Peddars Way

Knettishall Heath to Little Cressingham

After spending your first night in Thetford, a taxi will take you to Knettishall Heath, the start of your walk. The first few miles follow a wooded path before gently climbing to the raised Roman causeway to the river Thet. Make sure you bring your binoculars as you will be passing the Brettenham Heath, a large area of heathland with many bird species. You will soon arrive at the village of Stonebridge which has a pub for some welcome refreshments. After Stonebridge you will see a series of stone sculptures along the trail which are inspired by the rich history of the area.

Little Cressingham to Hunstanton.

A straight road leads to Castle Acre through largely agricultural land. The village of South Pickenham is worth a visit for its historic church dating back to 1075, a 15^th century wall painting of St Christopher and a winged door organ. At Castle Acre you will arrive through the Bailey Gate, this is one of two stone gatehouses added to the town’s defences in about 1200. The road into the village runs between its towers. The Castle Acre Priory and castle are a must see, the priory dates back to 1090 and the castle was established just after the Norman conquest. There  is a shop, pub and a couple of tearooms with homemade cakes. The road leads on through gentle countryside to Holme-next-the-Sea, the end of the Peddars Way. The last overnight stop on the Peddars Way is in Hunstanton three miles to the south-west.

Easy

This is a mainly flat walk, and can be completed by people with limited walking experience.

Terrain: Flat walking along coastal paths, country lanes, beaches and trails.

What’s it like underfoot? On the whole the paths are well defined and maintained.

How much up & down? Very little, the route is mostly flat, particularly the inland section. Along the coast it can be slightly undulating.

Signposting: As this is a National Trail walk the signposting is very good.

Navigation: Pretty straightforward.

Good accommodation and friendly hosts are an essential part of any holiday. We understand this and go out of our way to find the best. We put a great deal of effort into hand picking our accommodation and matching it to individual customer requirements. As well as visiting the accommodation ourselves, we ask all our customers to complete a short evaluation on each night’s accommodation, which then gives us an insight into the day-to-day operation and lets us spot any potential issues before they become a problem.

We use a variety of accommodation. Over the course of your trip you might stay in a village inn, a bed and breakfast in a converted barn, a Victorian guest house, or on a working farm. In selecting the accommodation we look for helpful, friendly hosts with good quality, characterful accommodation close to the trail. Occasionally we may use a chain hotel.

We always try to arrange en suite accommodation, i.e. rooms with their own bathrooms for each night of your stay. However, in some of the more remote locations accommodation is limited and occasionally we may have to book rooms with shared bathrooms for one or two nights of your holiday, (especially if the booking is made at short notice), but we will always let you know if this is likely to be the case.

We are happy to book single rooms on our holidays but cannot normally book more than two for any one group. Single room bookings include a supplement.

Here are some examples of the accommodation we use on the Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path:

Phoenix House, a converted Victorian country home in the heart of Norfolk is surrounded by tranquil lanes, rich wildlife, and beautiful woodlands. Blending historic charm with modern comforts, it serves delicious breakfasts crafted from locally sourced, fresh ingredients. Guests enjoy a warm, inviting stay amidst Norfolk’s stunning countryside. Visit their website

The Dabbling Duck in Great Massingham is a quintessential British country pub, run by husband-and-wife team Mark and Sally Dobby. Located near the North Norfolk coast, it offers a warm welcome, local ales, and menus featuring seasonal, locally sourced dishes. Look out for the main member of the team, Doris Dobby the black Labrador. Visit their website

The Ship Hotel in Brancaster is a boutique hotel offering elegant accommodation, excellent dining, and warm hospitality. Set in the heart of this charming Norfolk village, its stylish rooms ensure a restful stay. Guests can savour locally sourced dishes, including fresh seafood, served daily in the bar, restaurant, or outdoors. Visit their website

Briarbank B&B in Cromer offers modern accommodation just a minute’s walk from the Edwardian esplanade and the North Norfolk coastal path. With two spacious first-floor rooms, off-road parking, and proximity to Cromer’s attractions, it’s an ideal base for walkers, golfers, and birdwatchers seeking coastal charm and comfort. Visit their website

To view train times please visit trainline where you can also purchase tickets in advance. For information on bus timetables please visit traveline

Getting There:

By Air: The international airports with best connections to the trail are Stansted or Heathrow.  From Stansted it is 1.5 hrs travel time (change at Cambridge) from Heathrow it is 3 hours travel time, metro to Kings Cross then train to Cambridge, change for Thetford. Norwich has domestic flights and flights from Amsterdam (KLM). Train to Thetford (30 mins travel time).

By Public Transport: There is a train station at Thetford, your first nights stay.

By Road: From the south M11 (Cambridge) then A11 to Thetford. From the north: take M6 Toll and M6 to Newmarket Bypass/A14 in Cambridgeshire to Thetford.

Getting Away:

By Public Transport: Bus to Kings Lynn (travel time 45 mins, buses every half hour) then onward travel by train.

Castle Acre

The 13^th century Castle Acre castle ruins, Bailey Gate and the Cluniac Priory are well worth a visit. There are a few small shops and pubs for a relaxing day off.  See this link for more information on Castle Acre Castle Acre

Hunstanton

The Victorian seaside resort of Hunstanton  with it’s beautiful striped cliffs, beaches and colourful gardens  is a great place for a rest day. There is plenty to see and do with shops, cafés, nature and bird reserves.  If you want to give your legs a rest you can take the land train to the lighthouse or a boat trip to view Europe’s largest seal colony.