周辺のスポット/アトラクション・トップ20

Sparham Pools is a wetland nature reserve in a former gravel quarry. The chalk streams that feed the ponds are clear and clean and the area is now rich in wildlife. Look out for a variety of duck species, including Shoveler, Gadwall, Pochard, and Tufted duck, as well as the less common Goldeneye and Goosander.

A walk along Wensum Way offers a delightful experience filled with beautiful scenery, diverse wildlife, and charming views. Here are some highlights you can expect: 1. **Picturesque Landscapes**: The Wensum Way winds through varied landscapes, including woodlands, meadows, and riverside paths, providing picturesque views of the Norfolk countryside. 2. **Rich Wildlife**: As you stroll along the path, you'll have the opportunity to spot a variety of wildlife, such as deer, hares, otters, and a wide range of bird species. 3. **Tranquil Rivers**: The walk follows the River Wensum, offering peaceful riverside views and the soothing sounds of flowing water. 4. **Historic Sites**: Along the way, you'll encounter historic sites, including medieval churches, old mills, and charming villages, providing insight into the region's rich history and culture. 5. **Relaxation and Exercise**: The Wensum Way offers a relaxing and enjoyable walk, allowing you to connect with nature while engaging in physical activity.

2024 closed for conservation but can be viewed.

Closed for restoration work as of Aug/Sept 2023, but you can still view from the car park. Baconsthorpe Castle is a moated and fortified 15th century manor house, that are a testament to the rise and fall of a prominent Norfolk family, the Heydons. Over 200 years, successive generations of this ambitious family built, then enlarged, and finally abandoned this castle. Sir John Heydon probably built the strong inner gatehouse during the turbulent Wars of the Roses period, and his son Sir Henry, whose memorial can be seen in Baconsthorpe Church, completed the fortified house. In more peaceful times, their descendants converted part of the property into a textile factory, and then added the turreted Elizabethan outer gateway, inhabited until 1920 (https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/baconsthorpe-castle/)

One doesn't see many castles being built these days, but this one is well under way.

As of 9th May 2023, parts of Marriotts Way north of Drayton are a total mudbath and only suitable for MTBs. The surface coming into Norwich is worn out and bumpy but at least dry.

Journeying between Aylsham and Norwich, Marriott's Way is a traffic free trail for hikers and cyclists. It follows the routes of two disused railway lines for 26 miles (42 km). The route makes an intriguing curve, known as the Themelthorpe Loop, around Reepham which can be made into a circular hike of around six miles (10 km). This was said to be the sharpest railway bend in the UK and was created to join the two railway lines. For more information see the guidebook https://www.marriottsway.info/assets/marriotts-downloads/guides/Marriotts-Way-Guide-Book.pdf

Here lies the ruins of the 15th century fortied Baconsthorpe Castle, complete with moat, which was once home to the Heydon family. Part of the property was converted for use as a textile factory, while the later addition of the turreted gatehouse was lived in until the 1920s. The site is managed by English Heritage: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/baconsthorpe-castle/