Walking the Peddars Way
Great Massingham became an important stop during our exploration of the Peddars Way.
While researching the route and developing what would eventually become the Peddars Way Complete Journey, we spent time walking sections of the trail, exploring villages along the route, and looking for places that reflected the character of the landscape itself. Great Massingham was one of those places.
Arriving after a day on the trail, the village immediately felt connected to the slower pace that defines much of the Peddars Way. Set around a large village green with ponds, mature trees, flint cottages, and traditional village businesses, it offered a very different atmosphere from the larger towns found elsewhere in Norfolk.
Our stay was at The Dabbling Duck, a well-known inn on the edge of the green. The building combines the character of a traditional village pub with comfortable accommodation, making it a natural fit for travellers exploring the area on foot.
That evening, the bar and restaurant were busy with a mixture of locals and visitors. Conversations drifted across the room, food arrived steadily from the kitchen, and there was a sense that the inn remained an important part of village life rather than simply a place to stay.
Our room was located in the garden behind the main building, providing a quiet place to rest after a day on the trail. Comfortable accommodation, a good meal, and a peaceful night's sleep are often overlooked parts of a long-distance journey, yet they can have a significant impact on the overall experience of a route.
The following morning, we continued north along the Peddars Way towards Holme-next-the-Sea, where the trail eventually reaches the Norfolk coast and joins the Norfolk Coast Path. Leaving Great Massingham behind, the route once again returned to open countryside, villages, and the landscapes that define this part of Norfolk.
Looking back, Great Massingham became more than simply a stop on the trail.
It helped shape our understanding of the route itself.
The Peddars Way is not only about the distance between start and finish. It is also about the places encountered along the way, the villages that provide a welcome pause, and the people and businesses that remain part of the landscape through which the trail passes.
For us, Great Massingham was one of those places.