NORFOLK / PEDDARS WAY AND NORFOLK COAST PATH
The Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path: Knettishall Heath to Hopton
From the heaths of Knettishall to the Norfolk seaside at Hopton: about 130 miles along an ancient Roman-era track, chalk country, salt marsh, cliffs and long sandy beaches.
Unlock your free Travel Club benefits
Join free for 10% off eligible days out (Merlin products are excluded), GPX downloads of popular walks and our latest holiday bargains.
Already subscribed? Open the personal unlock link in your Days Out Now welcome email in this browser, then return here. You do not need to join again or create a WordPress account. Check spam or junk if you cannot find the email. If your older welcome email has no unlock link, contact us from your subscribed address for help.
At a glance
Why this walking route is worth doing
The Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path is a National Trail in two halves. The first 46 miles follow the Peddars Way, a straight, ancient track that runs from Knettishall Heath on the Suffolk border across the heaths, fields and chalk of west Norfolk to the sea at Holme-next-the-Sea. There the Norfolk Coast Path takes over and follows the coast east through salt marshes, harbours, flint villages, cliffs and beaches, finishing at Hopton-on-Sea just before the Suffolk border. The official route is about 130 miles, and a 33.6-mile western extension of the Norfolk Coast Path now runs from Hunstanton to Sutton Bridge for walkers who want more.
The Peddars Way is quiet and rural, with few villages, while the coast is busier, with plenty of places to eat and stay. Our plan uses 12 stages. You can shorten it by combining the easier days or by using the bus along the north Norfolk coast.
- The trail: about 130 miles (209 km) from Knettishall Heath to Hopton-on-Sea, made up of the 46-mile Peddars Way and the Norfolk Coast Path.
- The time: 9 to 12 days. Our plan uses 12 stages with a rest-friendly pace.
- The terrain: mostly flat, with grass tracks, farm roads, sea walls, boardwalks, cliff paths, shingle and sand.
- The finish: the trail ends at Hopton-on-Sea in Norfolk, just before the Suffolk border. It does not reach Lowestoft.
- Extra miles: the Hunstanton spur adds a few miles, and the Hunstanton to Sutton Bridge extension is a further 33.6 miles.
Mapped and ready
See the real route before you set off
Open the interactive map before setting off and save an offline map for the walk.
Useful overnight bases
Where to stay along the trail
Compare places to stay near Wells-next-the-Sea →Live prices from Booking.com. Affiliate link: Days Out Now may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Thetford (for the start)
Thetford, Norfolk
Compare stays →Castle Acre
Castle Acre, Norfolk
Compare stays →Hunstanton
Hunstanton, Norfolk
Compare stays →Wells-next-the-Sea
Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk
Compare stays →Cromer
Cromer, Norfolk
Compare stays →Great Yarmouth (for the finish)
Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
Compare stays →Accommodation links are affiliate links. Days Out Now may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability are set by the booking provider.
Step-by-step directions
Follow the route
Knettishall Heath to Little Cressingham
Start at Knettishall Heath Country Park and follow the straight, ancient Peddars Way across heathland, forest edges and quiet river valleys. It is flat and easy walking, but there are almost no shops or cafes, so carry lunch and water.
Overnight base: Little Cressingham
Route advice: Carry food and water for the whole day.
Parking or booking: Very few places to stay, so book well ahead.
Little Cressingham to Castle Acre
The Peddars Way continues across farmland and open fields to Castle Acre, one of the best stops on the trail. The village has a ruined priory and castle, pubs and shops.
Overnight base: Castle Acre
Route advice: Allow time to explore the priory and castle ruins.
Parking or booking: Good choice of food and places to stay, but book early in summer.
Castle Acre to Sedgeford
Open farmland and big skies on the highest and driest stretch of the trail, as you head towards the coast. The chalk landscape starts to show as you get closer to the sea.
Overnight base: Sedgeford
Route advice: Top up water at Castle Acre, as shops are scarce.
Parking or booking: Sedgeford is small, so book early. Some stays are in nearby villages.
Sedgeford to Hunstanton
The last stretch of the Peddars Way brings your first sight of the sea at Holme-next-the-Sea, where the Norfolk Coast Path begins. Many walkers then continue to Hunstanton, a seaside town with plenty of places to stay, about 3 miles further.
Overnight base: Hunstanton
Route advice: Take a photo at the marker in Holme, where the two trails meet.
Parking or booking: Hunstanton has the best choice of places to stay on this section. Holme and Thornham have a few more.
Hunstanton to Burnham Overy Staithe
The longest day. It follows the sea wall and boardwalks past dunes, salt marsh and nature reserves, with huge skies and plenty of birds. You can shorten the day by using the coast bus or by stopping at Brancaster or Burnham Deepdale.
Overnight base: Burnham Overy Staithe
Route advice: Use the coast bus to shorten the day if you need to.
Parking or booking: Stays are limited in Burnham Overy Staithe. Burnham Deepdale, Brancaster and Burnham Market have more.
Burnham Overy Staithe to Stiffkey
Along the creek to the sand dunes, then a long walk beside Holkham beach and its pine woods to the harbour town of Wells-next-the-Sea, and on across the marshes to Stiffkey.
Overnight base: Stiffkey
Route advice: Check the tide before the Holkham beach and marsh sections.
Parking or booking: Limited at Stiffkey. Wells-next-the-Sea or Blakeney are good alternatives by bus.
Stiffkey to Weybourne
Salt marshes, creeks and flint villages. Blakeney has boat trips to see seals, and Cley has a windmill and a nature reserve. The final stretch to Weybourne crosses a shingle bank, which is slow going.
Overnight base: Weybourne
Route advice: Shingle is tiring, so allow extra time.
Parking or booking: Weybourne has a few stays, with more in Cley and Salthouse.
Weybourne to Cromer
Your first real cliffs. The path climbs onto the cliff top and runs through Sheringham to Cromer, a classic seaside town with a pier. A shorter day, so you can enjoy Cromer.
Overnight base: Cromer
Route advice: Have a rest afternoon in Cromer, a great end for a section.
Parking or booking: Plenty of places to stay in Cromer, but book ahead in summer.
Cromer to Mundesley
A shorter cliff-top day along an eroding coast, with sea views and clifftop paths. Follow waymarked diversions where cliffs have fallen.
Overnight base: Mundesley
Route advice: Follow diversion signs, as cliffs here are eroding.
Parking or booking: Mundesley has a small choice of stays, with more in nearby villages.
Mundesley to Sea Palling
Cliffs, a long beach walk and the red-and-white striped Happisburgh lighthouse. Beach sections depend on the tide, so check times first.
Overnight base: Sea Palling
Route advice: Check tide times before the beach sections.
Parking or booking: Sea Palling is small, so book early. Some stays are inland and may need a taxi.
Sea Palling to Caister-on-Sea
Behind the dunes at Horsey, where grey seals gather in winter, then through Winterton and along the beach to Caister-on-Sea. Seal pupping season brings restrictions, so keep your distance.
Overnight base: Caister-on-Sea
Route advice: Keep well away from seals and follow any signs.
Parking or booking: Caister has a good choice, and Great Yarmouth is nearby.
Caister-on-Sea to Hopton-on-Sea
The final stage runs through Great Yarmouth and Gorleston-on-Sea, with beaches, piers and a busy seafront, then on to the finish at Hopton-on-Sea, the last village in Norfolk.
Overnight base: Hopton-on-Sea or Great Yarmouth
Route advice: Celebrate at the finish. You have walked the whole trail.
Parking or booking: Plan transport home in advance. Great Yarmouth has the railway station.
Book things to do nearby
Affiliate links: Days Out Now may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability are set by the booking provider.
Before you go
Practical information
Walk it west to east, from Knettishall Heath to Hopton. This is the direction the trail is signed and described, you finish by the sea, and the busiest part of the coast comes after the quiet Peddars Way, so food, drink and beds get easier as you go. The prevailing wind is behind you for much of the coast.
Book early and check the tides. Places to stay on the Peddars Way are few and small, so book them well ahead. On the coast, summer weekends and school holidays fill up fast. Some beach and marsh sections depend on the tide, so check tide times before you set off each day.
Use the bus. A coast bus runs along much of the north Norfolk coast, so you can stay in a bigger town and hop back to the trail the next morning. Check timetables, as services change by season.
Map and GPX. Use the route map and the GPX file on this page, and carry a paper map or an offline route as backup.
Parking
Thetford is the nearest railway station to Knettishall Heath, with a bus or taxi onward. Hopton-on-Sea has bus links to Great Yarmouth, which has a railway station, so plan your return before you set off.
Tickets and booking
The trail is free, but places to stay are limited on the Peddars Way and busy on the coast in summer. Book early and check luggage transfer, taxi pick-ups and bus times in advance.
Seasonal considerations
Spring to early autumn is the best time. Birds, wildflowers and seals are highlights, and days are long. Winter brings short days, wind, wet ground and some closed places to stay.
Toilets and refreshments
Toilets and cafes in the coastal towns and larger villages, but very few on the Peddars Way. Carry a packed lunch and water on the first three days.
Terrain
Grass and gravel tracks, farm roads, quiet lanes, sea walls, boardwalks, cliff paths, shingle and sand. Mostly flat, with a few short climbs on the east Norfolk cliffs.
Accessibility
Not yet verified for this route. Check the official visitor information before setting off.
Facilities
Very few shops, pubs or cafes on the Peddars Way, so carry food and water. The coast has many more villages, pubs, cafes and shops, with larger towns at Hunstanton, Wells-next-the-Sea, Sheringham, Cromer and Great Yarmouth.
Dogs
Many places to stay take well-behaved dogs, but check before you book. Keep dogs on a lead near livestock, nesting birds and seal colonies, and note that some beaches have seasonal dog restrictions.
Public transport
Thetford has a railway station near the start. A coast bus serves much of the north Norfolk coast between Hunstanton and Sheringham, with other buses along the east coast to Great Yarmouth. Great Yarmouth has a railway station. Check timetables, as services vary by season.
Safety
Take waterproofs, warm layers, sun protection and plenty of water. Carry a map or offline route, tell someone your plan, and check tides before walking beaches or crossing marsh. Take care near eroding cliffs.
Important cautions
Check tide times for beach and marsh sections, and expect shingle that is hard on the legs. Cliffs along the east coast are eroding, so keep to waymarked diversions and stay back from the edge. Livestock graze on the route, so keep dogs on a lead and follow the Countryside Code.
Days Out Now Free Travel Club
Take the useful bits with you
Join free for GPX route files and access to Days Out Now member benefits, including eligible days-out savings.
Useful answers
The Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path: Knettishall Heath to Hopton FAQs
How long is the Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path?
The official trail is about 130 miles (209 km): 46 miles on the Peddars Way and about 84 miles on the Norfolk Coast Path. It runs from Knettishall Heath to Hopton-on-Sea. The Hunstanton spur adds a few miles.
Where does the trail start and finish?
It starts at Knettishall Heath Country Park on the Suffolk/Norfolk border and finishes at Hopton-on-Sea in Norfolk, just before the Suffolk border. It does not finish in Lowestoft, which is in Suffolk.
Does the Peddars Way end at Hunstanton?
No. The Peddars Way ends at Holme-next-the-Sea, where the Norfolk Coast Path begins. Hunstanton is a short spur about 3 miles west, and many walkers go there for places to stay.
Which direction should I walk it?
West to east, from Knettishall Heath to Hopton-on-Sea. It is the direction the trail is signed and described, you end by the sea, and facilities get easier as you go.
How many days does it take?
Most walkers take 9 to 12 days. Our plan uses 12 stages with a rest-friendly pace, and you can shorten it by combining the shorter days or using the coast bus.
Is it hard, and is it flat?
It is mostly flat, but the days are long and the shingle and beach sections are tiring. The Peddars Way is easy underfoot, and the cliffs on the east coast add a few climbs.
Is there anywhere to eat and stay on the Peddars Way?
Very few places. The Peddars Way passes few villages, so places to stay are limited and shops are scarce. Book early, carry lunch and water, and consider a taxi or luggage transfer for stays off the route.
Do I need to check the tide?
Yes. Some beach and marsh sections depend on the tide, especially on the east coast and around Holkham. Check tide times each day before you set off, and follow any waymarked diversions.
Can I use public transport along the route?
Yes, a coast bus serves much of the north Norfolk coast, and other buses run along the east coast to Great Yarmouth. Thetford has a railway station near the start, and Great Yarmouth has one near the finish. Check timetables, as they vary by season.
Can I walk it with a dog?
Yes, many walkers do. Check that your places to stay take dogs, keep your dog on a lead near livestock and nesting birds, and follow signs about seals and seasonal beach restrictions.
For local businesses
Own somewhere visitors should discover near Norfolk?
Showcase a relevant place to stay, food stop, attraction or activity while Days Out Now keeps editorial control.
MAKE MORE OF YOUR DAY
Nearby places to visit, eat and stay
Nearby suggestions will load here.
MAKE MORE OF YOUR DAY
Explore more places on the map
Choose what you need, then use the map to compare locations and plan the rest of your day.
Leave a Reply