on them in the 1720s. Visitors can also walk to the modern wooden cross that marks the site of the altar. Although the last monks left in 1545, religious services are still held here on the first Sunday of August every year.
After visiting St. Benet’s Abbey, the return journey to How Hill mostly follows the rivers, but visitors can also take a detour and stop at The Dog at Ludham Bridge for a bite to eat and a pint.
Three Rivers Way
The Three Rivers Way is an exciting project that aims to create a 9-mile route connecting four villages – Hoveton, Horning, Ludham and Potter Heigham – situated on the Bure, the Ant and the Thurne rivers in the Northern Broads.
Currently, only the first section of the route from Hoveton to Horning is complete, covering a distance of 2 ½ miles that can be easily completed in a little over an hour. You can choose to start your walk from either Hoveton or Horning, both of which offer great facilities including bike hire, cafes, shops, pubs, and more.
This stretch of the trail offers lovely views of the surrounding countryside, with ancient hedgerows and easy access to the River Bure at each end. Along the way, you can explore historic churches, BeWILDerwood, the RAF Radar Museum, and many other local attractions.
The route also links up with other footpaths and bridleways, so you to create your own circular walk. Learn more about the Three Rivers Way and get the map here.
Bure Valley Path
The Bure Valley Path is a nine mile long cycling and walking trail that runs between the towns Aylsham and Wroxham. You won’t need a map as it runs alongside the entire length of the narrow gauge Bure Valley Railway. The path is pretty flat and has a fair bit of tree cover.
You could take this steam railway back so you don’t have to walk or cycle both ways. Bikes are allowed on the trains too, space permitting. Both the path and the railway are dog-friendly.
The route takes walkers and cyclists through some beautiful countryside, with links to the villages of Brampton, Buxton and Coltishall. In Coltishall, you could make a detour and check out one of our favourite Norfolk Broad pubs, The Rising Sun.
The Wherryman’s Way
The Wherryman’s Way is a 37.5-mile walking trail (get map here) through the Yare Valley, linking Norwich and Great Yarmouth train stations. Following the historic route of the Broads trading wherries, the trail winds through nature reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest, offering plenty of wildlife-spotting opportunities.
The route is a mix of footpaths and quiet lanes, but parts of it pass through grazing marshes, so keep dogs on a lead and close gates behind you. Be sure to dress for the season, as some sections can be muddy or overgrown with nettles.
If you’re tackling the full trail, consider breaking it up over two or more days and booking accommodation. Reedham Ferry campsite is a popular halfway stop, with other small B&Bs along the route. This guidebook will help you plan your journey.
For a shorter option, you can find 12 circular walks that are perfect for exploring a section at a time here.
The Weavers Way
Weavers’ Way is a 61-mile-long walking trail (get map here) that runs between Cromer and Great Yarmouth. The trail takes its name from the once-thriving weaving industry that flourished in the Middle Ages. Along the way, the trail offers a diverse range of landscapes, from woodlands and farmlands to grazing marshes and tidal mud flats, providing a rich contrast of scenery.
You will pass by several market towns (North Walsham and Stalham), stately homes, and medieval flint churches, as well as wind pumps and historic railway infrastructure such as station buildings, bridges, and crossing cottages. Notable highlights include National Trust sites (Blickling Estate and Felbrigg Hall), Berney Arms Windmill, Hickling Broad, and Heigham Bridge.
You don’t have to walk the whole Weaver’s Trail, you could do a shorter linear or circular walk (see options here). Some sections of the trail are also suitable for cyclists and horse riders.
Additionally, Weavers’ Way is connected to other popular long-distance walking trails including as the Norfolk Coast Path, Paston Way, Marriott’s Way, Angles Way, and Wherryman’s Way, providing a gateway to even more walking opportunities.
The Angles Way
Angles Way (get map here) is a scenic 93-mile trail along the Norfolk-Suffolk border, stretching from Great Yarmouth to Thetford. It winds through open countryside, river valleys, and charming villages, passing through historic market towns like Beccles, Bungay, Harleston, and Diss.
Following the Waveney Valley from Breydon Water, the route offers peaceful landscapes, wildlife sites, and points of interest. At Knettishall Heath, it meets the Little Ouse, where the scenery shifts to the heathland and woodlands of the Suffolk Brecks before finishing in Thetford.
Voted Britain’s best waterside walk in 2003, Angles Way takes in landmarks like Burgh Castle, Fritton Lake, Somerleyton Hall, Oulton Broad (where you’ll find a Banksy), Flixton Hall, and Billingford Windmill. The trail is typically completed in stages.
There are plenty of options for all walkers, from short circular routes to longer hikes, (see the options here) many leading to cosy pubs for a well-earned drink and meal. Angles Way also connects with other major trails, including Peddars Way, Boudicca Way, Wherryman’s Way, and Weaver’s Way, making it a great base for exploring East Anglia on foot.
More Norfolk Walks
If you enjoy this post, be sure to also check out:
Best Circular Walks in Norfolk
Best Woodland Walks in Norfolk
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