About Angles Way and points of interest
Angles Way is a 93 mile walking trail following the county boundary of Norfolk and Suffolk, meandering from Great Yarmouth through to Thetford.
View an overview map of Angles Way (PDF) [409KB] or view Angles Way on interactive map.
After Breydon Water (near Great Yarmouth) Angles Way follows the Waveney Valley to the source of the River Waveney, passing through open countryside, broad river valleys, pretty villages and the ancient market towns of Beccles, Bungay, Harleston and Diss.
The route then meets up with the Little Ouse at Knettishall Heath with a striking change in scenery as it winds through the heathland and woodland of the Suffolk Brecks before finishing in Thetford.
In 2003, waterscape.com voted Angles Way the best waterside walk in Britain.
What to see on Angles Way
The 93 mile Angles Way takes in some fantastic scenery, wildlife sites and places of interest, both historical and modern.
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth is full of fantastic places to visit and even has its own heritage quarter.
The town includes museums like Time and Tide Museum of Great Yarmouth Life which is housed in a converted Victorian herring curing works and the Elizabethan House Museum, where you can experience the lives of families who lived in this splendid Quayside house from Tudor to Victorian times.
The town also boasts one of the most complete medieval town walls in the UK.
Breydon Water
Breydon Water is at the mouth of the River Yare and its confluence with the rivers Waveney and Bure.
An RSPB Nature Reserve and the largest protected wetland in the UK, it offers the chance to see a huge range of birds from wildfowl to marsh harriers attracted to an abundant food supply on exposed low tide mud flats. Wooden stumps are visible at low tide: these are an intriguing mix of the remains of revetments, post medieval oyster beds, boat wrecks and possible fish traps.
Burgh Castle
Burgh Castle is an ancient Roman Fort, constructed to hold cavalry as a defence against Saxon raids up the rivers of the east and south coasts of southern Britain and which still gives unparalleled views across the marshes.
The remains of the Roman walls also provide a valuable habitat where mosses, lichens and small flowers thrive. This is particularly important in Norfolk where natural stone outcrops are relatively scarce.
Fritton Lake
Fritton Lake is a country park which offers an opportunity for rest and refreshments.
A secret training facility was located at Fritton Lake during World War Two. British, American, and Canadian units came here to be trained in the use of American made amphibious Sherman tanks ahead of D-Day.
Somerleyton Hall
Somerleyton Hall is a Grade II listed country house, dating from 1604 and featuring a notable garden.
Oulton Broad
Oulton Broad is a large stretch of inland water perfectly suited to a wide variety of water sport activities. Supervised or unsupervised sailing, canoeing, rowing and boating are all offered.
Grab some oars and look out for otters and grey herons as you sidle close to the reed beds.
Carlton Marshes
Carlton Marshes, a Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserve with over 120 acres of grazing marsh, fens and peat pools.
Flower studded marshes drained by a system of dykes and grazed by cattle in summer, creates a paradise for marshland birds.
Water vole may be seen in and around the dykes along with special plants including the rare and protected water soldier.
Beccles
Beccles is a bustling boating centre, but also an ancient market town with historic churches, buildings and shops to be explored.
It was a once a busy Saxon fishing port and even paid its taxes in herrings.
Bath Hills
Bath Hills form a natural sun trap on higher ground where spring flowers bloom earlier than anywhere else in England.
If you time your journey right you may also hear a nightingale sing.
Bungay
Bungay is an Anglo-Saxon town featuring a small market and several antique shops. The centre is officially recognised as a conservation area by English Heritage.
Also at the centre of Bungay are the remains of Roger Bigod's castle, rebuilt in 1294 on the site of previous castles.
The legend of the Black Shuck began in Bungay with the murder of two people at St Mary's Church in 1577.
Flixton Hall
Flixton Hall was built during the reign of Henry VIII.
There is a little known aircraft museum located behind the Buck Inn in Flixton.
Mendham
Alfred Munnings, a celebrated Great War artist was born in Mendham. Just to the south of the village lies the site of a 12th century cluniac priory.
Harleston
Harleston is a Georgian town, straddling the Norfolk/Suffolk border, and offering a wonderful mix of historic buildings, unusual shops, and excellent cafes and restaurants.
Harleston has a well preserved historic centre with over 130 listed buildings.
Billingford Windmill
Built in 1859, Billingford Windmill is a five storey, brick tower mill which has been preserved and restored to working order.
The mill is open to the public on a number of Sundays and Bank Holidays or by arrangement with Norfolk Windmills Trust.
Hoxne
The village of Hoxne gives its name to the Hoxnian inter-glacial period.
The site of a Palaeolithic settlement and it was here that the Hoxne Hoard treasure trove, valued at £2.6m was found in 1992.
Diss
Diss is a busy market town, where many buildings date from the 16th and 17th century.
The small but varied shops offer a huge range of produce and goods.
Diss is built around Diss Mere, a 5½ acre natural lake close to the centre of town.
Redgrave and Lopham
Redgrave and Lopham Fen is the largest remaining river valley fen in England and is the source of the River Waveney.
The fen, a National Nature Reserve, is owned and managed by Suffolk Wildlife Trust. It is grazed Konik ponies and is one of the very few sites where the rare Fen Raft Spider can be found.
The sources of both the River Waveney and Little Ouse are only a short distance from the route.
Thelnetham
Angles Way passes Thelnetham Fen a Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserve.
The nearby Thelnetham Windmill is a Grade II* listed brick mill, dating back to 1819, also known as 'Button Mill'.
Knettishall Heath
Three long distance trails, Angles Way, Peddars Way and Icknield Way meet together at Knettishall Heath,one of Suffolk's largest surviving areas of Breckland Heath.
Barnham Cross Common
Barnham Cross Common on the edge of Thetford is a typical Breckland heath with a number of the rare plants associated with The Brecks such as Spanish Catchfly and Purple-Stemmed Cat's Tail.
Thetford
Thetford is one of the most ancient settlements in Norfolk with a wealth of history and activity dating back to Neolithic times over 4,500 years ago.
Take time to explore the town by visiting one of several town museums such as the 'Ancient House Museum of Thetford Life'.
You could also have a look at the impressive historic earthworks in Castle Park or the Cluniac Priory in Abbeygate, take a stroll along the Little Ouse or River Thet, or simply enjoy the hustle and bustle of the Tuesday or Saturday markets.