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Peddars Way
The Peddars Way is a long distance walking trail that stretches for 46 miles from Knetishall Heath in Suffolk to Holme-next-the-Sea on the North Norfolk Coast. Here it joins another long distance walking trail, the Norfolk Coast Path, which runs eastwards along the coast from Hunstanton (3 miles to the west of Holme-next-the-Sea) for 82 miles, all the way round to Hopton-on-Sea on the Norfolk Coast. The two trails came together as a Long Distance Path in 1986 in a ceremony performed by Prince Charles as he was then, at Holme-next-the-Sea. In 1991 the name ‘Long Distance Path’ was changed to ‘National Trail’ and the combined trails became the ‘Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path National Trail’. For the purposes of my blogs, from here on I’ll refer to this trail as just the ‘Peddars Way’; it’s way too much of a mouthful to keep adding ‘and Norfolk Coast Path’! Whilst we’re at it, going forward I’ll shorten ‘Holme-next-the-Sea’ to just ‘Holme’.
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The route of the Peddars Way has existed since Roman times and was built shortly after 61 AD to enable troops to move through East Anglia for policing purposes, following the revolt and subsequent defeat of Queen Boudicca and her Iceni tribe. As with most Roman military roads it was built in a straight line, using local materials, to provide a fast link between the Roman garrison in Colchester and the Iceni heartland. The name ‘Peddars’ was not given to it by the Romans but is more likely to be one attached to the path in the 15 or 16th centuries. Whilst the Peddars Way starts in Suffolk at Knetishall Heath, within less than ½ mile it crosses the River Little Ouse into Norfolk.
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Like The Ridgeway, the Peddars Way with its National Trail status is special; it has been designated by the Government and is managed to a set of quality standards that sets it above other routes. The trail is waymarked with the distinctive acorn symbol. It’s looked after by a dedicated officer with teams of volunteers. Funding is provided by national government through Natural England and also by local highway authorities and other funding partners. One of the long term aims of the Friends of The Ridgeway is to get National Trail status for the whole of the Great Chalk Way.
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As an old Roman Road, it wouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that the Peddars Way is straight as an arrow! It would also be expected that the landscape would be pretty flat because that’s what people associate with this part of eastern England. Compared to say the Wessex Ridgeway, the Peddars Way is pretty much flat as a pancake, although between Castle Acre and the sea, it has quite a few ups and downs to keep the interest alive!
The land along the Peddars Way between Knetishall Heath and Great Massingham sits within The Brecks aka Breckland. The Brecks is an area of Suffolk and south Norfolk with a landscape characterized by the twisted Scots Pines of Thetford Forest, purple heathland, rare wildlife, and uncommonly blue skies. Much of it consists of gorse covered sandy heath. It’s an area of considerable interest for its unusual flora and fauna and is one of the most important areas in England for wildlife. It’s also one of the driest areas in England. The area of The Brecks has been hugely reduced in the 20th century by the impact of modern farming with its huge fields and the creation in 1922 of Thetford Forest that occupies almost 47,000 acres. However substantial areas have been preserved, not least by the presence of the British Army on the Stanford Battle Area which covers about 30,000 acres.
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It has to be said that the Peddars Way was never going to be an especially scenic walk bearing in mind its lack of hills, paths with high hedges and amount of woodland walked through. However, second only to reaching the sea at Holme, the village of Castle Acre at the end of the penultimate stage of my Great Chalk Way walk provided a real high point.​
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Holme doesn’t have any public transport so most people turn left at the sea and continue for a further 3 miles into the centre of Hunstanton, which has good bus services. Other people cut out Holme altogether and head straight for Hunstanton – or ‘Sunny Hunny’ to give it its nickname! Hunstanton is a good old fashioned seaside town!
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Many of the walkers whose blogs I’d read about the Peddars Way completed the 46 miles plus the 3 miles to the centre of Hunstanton in 4 or more stages. For logistical purposes I decided to walk it in 3 unequal length stages with breaks at Watton and Castle Acre. It did make for a 22 mile final stage but the distance was outweighed by not having to complete a 4th leg and anyway, the terrain was hardly taxing –
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Knetishall Heath to Watton
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Watton to Castle Acre
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Castle Acre to Hunstanton via Holme-next-the-Sea
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