So writes Christopher Somerville in his article “My 20 all-time favourite UK walks” recently featured in the Sunday Times.
The walk starts at National Trust Blickling Hall, Norfolk which, with its pepper-pot turrets, curly Dutch gables and huge central clock lies in beautiful north Norfolk countryside. Stroll the parkland trails and on through the squelching woodland of Moorgate Carrs, nibbling blackberries from laden hedges. Returning through Great Wood, detour to view the strange pyramid mausoleum of the 2nd Earl of Buckinghamshire.
Map OS Explorer 252
Start National Trust car park, Blickling Hall, Aylsham, Norfolk NR11 6NF (OS ref TG 176286)
Getting there: Blickling Hall is on B1354 Saxthorpe road, signed from Aylsham (A140 Norwich-Cromer) Walk 100m down Blickling Hall drive, right through hedge. Right of Courtyard Bookshop; half right to map board; follow way-marked Estate Walk (blue arrows). At top of lake (179295), left; in 150m fork right (orange arrows). In 400m, right (174295, ‘public footpath’) to cross road at Moorgate (174300), then River Bure (175301). North to road at Fring Wood (174308). Left; in 700m, right (167308) past White House Farm to The Rookery (152309). Left/south for ½ mile to road opposite Orchard Farm (154299). Left (east, then southeast) for 1 mile via Woodgate car park (161299 — pass 5-bar gate) to detour left (165292) to mausoleum (166295) and back to track to Blickling.
Lunch: Buckinghamshire Arms, Blickling NR11 6NF (01263 732133, bucksarms.co.uk)
Info: National Trust Blickling Estate
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