Take in the beautiful Felbrigg Hall and the village of Sustead in this walk from Norfolk Ramblers
Compass points
Starting point: Walk starts from National Trust car park at Felbrigg Hall. Parking is free for NT members but there is a charge for others.
Grid Reference: Tg1952 3939, the car park
Post code: NR11 8PP, the gate house entrance
Main walk: 5.5 miles, 9km
Short Walk: 2.5 miles, 4.3km
Directions
1) From the car park head towards the walled garden. To the left is a gate; pass through, following the path along the Victory Walk. At the seat, if you look back, you can see the 'V' of linked beech avenues. This was planted in 1946 to commemorate VE Day. Follow the path to the left, passing the Ice House on the left. Continue downhill, ignoring paths off to the left. At the bottom turn left; this will bring you to the drive. Turn left then right towards the car park. Take the path to the right, following the boundary wall. Ignoring the gate onto the road, cross the bridge and follow the path, bearing right at the end of the lake.
2) If doing the shorter walk turn left. Passing the end of the lake take the path to the top of the hill where you re-join the main walk at (4). The main walk turns right. Follow the path to a sign for the Weavers Way; bear right. Following the path to the road, turn right then left onto the track beside the woods. Follow this - it narrows at one point - keep following to farm buildings then along the drive beside a bungalow to the road. Turn left, follow the road passing the footpath off to the left. Follow the road to the next finger post which take you across the fields to Sustead church. To visit the church turn right out to the road.
3) From the corner of the wall take the cross-field path down to the kissing gate; then over the bridge bear slightly right through the kissing gate. Follow the cross-field path up the hill, then carry straight on to the field entrance out to the road. Turn left, follow the road to the T-junction, cross the road into the drive. You are now back in Felbrigg park. Go straight on, ignore the track going left and head for the kissing gate. Follow the path crossing the bridge then uphill to the kissing gate.
4) Go through the gate then to the next kissing gate; this brings you into the meadow. Avoiding the stile, follow the path to the church. Turn left through the gate then follow the gravel track to a marker post.
Turn right, taking the grass path through the kissing gate back to the car park.
Points of interest
A) Felbrigg Hall is a Jacobean mansion set in landscaped grounds. It was built in the 15th century on the site of the original medieval hall.
The estate covers some 1760 acres of parkland and mixed woodland. Owner Robert Ketton-Cremer bequeathed it to the National Trust on his death in 1969.
B) St Peter and St Paul's church at Sustead has a 48ft high round tower with a single bell. The church was built in Saxon times but has Norman, Tudor and Victorian alterations.
C) The church of St Margaret, within the grounds of Felbrigg, has one of the finest collections of brasses in Norfolk. Life-size brasses of Simon de Felbrigg, who built the church, and his wife Margaret can be found in the east of the nave. u
Please be aware that paths can be muddy at this time of year
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
