Norfolk Walk: Tyrrel’s Wood, Shelton And Hardwick

TYRREL'S WOOD, SHELTON AND HARDWICK

Start: Tyrrel's Wood Car Park

Map: Explorer 230 G/R TM 205893

Distance: 6.5 miles

Public Transport: This walk is not on a convenient bus route

Timetables: 0871 2002233, www.travelineeastanglia.co.uk

This walk, suggested by Tony Smith, uses part of the recently upgraded Boudica's Way long distance path that runs between Diss and Norwich.

The walk starts at Tyrrel's Wood, now under the ownership of the Woodland Trust, which was largely planted out in the 1830s. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and was severely damaged during the 1987 Great Storm, but it is now recovering. There are some 300 oak trees here.

The route then goes round Wood Green, a registered common that retains commoners' rights to graze cattle, goats, pigs and poultry.

A visit is made to St Mary's Church, Shelton. The present, mainly brick, church was built in 1499 though the flint tower is possibly part of an earlier building. Stained glass windows at the east end show connections to the Anne Boleyn family. Later, the walk passes St Margaret's Church in Hardwick with its ruined tower and well-preserved rood screen.

Refreshments are available from Goodies Farm Shop in Wood Lane near the start.

? From the car park, go through the gate by the Woodland Trust notice board and down the wide path in Tyrrel's Wood. On reaching a fork keep left and follow this path to a Boudica's Way marker. Go over the plank bridge and again take the left fork, still following the Boudica's Way markers. Shortly after finishing the boardwalk, and at a seat on the right, go left at another Boudica's Way sign. And then at the next junction keep left (another sign).

? Leave the wood onto a nice grassy path (though there were a few muddy spots along there). On meeting a lane at a corner go rightwards keeping in the same direction as before. Then, just past Wood Green Farm on the right, look for a fingerpost (in the hedge on the left) and turn right across the common. Then go through a gap in some bushes and continue beside the green with cottages on the right. Just before the cottage at the end of the green, turn left along the side of the green soon with a tennis court on the right.

? With a pond with bulrushes on the left, also an interesting wildlife plaque on a post, turn right onto a signed path (Boudica's Way) and continue on the field edge path, ignoring a path across the field on the left. With paddocks on the left, and just before Mayfield Farm, turn right across the field: (this path was not signed on the post, nor reinstated at the time of the walk). Cross the field making for an outer hedge corner and then go through a gap to a field edge path and turn left (there was a sign here).

? Follow the path to a lane and cross to the signed path opposite. Go into the trees on an enclosed path then, when the path forks, go right up onto a field edge path and turn leftwards along it with a ditch on the left. Just before a tree, go left to the other side of the ditch and rightwards beside it, continuing in the same direction. At a crossing path, turn right across a plank bridge. The path (which had just been ploughed and so was not reinstated) goes ahead across the field then turns left when it is almost level with the church. Go into the churchyard and pass to the right-hand side of Shelton Church.

? Leave the churchyard by the gate to the road and turn left. Go past the school and then turn right over a stile into a field. Continue to a ramblers' gate opposite, then across a plank bridge and along the field edge path. At a wide opening into fields on the right continue over a stile into the next field and make for the far left corner to reach the stile and marker post. Cross the stile and a plank bridge and continue to the lane. Turn right and follow the lane round a left bend and past a stained glass company. Then turn right into Primrose Lane. Go left and right round bends, then keep right at the junction.

? After a few metres, turn right into a wide path. Go over a plank bridge and rightwards round the field edge. Continue to the corner of the field eventually between the chicken runs and the edge of the field. Turn left behind the runs, between them and a hedge, then go right in front of the house to a crossing track. Turn left along a metalled lane to a road at a junction. Go ahead into Hardwick Village.

? Go past the church and, just after the end of the wall on the right and before the red letterbox, turn right through a fancy metal gate beside a house (opposite Red House Farm): the path is not signed. Continue ahead between a horse paddock and a hedge and on across the field to a lane. Cross to a signed path opposite; go slightly rightwards across the field to a marker post in the hedge opposite. Once again, the field had just been ploughed and the path not reinstated.

? Go through an area left for wildlife and then through the hedge to the next field. Continue ahead to a point about a hundred metres right of a house (Morningthorpe Farm). At the lane turn left past the farm and continue ahead at the junction (signed to the Pulhams). At the crossroads, turn right into Wood Lane and back to the car park on the right-hand side.

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.

? For more information about the Ramblers' Association call 01508 538654 or visit: www.ramblers.org.uk