Bungay – Bigod’s Way
The pretty market town of Bungay is a great place to base yourself if you want to get out and explore the local area. Located in the lush Waveney Valley, it’s home to a choice of pubs, shops, restaurants and historic sites.
One of the best ways to explore Bungay and the surrounding area is by foot. A number of footpaths criss-cross the town and the local countryside, giving you lots of routes to choose from. To help you find your feet in Bungay and see the best of the local area, we’ve selected one of our favourite Bungay walks for you to try.
Route
Bigod’s Way is one of the best walks around Bungay. The 5.5-mile loop starts and ends in Bungay, so you can leave your car in one of the town’s many car parks or take a bus to Bungay to begin your walk.
The route starts at Bigod’s Castle, right in the centre of Bungay. From there, follow the signpost to Castle Inn to your right and head up onto Earsham Street. Turn left on Earsham Street and follow the road out of town. From here, the route takes a clockwise loop down to Earsham before crossing the old A143 and taking a meandering route to Ditchingham. From there, it’s just a short walk back to Bungay and the end of the route.
Difficulty
Bigod’s Way takes you on pavements and footpaths and you’ll have to navigate a few stiles on the way. Although the route is relatively flat, this does mean it’s probably not suitable for people with mobility problems. Dogs are allowed on Bigod’s Way, however you may need to keep your four-legged friend on the lead at some points on the walk. Keep your eyes peeled for signs on the way to find out more.
Facilities
Bungay is home to a good choice of amenities including shops, banks, restaurants and pubs. A number of local bus routes connect Bungay with Norwich and other towns and villages in the area.
Once you set off on Bigod’s Way, there’s not much in the way of facilities until you get to Ditchingham. There, you’ll find the Duke of York pub which serves up a selection of meals and snacks throughout the week.
Points of interest
Before you set off for your walk, take a minute to explore Bigod’s Castle. Once owned by the powerful Bigod family, who came to the UK with William the Conqueror in 1066, the castle was built at the end of the 12th century and was an important power base in the region. From the 15th century, the castle was largely left unoccupied and quickly turned into a ruin. Since the 1930s, however, there’s been a programme of renovation and restoration at the site, helping to preserve the castle we see today.
If you’ve already completed this walk and are looking for more routes to explore in the local area, take a look around our site today.