Peddars Way
Encyclopedia
The Peddars Way is a long distance footpath
in Norfolk
, England. It is 46 miles (74 km) long and follows the route of a Roman road
. It has been suggested by more than one writer that it was not created by the Romans but was an ancient trackway, a branch or extension of the Icknield Way
, used and remodelled by the Romans. The name is said to be derived from the Latin
pedester – on foot. It is first mentioned on a map of 1587 AD. It starts at Knettishall Heath
in Suffolk
(near the Norfolk-Suffolk border, about 7 km (4 mi) east of Thetford), and it links with the Norfolk Coast Path at Holme-next-the-Sea
.
Combined with the Norfolk Coast Path, it forms the Peddars Way & Norfolk Coast Path National Trail, one of 15 National Trails in England and Wales
, and the two paths together run for 97 miles.
It is one of four long distance footpaths which, when combined, run from Lyme Regis
to Hunstanton
and are referred to as the Greater Ridgeway
.
, and described south to north, is published in the series of National Trail Guides. The trail is very well marked with two general types of waymarker along the length of the route. At junctions there are signs marked ‘Peddars Way’ on plain wood fingerposts. Elsewhere white, yellow and green discs are used bearing the acorn sign used on such long distance routes.
. There is a path linking the southern end, at Knettishall Heath, to the nearby Harling Road railway station
. Holme, at the northern end, has a regular bus service to King's Lynn
and Hunstanton
. Holme also has a regular bus service to Sheringham
. Both King's Lynn and Sheringham allow onward connections using their regular rail services.
.
Long-distance trail
Long-distance trails are the longer recreational trails mainly through rural areas, used for non-motorised recreational travelling ....
in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, England. It is 46 miles (74 km) long and follows the route of a Roman road
Roman road
The Roman roads were a vital part of the development of the Roman state, from about 500 BC through the expansion during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Roman roads enabled the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate. The Roman road system spanned more than 400,000 km...
. It has been suggested by more than one writer that it was not created by the Romans but was an ancient trackway, a branch or extension of the Icknield Way
Icknield Way
The Icknield Way is an ancient trackway in southern England. It follows the chalk escarpment that includes the Berkshire Downs and Chiltern Hills.-Background:...
, used and remodelled by the Romans. The name is said to be derived from the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
pedester – on foot. It is first mentioned on a map of 1587 AD. It starts at Knettishall Heath
Knettishall Heath
Knettishall Heath is an area of common land in Suffolk, England about 7 km east of Thetford near the Norfolk-Suffolk border. Popular with dog walkers and ramblers, it is the site where four long-distance footpaths meet: Angles Way, Icknield Way Path, Iceni Way and Peddars Way .The Hereward...
in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
(near the Norfolk-Suffolk border, about 7 km (4 mi) east of Thetford), and it links with the Norfolk Coast Path at Holme-next-the-Sea
Holme-next-the-Sea
Holme-next-the-Sea is a small village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is situated on the north Norfolk coast some 5 km north-east of the seaside resort of Hunstanton, 30 km north of the town of King's Lynn and 70 km north-west of the city of Norwich.The civil...
.
Combined with the Norfolk Coast Path, it forms the Peddars Way & Norfolk Coast Path National Trail, one of 15 National Trails in England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
, and the two paths together run for 97 miles.
It is one of four long distance footpaths which, when combined, run from Lyme Regis
Lyme Regis
Lyme Regis is a coastal town in West Dorset, England, situated 25 miles west of Dorchester and east of Exeter. The town lies in Lyme Bay, on the English Channel coast at the Dorset-Devon border...
to Hunstanton
Hunstanton
Hunstanton, often pronounced by locals as and known colloquially as 'Sunny Hunny', is a seaside town in Norfolk, England, facing The Wash....
and are referred to as the Greater Ridgeway
Greater Ridgeway
The Greater Ridgeway is a 583 kilometre long distance footpath crossing England from Lyme Regis to Hunstanton. It is a combined route which is made from the joining of four other long distance footpaths - the Wessex Ridgeway, The Ridgeway National Trail, the Icknield Way and the Peddars Way...
.
Guide and waymarks
A detailed 144-page guide, including 1:25 000 maps from the Ordnance SurveyOrdnance Survey
Ordnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with...
, and described south to north, is published in the series of National Trail Guides. The trail is very well marked with two general types of waymarker along the length of the route. At junctions there are signs marked ‘Peddars Way’ on plain wood fingerposts. Elsewhere white, yellow and green discs are used bearing the acorn sign used on such long distance routes.
Public transport
The Peddars Way may be accessed by public transportPublic transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
. There is a path linking the southern end, at Knettishall Heath, to the nearby Harling Road railway station
Harling Road railway station
Harling Road railway station is a rural railway station serving the village of East Harling in Norfolk. It is served by local services operated by East Midlands Trains and National Express East Anglia on the Breckland Line 36 km west of Norwich to Peterborough and Cambridge.-The station:The...
. Holme, at the northern end, has a regular bus service to King's Lynn
King's Lynn
King's Lynn is a sea port and market town in the ceremonial county of Norfolk in the East of England. It is situated north of London and west of Norwich. The population of the town is 42,800....
and Hunstanton
Hunstanton
Hunstanton, often pronounced by locals as and known colloquially as 'Sunny Hunny', is a seaside town in Norfolk, England, facing The Wash....
. Holme also has a regular bus service to Sheringham
Sheringham
Sheringham is a seaside town in Norfolk, England, west of Cromer.The motto of the town, granted in 1953 to the Sheringham Urban District Council, is Mare Ditat Pinusque Decorat, Latin for "The sea enriches and the pine adorns"....
. Both King's Lynn and Sheringham allow onward connections using their regular rail services.
Folklore
The Peddars Way was traditionally supposed to be a haunt of the ghostly East Anglian hound, Black ShuckBlack Shuck
Black Shuck, Old Shuck, Old Shock or simply Shuck is the name given to a ghostly black dog which is said to roam the coastline and countryside of East Anglia...
.
See also
- Long-distance footpaths in the UK
- Recreational walks in NorfolkRecreational walks in Norfolk-Short walks:There are many short circular walks in Norfolk. Countryside Norfolk has page listing them .*Blickling Hall has three waymarked walks.*Bure Valley Way, 14 kilometres from Aylsham to Wroxham*Felbrigg Hall has waymarked walks....
- Castle AcreCastle AcreCastle Acre is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is situated on the River Nar some north of the town of Swaffham...
- SheringhamSheringhamSheringham is a seaside town in Norfolk, England, west of Cromer.The motto of the town, granted in 1953 to the Sheringham Urban District Council, is Mare Ditat Pinusque Decorat, Latin for "The sea enriches and the pine adorns"....
- Beeston RegisBeeston RegisBeeston Regis is a village and civil parish in the North Norfolk district of Norfolk, England. It is about a mile east of Sheringham, Norfolk and near the coast. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 1,091...
- River HeachamRiver HeachamThe River Heacham is in the North West of the County of Norfolk. Its source is in the village of Bircham Newton , 25 metres above sea level. The river is 6.8 miles long from the source to the pools behind the tidal flaps at North beach, Heacham...
- North PickenhamNorth PickenhamNorth Pickenham is a village in the Breckland district of mid-Norfolk, East Anglia, England in the United Kingdom. Named after its leader Pinca, Pica or maybe Piccea with ham meaning homestead, it became a pagan Anglo Saxon settlement in the 5th century AD...
- Slíghe ChualannSlíghe ChualannSlíghe Chualann was an ancient roadway which stretched from the residence of the High King of Ireland at Tara to the lands of Cuala. Cuala is the area that is seen today as from South County Dublin to North County Wicklow including Bray...
External links
- National Trails' Peddars Way/Norfolk Coast Path page
- The Peddars Way Website Useful information about the Peddars Way.
- Walking Peddars Way Information for walkers