Guided walks for ramblers who take the train

Published on: Thursday, 10 October 2013
Last updated: Wednesday, 5 October 2016

Ramblers in Norfolk and Suffolk can take advantage of free guided walks when they take the train as the Bittern Line and Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnerships launch a series of guided walks from rail stations.

The Sunday walks, led by experts on the area, are free to anyone arriving by train and have been scheduled to fit in with train times from Norwich.

Detailed in the newly published Bittern and Wherry Lines Area guide, there is an interesting and picturesque guided walk from stations along the Norwich - Sheringham and Norwich – Great Yarmouth / Lowestoft lines taking place every month between 20 October 2013 and 15 June 2014.

The next walk, on Sunday 20 October, is named ‘Coasting to Caister’ and takes the route along the River Bure to Caister-on-Sea, returning along the shore. This is a seven and a half mile walk led by Graham Jones. Those wishing to take part are advised to catch the 10.45 train from Norwich and alight at Great Yarmouth.

The walks, via quiet country lanes, woodlands, broads, pretty villages and North Norfolk’s spectacular coast line, take place once a month (except December) until June 2014 and depart from stations such as Roughton Road, Buckenham, Lingwood, West Runton, Sheringham and Gunton and cover between five and eight miles each.

The Bittern Line and Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnerships have organised the walks to encourage greater patronage of the railway lines by local residents and visitors.

The Area Guide, which not only details each walk but also includes rail timetables, information for key towns and villages along the routes, ideas about things to see and do, an events guide and details of bus links, is now available at staffed stations along the Bittern Line and Wherry Lines routes, as well as at Tourist Information Centres, Libraries and to download from www.bitternline.com and www.wherrylines.org.uk .

The Bittern and Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnerships exist to promote the lines, work to make improvements in partnership with the train operator, Greater Anglia, and engender mutually beneficial links between the railway and the communities they serve.