An ancient Roman route through Norfolk, shaped by quiet countryside and open skies
The Peddars Way follows the remarkably straight line of a Roman road laid nearly two thousand years ago, crossing the quiet interior of East Anglia from the sandy heathland of Suffolk to the North Sea coast in Norfolk. At just under fifty miles, it offers a gentle introduction to long-distance walking, shaped by lowland landscapes, open skies, and a steady, unhurried rhythm.
Walking the Peddars Way is less about challenge and more about continuity. The terrain is forgiving, the route clear, and the landscape unfolds gradually rather than dramatically. Heathland paths give way to pine forests, open farmland, and wide village greens, creating a sense of calm progression rather than constant variation. It is a trail that encourages attention to small details — light across fields, the texture of the track underfoot, the long perspective of the Roman road stretching ahead.
Villages along the route feel naturally spaced, offering pauses rather than destinations. Places like Great Cressingham, Castle Acre, and Great Massingham sit slightly aside from the modern world, shaped by agriculture, history, and local life rather than tourism. These settlements provide quiet places to stop, rest, and reflect, reinforcing the trail’s unforced, human scale.
As the route approaches the coast, the landscape opens further. The air changes, the horizon widens, and the sense of inland enclosure gives way to saltmarsh, dunes, and the distant sound of the sea. At Holme-next-the-Sea, the Peddars Way meets the Norfolk Coast Path — a natural conclusion, or an invitation to continue walking along the edge of land and water.
For many walkers, the appeal of the Peddars Way lies in its simplicity. It is a route that allows time to adjust to the idea of multi-day walking, to find a rhythm, and to understand how landscapes connect when experienced slowly, on foot.
Trail Overview
Distance
Approximately 46 miles / 74 km
Typical time on foot
3–5 days
Start
Knettishall Heath, Suffolk
Finish
Holme-next-the-Sea, Norfolk
Terrain
Heathland paths, forest tracks, farmland, and quiet village lanes
