You’ll meet both history and wildlife on The West Acre Way. Beginning at the Gayton Crown pub with its 11th century origins, your route wends its way through the Westacre Estate where you can witness some of the rewilding undertaken along the River Nar.
Keep your eyes peeled for White Park Cattle, Exmoor Ponies, and Iron Age Pigs as you wander the new permissive paths before reaching historic West Acre, where you can find The Stag pub, the ruins of the Priory gatehouse and links to the Nar Valley Way.
Distance:
12km/7.5 miles. Allow 4 hours (relaxed pace).
Surfaces:
A mix of unsurfaced paths, boardwalk and quiet country lanes.
Signage:
Look out for the purple Jubilee Trail waymarkers along the route.
Dogs:
Yes, on leads recommended.
Accessible sections:
Due to the nature of the terrain, across farmland and woodland footpaths, much of this trail is not accessible for wheels or horse riders. However, the Westacre Estate have indicated on their own estate maps where there are designated bridleways, by-ways and restricted by-ways open to all users, which are open to horse riders. See https://www.westacre.info/maps
Parking:
The Crown pub and Mill car park West Acre (other locations nearby)
Refreshments:
The Crown pub at Gayton and The Stag at West Acre.
Public toilets:
Abbey Farm complex.
Please be aware livestock roam free along parts of the trail, for more guidance for dog walkers please see https://www.westacre.info/guidance-for-dog-walkers.
A dedicated trail linking Heacham to King's Lynn which will incorporate elements of the existing footpath network. A key element of the trail is the utilisation and enhancement of a section of disused railway line between Dersingham and Ingoldisthorpe providing almost 2km of new Greenway Delivery. A diversion is in place while this resurfacing work is completed – keep an eye on this page for details.
A trail linking Dereham town centre to Gressenhall Environmental Hub to provide a safe and direct route for visitors on foot and bike. The project will include approx. 2km of route surfacing improvements with permissive cycling access, to open the trail up to a wider range of users. Gressenshall. The trail runs past or through three Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): the developing Wendling Beck Exemplar Project, a regenerative landscape scale environmental scheme; Hoe Rough and Rush Meadow.
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This short walk provides a different offering to the other trails, with something for everyone, especially families.
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