Advice for Planning Your Norfolk Walking Holiday

Planning a walking holiday isn't just about choosing where you'd like to walk.

How far you want to walk each day, the time of year, what you'll need to bring and even the type of path you're walking on can all make a difference to your holiday.

I've walked all the Norfolk trails that we offer and have been organising walking holidays here for many years, so this section brings together the practical advice I give to walkers like yourself when you’re deciding what will work best for you.

Whether you're planning your first long-distance walk or have already completed quite a few, I hope you'll find something useful here.

Choosing the right walk

Norfolk has some wonderfully different long-distance trails, and choosing between them isn't always as obvious as it might seem.

The Norfolk Coast Path gives you salt marshes, beaches, nature reserves and coastal villages, while the Peddars Way takes you through much quieter inland countryside. The Weavers Way is different again, eventually taking you into the Norfolk Broads, and the Walsingham Way offers a shorter journey through rural Norfolk towards Little Walsingham.

Which Norfolk long-distance walking holiday should I choose?

If you're not quite sure which trail is for you, start here. I've compared the different walks by the type of walking and scenery you can expect rather than simply their mileage.

Read more here on Which Norfolk Long-Distance Walking Holiday Should I Choose?

You can also see an overview of all the routes we offer on our Long Distance Walks in Norfolk page.

Advice for each of Norfolk's long-distance trails

Each of Norfolk's long-distance trails has its own character, and there are practical differences between them too. The daily distances, terrain, places to stop and the amount of time you'll need all vary depending on which route you choose.

I've put together more detailed advice for each of the walks below.

Norfolk Coast Path

If you're thinking about walking the Norfolk Coast Path, two of the first decisions are how far you want to walk and how many days to allow.

How Many Days Do You Need to Walk the Norfolk Coast Path?

How Difficult is the Norfolk Coast Path?

Peddars Way, Weaver's Way and Walsingham Way

I'll also be adding practical advice about our other Norfolk trails. In the meantime, you can compare all four in Which Norfolk Long-Distance Walking Holiday Should I Choose? or find route details on our Long Distance Walks in Norfolk here.

Getting the daily distance right

One of the things I think matters most when planning a walking holiday is choosing a daily distance that you're actually going to enjoy.

There's a temptation to look at the number of miles you can walk and plan your holiday around that. But walking ten or twelve miles once is quite different from doing it for several days in a row, as you may well know!

How far should I walk each day on a walking holiday?

A practical guide to choosing your daily mileage, including what to think about if this is your first multi-day walk.

How Far Should You Walk Each Day on a Walking Holiday?

Before your walking holiday

Once you've chosen your route, there are all the practical things to think about.

Fortunately, you don't need an enormous amount of specialist equipment to walk in Norfolk, but there are a few things worth getting right.

When is the best time for a walking holiday in Norfolk?

Spring, summer and autumn can all be excellent times to walk here, but there are differences worth knowing about before choosing your dates.

Best Time for a Walking Holiday in Norfolk

What should I pack?

What you'll actually need for several days walking in Norfolk – and a few things you can probably leave at home.

What to Pack for a Walking Holiday in Norfolk

New to long-distance walking?

Please don't be put off by the words "long-distance".

A long-distance trail doesn't mean you have to walk enormous distances every day. The route is divided into manageable daily sections, and the whole point of a self-guided holiday is that you can walk at your own pace.

Your first long-distance walking holiday

If you've never taken a multi-day walking holiday before, I'll explain what to expect, how the days tend to work and some of the things it's useful to know before you set off.

Your First Long-Distance Walking Holiday: What to Expect

How does a self-guided walking holiday work?

Your accommodation is arranged, your luggage is moved between overnight stops and you follow the route independently during the day.

Here's a more detailed look at what happens before and during one of our self-guided walking holidays.

How Does a Self-Guided Walking Holiday Work?

A little advice from experience

There are things you learn from a guidebook and there are things you only really learn after walking the routes yourself and organising holidays for other people.

Over the years I've discovered that seemingly small decisions, such as an extra couple of miles, where you stay overnight or simply allowing enough time for lunch, can make quite a difference to a walking holiday.

Ready to choose your walk?

If you're still at the stage of deciding where you'd like to walk, have a look at our Long Distance Walks in Norfolk. 

You'll find walking holidays on the:

• Norfolk Coast Path
• Peddars Way
• Peddars Way & Norfolk Coast Path
• Weavers Way
• Walsingham Way

And if you're not sure which route or daily distance would suit you, you're always welcome to get in touch. Sometimes it's much easier to talk through the options than try to work everything out from a mileage chart.

---

Copyright © norfolkwalkingholidays.com; 2014 –