Is the Peddars Way suitable for beginners?

Yes — but it’s important to be honest. While technically straightforward, the route is remote in places and includes long days. It’s ideal for beginners who want a real first adventure rather than a gentle stroll.

How long does it take to walk the Peddars Way?

Most people complete the route in 3 to 5 days, depending on fitness and how stages are structured. Breaking it into shorter days makes it more manageable.

Yes. Some sections pass through very quiet countryside with no shops for several miles, particularly on the first day. Carrying water and food is essential — and part of the adventure.

Where does the Peddars Way start and finish?

The trail starts at Knettishall Heath near the Suffolk–Norfolk border and finishes at Holme-next-the-Sea on the North Norfolk coast.

Do I need to book accommodation in advance?

Strongly recommended. Villages along the route are small, and accommodation is limited. Booking ahead — independently or with light support — removes stress and allows you to focus on the walk.

You Don’t Need to Be “a Walker”

You Just Need to Start Walking — Why the Peddars Way Is the Perfect First Long-Distance Adventure

There’s a moment that comes to many people — often quietly — when everyday life starts to feel too small.

Not dramatic.
Not broken.
Just… contained.

The same routes. The same weekends. The same short walks that end back where they started.

And then the thought appears:

What if I actually went somewhere? On foot. Properly.

Not as a hardened hiker.
Not as an ultra-distance athlete.
Just as someone who wants to feel movement, progression, and the quiet satisfaction of arriving somewhere because you walked there.

That’s where the Peddars Way begins.

An Ancient Route, a Modern First Step

The Peddars Way is one of England’s oldest long-distance paths, running roughly 46 miles from Knettishall Heath in the Brecks to the North Sea at Holme-next-the-Sea, where it meets the Norfolk Coast Path.

It’s ancient, understated, and — crucially — achievable.

This is not a dramatic mountain trail or a technical expedition.
But it is a real journey.

And that’s why it works so well as a first long-distance adventure.

Day One: Leaving the Ordinary Behind

The route officially begins at Knettishall Heath, a wide, open nature reserve of heathland, pines, and quiet paths near the Suffolk–Norfolk border.

There’s no ceremony.
No crowds.
No grand start line.

Just a path heading north.

The first day is the hardest — and that’s important to say honestly.

The walk from Knettishall Heath to Great Cressingham is around 16 miles, passing through woodland, muddy tracks, farmland, and long, quiet stretches with no shops, cafés, or distractions.

It asks something of you.

You have to carry what you need.
You have to keep going when your legs are tired.
You have to trust that the village at the end of the day really is there.

And when you arrive — you realize something quietly powerful:

If I can do this day, I can do the rest.

A Trail That Grows Gentler as You Go

From that first demanding day, the Peddars Way begins to soften — without losing its sense of purpose.

The route passes through Castle Acre, one of the most atmospheric villages in Norfolk, where the trail leads you past the remains of a Norman castle and priory. It feels timeless, almost unreal, as if you’ve stepped into another century.

Further on, villages like Great Massingham offer calm green spaces, traditional inns, and a sense of being welcomed rather than rushed through.

There’s a rhythm to the days now:

Walk.
Arrive.
Rest.
Repeat.

You begin to understand the route rather than just follow it.

Arrival: The Sea Feels Earned

The final approach to Holme-next-the-Sea is one of quiet triumph.

The land flattens. The sky opens. The air changes.

And then, suddenly, you’re at the edge of the country — standing at the North Sea, where the Peddars Way ends and the Norfolk Coast Path begins.

You didn’t just go for a walk.
You travelled.

From inland heath to open coast.
From uncertainty to confidence.
From thinking about doing it to having done it.

Why the Peddars Way Works for First-Timers

This route doesn’t require you to already be “a walker”.

It asks something else:

Curiosity
Willingness to be uncomfortable at times
A desire to move forward, not just out and back

It’s remote enough to feel like an adventure — but not extreme.
Challenging enough to feel meaningful — but not punishing.
Structured enough to be achievable — but open enough to feel free.

For many people, it becomes the moment they realise:

I can do journeys like this.

Support, If You Want It

Some people walk the Peddars Way entirely independently.
Others choose to book light support — accommodation arranged, bags moved ahead, local knowledge quietly handled in the background.

There’s no right way to do a first long-distance walk.

What matters is starting.

A First Adventure That Leads Somewhere

The Peddars Way doesn’t shout.
It doesn’t sell itself as extreme.
It simply offers a line through the landscape — and the chance to follow it.

And sometimes, that’s all an adventure needs to be.