What to expect Along the way

Explore the steep hills of the Ridge to This cycle ride explores the Cromer Ridge, an Explore More Rides enjoy great views from Beacon Hill, the highest undulating landscape characterised by wooded point in . Leave the coast and take time humps and hollows which are the remnants left Explore the hilly landscape around out amidst quiet leafy lanes to wind your way behind after the ice retreated after last ice-age, Cromer and including the through flint village, pass isolated farmsteads and some 10,000 years ago. The ride explores through the beautiful woodland of Felbrigg Park sunken lanes and tracks linking small flint villages highest point in Norfolk. and Roman Camp. and settlements as well as through the beautiful parkland surrounding . This 12 mile route is quite challenging due to the hilly nature of the countryside. It takes Felbrigg Hall is a stunning Jacobean manor house

approximately 3 hours to complete. If you wish to with a later wing built in the 17th century; the extend the ride to the highest point in Norfolk, it striking differences between the two building becomes a 14 mile route. stages show the changes in architectural style before and after the Civil War. Approximately 20% of this ride is off-road on a mix of surfaces varying from easy tarmac estate tracks The beautiful park surrounding the hall gradually to more challenging byways along farm tracks with developed from a medieval deer park into the compacted rough surfaces which include areas of landscaped park seen today, designed by grass, loose stones, soft sand, compacted stones Humphrey Repton. The hall and park are owned and vehicle ruts. by the National Trust.

Getting started Cycle hire: A list of cycle hirers can be found in the cycling section of the Norfolk Coast AONB website which includes electric bike hire. Always contact prior to traveling. Train services: Cromer is on the hourly to service. Bus services: Cromer can be reached from many Norfolk towns by different bus services. Visit the Traveline website for details of all bus and train services to Cromer or telephone 0871 200 22 33.

Part of this route is along the Norfolk Coast The ride passes two interesting historic round Cycleway Sustrans Regional Cycle Route 30. Visit tower churches, All Saints Church in Gresham and the Sustrans website for more information. St John the Baptist’s Church in .

Version: Nov/2016 5 At the next T-junction, To visit Beacon Hill, continue up the hill from the leave the cycle route and church to the main road. Cross the A148 Holt cross the road onto the Road with care beside the Roman Camp Inn onto restricted byway opposite. Camp Lane opposite; this country lane is one- way This is part of Weavers only. Way. After a short The ride . . . Turn left at the T-junction onto Sandy Lane. distance of farm vehicle 1 From the Tourist Information Centre, turn left track, the majority of this 9 Turn left at the National Trust sign for West into Meadow Road, pass the car park and playing byway is a wide grassy path, and Heath. This vehicle field and turn left at the end onto Hall Road. Pass ending in a vehicle entrance for farm and domestic track leads to a car park, information panel and Cromer Hall on the right and the entrance to vehicles. clearing in the woods with seats overlooking the Cromer Zoo Park on the left. coast from the highest point in Norfolk. After a 6 Turn right at the end and cycle through rest and chance to admire the view, return to Just after going under the railway bridge, turn right Lower Gresham. Bear left at the T-junction Sandy Lane and turn right. at the fork and cycle up to the main road. Look out signposted to . Turn right just after for blue waymarks showing that you are on Gresham Village School onto Church Lane and Stay on Sandy Lane as it becomes Tower Lane, Sustrans Regional Cycle Route 30. pass All Saints Church, a Saxon Round Tower another one-way road. Pass the water tower and 2 Cross the road with care into the grounds Church. continue to the T-junction with the A148 Holt Road. of Felbrigg Hall and follow the signs for Cycle Turn left at the end beside the historic cross, Route 30 through the park, initially on a track signposted to Aylmerton, 1 mile. Cycle through 10 Turn left, then immediately right signposted shared with cars reaching the car park. This off- Aylmerton, pausing to visit St John the Baptist ‘By road to ’. (To avoid cycling on the road section is an easy tarmac track with 6 cattle Church. main road, cross the road and push your cycle grids. The grids are difficult to cross with a cycle; across the grass verge opposite). use adjacent gates. 7 On reaching , turn right onto the farm track signposted ‘By road’ and follow this Cycle down this lovely sunken road through the farm track for 1.4 miles. After a short section of wood called Lions Mouth and turn left at Sexton’s 3 Explore More tip loose stones and sand up the hill, it levels out and Lodge into Felbrigg Park. You can lock up your cycle in the car park and becomes a compacted farm track; you might wish explore the park on foot. Felbrigg Hall is owned to get off and push at the end to avoid deep If you do not wish to go to Beacon Hill, after by the National Trust and the park is open year vehicle ruts. visiting Aylmerton Church, cycle back down the hill round, dawn to dusk. Opening hours for the Hall, Turn left at the end beside the historic cross, for a short distance and turn left onto The Street, café and bookshop and gardens can be found on then left at the corner back onto Hall Lane. Return the Felbrigg Hall website. signposted to Aylmerton, 1 mile. Cycle through Aylmerton, pausing to visit St John the Baptist to Felbrigg Park by turning right at Sexton’s Church. Lodge. 4 Turn left out of Fellbrigg Park beside For both options, from Sexton’s Gate (point 4 on Sexton’s Lodge onto Hall Lane. Bear left at the the map), retrace your steps through Felbrigg Park give way sign onto Park Road, still on Cycle Route 8 Explore More tip and follow the Regional Cycle Route 30 signs 30. Having come this far, why not continue a little back to Cromer. further and cycle to Beacon Hill, the highest point in Norfolk? It will add approximately two miles to your ride and provide a great location for a picnic.

Explore More Rides Explore the hilly landscape around Cromer and Felbrigg including the highest point in Norfolk.

Unfamiliar with the area then the Explorer series map Norfolk Coast Central number 251 covers this area.

Key to map Cromer via Felbrigg Hall Off road routes

Share the space The Explore More Rides offer a mix of off-road, quiet lanes and other roads for cycling along a network of bridleways and byways. The off-road routes are also used by farm vehicles, so please Local public transport and cycle take care at all times when following these routes. hire In wet weather, off-road paths become muddy and therefore more challenging if cycling — be Cycle hire: A list of cycle hirers can be found prepared to occasionally walk some sections! in the cycling section of the Norfolk Coast AONB website which includes electric bike hire. Always When using off-road routes please remember contact prior to traveling.  Be prepared to slow down and stop for other Train services: Cromer is on the hourly users including walkers, horses, farm traffic Norwich to Sheringham Bittern Line service. or other vehicles. Bus services: Cromer can be reached from  Keep to an appropriate speed for the type of many Norfolk towns by different bus services. track and amount of other users. Visit the Traveline website for details of all bus  Slow down at junctions and bends. and train services to Cromer or telephone 0871 Courtesy 200 22 33. Part of this route is along the Norfolk Coast  When you approach walkers, horse riders Cycleway Sustrans Regional and other cyclists from behind, remember Cycle Route 30. Visit the that cycles can be silent. Use your a bell or Sustrans website for more call out to warn of your approach and please information. pass others sensibly whether on road, path or track.

The Norfolk Coast area of outstanding natural Refreshments beauty (AONB) is one of 42 AONBs In addition to many refreshment opportunities in in and Wales, which together Cromer, the ride passes the café at Fellbrigg Hall, with 13 national parks comprise our finest both on the way out and on the way back and the landscapes, rich in wildlife and cultural Roman Camp Inn beside the Holt Road in heritage. Aylmerton approximately half way round. The Norfolk Coast Partnership is funded by If you decide to cycle into to have a Defra and local authorities to bring local paddle in the sea, refreshments opportunities organisations together to conserve and include The Village Inn or Clementines Café on enhance the area’s natural beauty and Cromer Road and the Beach Café beside the promote its sustainable use beach at the end of Water Lane. and enjoyment Prior check of business opening times advised.

Published by Norfolk Coast Partnership — www.norfolkcoastaonb.org.uk