Enjoy a midsummer coastal and countryside ramble taking in pretty Holme-next-the-Sea and Thornham
THE WALK
1. From the car park return to the road, turn right and follow the path, crossing the golf course with care.
At the notice boards and coast path finger post turn right and follow the path beside the golf course. You then bear right heading towards the top of the dunes where the path follows along the dunes. Please keep to the path to protect the fragile dunes and nesting birds. There are information boards and seats along the path.
Keep following the path to the pines where you will find the Norfolk Wildlife Trust Holme Dunes information centre and café.
Follow the board-walk up to the top where there is a long new section of boardwalk. Follow this as it changes to a hard surface, which you follow to the gate.
This is where the shorter walk leaves.
For the short walk go down the bank and follow the path to the road. Cross and follow the road ahead up hill to point 3 on the map. The trig point will be on your left; turn right to re-join the main walk.
2. Turn left and keep following the flood bank. As it turns right follow to the gate, bear left and drop down to the road. Follow for a short distance to a marker post. Take the path on the left; this will bring you to a bridge. Turn right then left which will bring you to the road.
Turn right and follow the road to the church. Cross the road; you will pass the Orange Tree on your right - a good place for a stop if you want some refreshments. Cross the main road and take the second road on the left, Ringstead Road. There are some attractive cottages on the right and a little further on the left is Thornham Hall.
Head uphill to a road going off to the right. Follow this to a road coming up from the right. There is a trig point here - there are not too many remaining in Norfolk.
3. Keep straight on to the corner where you take the track straight on. There are good views to the right out to the coast. Keep following the track. As you get towards the end you have views to the left of Ringstead windmill.
At the road turn right, then left opposite the first house. You are now joining the Peddars Way which runs from Knettishall Heath to the coast. Follow the path which turns left, passing a marker stone. This will bring you down to the main road. Cross and follow Beach Road which will bring you back to the car park. There are toilets opposite the car park.
COMPASS POINTS
STARTS AT:
Holme-next-the-Sea pay-and-display car park
GRID REFERENCE:
TF6974 4386
NEAREST POSTCODE:
PE36 6LQ
WHAT3WORDS:
onion.weary.soda
MAIN WALK:
8 miles 12.6 km
SHORTER WALK:
6.3 miles 10.1 km
POINT OF INTEREST
A brief explanation of trig points
Trig points are the common name for ‘triangulation pillars.’ These are concrete pillars, about four feet tall, which were used by the Ordnance Survey in order to determine the exact shape of the country. They are generally located on the highest bit of ground in an area, so that there is a direct line of sight from one trig point to the next.
By putting a theodolite (an accurate protractor built into a telescope) on the top of the pillar, angles between pairs of nearby trig points could be measured. This process is called ‘triangulation.’ However the process is now carried out using satellite technology, so trig points are no longer used.
Holme Dunes
At Norfolk’s northwest corner, where The Wash meets the North Sea, the Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Holme Dunes nature reserve is superbly located to attract migrating birds.
It also has a variety of important habitats for numerous other wildlife species including natterjack toads, butterflies, and dragonflies, as well as a large number of interesting plants.
Much earlier remains have also been uncovered including Roman pottery and the Bronze Age timber circle which became known as Seahenge. Parts of it are now on display in Lynn Museum in King’s Lynn.
REFRESH YOURSELF
Drove Orchards, Thornham
Alongside the heritage orchards packed with scores of varieties of apple trees – perfect for pick-your-own in the autumn, are shops and restaurants including a well-stocked farm shop and the excellent Eric’s Pizza (in a yurt) and Eric’s Fish and Chips – you can even take your food and picnic in the orchard.
FOOD AND DRINK
The Orange Tree, Thornham
A stylish pub offering drinks, lunches and dinners – and rooms to stay if you fancy exploring the footpaths and lanes of this beautiful part of Norfolk over a few days. Try pub classic dishes given a modern twist by the talented chefs.
