This walk starts begins from the car park at Bure Park in Great Yarmouth, and offers two options — either a six mile loop or a three mile extension to Mautby Church.

GREAT YARMOUTH AND MAUTBY

Start: Bure Park, Great Yarmouth – off Caister Road (A149)

Map: Explorer OL40 G/R 523102

Distance: 6 miles or 9 miles

Public Transport: There are regular buses from the centre of Great Yarmouth

Timetables: 0871 2002233, travelineeastanglia.co.uk

This walk from Richard and Sally Parker starts from the car park at Bure Park near the Pitch and Putt course. There are two options for the walk, either a six mile loop or a three mile extension to Mautby Church.

The walk follows the bank of the River Bure and then crosses Mautby Marsh before heading through farmlands back to the river.

The three mile extension passes Mautby Decoy and visits St Peter and St Paul's Church, Mautby. This, the friendliest of churches, is well worth a look round, with the offer of a hot drink for a small donation. There are no other refreshments on the route.

t Walk to the back of the car park and cross the dyke via the dirt bridge into the meadow. Turn diagonally right and head for the red lifebuoy by the side of the lake. Continue along the edge of the lake and head towards the steps over the defence wall. Climb the steps to the track and turn right. After a short walk, the track ends and becomes a footpath. Continue straight ahead down the dip and up the other side to cross the stile. Follow the river bank, with the river on the left, continuing past a Second World War pill box. At the footpath junction, with the return path off to the right, keep ahead along the river bank as the river winds its way towards Ashtree Farm Drainage Mill on the far bank.

t Nearing Three Mile House, pass through the gate and follow the path to the right towards the far end of the house and then left round the cut and down the steps where the letters 'LOVE' have been cut into the grass with a mower. Apparently, this word can be seen from space on Google Earth. Follow the path between this mown word and the river, then pass through a gate and continue to follow the riverside path opposite Ashtree Farm.

t At this point the path veers right away from the river bank and a marsh with reed beds separates the path from the river. Continue along the path on top of the bank as it meanders towards Mautby Marsh Farm and Drainage Mill. Go through the gate and, just beyond the stables, turn right down the slope towards the concrete track. Take this track, heading away from the river and across the marshes. Follow the track to a junction of ways where the two walks separate.

t For The Longer Walk: Take the marked footpath to the left, and walk past derelict buildings and a caravan on the left. Continue down the path, cross the bridge, pass the stile and continue to a farm track. Turn right and pass the bungalow and old barn on the left. As the track emerges at the bend of Mautby Lane, continue straight ahead. Pass Mautby Decoy on the left and follow the lane to a junction. Keep left and pass the red phone box. Follow the lane left and right past Barn and Osier Farms, then past Waters Farm and Mautby Broilers Farm. Follow the lane round a left bend to Mautby Church.

t After visiting the church turn left back towards Mautby Broilers Farm. At the bend in the lane, continue into the footpath ahead. Follow this path alongside the field edge to Mautby Lodge. Pass through the gate and keep ahead beside the drive to reach Hall Road. Continue ahead and, at the left bend in the road, keep ahead into the footpath. Follow the path to the field corner then diagonally right across the next field. Head towards the marker post where the path turns rightwards towards a low building.

t At the track by the building, turn left. Then, after 100m, turn right at a marker post. Follow the meandering path to a lane. Turn right and then quickly go round a left bend along Back Lane to its end. Where it turns into a track, take the signed path to the left. Go past West Farm to Clink Hill. Turn right and follow the track to a bend with a gate and stile and keep ahead as a path joins from the right.

t For The Shorter Walk: Ignore the marked footpath to the left and continue to the next bend, where the footpath turns to the right, then left and follows the ditch and field edge. Pass by the bridleway sign to the left and continue until there is a ditch end on the right. Cross the dirt bridge and follow the ditch on the left as it turns to the left. A few metres later the path turns to the right.

t The path continues in a near straight line, passing over a small bridge with a sliding bar stile, until it crosses a track. Cross a bridge with two more sliding bar stiles. Turn right to the gate and then left. Continue ahead until the path emerges at another track. Turn right here and follow this track to the second bend, where the footpath goes off to the left. Follow the path beside the ditch to reach a concrete track by a gate and stile, and bear right along the track.

t Both walks: Follow the track to its end. Then follow the footpath that goes between an avenue of trees to the river bank. Turn left and follow the riverbank back to the stile. Just after the stile, turn left into the meadow and head back towards the car park.

JOIN THE RAMBLERS

The Ramblers is Britain's walking charity which has been working to encourage more people to take up walking and to safeguard footpaths and the countryside for 75 years.

Whether you're an old hand or a complete beginner, the organisation can help you get the best out of walking through its network of local groups.

The Norwich Group has been established for more than 35 years and was the first group in the Norfolk Area of the Ramblers Association. Non-members are welcome to join all walks in national festivals and some special events and programmes. Most regular walks are intended for Ramblers members, but you are welcome to attend two or three walks on a try-out basis.

t For more information about the Ramblers' Association call 01508 538654 or visit: www.ramblers.org.uk