Route 8: Great Yarmouth to Walsingham, via St Benet’s Abbey

The information on this page supplements the material to be found in Chapter 7 of the book Norfolk’s Pilgrim Routes 

Download maps of the route and follow them on your phone

This route is divided into six stages. Each of the three maps below cover two of those stages

Should you choose to follow the route outlined below, please be aware of the following disclaimer

You discharge the author, and Amberley, or any associated individual concerned, of all liability for any injuries caused by or in any way related to your decision to walk any of these routes.

If you have the OS maps app, you can download the route here: 

https://explore.osmaps.com/route/21027238/flitcham-to-walsingham-via-east-barsham?lat=52.849066&lon=0.607358&zoom=10.4799&style=Leisure&type=2d

Stages 1 and 2: Great Yarmouth to Fleggburgh, Fleggburgh to Ludham

Other ways to download route maps and follow on your phone…

Open this page on your phone

Click on the white arrow in the middle of the map above

You will see a run-through of the route and, once done, the ‘expand to fill’ icon top right will go white

To follow the map without downloading… 

Click the arrow icon at bottom right on the map

This finds your location, and enables you to see where you are on the route.

NOTE If you are not on the route (eg at home before you set out) then the map display will adjust to your current location. You need to be at the start of the route, or at some point on it, for navigation along it to be possible by this method.

It’s much better to download the map to your phone.

To download the route and follow it on your phone…

Click on the dropdown menu (at top right) and select the ‘download’ option from the list

On the screen that opens you are given options on tailoring your download. Make any adjustments you want and then…

Click the orange ‘download’ button.

Choose the option ‘Save to files’

You will be asked which app you want to open it in.

Options will be presented to you, but you have to click on ‘…’ at the end of the row to find the app you want. Clicking here brings up a list of all the apps on your phone, and you can select the one you want.

Among the many map reading apps are OS (The Ordnance Survey), which I use in the subscription version, OpenStreetMap and Komoot.

Follow the instructions in your chosen app to save and follow the route

The suggested stages on the map are:

Great Yarmouth to Fleggburgh 9 miles

Fleggburgh to Ludham 9 miles

Stages 3 and 4: Ludham to Hoveton, Hoveton to Aylsham

If you have the OS maps app, you can download the route here: https://explore.osmaps.com/route/21027238/flitcham-to-walsingham-via-east-barsham?lat=52.849066&lon=0.607358&zoom=10.4799&style=Leisure&type=2d

The suggested stages on the map are:

Ludham to Hoveton 10 miles

Hoveton to Aylsham 10 miles

Stages 5 and 6: Aylsham to Hunworth, Hunworth to Walsingham

If you have the OS maps app, you can download the route here: https://explore.osmaps.com/route/22337653/great-yarmouth-to-walsingham-stages-5–6-aylsham-to-hunworth-hunworth-to-walsingham?lat=52.856284&lon=0.962612&zoom=10.5040&style=Leisure&type=2d

The suggested stages on the map are:

Aylsham to Hunworth 11 miles

Hunworth to Walsingham 10 miles

Public transport

Rail: Greater Anglia serves Great Yarmouth

It also serves Wroxham and Horning. You could travel by train from Norwich and pick up the route to Walsingham from Wroxham.

Greater Anglia trains connect at Wroxham with the preserved Bure Valley Railway, which runs from Wroxham to Aylsham

Bus: A number of bus companies serve the area, for help planning a bus journey try Rome 2 Rio

Taxi: Great Yarmouth taxi firms are listed here

Wroxham Wroxham Taxis

Walsingham Tiny’s

Where to eat and stay

Great Yarmouth Accomodation guide

Fleggburgh King’s Arms food, drink accommodation

Thurne The Lion food, drink

Potter Heigham The Falgate Inn food, drink accommodation 

Ludham The King’s Arms, food drink The Dog food, drink, camping for tents, tourers, motorhomes Ludham Hall Cottage bed and breakfast (two night min) 01692678232 alison@ludhamhall.co.uk

Horning Swan Inn food, drink accommodation

Hoveton King’s Head food, drink, accommodation

Wroxham St Gregory’s bed and breakfast

Aylsham Black Boys Inn food, drink, accommodation

Edgefield Mount Farm bed and breakfast

Saxthorpe/Corpusty Duke’s Head food, drink

Hunworth There is no accommodation at Hunworth (at the end of Stage 5, start of Stage 6), but Holt (3 miles away) has a range of options including

Holt (for Hunworth) The Feathers food, drink accommodation

Briston (2 miles from Hunworth) The Three Horseshoes food, drink accommodation

Walsingham Accommodation guide

Pilgrim places

Great Yarmouth Minster Church of St Nicholas, Greyfriars , Town Walls walk

Potter Heigham St Nicholas Services and open times

Write-up in Norfolk Churches

Ludham St Catherine Services and open times

Write-up in Norfolk Churches

St Benet’s Abbey write up by Norfolk Archaeological Trust

Horning St Benedict Services and open times

Write-up in Norfolk Churches

Great Hautbois St Mary’s aka St Theobald’s

Write-up from the parish

Burgh-next-Aylsham St Mary Services and open times

Write-up in Norfolk Churches

Aylsham St Michael and All Angels Services and open times

Write-up in Norfolk Churches

Oulton St Peter and St Paul Services and open times

Write-up in Norfolk Churches

Saxthorpe St Andrew Services and open times

Write-up in Norfolk Churches

Hunworth St Lawence Services and open times

Write-up in Norfolk Churches

Thornage All Saints Services and open times

Write-up in Norfolk Churches

Sharrington All Saints Services and open times

Write-up in Norfolk Churches

Bale All Saints Services and open times

Write-up in Norfolk Churches