A lovely walk around historic Reepham, Whitwell and the Marriott’s Way path
This beautiful five-mile walk passes two excellently preserved and restored railway stations, the M&GN Whitwell and Reepham Station, as well as the GER Reepham Station. Both are now cafés, with Whitwell and Reepham also having a licensed bar, station museum, shop, and offering occasional train rides. The site of Reepham Station is also home to a pine workshop.
The historic market town of Reepham has no fewer than 61 listed buildings, two churches, a Wednesday morning market, and pubs, cafés, and restaurants.
1 From the car park leave by the back, turning left on the footpath. Cross the road, taking the footpath to the right down to Oland’s Road. Turn left at the main road; cross, bear right then left to the fingerpost for the Marriott’s Way. Go under the bridge passing the old Reepham Station on your left.
At the bridge take the steps down to the road, turn right then left up the hill beside the road. At the end of the woods take Smugglers Lane to the right; at the end of the road turn right then left on to Park Lane. At the end of the road go on along the path to the end, turn right, follow the path beside the school playing fields then turn left following the path to the finger post for the Marriott’s Way. Turn left over the bridge and you will come to Whitwell Station. On the left there are toilets and refreshments available.
2 On leaving the station turn left at the bridge, take the steps down to the road, turn left following the road to the junction. Turn right then left beside Eade’s Mill. At the end of the road turn left, passing Manor Farm; at the corner take the signed path to the left. This will bring you to a gate out to Whitwell Street.
Carry straight on to the corner, take the surfaced path straight on; this will bring you to an arch out on to Back Street. Turn left then right into Pudding Pie Alley – this brings you to the market place. Cross the road between the buildings; there is a signed path to the car park at the end of
your walk.
Reepham’s two stations
Within the space of two years in the early 1880s, Reepham joined the railway age with not one, but two stations on two different lines. Reepham Station was closer to town while Whitwell Station was the most direct route to Norwich.
A Reepham Station itself was constructed on the GER line to the north of the town, with a station building, large goods shed and a number of sidings. The buildings, apart from the signal box, are still extant and have been converted into commercial premises.
The site of the signal box may relate to a section of brick and concrete foundations by the side of the track on the approach to the station, and the station site also has earthwork banks which may relate to the sidings.
B Whitwell Station is the last M&GN station on the Marriott’s Way, and the surviving station building is identical in character to the other stations along the line. The station originally had two sidings, a goods shed and cattle pens in addition to the main station building and platforms. The station has recently been restored and reopened to the public as the Whitwell and Reepham Railway. It was known as Whitwell and Reepham Station on the M&GN, allowing passengers on the M&GN to disembark for Reepham.
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
