Norwich to Caistor Roman Town Walk
Route facts
Waterways:
River Yare »
Starts at: Cock Public House
Ends at: Cock Public House
The walk is seven miles long and will take you through some quiet country lanes and footpaths and past two intriguing archaeological sites.
This walk has been developed to enable people to discover the Norwich Fringe countryside, which is full of fascinating wildlife, plants and flowers which you may never notice elsewhere. Along the route, you may be lucky enough to see sand martins, buddleua, butterflies, teasels, goldfinches, dog rose and whitethroat.
Waypoints
1. Cock Public House
The route begins at the Cock public house and takes you down the road, over the River Yare and past Lakenham Mill, originally built in the 19th Century and rebuilt following a fire in 1908. In the past, the mill has been used as toy factory and a woollen, corn and saw mill. Close by, the river merges with the River Tas, which flows for 14 miles before meeting the Yare in Lakenham. A little further on from here, you may notice an usual ‘ring’ shaped bump in the grass, which was once the site of Arminghall Henge, Norwich’s wooden equivalent of stone henge.
2. Caistor Chalk Pit
You will pass Caister chalk pit and, shortly after, pass a haven for wildlife and plant. The Norwich Fringe Project planted trees in the area to replace Elms lost to Dutch Elm disease. Further along the path, you will come to Hallback Lane. Turn left down the lane and, on your left, you will pass Arminghall Wood, dating from before 1600, with a County Wildlife Site status. The wood is privately owned and public access is not allowed. Hallback Lane is lined with mature trees, one of which is the Hornbeam, which can be recognised by smooth grey bark with dark fissures and the dead leaves it retains throughout the winter.
3. Valley Farm Lane
As you continue along the footpath, you will arrive at Valley Farm Lane. Walk to the end of the lane and turn right on the Chandler Lane. After walking just over half a mile along this lane, you will come across a plantation of Scots Pine and, hidden among this, there is a sixth Century Saxon Cemetery. After passing the plantation, you will walk around the sewage works and then around Venta Icenorum, a Roman Town at Caistor St. Edmund.
4. Venta Icenorum
From Venta Icenorum, turn left to walk up Norwich Road and then turn right when you get to Marshall Lane on your left. Turn left once again to walk along Caistor and when you come across the footpath once again, turn left and follow it up towards Hallback Lane. You will find yourself walking the opposite way from where you began and you will soon find yourself back at the Cock Public House.
contact us
print page