Norfolk Bike Tour – Rebellion Way

Itinerary Details

1. Day 1Arrival - Norwich

   You'll begin your Rebellion Way tour in Norwich. With excellent rail connections, Norwich makes for a great starting point and you'll be collected from the station if you choose to travel by train. For those arriving by car, we can provide info on parking if required.
   
   Norwich is a fascinating, historic city, and those choosing to arrive early will have time to visit some of the sights. As well as being the most complete medieval city in the UK there’s a good balance of the modern too and the city centre is quite compact and very pleasant to explore on foot. Accommodation tonight is in Norwich itself, with the evening meal taken at a nearby restaurant or pub.
   
   During the evening as you meet the rest of the group the guides will be on hand to answer any questions you may have and provide a general overview of the next few days of cycling.
   
   

   • Norwich accommodation
2. Day 2Norwich to Thetford

   Today’s ride is a great introduction on what to expect over the next few days both in terms of terrain and scenery. After winding your way out of Norwich, within just a few miles you’ll soon be in rural Norfolk and embracing its beauty. This meandering route glides us through small villages, dotted with thatched or half-timbered houses. Impressive churches and bold manor houses add to the mix on a ride that takes in beautiful back lanes and trackways. It’s an area brimming with historic sites from the Iron Age to the Romano-British period with the church at Caistor St. Edmund particularly impressive.
   
   Diss is delightful and lunch is scheduled here with some time set aside to have a wander around its narrow streets. From here you'll skirt into Suffolk before some lovely sections through open pastures that link the lanes.
   
   The day ends in historic Thetford after your first taste of its famous forest and its fun, well-surfaced tracks.
   

   • 51 miles
   • 1,689.6 ft
     1,689.6 ft
   • Thetford accommodation
   • Breakfast and Lunch
3. Day 3Thetford to King's Lynn

   A little more remote than yesterday, your day today starts with some wooded trails, taking in Grimes Graves and Lynford Arboretum as you make your way through Thetford Forest. Oxborough with its beautiful manor house marks the end of the forest foray.
   
   The ride now takes in the open fields of the Brecklands and pops out at the Georgian town of Swaffham. Here it’s time for a well-deserved coffee before continuing through the Nar Valley to the wonderful Castle Acre. You’ll have lunch here and for those interested, you can take a quick visit to see its impressive priory.
   
   A few pedal strokes on the Peddars Way follow before flint farmhouses and windmills guide us to Bawsey Country Park and its lagoons. Soon after you'll navigate your way along a series of Kings Lynn’s mazy cyclepaths in order to reach its historic riverfront where you'll end today’s ride.
   

   • 56.5 miles
   • 2,066.9 ft
     2,066.9 ft
   • King's Lynn accommodation
   • Breakfast and Lunch
4. Day 4King's Lynn to Wells-next-the-Sea

   A day of deserted backroads and very minimal off-road riding taking in the distinctive rolling landscapes of north Norfolk. With the local cycle paths leading you out of King’s Lynn before you know it, you'll be at the royal holiday home of Sandringham where the Queen regularly spent Christmas. After a short peek at the grounds and the house, you'll head north via the Admirals Way. This section is more undulating (in a Norfolk way) especially around Dersingham and Ingoldsthorpe and you might even have to look for an extra gear or two.
   
   Hunstanton is next and with its colourful beach huts and garish noisy amusements it couldn’t be more of a traditional English seaside town. In stark contrast a short distance away is the beautiful village of Burnham Market. With its posh coffee shops, eateries and boutique shops it’s the perfect place to wander around and where you’ll take lunch. Your afternoon treat is the sumptuous Holkham Hall. Set in wonderful grounds it’s a real highlight of the day, if not the whole route. Following a spot of easy off road at Holkam Pines Nature Reserve you'll arrive at the lovely Wells-next-the-Sea where we end the day.
   

   • 44.1 miles
   • 1,738.8 ft
     1,738.8 ft
   • Wells-next-the-Sea accommodation
   • Breakfast and Lunch
5. Day 5Wells-next-the-Sea to Sheringham

   Your first point of interest today is Norfolk’s Nazareth – Little Walshingham. This quirky village is a place of pilgrimage and is bursting with religious icons, sites and significance. It’s a compact place so a ride around the village won’t take us long, and for those interested a visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of Walshingham is a must. Feeling suitably blessed you'll continue eastwards through Great and Little Snoring, past Gunthorpe Park and Bullfer Grove and Bayfield Brecks to pop out at Holt. It’s a small place and with a few lovely places for a late-morning flat white it would be rude not to indulge.
   
   Post caffeine-hit, the medieval village of Baconsthorpe is soon ticked off before an obligatory photo op at Sheringham Hall. From here it’s just a few miles to Sheringham itself. Hanging on to its traditional seaside-ness it’s a fun place to hang out for the evening and is where you’ll end the ride today.
   

   • 36.7 miles
   • 1,558.4 ft
     1,558.4 ft
   • Sheringham accommodation
   • Breakfast and Lunch
6. Day 6Sheringham to Norwich

   Without doubt today offers up the most diverse section of the Rebellion Way and one that promises to be a great day on the bike. You'll start the day with some great coastal riding up onto Beeston Regis Common before passing by the lovely Felbrigg Hall and the oh so English Aldborough.
   
   Next on the hit-list is Aylsham where you'll join the Bure Valley Path. This well-packed singletrack route runs alongside the Bure Valley Railway between Aylsham and Wroxham and is a fun way to take in a few miles. You might even be lucky enough to have a steam train for company!
   
   In complete contrast to the previous few miles your route from here on in takes in the Norfolk Broads. These waterways are popular with holidaymakers and locals alike but you’ll be skirting the busier areas and taking in Wroxham and Hoveton Great Broads to the viking-named Woodbastwick. This pretty village even has its own brewery so even if you aren’t quite ready to sample its wares, they do export to Norwich!
   
   Edging closer to the end point you'll take in Ranworth, before rolling into Norwich.
   
   Congratulations! You’ve ridden the Rebellion Way. Now time to celebrate your achievements!
   

   • 49.1 miles
   • 1,837.3 ft
     1,837.3 ft
   • Norwich accommodation
   • Breakfast and Lunch
7. Day 7Departure - Norwich

   Following breakfast it’s time to depart. For those travelling by train transportation is offered to the nearby train station. For those extending their stay, Norwich makes for a great place to explore.
   

   • Breakfast