Walk 2839 - printer friendly version

St Benet's Abbey & How Hill from Ludham Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 8.8 miles / 14.3 km

Ascent - 150 feet / 45 metres

Grade - easy/mod

Start - OS grid reference TG391180
Lat 52.7068130 + Long 1.5379168
Postcode NR29 5QG (approx. location only)

This Norfolk Broads walk starts from the village of Ludham which has fine church worth visiting. The route then follows the River Ant from the ruins of St Benet's Abbey and the adjacent mill north to How Hill where there is a fine thatched mansion and gardens that are open to the public. The final section of the walk is across fields back to the start.

The walks starts from car park adjacent to the moorings on the south side of Ludham village (grid ref. TG391180). Leave the car park and walk north back to the main Yarmouth Road (A1062) through the village. Turn left to the centre of the village. Turn left down the southern end of High Street, which soon becomes Staithe Road. After just under 600 metres turn right along a driveway (grid ref. TG388177). The tarmac driveway soon becomes a track and continues along the edge of a field to reach a track junction (grid ref. TG384180). Turn left here and continue past Ludham Hall to reach Hall Lane (grid ref. TG381174).

Turn left along Hall Common Road for 400 metres. At the first junction (grid ref. TG384173), turn right down St Benet's Road. Continue past the farm (on your right) and follow the clear track ahead for nearly a mile to reach the ruins of St Benet's Abbey and the adjacent ruined drainage mill (grid ref. TG380158). C9ontinue along a gravel path towards riverside moorings. Just before the moorings turn right onto a recently opened grassy path along the embankment. This leads through a typical Norfolk Broads landscape with the River Ant to your left. Continue on this path for a mile to reach Ludham Bridge. Before reaching the bridge drop down to a gate and follow the path away from the river and then turn left up to the main road (grid ref. TG373171).

Cross the road with care and turn left passing toilets and a café before dropping down to the right to re-join the riverbank path heading north. After 1.5 miles (grid ref. TG366184), take the path on the right. Follow this path to the next junction reached in 200 metres. Turn left and continue along the path until you reach Toad Cottage (grid ref. TG370191). Turn right here and follow the track to How Hill Road (grid ref. TG373193).

Turn left along the road for 400 metres and take the bridleway on the right. Stay on the bridleway, ignoring footpath on the right. The bridleway swings to the left. Ignore the footpath on the left and continue to a junction (grid ref. TG379195). Turn right here heading south. After 500 metres, turn left onto a path with the hedge to your right and continue to reach Goffins Lane (grid ref. TG384190). Go straight across and continue on the path to reach Catfield Road. Turn right and walk back into the Ludham village. Reaching the A1062, turn left and then retrace your steps back to the car park used at the start of the walk.

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