Looking for walks in Norwich, we’ve got a post by Routes for Little Boots, Norwich Walks Part 1 & Part 2
Looking for woodland walks around Norwich and Norfolk? We’ve put together a list of as many as we can find for families on the website, HERE.
There’s also 10 ways to make your family walks less samey from your other lockdown walks, from back when we were in lockdown, but there are some lovely walk ideas here too!
Bacton Wood, North Walsham, Norfolk, NR28 9UE (whatthreewords: terminate.chef.treble)
Just north of North Walsham, Bacton Wood is apparently an excellent spot for orienteering, cycling, walking and horse riding!
Haveringland Rd, Norwich NR10 4DF (whatthreewords: regularly.weekend.riverside)
Located between Felthorpe and Hosford with two circular walks around the park.
NR13 4TA (whatthreewords: spaceship.groom.valve)
Around a 20-minute drive from the centre of Norwich, there are a number of walks of various lengths and include those suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
This leaflet’s three walks take you on a journey of discovery as they guide you round the city’s historic passageways.
Start at Norwich Castle, Norwich, NR1 3JU
Curious About Norwich explores this historic and charming city in a novel way!
Enjoy our walks separately, or joined them together to form one longer walk, depending upon how many of our suggestions for things to do and see on the way tempt you, and on your available time and energy!
www.curiousabout.co.uk/norwich
£5.99 for instant download.
£6.50 +P&P for printed booklet, posted out to you.
One booklet is enough for up to four people! Contact Curious About for discount information for larger groups.
Danby Wood & Marston Marsh (NR4 6LY)
Danby Wood is a local nature reserve on the southern outskirts of Norwich. This is a beautiful, yet tiny, wood and is a fantastic short walk for toddlers.
Read more about why it is recommended by Routes for Little Boots as a top Norwich walk here.
Felbrigg, Norwich, Norfolk, NR11 8PR
(whatthreewords: flopping.everyone.nicer)
Grade 1 listed 17th Century house that is now part of the National Trust.
With a lake, 211 hectares (520 acres) of woods and waymarked trails, Felbrigg is a great place to explore nature and wildlife and has buggy friendly surfaces on main visitor routes.
Contact 01263 837444 for more information.
Foxley Wood, Foxley, Norfolk, NR20 4QR (whatthreewords: tasteful.clots.escape)
Foxley Wood near Fakenham is the largest remaining block of ancient woodland in Norfolk (300 acres) and is managed by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust. It is famous for its stunning displays of bluebells from mid to late April to early May,
Note: Foxley Wood is closed every Thursday for important habitat management works and dogs are not permitted.
NR7 9AD (what3words: either.reach.needed)
We spent a lovely morning at Harrison’s Wood and I cannot believe we haven’t been here before, as it is only a short drive from where we live! There is a small car park on one side of the road, but you cross over to get into Harrison’s Wood itself, where you will find DENS APLENTY (we found soooo many dens!), a few rope swings dotted around and, apparently, there are some fairy doors dotted about too.
NR12 0BW
There are some fantastic walks that will keep you busy. Inside the Nature Reserve you will find some easy to follow footpaths that will lead you around and through the middle the reserve.
Once you’ve seen the reserve, you can head up to Hickling Broad via a footpath that runs across the front of the car park. This is a great area, so don’t hesitate to explore but be careful of traffic as some of your walking may have to be done on the road!
The visitor centre has a gift shop, refreshments and toilets. Wildlife Detective Bumbags for children areavailable to hire: £10 deposit and £1.50 charge.
Contact the centre on 01692 598276 for more information.
Norwich Road, Holt, NR25 7SR
Holt Country Park, which is just a short drive from the Georgian town of Holt, is a wonderful escape from the hustle and bustle of the North Norfolk coastline.
Here you can totally escape and go deep into the pretty woodland, meandering along one of the coloured trails which can take you on a varying lengths of walks.
Free admission but there is a charge for parking.
Contact 01263 516062 for more information.
Honeypot Ln, Dereham, NR19 2NG (whatthreewords: billiard.sunset.spires)
Thought to be a remnant of wild wood dating back to the retreat of the last ice age!
Heartsease Ln, Norwich NR7 9NT (whatthreewords: trying.newly.below)
A unique 88 hectare (184 acre) area made up of heathland, woodland and recreational open space located in the north of Norwich.
NDR, Drayton, NR10 4DX (whatthreewords: collides.snipe.roadways)
The Mystical Woods, Thorpe Marriott is a 3.4 kilometer loop trail located near Norwich, off the NDR. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips.
An interactive map of the Norfolk Trails and associated short and circular walks
Pigneys Wood is situated 2 miles northeast of North Walsham and is signposted from the town by brown tourist signs. I actually took my class here on a school trip to do some pond dipping and mini beast hunting! No loos though.
Sheringham, NR26 8PA (whatthreewords: overdrive.walked.mascot)
Pretty Corner is a beautiful 165-acre patchwork woodland and heathland, which forms part of a larger network of woods and heaths…and you can see the sea!!
NR13 6HY
Ranworth broad is brilliant and pushchair friendly. Car park near the staith, near Norfolk wildlife trust office where you can buy a boat trip if you wish. The Maltings pub has been recently totally renovated and we had a great time the last time we went. Then you have a walk pushchair friendly to the actual reserve, which starts with an amazing gigantic tree. Then you have a short walk on a wooden path through wet land and reeds to get to the visitor centre where there are activities for kids, binoculars, ice creams and hot drinks from a machine.
The only thing is the lack of toilets. From the visitor centre, you can have a 45min boat trip around the broad to see the terns, gulls, cormorans, crested grebes and more sometimes. All our family love it! And if you feel like it there is the possibility of climbing to the roof of the nearby church. I would say for kids 4yo and over. C H-B, Apr’17
Ringland (NR8 6AB)
Family friendly walk, with beautiful views across the countryside and Ringland village.
Read more about why Ringland is a recommended as a top Norwich Walk here.
Salhouse Broad car park: Lower Street, Salhouse NR13 6RX
It is a 10 minute walk from the Salhouse Broad car park to the Broad – but some say this walk is just as nice as the Broad itself!
There is so much to do at Salhouse Broad; not least as here you can wake up to incredible views and surrounded by nature with our wild camping fields or moor your boat in our beautiful broad with running water and other amenities available. You can hire a canoe or kayak for the day or even by the hour and explore the stunning waterways of the Norfolk Broads.
The Sandringham Estate, Sandringham PE35 6EH (whatthreewords: ounce.judges.quiz)
The Royal Park is open daily throughout the year to walk or cycle and is dog friendly. There are two waymarked Nature Trails, one a leisurely 1½ miles long and the other 2½ miles long with many additional woodland paths to explore.
The Children’s Play Area has recently undergone improvement and expansion works during the winter months to replace the current small play area, adding more challenging equipment, high level walkways, a high tower inspired by local Appleton Water Tower with multi-level water play, which has wheelchair access.
Visitor Centre, Upper Sheringham, NR26 8TL
(whatthreewords: hacksaw.lessening.titles)
Spend a day here exploring 1000 acres of varying habitat including woodland, parkland and cliff top. Look out for wildlife, 3 species of deer can be seen alongside a wide variety of birds and butterflies.
Free admission but there is a charge for parking.
Contact 01263 820550 for more information.
20 Lyng Rd, Sparham, Norwich NR9 5QY
Mumbler Champion, Lynsey
Sparham Pools, a lovely little circular walk (about an hour) around the ‘pools’ or lakes as I call them. There is the option to make the walk longer as it joins the Marriott Way.
Very small car park, which does fill quickly in summer or school holidays as people use it for playing in the big lake in Lyng, next to it. We always go late in the afternoon and always find a spot.
Some parts of path are narrow so not suitable for wide buggies. No toilets or cafe but The Fox at Lyng isn’t far away (See our list of Family-friendly Pubs and Restaurants)
The Broads, Low Rd, Norwich NR13 4HS
There’s plenty for children to do, with activity rucksacks available (£3), and a range of guided walks for birdwatching beginners and old hands too. As well as the three hides, the reserve has a wheelchair-accessible viewing point. (£3 per pack). Pond dipping kit is available to use from Easter to October Half-Term (£2 per kit).
Visiting Strumpshaw Fen requires crossing a railway line at the entrance. Please use the pedestrian gates to cross the line and look carefully to make sure no trains are coming before crossing. Children should be supervised closely.
Contact 01603 715191 for more information.
With four lakes and situated by an old weir and mill pool on the River Wensum, Taverham Mill is a haven for anglers, walkers and nature lovers.
There is a visitor’s centre and small play area.
Read the Norwich Mumbler review of Taverham Mill here.
Thursford, Fakenham, Norfolk, NR21 0BB (whatthreewords: fenced.curls.restores)
Thursford Wood is a 25-acre site located just over 3 miles north-east of Fakenham and is managed by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust. Good for bluebells in the spring, ferns in the summer and fungi during autumn!
Pulham Market, Diss, Norfolk, NR15 2UZ (whatthreewords: hologram.painter.usage)
An historic woodland that is made up of five smaller woods, with different paths and trails.
NR4 7ED
The habitats along the Trail are home to a large variety of fauna and flora. Follow the Trail through woodland, along river banks, across grass meadows and around UEA Broad. Combine it with a trip to the Sainsbury’s Centre.
Parking is free on Bluebell Road/North Park Avenue (NR4 7ED) or paid for at main UEA car park. No play area but close to Eaton Park. Dog friendly.
Read more about the UEA lake walk recommendation from Routes for Little Boots here.
Near Watton, IP25 6PS (whatthreewords: part.equal.juggled)
Wayland is one of the largest woods in south Norfolk. There is a small carpark and a circular walk, which leads round the reserve.
Wensum Walk (Starting at the Adam and Eve Pub – NR3 1RZ)
This is a short but pretty walk by the River Wensum. Started at The Adam and Eve car park and head towards the Jarrold Bridge, then turned right along the river path. The paths are hard surfaced, so really accessible for city pushchairs.
Read more about why Wensum Walk is recommended as a top Norwich walk by Routes for Little Boots here.
Just on the outskirts of Norwich, the park is situated on the River Yare and has a number of lakes. The pathways are suitable for most buggies.
The park also contains the Whitlingham Outdoor Education Centre where you can try a number of activities including windsurfing, sailing, archery, kayaking.
