Previous Events until end of 2019:

Unfortunately this walk had to be cancelled at the last moment due to torrential rain and potential flooding. As this was one of the last regular service trains of the year it was not possible to reschedule.


The walk took in The Neatherd, Dumpling Green, Potter’s Fen and the fringe of Scarning Water Meadows before returning for our welcome refreshments and a mardle: tea/coffee and cake served in a local back garden, but we moved inside when a heavy shower arrived.

Read the full report.


A repeated event for (accompanied) children:

Participants met at the car park near the pond on Neatherd Moor and followed a designated walk on the moor taking about an hour to complete.

During the fun walk we discovered more about our native deer and their connection to Dereham.

Deer are shy animals and unlikely to be seen in the middle of the day on a busy Neatherd moor, but early morning they are about.

Read the full report.


Our Late Summer Bank Holiday walk took us well out of Dereham. We visited our friends in Clare - a Walkers are Welcome accredited town in Suffolk. The walk itself was Number 3 in a series prepared by Clare Walkers - see clarewalks.co.uk/walking (opens in a new tab).

Read the full report.

An updated and extended version of last year's event, spend a couple of hours looking at the views of our town itself. Exploring some of Dereham's history there is also a peep behind the scenes, beyond what is normally open to the public.

As part of the package, each person received a booklet which was produced especially for this event detailing the main buildings and their history.

Read the full report.


A 5 mile walk starting at The Wellspring Family Centre taking in Neatherd Moor, the Windmill, Tesco(!) and Scarning Water Meadows before returning the town centre and our welcome refreshment.

The walk was followed by our Annual Public Meeting which included a report on what has been done over the year and an invitation to hear what you would like us to do for the following year.

Read the full report.


Exploring paths, tracks and quiet roads to the north of Dereham we walked through some of our wonderful meadows.

Starting at 09:45 from The George Hotel the walk was about 6¾ miles.

Read the full report.


An event for (accompanied) children:

Participants met at the car park near the pond on Neatherd Moor and followed a designated walk on the moor taking about an hour to complete.

During the fun walk we discovered more about our native deer and their connection to Dereham.

Deer are shy animals and unlikely to be seen in the middle of the day on a busy Neatherd moor, but early morning they are about.

Read the full report.


The walk was about 7¼ miles, took about 3 hours, including a short break half way round. It concluded (and started) at Yaham Waters where we enjoyed rather large slices of cake with tea or coffee.

** See the main entry for a disclaimer!

Read the full report, which does include picture of the two windmills.



A Hogmanay Hike - but definitely not a route march, just about 6½ miles of getting yourself ready to honour all those New Year Resolutions. The walk explored the land to the east of Dereham, mainly south of the A47 in the Tud Valley.

Read the full report.





By way of a change, our October walk started out of Dereham, at the Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse. A cool but sunny morning saw 20 of us - including 2 visitors from The Netherlands - gather on the car park at the Workhouse for a little under 6 miles walk taking about 2½ hours.

Read the full report.


The walk took us across some of the less used parts of The Neatherd, and on to Northall Green. Continuing north, to Hoe, descending through Hoe Common and across Hoe Rough on the fringes of Beetley. Returning along Mill Lane (part of Wensum Way) and then down Quebec Road back to the town centre.

Read the full report.

Starting from the Windmill.

This walk explored all of the routes which have been claimed by Dereham Town Council as public rights of way; all of them are being recognised as Restricted Byways. We took the opportunity to call in briefly at Badley Moor Common.

Read the full report.

In a break from our usual format, the emphasis of this short walk is the views of our town itself. Exploring some of Dereham's history we also have a peep behind the scenes, beyond what is normally open to the public.

Read the full report.

Starting at Church House we crossed Neatherd Moor on our way to explore Etling Green.

The walk returned to Church House where we held our Annual Public Meeting; a review of the year and an opportunity to ask questions of the committee and make suggestions, with free tea/coffee and cake.

Read the full report.



A 6½ mile walk exploring our Fens and Water Meadows.

Read the full report.

A little slippery, a bit wet and a little bit of 'paddling'. Nevertheless an enjoyable walk for Easter Monday.

Read the full report.
An exploration and search of Neatherd Moor for children with an Easter egg prize.

Read the full report.
Dereham Walkers are Welcome were invited to host a stand at the Model Railway Exhibition in Memorial Hall. Our new walk packs were available free of charge.

A raffle raised £75 along with a £2 donation towards WaW funds.


Full report.

The Dereham WaW committee organised a little event for themselves:
A litter pick around some of the Town's litter hotspots.

A triple treat and more ...

A 7-mile walk with at least three treats.

• First, a ride on the Mid-Norfolk Railway’s heritage diesel railcar to Thuxton.
• Second, a walk through the fields and along tracks, back into Dereham.
• Third, a drink (tea, coffee or soft drink) and cake at the Station Refreshment Room on return.

See the full report.

The rain passed in the morning leaving a brighter and dry afternoon just in time for our "Garden Party" walk.

A group of about 25 set out to explore the public rights of way to the east via Etling Green and then north to Northall Green, before heading back for tea and home made cakes ... yum!

See the full report.

We recently made the news on the national website after Ken was awarded a Dereham Citizen’s Award.

The first outing for our new banner - the Fringe Festival organised by Friends of Dereham Memorial Hall on 9 September. Our stall was visited by a good number of the many who came to the Memorial Hall that day, some of whom joined our mailing list and some who took details of our next walk.

This certainly provided us with some good publicity, which nicely complements the work we have also been doing to advertise the town’s status as a Walkers are Welcome town: several businesses are now sporting our ‘welcome’ stickers.


25 walkers took advantage of the fine Bank Holiday weather to join Dereham Walkers are Welcome’s latest walk - a 7 mile stroll from Dereham to Yaxham.

Report HERE

The Conservation Volunteers recently helped path clearing to the east of the town: to return the favour, Walkers are Welcome arranged and led a conservation walk. Our route started across Rush Meadow, which also gave them the opportunity to check out the growth of Himalayan Balsam along the river: they will be coming back at the end of the month to remove as much as possible of this beautiful but horribly invasive plant.

Report HERE

Held at Church House in Church Street, the APM included a brief resume of who we are and how we got here. The Annual Report was presented and some minor amendments to our constitution and then the floor was opened for questions.

With the formal proceeding over there followed a presentation by David Pelling titled: Fauna & Avifauna Near and Far

Minutes of the Annual Public Meeting.
A short bus ride from Dereham market place and we returned via a 6½ mile walk through the Tud Valley, including tea or coffee and a piece of home made cake at our "mobile tuck-stop" en route.

Report HERE


A contingent from Dereham Walkers are Welcome travelled to Cromer to join with members of their WaW team to learn from each other.

Report HERE

Children and parents entering into the spirit of the event as they search for characters from Alice in Wonderland around Neatherd moor, with each child receiving a chocolate prize for completing the walk.

Report HERE


On Easter Saturday, 15 April, at 9:30am we started a walk from Dereham Windmill, the route took us across open land east of Dereham returning via Etling Green and Neatherd, a total of 6½ miles.

We finished with coffee and simnel cake at Dereham Windmill coffee shop.

Report HERE




A 4½ mile walk (about 2 hours) to greet the New Year, ending with tea or coffee and a piece of Bolo Rei at New Flavours cafe. Bolo Rei is a Portuguese Christmas cake which translates as 'King Cake'.

Report HERE
Report HERE
Report HERE
Report HERE

A message from Ann Sandell (Secretary – Walkers are Welcome CIC):

"I am delighted to advise that the national committee have approved Dereham’s accreditation. A good application well done. Welcome to the family of Walkers are Welcome accredited towns."

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