Norwich to Trowse Bridges Walk
Route facts
Waterways:
River Yare »
Starts at:
This relaxing four mile walk follows the route of an old railway line and should take around three hours to complete.
On your journey to the Yare Valley, you will walk under three road bridges, an old railway bridge and along the streets of Old Lakenham. You will also cross a number of bridges over the Rivers Yare and Tas. Wildlife fans should be on the lookout for bats, moorhens, coots and swans and eagle-eyed spotters may even be lucky enough to spot a heron or kingfisher.
Waypoints
1. Queens Road
The walk begins at Sainsbury’s supermarket on Queens Road, so if you fancy a picnic along the way, you can stock up on some essentials. Turn down Grove Road and then left down Lakenham Way. This used to be a railway line, although has been converted and is now a pedestrian and cycle way. As you make your way along the way, you may notice a variety of birds around this area. Further along the way, you will pass four Victorian arched bridges which many walkers will find interesting. The bridges are also home to a number of moths and bats.
2. Lakenham Mill
Continue along Lakenham Way and turn left down Sandy Lane and left again along Harwood Road. You will pass St. John the Baptist Church, which was recorded in the Doomsday Book in 1086 AD. However, it is not known whether anything of the original building remains. Go through the gate to the right of the church entrance, through the church-yard, down the steps and across the road. You will pass Lakenham Mill which was built in the first half of the 19th century. Close to this, on the banks of the River Yare, you will come across the Cock Public House. Here, walk over the bridges and turn left into the meadow.
3. Arminghall Henge
When walking through the meadow, you will come across an unusual bump in the ground – this was the site of Norwich’s very own wooden version of Stonehenge. After seeing the historic site, walk along the Rivers Tas and Yare, which are joined around this point. A landowner owns this particular part of the footpath and can close it for one day each year and asks that dogs be kept on leads. As you turn left up The Street, you will notice some houses on your right which were built in 2001, on the site of Trowse Watermill, which used to serve Trowse Village and the surrounding countryside. On the other side of the river, you will be able to see Trowse Church, the history of which dates back to the 13th century.
4. St. Mark’s Church
Continue walking up The Street, which will change to Bracondale, passing No. 54 Bracondale, a historic house with a wealth of history which is explained on a plaque on the wall. Please note that this is a private house. Turn left along Corton Road and you will pass by St. Mark’s Church which was originally built in the 1850s. Its appearance, however, drastically changed in the early 20th century, with the Anglo Catholic revival. After passing the church, turn left along Trafalgar Street and you will find yourself back on Lakenham Way.
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