Which Norfolk Walking Holiday Should I Choose?

If you know you'd like a walking holiday in Norfolk but aren't quite sure which trail to choose, the good news is that the main long-distance walks are surprisingly different from one another.

• The Norfolk Coast Path is all about the coast, wildlife and villages.
• The Peddars Way is much quieter and more rural. 
• The Weavers Way gives you perhaps the greatest variety of Norfolk landscapes,
• The Walsingham Way is a shorter journey with a very definite destination.

And if you can't decide between countryside and coast, you can combine the Peddars Way with the Norfolk Coast Path.

I've walked all the routes we offer at Norfolk Walking Holidays, and I wouldn't say that one is better than another.  They're all unique in their own way so it really comes down to the sort of walking holiday you're looking for.

If you’re looking for…	I would consider…
Coast, wildlife and coastal villages	Norfolk Coast Path
Quiet countryside and a more remote feel	Peddars Way
A longer walk combining countryside and coast	Peddars Way & Norfolk Coast Path
The greatest variety of Norfolk landscapes	Weavers Way
A shorter trail with a real sense of destination	Walsingham Way

For a first walking holiday in Norfolk, the Norfolk Coast Path is likely to be the route most people consider.

And for good reason.

Starting at Hunstanton, you're soon walking through the salt marshes, creeks and wide-open landscapes of the North Norfolk coast. There are beaches, nature reserves, harbours and some of our best-known coastal villages and towns along the way.

It's also a good choice if you like a bit of life around you when you're walking. Depending on your itinerary, places such as Burnham Market, Wells-next-the-Sea, Blakeney, Sheringham and Cromer give you opportunities to stop during the day.

That doesn't mean the whole route is busy. There are some wonderfully empty stretches. But compared with Peddars Way, you generally feel more connected to the places you're walking through.

I'd choose the Norfolk Coast Path if: the coast is one of the main reasons you're coming to Norfolk, you enjoy wildlife and you'd like plenty of interest along the way.

Norfolk Coast Path walking holidays

If this one appeals, you might also find my guide to How Many Days Do You Need to Walk the Norfolk Coast Path? useful.

The Peddars Way has a completely different feel.

It starts at Knettishall Heath and heads north through the Norfolk countryside, eventually reaching the sea at Holme-next-the-Sea.

There are woodland sections, green lanes, tracks, open farmland and some very quiet stretches where you may see few other walkers if you’re lucky!

Castle Acre makes a particularly good contrast along the way with its priory ruin, but much of the pleasure of Peddars Way comes from its simplicity. You're following an old route northwards through rural Norfolk towards the coast.

And when you eventually reach the sea, you really do feel that you've arrived somewhere.

Peddars Way is worth considering carefully if you enjoy quiet walking. On the other hand, if you like lots of cafés, shops and places to stop during your walking day, I'd probably steer you towards the Coast Path instead.

I'd choose Peddars Way if: peace and quiet are high on your list and you're happy spending longer stretches walking through open countryside.

Peddars Way walking holidays

There's no need to choose between inland Norfolk and the coast if you have enough time to walk both.

Peddars Way meets the Norfolk Coast Path at Holme-next-the-Sea, so the two routes make a natural longer-distance walking holiday.

I particularly like the contrast.

You start among the tracks, woodland and farmland of inland Norfolk and gradually work your way north. Then you reach the sea and the whole character of the walk changes as you turn east and follow the coast.

It's a much bigger undertaking than either of the shorter holidays, but that's also the appeal. If you like completing a substantial journey on foot, this gives you a real sense of travelling through Norfolk rather than simply walking one part of it.

I'd choose the combined route if: you've got the time, enjoy consecutive days of walking and want a longer journey with plenty of variety.

Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path walking holidays

The Weavers Way is probably the hardest of these walks to sum up in a single photograph.

Starting at Cromer and finishing at Great Yarmouth, it takes you through several very different Norfolk landscapes.

There's countryside, woodland and parkland around places such as Felbrigg and Blickling, old railway sections and rural villages. Further along, the landscape changes again as the route reaches the rivers and wide-open scenery of the Norfolk Broads.

It's very different from spending several days following the coastline.

One practical consideration is that there are sections where you can encounter cattle. If you really don't like walking through fields with cattle, that's something I'd take into account when choosing your route.

I'd choose Weavers Way if: you enjoy a changing landscape and want to discover more of inland Norfolk and the Broads rather than concentrating on the coast.

Weavers Way walking holidays

The Walsingham Way is the shortest of these long-distance routes, running for approximately 37 miles from Norwich to Little Walsingham.

It's a modern pilgrimage route, but you certainly don't need to be religious to walk it.

For me, part of its appeal is having Walsingham waiting for you at the end. There's a purpose to the direction you're travelling, following a route towards a place that pilgrims have journeyed to for centuries.  It is possible to continue from Walsingham up to the coast at Wells.

The walk takes you through quiet Norfolk countryside, villages, churches and river valleys and feels quite different from both the Coast Path and Weavers Way.

Its shorter overall distance also makes it an interesting option if you'd like the satisfaction of completing a long-distance trail without committing to a week or more of walking.

I'd choose Walsingham Way if: you want a shorter and quieter Norfolk walking holiday and like the idea of walking towards a definite destination.

The Walsingham Way walking holidays

Which Norfolk walk is best for a first walking holiday?

If you've never taken a multi-day walking holiday before, I wouldn't necessarily choose the shortest route or the one that looks easiest on paper.

I'd think first about what will keep you interested.

• If you love the coast, the Norfolk Coast Path is an excellent first choice because there's so much variety and plenty to see along the way.
• If you actively seek out quieter places and don't need a café or village every few miles, Peddars Way might suit you much better.

The other thing to look at is daily mileage. A route that appeals to you with sensible daily distances is usually a better choice than picking another trail simply because you think it will be easier.

Your First Long-Distance Walking Holiday: What to Expect

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

Ready to have a look at the walks?

You can see all our Norfolk walking holidays, including the different itineraries and daily distances available for each route.

And if you're torn between two walks, please do get in touch. Tell me what sort of walking you normally do and what you're looking for from the holiday, and I'll happily point you in the right direction.

Explore Our Walking Holidays

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