After a very quiet New Year’s Eve in Kings Lyn, we take advantage of fair weather and rise early on New Year’s Day. The very expensive taxi (no buses) drops us off at a spot called Shepherd’s Port – the last time we were here was in 2015 when we walked north to Heacham.

This time we are walking south, and if we were to walk the whole way along the sea wall and across marshes, it would only take four hours BUT include some trespassing and the possibility of being turned back by an irate farmer or hunter with a shotgun in his hand. I exaggerate a little but having read accounts from other walkers, more or less intrepid than myself, I have decided to take the VERY LONG way round.

We start on the coast at the deserted caravan site in Shepherd’s Port where the first part of the walk is clearly marked. This area of the coast is marked as Snettisham Scalp – a wonderful mouthful. It is very cold this morning and there is a keen wind which unfortunately is against us. Undaunted we set off on the narrow path which runs between the sea and an inland lake.

A lone swan drifts regally by………

There are a few birdwatchers about, one of whom directs us down to the end of the lake and then left onto a trail running past two or three bird hides. From here we follow a permissive path across open country and woodlands to the village of Dersingham.

Crossing the very busy A149 we wiggle our way through Dersingham Common and onto a minor road towards the very beautiful Norwich Gates which, when open, provide access to Sandringham House.

Damian stops for a chat…….

The gates are of course locked, so we turn right on to a road called Scotch Belt which runs through Sandringham Country Park down to Babingley.

Here is a photo from 2008 when Damian and I visited Sandringham as part of a cycle tour of North Norfolk.

Who knows where the time goes?

By now we have covered a fair few miles and it feels like time for some refreshment, so when the Sandringham Courtyard Cafe comes into view we grab a picnic table and get out the thermos. The cafe is very busy and I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many dogs in one place.

From here it is a long tramp through the park until we meet the ferociously busy A149 again, where we spend the next mile hopping up and down from the narrow grass verge to the road to avoid being run over – not nice.

It is with relief that we turn off right onto a footpath that leads to a village called Castle Rising. The castle itself is one of the most famous 12th century castles in England and is a popular tourist destination. Parked cars line the lane leading up to the centre of what looks like a pretty affluent village. We pass a lovely low lying brick building which I later discover is known by two names – Trinity Hospital or Bede House. The building was built in the early 17th century by the Earl of Nottingham or Northampton (the web can be a little unreliable at times) – and was intended to house 12 poor women from the local parish. Consisting mostly of unmarried women and widows, those selected were required to be ‘of an honest life and conversation, religious, grave and discrete, able to read…………………..a single woman, 56 years of age at least, no common beggar, harlot, drunkard, or haunter of taverns’.

They probably had fun on the quiet…………….

http://www.castle-rising-history.co.uk/hospital.html

According to the rules members of the hospice had to attend church each Sunday clad in red cloaks and wearing conical hats – not dissimilar to the hats Welsh women used to wear.

The church stands opposite the almshouses and next to the pub. We are not stopping here as we still have a long way to go but I sneak in and head for the toilets.

Two grand houses guard the entrance to the village and just outside we catch a glimpse of the castle – another day.

That’s it on its mound…………

By this time we are very tired and when you’re tired the head tends to go down and you probably miss things but about half a mile along the road we walk past this beautiful willow fence which literally stops me in my tracks.

Onward ever onward we somehow manage the next three miles to the outskirts of Kings Lyn where we are very grateful for a footpath leading into the town. A homage to those working in the NHS stands sentinel in a children’s playground.

This has been a mammoth walk but we have been lucky with the weather. It is now time for a drink.

Distance: 15 miles