Nature reserves and public access sites
These sites have free access at all times, except where stated. They are listed roughly in order from the lower end of the Wensum Valley in Norwich to the upper Wensum Valley near Fakenham. In the future there will be an interactive map of the Wensum Valley to help you locate them.
To reduce traffic and help other people enjoy the Wensum Valley, please reach these sites by foot, bike or public transport if possible. Thank you!
Use these links to skip down the page to a site -
Train Wood, Wensum Local Nature Reserve, Marlpit Wood, Drayton Green Lanes, Gunton Lane Recreation Area, Green Hills, East Hills, Snakeshill Wood, Costessey Common, Costessey Pits, Ringland Hills, Alderford Common, Great Witchingham Fuel Allotments, Whitwell Common, Sparham Pools, Beetley Common, Hoe Rough, Hoe Common, Cathedral Meadows, North Elmhan, Bintree Woods, Gogg’s Meadow, Fakenham, Hempton Marsh, Sculthorpe Moor
National Grid Reference for approximate centre of each site is included next to the site heading.
Train Wood, Norwich (TG 225 097)
This woodland with wildflower-rich grassy glades beside the River Wensum, is only a few minutes walk from the centre of Norwich. Marriott’s Way cycle path runs along one side of the wood and leads to all the places in Norwich described below. The riverside footpath gives good views over the water and access to fishing platforms. Train Wood is reached either from the Barn Road roundabout on the inner ring road, or from Anderson’s Meadow. The
nearby Dolphin Path gives pedestrian access to the Marriott’s Way from Drayton Road and Heigham Street. There is also an entrance to the wood from Barker Street.
Wensum Local Nature Reserve
Wensum Local Nature Reserve, Norwich consists of Mile Cross Marsh and Sycamore Crescent Wood (contact us for a leaflet).
Mile Cross Marsh, Norwich (TG 214 099)
Wet grazing meadow beside River Wensum, valued for its rich diversity of wildflowers. Look for meadowsweet, marsh marigolds and purple loosestrife. Snipe may be seen on the meadow, kingfisher and little grebe on the river. Crossed by unsurfaced footpath (with kissing gates at either end) between Marriott’s Way cycle path and the Riverside Path. Easily reached from Slough Bottom Park, Mile Cross Road or Sycamore Crescent Wood.
Sycamore Crescent Wood, Norwich (TG 209 095)
Large horse chestnut, lime and oak trees create a high canopy beside the River Wensum. Mature specimens of Scots pine and beech at the far (upstream) end of the wood are worth looking for. Bluebells, wood anemones, lilies of the valley and red campion bring colour to the woodland floor in spring. Enter the wood across the Wensum bridge from the Riverside Path, or on the unsurfaced path from the western end of Waterworks Road. Disabled access onto the Wensum bridge and the hard surfaced Riverside Path is possible from the small car park behind the garages off Sycamore Crescent.
Marlpit Wood, Norwich (TG 194 101) 
Pleasant, small woodland of mainly mature trees located on the valley slope. Includes ash, oak, hornbeam, field maple, lime, hawthorn, hazel and sycamore. The old steep-sided marl pit still exists within the wood. Easily reached from the Marriott’s Way (north east corner of wood) plus access points (squeeze stiles) from surrounding housing (Knowland Grove, Winsford Way and Woodhill Rise).
Drayton Green Lanes (TG 188 123)
A steep hillside with mature bee
ch trees adjacent to the River Wensum. Attractive views across the valley, between the beech trees. A wooden stairway and a boardwalk give access to the riverbank. Car park located on Drayton Low Road or walk from Drayton via public footpath running from Drayton High Road opposite number 115.
Gunton Lane Recreation Area, New Costessey (TG 192 109)
Grassland, woodland, ponds, marsh and river access on the site of old gravel workings. A hard surfaced path alongside the River Tud gives easy access for pedestrians and wheelchair users, either from the Marriott’s Way or the Red Bridge Lane car park. This path has kissing gates and locked gates to protect it from illegal use by riders of horses and motor cycles. Visitors using wheelchairs can obtain keys from the Costessey Parish Council office (01603 742 958), which is open Monday mornings, Tuesday all day and Thursday and Friday mornings. Picnic furniture and a shallow ford for paddling make this a popular spot for families (contact us for a leaflet).
Green Hills, Costessey (TG 176 117)
This wooded hill overlooking the Wensum Valley can be reached from Town House Road and Folgate Lane. The sloping hillsides are covered
wit
h sweet chestnuts, sycamores and oaks. Coppiced (cut at ground level) in the past, they now form characteristic multi-stemmed trees. On the flat top of the hill mature pine trees create a different kind of woodland. The soft carpet of pine needles and the lack of any undergrowth emphasise the rotten tree stumps of an earlier deciduous woodland. Sloping paths lead up to a large grassy clearing at the top of the wood.
East Hills, Costessey (TG 175 108)
This valleyside wood has matu
re trees of beech, hornbeam, sweet chestnut, oak and holly. The high-level path, very hilly for Norfolk, challenges the leg muscles, while the flatter low-level path gives views across farmland in the Tud Valley. Entrances on Longwater Lane (opposite Longwater Café) and at the back of the playground on Middleton Crescent / Grove Avenue.
Snakeshill Wood, Costessey (TG160 120)
Steep wooded ridge overlooking Wensum and Tud Valleys. Once part of the Costessey Hall grounds, this mixed woodland now belongs to the Woodland Trust. The many ancient coppiced hazel, sweet chestnut and horse chestnut trees set the character of the wood. In the spring daffodils, wood anemones and bluebells appear in patches. Visitors need to be able to cope with steep slopes and steps. Space for 2 cars only at entrance to wood, but cars may be parked on the approach road, Tower Hill, off West End.
Costessey Common (TG 163 122)
Small wooded area reached on Public Right of Way bridle path from West End. The grassy glade is all that remains of the old cricket ground, used until the 1900s. Catch glimpses of the Wensum floodplain through the trees. No parking space.
Costessey Pits near Taverham (TG 163 130)
Flooded gravel pits used by Anglian Water as a reservoir for Norwich’s water supply. Woodland paths, picnic areas and views over the water. Water skiing and coarse fishing. Off Taverham Lane, good parking. Accessible by foot from Old Costessey along boardwalk adjacent to the road.
Ringland Hills (TG 138 125)
Oak and birch woodland with views across Wensum Valley. Easy walking on the flat top level path or more challenging walking on the steep slopes of the valley side. Access through the woods via public rights of way. Car park on Ringland Road, which runs between Costessey Lane and the A47.
Alderford Common (TG 128 184)
The Nightingale, a summer visitor, sings its beautiful song from the thick scrub that dominates the site. Access is via public footpaths. Car park at north west corner of site.
Great Witchingham Fuel Allotments - also known as Gt Wichingham or Lenwade Common or the Charity Lakes (TG 095 179)
Series of flooded gravel pits adjacent to River Wensum, used for angling but has permissive public access for walking. Mainly hard surface paths. Riverside path may be overgrown in summer. Car park at end of Common Lane, off the A1067 at
Lenwade.
Whitwell Common (TG 085 204)
A mixture of open fen and wet alder woodland on the Blackwater, a tributary of the River Wensum. An interesting range of wetland and ancient woodland indicator plants are found here plus woodland and wetland bird species. A circular permissive path gives access to the southern end of the site. Please note the common is usually extremely wet so wellies are a necessity. Parking available in lay-by near the phone box in Whitwell village. The common can also be viewed from the Marriott’s Way, which cuts across the north of the site, but no access is available from it.
Sparham Pools (TG 075 178)
Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve consisting of a series of flooded gravel pits with woodland, remnant heathland and grassland plus views of the river and wet grazing meadows. A path runs around most of the southern edge of the pools (two squeeze stiles present) and a public footpath runs along the north of the reserve, continuing on all the way to
Lenwade.
Turn south from Norwich - Fakenham Road (A1067) towards Lyng. Car park (follow the Public Footpath sign) on the left at the bottom of the hill, just before the River Wensum bridge. No dogs allowed.
Hoe Common (TF 985 172)
A diverse site with heather patches, acid grassland, dense bracken, gorse and birch-oak woodland. The Common is particularly beautiful in August when the two types of heather (bell heather and ling) display their purple and pink flowers. On sunny days you may be lucky enough to see an adder or common lizard basking on a patch of bare ground. Or look out for the green tiger beetles with their bright turquoise undersides. There is free access all over the Common. Can be entered from northeast or northwest corners, following the public footpath that runs between the B1110 Holt Road (just south of the River Whitewater bridge) and the Worthing Road. Small space for parking on the Worthing Road – please do not block the gates or farm
track.
Part of the Hoe Walk – contact us for a leaflet.
Beetley Common (TF 987 189)
A mixture of woodland and remnant heath with a number of footpaths giving access through the site. Follow track east off B1110 Holt Road, (next to Peacock Farm), to car park.
Beetley
Meadows (TF 979 172)
Meadows and riverside walks adjacent to the River Whitewater, a tributary of the River Wensum. Attractive views across to Hoe Rough on the opposite bank. Pedestrian access from B1146 Fakenham Road, River View and Birch Avenue. Some paths may be muddy in winter.
Hoe Rough (TF 983 170)
Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve consisting of 12 hectares of grassland, ponds and heath adjacent to the River Whitewater, a tributary of the River Wensum. On opposite bank of Whitewater to Beetley Meadows. Often grazed by sheep or cattle. The Rough lies 4km north of East Dereham close to Gressenhall Rural Life Museum. Parking off the B1146 Fakenham road at Beetley, just before you cross the river. No dogs allowed.
Part of the Hoe Walk – contact us for a leaflet.
Cathedral Meadows, North Elmham (TF 991 217)
12 hectares (30 acres) of restored grazing pasture and wildlfower meadow with good views of the Wensum Valley landscape. Pedestrian access through the grounds of the ruins of the Saxon Cathedral, off the B1110. Parking near the village sign, just north of the church.
Bintree Woods (TG 004 220)
Large conifer plantation belonging to the Forestry Commission. Limited parking along northern boundary or walk from Billingford using public right of way.
Gogg’s Meadow, Fakenham (TF914 297)
Marshy meadows with wetland wildlflowers and pond.
Hempton Common, (TF 913 288)
Open area of grassland, heath, ponds, wetland and oak woodland, crossed by many Public Rights of Way.
Hempton Marsh, near Fakenham (TF 912 297)
Norfolk Ornithologists Association reserve with wet grazing meadows, wader scrape, woodland, and riverside habitats. Access for NOA members only.
Sculthorpe Moor (TF 900 300)
The first Hawk & Owl Trust Nature
Reserve. This is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, consisting of reedbed, valley fen, alder carr and woodland with a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna. Situated in the Upper Wensum Valley 2.5km (1 mile) west of
Fakenham, just south of the A148. Open for free public access every day
except Mondays (the reserve is open however on Bank Holiday Mondays) ; April to Sept, 8am – 6pm and Oct to March, 8am – 4pm.
Site facilities include interpretation board in Braille and ‘access for all’
boardwalk. See the Sculthorpe
Moor website for more details.