Circular Walk around Potter Heigham

This walk starts at the Herbert Woods Boat Yard in Potter Heigham and continues over the old Saxon bridge, which dates from 1385 and follows a nice section of the River Thurne with its many stunning waterside properties and diverse range of wildlife.

This walk starts at the Herbert Woods Boat Yard in Potter Heigham and continues over the old Saxon bridge, which dates from 1385 and follows a nice section of the River Thurne with its many stunning waterside properties and diverse range of wildlife. The route passes Repps Drainage Mill which has been converted into a residential property and is over 100 years old.

After passing the houses in Repps, the route follows field edges to Bastwick and offers long views of the surrounding marshes back to the Herbert Woods Tower.  The last part follows the road back to Potter Heigham, but there is a view over the surrounding fields to the remains of St. Peters Chapel in Bastwick. Only the tower remains and it dates from the 14th Century – a similar date to the Old Bridge in Potter Heigham.

1. Starting off outside of Herbert Woods Boatyard, walk up to the road in front of Lathams and turn right. Follow the road over the old bridge. Continue to the track on the right, opposite the Fish and Chip shop which will take you behind the white Phoenix Fleet building and back to the end of the river. Continue along the edge of the river for about three-quarters of a mile) you will pass a windmill almost at the half way mark along here) where you will arrive at Repps Staithe and a narrow minor lane heading off to the left. Some of the riverside footpath takes you behind the waterside bungalows.

2. Turn left just by the post box and follow Staithe Road for about one-third of a mile. This will take you past several houses and a caravan and camping site and look for the public footpath sign on the left, just next to the overhead power lines. Turn left down this track and follow it towards the small building just ahead. The path follows the field edge to the right and gently bends round towards the main part of the village of Bastwick. After about two-thirds of a mile, the path passes some allotment gardens and then arrives at a narrow country lane.

3. Once at the country lane, turn left and follow it until you arrive at the main A149. Turn left and follow the pavement for about a quarter of a mile where there is a road heading off to the left, back towards the old bridge in Potter Heigham. Cross the minor road near the junction to get onto the track that runs parallel to the road towards the old bridge. Cross back over the old bridge to arrive back at Herbert Woods.

Route supplied by Joe Jackson.