With Peter James of the Norfolk Ramblers
National Trust car park
Grid reference TG1957 3940
Post code NR11 8PP (main gate )
What3words: ///unusable.scenes.restored
5.6 miles, 9.3km
(1) From the car park, with your back to the walled garden at the back of the car park, take the kissing gate to the park. Follow the path to the gravel track, turn left and follow to the church. Pass through the churchyard and take the gate out at the corner, then turn right and follow to the kissing gate at the track. Turn right at the tree, take and follow the track to the T-junction. You go straight on, taking the cross-field path towards the woods, then follow the track through the woods. Turn left, then right to follow the field edge path beside the woods to the marker post just round the corner, then take the cross-field path towards the telegraph poles at the crest of the hill, then straight on down to the gap in the hedge. Pass through the kissing gate. Bear slightly left, heading for the bridge. Unhook the chain - this is to prevent the animals getting on the bridge, so please replace - then follow the path uphill. Pass through the kissing gate, then follow the path to the road.
(2) Cross the road where you can visit Metton Church. You take the track beside the church to the sharp left corner to turn left then right to follow the field edge path to the end of the field. Turn right then left at the marker post. Go down the slope to the lower field (hopefully the steps will have been reinstated by the time you walk this) follow to the gap in the hedge which zigzags to the gate they use when sheep are in the meadow. Follow the path to the marker post where you turn right to follow the path up the steps. Following the path beside the chicken coops at the end, turn left into Glen Farm. Turn right, following the track. Follow this to the corner; turn left. This will bring you to the road. At the road turn left following the road through the village of Sustead, passing the village sign on you right keep straight on and follow the road to the church.
(3) If you have visited the church you will need to retrace your steps back to the finger post, turn left and follow the church wall to the end where you take the cross-field path straight on down to the kissing gate. Cross the meadow to the gap, cross the bridge, then bear slightly right to a kissing gate. You now take the cross-field path which bears slightly right. Follow this till you reach the field edge which you follow to an open gap to the road. Turn left and follow the road to the T-junction; go straight on into the Felbrigg estate. Follow the track, passing around the barrier. Keep following the track to the Weavers Way sign where you turn right then at the lake turn left and follow the path through the kissing gate straight on up the slight slope. Then turn right, follow to the gate that takes you across the lake. At the far end turn left, following the path to the boardwalk by the large oak tree. The boardwalk has been put in to protect the tree roots. Just after the tree, go through the gate and follow the path that meanders through the fallen trees towards the hall pass the front of the hall back to the car park.
Felbrigg Hall
Felbrigg Hall, owned by the National Trust, is a mix of opulence and homeliness. From the stained-glass windows in the Great Hall to Queen Mary's teapot in the Drawing Room, the house is a treasure trove of delights.
The Chinese Bedroom showcases Felbrigg’s rich global collections, including luxury exports traded by the East India Company, and the eclectic displays in the Cabinet Room show collections amassed on a European ‘Grand Tour’.
The walled garden is a gardener's delight. Flowers from the garden decorate the hall, whilst allotments in the walled garden provide fruit and vegetables for the Squire's Pantry.
The rolling landscape park with a lake, 211 hectares (520 acres) of woods and waymarked trails is a great place to explore nature and wildlife on this bountiful estate. With buggy friendly surfaces on main visitor routes, families can enjoy a relaxing day out.
If you wish to visit the hall you will need to have finished your walk before 3pm.
There is a cafe and ice cream parlour and the National Trust shop in the courtyard.
Eat here
Roman Camp Inn
A mile or so from Felbrigg, this inn has been on site since 1894. It has a wide range of food and drink, either for a light lunch or something rather more substantial. If you are making a break of it, it also has a number of rooms available.
Can you help?
Norfolk Ramblers work parties work with Norfolk County Council’s Countryside Access Officer and the landowner and are funded by Norfolk Area Ramblers and the Sheringham Group. We have greatly improved access on this route where the NCC bridge team have also installed a new bridge and volunteers from the Ramblers removed two very bad stiles and replaced them with kissing gates. We also have a new set of steps to install which hopefully will be done before the walk is published.
New volunteers are always welcome, whether Ramblers members or not. Contact Peter James at pdjames.ramb@ntlworld.com
