A walk from Saxlingham Nethergate, passing one of the Redwings horse sanctuaries
Starts at Saxlingham Nethergate Sports Ground
Grid Reference TM2334 9693
Nearest post code NR15 1TD
What3words: ///sides.speaker.firebird
Main walk 6 miles, 9.5km
Short walk 4.25 miles, 7km
THE WALK
1. From the car park head between the Guide and Scout building and the bowling green, follow the hedge which will bring you to the open area of Saxlingham Meadows, which you can walk around if desired. Carry straight on, bearing right; this will bring you to a gate out onto the road. Turn left, cross to take the track beside the old stables. Follow this to a junction of path; go straight on then, at the gap in the hedge on your left, go into the woods to visit the ruined Church of St Mary Saxlingham Thorpe. Pass though the ruins, leaving to the right. You then go straight on downhill on the track. At the corner you can take the field edge - this brings you to Wash Lane. Take the track straight on and follow this for a distance.
2. You will come to a marker post sending you to the left over a bridge (if you reach the road, you have missed the turning and you will need to retrace your steps). Cross the meadow to the woods. The path crosses a bridge then winds through the woods to second bridge. Follow the edge of the meadow to the corner, bear right - the path follows fences until it reaches a kissing gate. Pass the front of the buildings, following the track around to the left. Ignoring the first track to your right, follow to the corner and turn right; you will come to more stables with a kissing gate just before them. Pass through the gate, following the path between the paddocks to a second kissing gate. Cross the track and pass through a further gate at the end of the paddock. Turn left, follow to the next hedge then turn left then right, crossing the bridge. Go straight on to the next bridge then straight on, following the path along the field edge to a gap in the hedge which brings you to the road. Turn left then right at the finger post. This is where you cut off if doing the shorter walk.
3. (For the short walk turn left, follow the path to the road. Turn left then, just before the main road, take the bridleway off to the right. At the road turn left, following to the main road turn left then through the gate back into the car park.) The main walk turns right then left at the corner, following between the hedge and fence to the kissing gate. Go straight on to the corner and turn left. Following the track to the road, turn right then almost immediately turn left at the fence. Turn right - this is part of the Boudicca Way. Follow the fence to where the Boudicca goes off to the right but carry straight on and follow the path crossing a bridge then follow to the road; turn left.
4. At the corner turn left then right. At the next corner go straight on and follow this path, ignoring the first path off to the left at the end of the hedge turn left; this brings you to a gate at the rear of the church. Pass through the church yard out onto the attractive green. At the road turn left and follow the road returning to the recreation ground.
Point of interest
Church of St Mary, Saxlingham Thorpe
Although the remains are substantial, including the greater part of the tower, it is entirely tree-surrounded, and once spring had brought the trees into leaf it would be impossible to photograph. A small church, as most are around here, it was abandoned in the late 17th century, no obvious need being found for it as the re-established Church of England made some hard decisions about resources. Even by then, there must have been hardly anyone living in Saxlingham Thorpe.
It must have been restored after this for some kind use, perhaps agricultural, because the brick buttresses on the south side are surely 18th Century. The walls are reduced to a few feet high, but the outline survives clearly enough, and in higher places you can see, for example, a Norman window splay, obviously filled in later in the medieval period, and an indent where a piscina must have been.
norfolkchurches.co.uk/saxlinghamthorpe
EAT HERE
The Countryman, Tasburgh
This pub, a landmark for anyone travelling up and down the A140, is not too far from Saxlingham and makes a good spot for refreshments. It’s a traditional pub, with a woodburner to warm the bones after a chilly spring walk and real ales on tap. Thai food is the pub speciality, but check availability on the Countryman’s Facebook page to make sure that it is on offer when you plan to visit.
REFRESH YOURSELF
Long Stratton
A few miles further out is the village of Long Stratton. Here the weary walker will find all they need to recharge, or to get supplies beforehand if needed. There’s a pub, the Queen’s Head, a teashop, plus a couple of good fish and chip shops and a substantial Co-op, if you fancy a picnic. Plenty of car parking too.
