Route details, maps, pubs, features, local history and folklore for a wide variety of walks focusing primarily on Norfolk and Suffolk

Sunday 31 May 2015

Dads Army Weekend 2015

Dont panic Mr Mainwaring

An easy 9 mile Norfolk coastal walk to visit the Dads Army weekend hosted on the North Norfolk Railway

The third episode of the sixth series of the popular British comedy series Dad's Army was titled 'The Royal Train' in which King George VI was due to pass through Walmington-on-Sea and the platoon were to form a guard of honour. The location chosen to film this episode was Weybourne station on the North Norfolk Railway and each year this is celebrated with a Dad's Army weekend where a group of enthusiasts from the Dads Army Museum in Thetford re-enact this memorable episode.

Thursday 7 May 2015

Aldeburghs Martello Tower Now Boasts an Anthony Gormley Sculpture

Martello Tower

A 7 mile walk from Thorpeness to Aldeburghs Martello Tower

For a period of 12 months starting in May 2015, a life size sculpture of a human figure will look out across the sea atop Aldeburghs Martello Tower. This is the work of Anthony Gormley, the artist who is renowned for creating the iconic Angel of the North sculpture, and is part of the celebrations to mark 50 years of the Landmark Trust.

Thursday 4 December 2014

Winter Walks in the Suffolk Coastal Area

Winter Walks in the Suffolk Coastal Area

Many of the walks on this site are suitable for any season, but just to get into the Christmas spirit here are a few that were specifically walked during the winter months. Frosty and snowy scenes. A little intrigue and some good old mysteries make a well worthy walk. From simple 2 mile town trails to walks that will use virtually all the daylight hours on these short winter days.

Tuesday 30 September 2014

Proposed Route for the Norfolk Coast Path from Hopton to Sea Palling Released

Proppsed route through the Winterton dunes

Details of the proposed route for the 19.2 miles of the Norfolk Coast Path between Hopton and Sea Palling

Details have been published for the proposed route of the Norfolk leg of English Coastal Footpath between Hopton to Sea Palling. Much of the proposed route is along existing footpaths and walked routes as well as beach sections. The entire distance can be walked at present either following the proposed route or just using the beach, given the right tide conditions. This proposal, if adopted, will extend the Norfolk Coast Path from Hunstanton to Hopton.

Tuesday 29 July 2014

Norfolk Coast Path Extension

Coastline from Mundesley to Happisburgh

A 21 mile extension has recently been completed to the Norfolk Coast Path taking it through to Sea Palling

As part of the English Coast Path project, the Norfolk Coast path has now been extended to Sea Palling with waymarkers and direction signs being added during the first half of July. This includes a redirected section between Beeston and Cromer that now follows the coast rather than its original route which headed inland through the hills above Cromer.

Friday 18 July 2014

2014 NNR Beer Festival Beer List and Tasting Notes

The 13th North Norfolk Railway Beer Festival

The 13th North Norfolk Railway Beer Festival

The 13th North Norfolk Railway Beer Festival Tasting Notes

A listing of all the ales on offer, along with tasting notes, for the 13th North Norfolk Railway Beer Festival. Excellent selection from across the UK. Music from the King Size Papas, Mista Splinta and Ugly Dog Skiffle Combo. Hog Roast. Steam trains. Some great walks around the area. What else could anyone want.

Friday 17 January 2014

The Aftermath of the 2013 Storm Surge Dunwich to Walberswick

Floods and dykes at Dingle Marsh

A 8 mile beach walk to witness the damage caused by the 2013 Storm Surge

The December 2013 Storm Surge caused widespread flooding of the marshes between Dunwich and Walberswick and along the Blyth estuary, closing the main A12 road at Blythburgh for three days. With most of the waters receded, this was the first opportunity to witness the damage caused to this vulnerable section of coastal marsh. Damage to the boardwalks and bridges have currently blocked access along the Suffolk Coast Path although the Beach Route is still accessible providing the tide is right.

Sunday 22 December 2013

The Aftermath of the 2013 Storm Surge at Minsmere

Flattened dunes by the Northern Sea Wall to Minsmere

A 10 mile circular walk to witness the damage caused by the 2013 Storm Surge

The 2013 Storm Surge proved to be the highest tide in 60 years. Although much of the flooding had recede the evidence remained of where the waters reached. Viewing the changes in coastline shows just how vulnerable this stretch of the Suffolk coast really is, especially in view of the fact that such storms appear to be increasing in frequency. The walk returns through the heath and forest via Dunwich Heath and Eastbridge where the results of Octobers St Jude storm are evident from the many fallen trees.

Sunday 8 December 2013

2013 Storm Surge at Sizewell and Thorpeness

The strange egg-shaped object on the left is most likely a piece of fallen cliff

A walk at high tide of the 2013 Storm Surge between Sizewell and Thorpeness

This is a photographic excursion of the 2013 Storm Surge down the Suffolk Coast. With media firmly concentrated on events in South Africa the only real way to find out was happening was to visit this destructive storm surge oneself. Although this part of Suffolk was relatively unscathed it still presented awe-inspiring seas and crashing waves.

Sunday 16 June 2013

Woodfordes Ale Trail 2013

Martlesham Heath Control Tower Museum
Sunday 16th June is the start of the 2013 Woodfordes Ale Trail. With a huge amount of pubs to visit across Norfolk and Suffolk there is no excuse to get ones walking boots on and do a few jolly old pub crawls in an attempt to win the various prizes on offer. The trail card and pub guide can be found on Woodfordes website at www.woodfordes.co.uk/2013AleTrail.pdf I have also converted the pub locations into an interactive google map which can be found at vulcanarms.freehostia.com/woodfordes/2013.htm The Ale Trail runs from June 16th until September 30th.

Tuesday 1 January 2013

Coastal Erosion at Thorpeness

Erosion at Thorpeness

A circular walk from Sizewell to Thorpeness along the Suffolk Coast Path

In recent years the Suffolk Coast Path has been rerouted in-land from Sizewell across the commons to Thorpeness due to coastal erosion. The old coast route can still be walked when the tide is right and there is always an escape up the cliffs to Thorpeness Common just before the Thorpeness cliffs where the tide cuts off access to the beach.

Tuesday 16 October 2012

Norfolk Coast Path Proposed Route

Proppsed route through the Winterton dunes

Details of the proposed route for the 19.2 miles of the Norfolk Coast Path between Hopton and Sea Palling

Details have been published for the proposed route of the Norfolk leg of English Coastal Footpath between Hopton to Sea Palling. Much of the proposed route is along existing footpaths and walked routes as well as beach sections. The entire distance can be walked at present either following the proposed route or just using the beach, given the right tide conditions. This proposal, if adopted, will extend the Norfolk Coast Path from Hunstanton to Hopton.

Monday 27 August 2012

An Amazing Adventure to Westleton Barrel Fair 2012

Barrel Race

A simple 11 mile walk across the Suffolk heaths and woodland from Leiston to attend the annual Westleton Barrel Fair.

Despite a brief thunderstorm, a fantastic Summers day was had at the Westleton Barrel Fair 2012 living up to its expectations with all the usual fun and merriment. This years event featured music from Westleton's Doc Cox and Leiston's Random Blues Company, morris dancing from the Rumburgh Morris Dancers, outside bars from the White Horse and the Westleton Crown and, of course, the ever popular, chaotic, breath-taking and entertaining barrel races. This is a unique annual Suffolk event and well worth taking the time out to visit.

Friday 20 July 2012

North Norfolk Railway Beer Festival 2012

Beer Festival

The 11th North Norfolk Railway beer festival

Once again the North Norfolk Railway came up with another outstanding beer festival. Over 100 ales plus ciders were on offer in the perfect surroundings of a working steam railway together with live music. Carriages on platform 2 gave ample seating and cover for the few times when rain began to fall and a bbq in a wagon offered hotdogs and burgers. In my opinion the best beer festival around!

Wednesday 15 February 2012

Winter Snows on Thorpeness Common

Snow on the common

An 7 mile circular walk across The Walks and Thorpeness Common.

The winter snows finally arrived in February this year creating a wonderful winters scene across the Aldringham and Thorpeness Commons, enticing folk out to witness the scene and encouraging local kids to take advantage of sledging down the slopes of the marl pit.

Thursday 15 December 2011

Autumn on Thorpeness Common

A 6 mile circular walk across the commons of the East Suffolk Coastal area linking Leiston, Thorpeness and Sizewell.

Autumn on Thorpeness Common is a great time to hunt out mushrooms, harvest sloes and admire the changing of the seasons. I am not expert on mushrooms and certainly would not even dare to pick a wild mushroom to eat without specific advice from a fungi expert, nonetheless, it is always good to view them. The sloes are a different matter though, for a second year running we have gathered copious quantities of this bitter fruit in order to get some sloe gin ready for Christmas. There were so many this year we ended up giving much of our labours away!

Sunday 4 December 2011

Walking on the Greek island of Rhodes

For those interested in walking on the Greek island of Rhodes, I have set up a sister blog named Rhodes Walks. After spending a weeks walking holiday on the island in September of this year I wanted to record the details on a blog and eventually decided a separate site would be the most appropriate place to do so as the Griffmonster Great Walks blog is purely for UK walks, East Anglia in particular.

Thursday 24 November 2011

The Rather Curious Herring Festival 2011

An 8.8 mile circular walk through the Suffolk countryside to attend the 2011 Suffolk Herring Festival at Middleton.

I have been to music festivals and folk festivals and country fairs and even the novel barrel fair, but I can honestly say that I have never ever attended a Herring Festival until this walk. Held on the grounds of the Farm Shop in the village of Middleton this two day event features food and drink, exhibitions, music and games, competitions, and demonstrations of herring preservation and preparation.

Sunday 23 October 2011

Completion of The Woodfordes Ale Trail 2011

The Woodfordes Ale Trail ended on 30th September and it was time to total up our stamps and collect our prizes. To recollect the rules, one has to visit Woodfordes outlets that are contained in their 2011 guide and on purchasing a pint of Woodfordes ale the publican will add an entry to the Trail Card with a unique stamp. There is only one stamp allowed for each venue and the trail only runs from June to the end of September. There is a different prize for collecting multiples of 10 stamps with the top prize being a polypin of ale for 60 stamps. In 2009 we managed to fill 2 Trail Cards and had started a third giving us a bounty of 2 polypins and a Nelsons Revenge t-shirt. This year we were not as successful due to being away from the area for a few weeks over the summer months. The end result was that we only completed half of the card. Nonetheless, this was thirty stamps collected which was rewarded with a mighty fine Woodfordes Hoody worth £25 as modelled by Kat in the photo above, an item that will most certainly keep us warm on our camping and walking expeditions

Thursday 29 September 2011

An Amazing Adventure to Westleton Barrel Fair 2011

Barrel Race

A simple 11 mile walk across the Suffolk heaths and woodland from Leiston to attend the annual Westleton Barrel Fair.

For the second year on the trot we made our way through the lanes, tracks and footpaths to experience the unique adventures of Westleton Barrel Fair. This year there was the usual barrel races across the village green, open to residents and all-comers, together with straight sprints and sack races providing a full days entertainment in the August sunshine. Music was provided on the outdoor stage from the Bruisyard Light Orchestra performing a mixture of blues and pop cover versions in their unique style, together with performances by Rumburgh Morris Men. Other attractions included Punch and Judy shows, Donkey rides, Owls and exotic creatures on display, Coconut Shy, hog roast and various stalls offering local crafts. Adnams ales were available from the White Horse pub and their outside bar by the duck pond though unfortunately the Crown beer tent wasn't here this year so for guest ales we had to resort to wandering down to the Crown. An excellent day out and well worth the walk!

Walk Summaries

Latest walk summaries are basic information sheets for walks that have yet to be fully documented. These provide links to maps, public transport and walks stats, although detailed notes and features are not included.

Latest Walk Summaries

Featured Walk

In Search of Sizewell Chapel

A 10 mile walk following the southern side of the parish boundary of Leiston in Suffolk This walk follows the route of a 17th century peramb...

What is GPX

All you need to know about GPX, electronic mapping and how to use modern apps and mobile devices as navigation devices

Popular Walks

Maps