10.00 a.m. Horning Village Hall. Free Car Parking and village access on foot.
Two hours
Refreshments available in Horning Village. Public toilets at the Swan Car Park.
Access to toilets at BeWILDerwood near end of the route.
The walk has few minor gradients and is on a variety of surfaces including field margins and country lanes. Adequate footwear such as walking boots or trainers should be worn.
Conservation Walk: Neatishead Hall Farm A http://cwr.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Module=CountryWalkDetails&Site=5245
OS Explorer OL40 The Broads
Distance: approximately 3 miles (4.8 km)
Summary:
The route starts on pavements for a short distance and involves
crossing the A1062 at the Horning crossroads. It continues on a
public footpath and quiet road to a field margin walk on the east
side of the Neatishead Road with distant views of Ranworth Church and
RRH Neatishead. The walk heads back west along Long Lane past the
back of BeWILDerwood Adventure Park and down the footpath known as
Palmers Lane to a gated entrance marked Bluebell Wood and Cycle Hire.
The walk passes the newly created Bluebell Wood, a collaborative
community project encouraging ‘Sponsor a Cluster’ for the
planting of bluebells and supporting the Three Rivers Way proposed
walking and cycling route linking local Broads villages.
Wildlife
notes: Wildflowers include hedgerows of
dog-rose and honeysuckle, white dead-nettle, stitchwort, germander
speedwell, cranesbill, primroses and bluebells. Birds include
skylarks, lapwings and marsh harriers.
Details: From the Horning Village Hall Car Park walk straight ahead along Kimberley Terrace and turn left round Mill Green to Broadwater Way. At Rope’s Hill turn right and cross to the other side of the road. At the crossroads go to the crossing point and cross to the north side of the A1062. Turn right and walk past The Old Police House to the Public Footpath adjacent to Oak Cottage. Take the footpath north between the houses, across the field and down the bank to Long Lane. Turn right on Long Lane, past the Burnt Fen Alpaca Farm to the Neatishead Road.
Cross the road and immediately take the field margin path behind the hedgerow towards the boundary of RRH Neatishead. Emerge on to the road opposite a fingerpost. Cross to the right hand side. Do NOT follow the public footpath but turn down the track on the far side of the hedge, which is part of the Conservation Walk Neatishead Farm A. Head towards the old barn and when you reach it turn left following the field margin round the corner and then left along a long stretch of hedgerow. Keep walking until you see the Conservation Walk sign in the hedge. Do NOT take the public footpath on your left across the field (it is difficult to walk on) but continue until you meet a farm track. Turn left and walk along the track to the road. Take the field margin path immediately on your left and follow it round the corner and along inside the hedge parallel to the RRH Neatishead boundary on the other side of the road. Eventually emerge back on to the road and re-trace your steps to the Neatishead Road.
Cross over and walk down Long Lane past Burnt Fen and on past the back of BeWILDerwood. Take the path inside the hedge on your left alongside newly planted trees. At the end of the path follow the Cycle Path route down Palmers Lane past the beech wood until you reach the Bluebell Wood sign. Go through the gate and along the path past the sponsored Bluebell Wood towards Broadland Cycle Hire. Toilets are available here.
Walk round the BeWILDerwood car park on the extreme left to the gate on the A1062. Turn left and follow the road to the Horning crossroads. Cross over to the south side and walk down Ropes Hill to the Swan Inn, the River Bure and Horning village. Walk past the newsagent and turn left up Mill Loke and back to the Horning Village Hall car park.