Dereham Walkers are Welcome

Walks

Originally four walks were produced for Dereham Town Council. Following the formation of Dereham Walkers are Welcome additional walks were developed and the original walks reworked.

NEW Town Trail:

Town Information Panels Walk

Leaflet (PDF, opens in new tab).

NEW: Produced in collaboration with Dereham Heritage Trust and aboutDereham this leaflet will guide you to see every information panel, each with fascinating information about Dereham's past and preset. The leaflet is printed and made available in various places such as The Library - look out for your FREE copy.

Short Walks Booklet:

Seven Short Walks

Booklet (PDF, opens in new tab).

Thanks to the Co-Op Local Community Fund and a grant from Dereham Town Council this booklet has been updated and is available in various places such as The Library - look out for your FREE copy.

A collection of seven short walks in a booklet. Walks are between 2 and 4½ miles, but all can be shortened to a maximum of 3¼ miles. Maybe try downloading to your phone.

The centre pages include a map (single file PDF, opens in new tab).

We have guides for 14 individual walks available for download, all centred around Dereham; some involve a bus or train trip to the start of the walk.

General Leaflet:

Background information (standard walks)

General leaflet (PDF, opens in new tab).

Useful information: please read to make the most of the walks.

Walk 1:

Potters Fen and Water Meadows

3 miles, allow 1¼ hours.
Walk 1 (PDF, opens in new tab).

A short walk through the town utilising Dereham's green corridors which run both north-south and east-west.

Walk 2:

Badley Moor

8 miles, allow 3¼ hours.
Can be shortened to 5 miles (2 hours).
Walk 2 (PDF, opens in new tab).

This walk heads south to Toftwood, then east to Dumpling Green and out along an ancient track past Badley Moor Common.

Walk 3:

The Windmill and The Neatherd

8½ miles, allow 3½ hours.
Can be shortened to 5½ or 7 miles (2¼ or 3 hours).
Walk 3 (PDF, opens in new tab).

This walk passes many interesting buildings, including The Windmill, Lecture Room, Tollgate Cottages and Gooch's Cottages. The route is generally to the north-east of the town although it does dip south of the A47 for a mile or so.

Walk 4:

Rush Meadow and Quebec Wood

7 miles, allow 3 hours.
Can be shortened to 3, 5 or 6¼ miles (1¼, 2 or 2½ hours).
Walk 4 (PDF, opens in new tab).

The walk goes through Rush Meadow as part of a circumnavigation of the northern half of the Town, enjoy some of Norfolk's 'big sky'.

Walk 5:

Scarning and Podmore

7¼ miles, allow 3 hours.
Can be shortened to 3¾ or 4¼ miles (1½, 1¾ hours).
Walk 5 (PDF, opens in new tab).

This walk explores quiet old lanes out to Scarning, west of Dereham.

Walk 6:

Yaxham

7 miles, allow 3 hours.
Can be shortened to 5½ miles (2¼ hours).
Walk 6 (PDF, opens in new tab).

This walk starts at the corner of Charles Wood Road by the railway. Bus access details are given in the guide.

The walk goes out through Yaxham, returning past Badley Moor Common.

Walk 7:

Gressenhall

9 miles, allow 3¾ hours.
Can be shortened to 3¼, 4½, 6¾ or 7 (1½, 2, 2¾ or 3 hours).
Walk 7 (PDF, opens in new tab).

This walk starts from a small informal car parking area in Quebec Wood. Bus access details are given in the guide.

The easterly route is a footpaths (and bridleway) route to Gressenhall. The return westerly route uses quiet lanes.

Walk 8:

Train walk: Thuxton to Dereham via Whinburgh

7 miles, allow 3 hours for the walk.
Walk 8 (PDF, opens in new tab).

This walk starts at Dereham railway station where you take a train to Thuxton station and walk back. There is parking at Dereham station, but the gates are locked shortly after the last train. Check the MNR website for train times.

Walk 9:

Train walk: Thuxton to Dereham via Clint Green

7¾ miles, allow 3¼ hours for the walk.
Walk 9 (PDF, opens in new tab).

This walk starts at Dereham railway station where you take a train to Thuxton station and walk back. There is parking at Dereham station, but the gates are locked shortly after the last train. Check the MNR website for train times.

Walk 10:

Train walk: Yaxham

5 miles, allow 2 hours for the walk.
Walk 10 (PDF, opens in new tab).

This walk starts from Dereham Railway Station, catching a service on the Mid-Norfolk Railway to Yaxham. Note that the station car park is locked shortly after the last train of the day arrives in Dereham. A slightly shorter version can be started from Yaxham village: catch the Konect service 4 outside Barclays Bank.

The walk includes tree lined avenues and open vistas.

For a circular walk to Yaxham, see Walk 6.

Walk 11:

Bus walk: East Tuddenham and Mattishall

8½ miles, allow 3½ hours for the walk.
Can be shortened to 6½ miles (2¾ hours).
Walk 11 (PDF, opens in new tab).

This walk starts from the town centre, using Konect service 4 from outside Barclays Bank in the Market Place.

Lots of subtle details on this walk. You may like to spend a little extra time in Mattishall.

Walk 12:

Bus walk: North Elmham

7 miles, allow 3 hours for the walk.
Can be shortened to 6¼ miles (2½ hours).
Walk 12 (PDF, opens in new tab).

A fairly linear walk from North Elmham (north of Dereham), so the opportunities to shorten it are limited.

Walk 13:

Bus walk: Gressenhall

6½ miles, allow 2¾ hours for the walk.
Can be shortened to 3¼, 4½ or 5¼ miles (1½, 2 or 2¼ hours).
Walk 13 (PDF, opens in new tab).

This walk starts from the town centre, using Konect service 21 (outside Barclays Bank) towards Fakenham. Note that the bus route seems to go past Gressenhall before returning to The Swan.

For a circular walk to Gressenhall, see Walk 7.

Walk 14:

Bus walk: Swanton Morley

5 miles, allow 2 hours for the walk.
Walk 14 (PDF, opens in new tab).

This walk starts from the town centre, catching Konect service 4 (stop opposite Lloyds Bank) to Swanton Morley.

This walk follows the Wensum Way and its extension to Dereham.

About Leaflet:

Information about us

General leaflet. (PDF, opens in new tab).
General information about us and rights of way.