MONTHLY MONDAY WALKS # 15

MONDAY 18th FEBRUARY 2019

Start and Finish: Layby at Church Road, . This is the Coast Road that runs between and

Weather: Started off with a very weak effort at sunshine, soon moved into February grey. Slight drizzle for last mile and a half. My Garmin says it was 10 degrees, but it felt a bit chilly at times.

Walkers: Gus Williams, Paul Marcus Loveday and The Dawg, Andy Haggith, Bernie and Ann Kerrison, Malcolm Page, Phil Beaumont, Andrew Haggith, Bryon and Chris Sparkes, Gary and Nicola Corbett. And a warm welcome to a new walker Robin Allard and his dawg Henry.

Firstly a welcome to a new walker, Robin Allard and the lovely Henry. Shame we had a bit of rain for your first walk Robin, and I hope this will not prevent you from joining us again. This review will be short and sweet. Off to sunnier climes on Thursday and I have a lot to squeeze in before then. So, we gathered in the layby just on the western edge of Trimingham village, opposite the ‘new?’ Village Hall. Mr Haggith was early, second time in a row—can he keep it up for the rest of the year? Some of the group had stopped off for breakfast on the way, but arrived on time and full of tea and bacon butty! Well done you. We crossed the busy Coast Road and made our way southeast along Staden Park, a cul de sac that caused Bernie some trouble, he thought we had no way out at the end, but there is an overgrown path that gives access out onto Cromer Road. Here we joined the which we followed all the way to the southern edge of Nor- threpps. The first part of the walk was on the road, it was quiet apart from one huge tanker truck that eased its way past us at a snails pace. This part of the walk is a gradual downhill to a very small stream which I think must be a tributary of Mundesley Beck. Once across the stream we started uphill, (that’s a uphill—a slope in other words), past Ashtree Farm the a sharp right hand turn and downhill again to Lodge Farm. Here we left the road and made our way northwest along a broad grassed track with a well trimmed laurel hedge to our right. Uphill again then a right turn onto another wide track which I think is called the Empire Way. We followed this track to pass Farm House where we spotted a pair of memorial plaques, both commemorating people from South Africa. We crossed a road then carried on to turn right and walked past a large house, an old rectory, then onto the road again. Here we left the Paston Way and walked into Village and lunch. Lunch was taken at the Foundry Arms pub. (Did anyone notice the pub sign? I’m sure it was spelt incorrectly “Foundary” - or was it I my imagination). Anyway, after quite a speedy lunch stop we left the village and made our way up Hungry Hill by road to the top of the hill then we turned off and rejoined the Paston Way. A nice grass footpath led us to the Radar Station (where it started to rain), then down hill again through the woods to the coast road at . Here we took the road for a hundred yards or so then turned off at Manor Farm to climb up to the cliff tops, now heading southeast. We walked for about a mile on the cliff tops, and I was amazed at the level of new subsid- ence. The footpath has had to move inland, and Farmer Palmer is loosing arable land by the acre. The view out to sea was misty and grey, not at all inviting. We turned right to leave the Paston Way and made our way inland past the Pond Plantation then across a muddy field back to the cars.

TODAYS NUMBERS Total Miles: 6.71. Total Elevation gained: 128 feet. Total Walking Time: 2hrs 34mins. Entire walk: 3hrs 18mins.

NEXT WALK MONDAY 25TH MARCH 2019—10.30am

I fancy a bit of the Coast Path for March walk. It’s one we’ve done before but I think it will suffice. Start at layby outside church in Burnham Deepdale, finish at the Victoria Hotel, Holkham. Bus back to Deepdale so bring your bus passes. Café opposite the layby does a good fry up and excellent coffee. Those that did it last time will remember that we start out across the salt marshes then the dunes and finish off in the belt of trees and Lady Ann’s Drive.

PROBLEMS Ladies and Gentlemen, Please forgive this review as it is late and is in an unfamiliar format—i.e. photo at end and no caption. This was due to my Outlook e-mail account becoming corrupted and I have had to build a new account. I have managed to retain the same e-mail address as you will see and will carry on as usual from now Fingers crossed. Gus.