Take a stroll from Mannington Hall to Plumstead with the Norfolk Ramblers

Great British Life: Crown copyright 2019 Ordnance Survey. Media 013/19Crown copyright 2019 Ordnance Survey. Media 013/19 (Image: Archant)

Directions

1 | From the carpark leave by the main gate, cross the road and enter the wooded section. Follow the path to Keepers Lane, pass the holiday cottages on the left, follow the lane to the corner and turn right, passing Keepers House on your left. Follow the path to the bottom of the hill, bear right and carry straight on through the heather - the path can be indistinct in places. Bear right at the junction of paths; this will bring you on to the drive for Wood Farm.

Carry on straight ahead; you will come to the road. Turn left, follow to a triangle of grass. With a track turning back on yourself follow the track. It then turns into a field edge path; keep following to a small wooded section. This is the start of an enclosed lane. At the end turn right up a small incline, follow to the hedge, turn left, follow down the dip straight on to the road.

2 | If you are doing the short walk turn right here, picking up at (4). The main walk goes straight on up the track. At the junction bear left, following the track. Passing a cottage on your right at Old Wood, ignore the path to the left and follow the edge of the wood straight on to join Mill Lane.

At the road turn right; on the left at Plumstead Green there is an attractive community green with a pond. On a sunny day this would make an ideal place to have a break. Carry on the road to the junction with the village sign, go straight on to St Michael and All Angels Church.

3 | After visiting the church return to the road junction take the track on the left, Jericho Lane. Keep following it; it becomes an enclosed path which will bring you to the track that you took earlier; follow to the road, turn left.

4 | At Barningham Green Farm take the track passing the farm buildings. Take the field edge path to the left, follow to a cross-field path straight over, then follow the field edge path to the road.

Cross the road, take the signed path to the right then left, following the field edge to the end. Turn left before the stile, turn right, follow to the stile straight on. Cross the bridge then over the stile turn right on to the permissive path to the hide that overlooks a small broad. Follow the boardwalk, turn right at the trees, bear left; this will bring you back to the car park.

Points of interest

A | St Michael's church dates from the 12th century. The tower is from the latter part of the 15th century and the bell was cast by Richard Brazier in St Stephen's Norwich. The south chancel windows contain richly coloured panels of 17th century Dutch glass (brought from Catton Hall where they were mixed originally with the east window glass.

B | Mannington Hall is a moated medieval country house constructed in the 15th century. Having been owned by the Walpole family since the 18th century it is now owned and occupied by Robert Walpole, 10th Baron Walpole.

The hall is surrounded on all sides by a moat and in plan is oblong in shape. The main entrance to the hall is reached by a wooden pedestrian drawbridge. Throughout the gardens are thousands of roses, especially classic varieties.

Work continues to replant areas which were planted in the 1980s. Complementary planting of other species to fit in with the gardens continues every year.

The Contemporary Garden features more roses, shrubs and herbaceous borders with brighter colours and modern varieties. Near to the hall is a knot garden with scented plants and on the South Lawn is a classical temple and the recently planted sensory garden with plants selected for touch, sound and taste, as well as smell and colour.

manningtongardens.co.uk

Get rambling

Norfolk Ramblers welcomes new members. If you are interested in walking in the company of like-minded people, visit norfolkra.org.uk or call 07505 426750. For queries about this walk, phone 07905 565740.

Norfolk Ramblers has established a footpath working group to do some path cutting and general maintenance. We try to make sure that all the paths in these walks are fit to walk, but if you encounter a problem please tell us.

Contact Peter James at pdjames.ramb@ntlworld.com; 07905 565740