Tivetshall and the Pulhams (8½ miles)

Tivetshall and Pulhams walk map.

We spent an hour driving around to find a suitable place to park for this 8½-mile walk, so we are grateful to the owners of Railway Farm for giving EDP walkers permission to park on the right-hand side between the trees on their track on the south side beyond the farm. Tivetshall St Margaret is situated on the B1134, two miles east off the new roundabout on the A140 south of Long Stratton.

After crossing the railway line and passing the pub soon on the left, turn left along Hales Street, a No Thro' Rd. At the end of the road it becomes a track by Railway Farm. We walked along this wide track, going under the pylon wires. The track went left, then by a high hedge to the country lane. After walking left about 50yds, we went right at a footpath sign and crossed over a plank bridge, then went right over an earth one, turning left with a hedge now on our left.

At the country lane we went straight ahead. Reaching the T-junction, we turned left. Near the village sign on the left, we went right at the fork, with the school on our right, along another country lane. At the left-hand bend we turned right along a sunken track. Further along this track we kept the hedge on our right.

As there were no markers it is easy to miss the next turn, so about 50yds before the hedge goes left look out on the right for the gap and plank bridge. We crossed it, then kept straight ahead for another 50yds to the hedge and went left beside a hedge on our right.

A small wooden bridge to cross on this walk.

We crossed the A140 road and went left along the verge and, after 50yds, went right at the footpath sign. Once again, markers were in short supply. We crossed the field to the far left-hand corner, going through a hedge gap and then continued along the good path at the field edge. We continued along the wide grass area between hedges.

At the end of the hedge on our left we went left over a bridge and crossed the field, going diagonally right to the footpath sign and through the hedge gap. Then we continued, going half left, up the field towards two poplar trees and turning right along the country lane, where stitchwort and other wild flowers adorned the bank.

At the T-junction we went left, with the Crown Inn on our right. We continued along the pavement in Pulham Market, passing the post office shop on the left. We went right at the fork along Colgate End Road, then went left along Mill Lane, a so-called 'Quiet Lane'.

We ignored road and paths off this until we reached the footpath sign on the left. Here we turned left over a stile and continued along the footpath, going slightly left to the new hedge. The path went beside a hedge on our left then across another field to the A140. At the old chapel on the left, we went left along the grass verge and some rough ground in front of buildings and out to the road at barrier.

St Mary Magdalene Church.

We crossed the main road, going slightly right, and then along the path (unsigned) with the hedge on our left. We went over the plank bridge, then later right at the hedge line with marker signs. The track went left and at the country lane we went right along it. At the footpath sign we turned left. Be careful here, the stile is in a very bad state. We continued over two meadows, over another stile and then along a field edge, which was rather a difficult one!

Just before the hedge we went right at the leaning marker sign, with the hedge now on our left. We went through the hedge gap, then left along the bridleway tree-lined track. We ignored a path on our left over a bridge. We ignored a right turn by a house and another turn left over a footbridge. Our path went right. Then, at the track left to the railway, we went through gates, looking and listening as we crossed the track.

We continued along the track, Blackmill Lane, turning left along the street. At the T-junction we went right, then left along Hales Street to the start of the walk.

Map references, OS Landranger 156, Explorer 230: 159869, 166863, 173866, 181864, 191862, 197861, 195864, 191876, 186876, 186875, 179875, 179879, 180882, 174882, 175888, 161887, 159887, 157880, 159869.



BY THE WAY

1 St Mary Magdalene is a big church which has undergone considerable restoration. The roof of the nave is impressive, with flat arch braces and collar beams. With its many fascinating gems, it's a church well worth visiting.

Pulham Market is an award-winning conservation village with a traditional green surrounded by pretty thatched cottages.

The Pulhams are famous for their Royal Navy connections during the first world war. In 1912, a large air station was constructed there by the Admiralty as an airship base. By the end of the first world war it was one of the latest such installations in the country with more than 3,000 military personnel based in the area. And in 1919, the R34 flew into Pulham at the end of the historic first-ever dual crossing of the Atlantic.

2 The thatched Crown Inn is a good place to stop and rest, with an excellent menu and a friendly welcome. Charles enjoyed a pint of Woodforde's Wherry. The inn is open seven days a week and on Saturday, May 30, 2009 (8pm) it will be staging a special 1940s' evening in aid of the 100 Bomber Group. War time food will be served. For more information and to obtain your 'food ration' voucher, tel 01379 676652.

3 The Depwade Union Workhouse dates from the 19th century. It was built to house 400 people. But the inmates regarded it more as a prison and policeman had to be kept on duty there to guard against them inflicting damage on the place.