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This isn't 'a walk' as such, it's more a collection of interesting places in North Norfolk. Some are close to each other, but generally they tend to be quite far apart. You could walk between them, but it would take you a while!

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The Outer and Inner Trial Banks were built as part of an expensive, ill-fated engineering endeavour.

According to historical accounts, Babingley is believed to be the very place where St. Felix, who became Apostle to East Anglia, landed in the year 615. The Wuffingas, who were the East Anglian royal family, had invited Felix to evangelize to their kingdom. Aiming, naturally, for the East Anglian capital of Rendlesham, Felix is said to have instead arrived in Babingley after being shipwrecked during a violent storm on the River Babingley.

Wolferton Station is nestled in the picturesque Norfolk countryside, just 5 miles from King’s Lynn on the North Norfolk Coast. But its charm extends far beyond its quaint location.

starling

goldfinch

The Sheraton was built in 1907 by Cook, Welton and Gemmell of Beverley, Yorkshire. She was owned by the Standard Steam Fishing Company of Grimbsy and was commissioned as a deep sea trawler.

An ancient Bronze Age circle that lay hidden for 4,000 years.

Spigot mortar emplacements are relatively common along the North Norfolk Coast.

World War II Spigot Mortar Emplacement #1

The story of the Vicuna, a 330-ton vessel which left Latvik in Norway on 23rd March 1883, bound for her home port of Hull with a cargo of ice. A fierce storm ensued and the Vicuna was shipwrecked here on 7th April the same year. For more information visit https://thewreckoftheweek.com/tag/norfolk/

Here there used to be a WW2 target practice narrow gauge railway. The image attached to this echo shows red, blue and yellow lines mark target tracks for cable-hauled target trolleys. There are five bunkers which were shelters for crews maintaining the targets / trolleys. At the apex of the three lines is a substantial complex that held the winching machinery.

Holme Dune Ranges, WW2 Target Practice Narrow Gauge Railway

World War II Spigot Mortar Emplacement #2

Between 1942 and 1945, Titchwell was used by the Royal Tank Regiment as a firing range. A special concrete road was built to bring tanks onto the site. Shells rained down on the hulks of tanks, while instructors kept score from a watchtower. The tank gunners practised by firing blank shells at targets attached to wire cables pulled across what is now a freshwater marsh and a brackish marsh.

The partially (depending upon the shifting sands) buried, wrecked hulls of two tanks

The remains of the concrete structure half way along the last section of the West bank path are part of a First World War observation post, which was let as holiday accommodation by a Mr Annis up until 1942. It was furnished, and people would sunbathe on the flat roof. When the military moved in during WW2 to use the marsh as the tank firing range, Mr Annis was very reluctant to give up the blockhouse. Apparently, he was persuaded to do so when the Army fired a few high explosive shells into the air.

Two WWI observation posts stand in the dunes on the Brancaster side of the main tidal creek. These were operated as holiday homes by a Mr. Stratton. When this area became a tank firing range during WW2, Mr. Stratton was easily persuaded to move out.

'Titchwell' means 'Young goat spring or stream'.

Ten or more years ago, the Ship Inn at Brancaster, now the Ship Hotel, underwent a refurbishment. During the process, the builders took up some floorboards and discovered some hidden underground passages.

In the gale of 1st September 1833, the Leith Packet ship the Earl of Wemyss’ aground off Brancaster. All crew and the male passengers survived the gale, but the six women and four children on board, all drowned.

Branodunum was an ancient Roman fort that was built around 230 AD and is of a typical rectangular Roman castrum layout. Its Roman name derives from the local Celtic language, and may mean "fort of the raven".

From 1940 to 1944 this site was manned as a radar station to detect aircraft, especially low-flying ones, attacking the country.

Barrow Common, World War II Radar Station

In 1942, when the RAF took over the site from the army, the ‘bedstead’ aerial was replaced by a lattice tower. In this 1946 aerial photograph, four square structures can be seen. These were the concrete footings for the radar mast which was probably about 200ft high. This replacement mast increased the radar's range considerably.

The footings can still be seen today. They're at https://w3w.co/declining.extent.lives, https://w3w.co/priced.jammy.balanced, https://w3w.co/dimension.spent.wage and https://w3w.co/rezoning.tastes.trek.

In this 1946 aerial photographs a small section of zig zag shaped slit trench can be seen. This may have been a defensive feature or possibly a practice trench.

A fire engine racing through the streets during the Blitz.

A briefing for some RAF crews prior to a raid.

The crew of an Avro Lancaster bomber recorded during a raid.

A montage of air-raid sounds, including the air-raid siren, bombing and the 'all-clear'.

Barley, beer and the Brancaster Malthouse. Coal, fish and grain - the history of the quay.

From a Bristol Blenheim L6641, 254 Sqn RAF Bircham Newton, which crashed off Scolt Head Island on January 6th 1940. Netted by local fishermen in 2018.

At Brancaster Beach the shipwreck of the SS Vina can be viewed from the coast. Built in 1894 she spent her working life travelling the Baltic Trade routes before being requisitioned for the war effort in 1940.

WARNING: Each year many people are rescued by the RNLI after crossing to see the SS Vina shipwreck. To get to the wreck you have to cross a tidal sea water channel. People have sadly lost their lives in the past by becoming stranded by an incoming tide. BEWARE OR *DO NOT* GO THERE!

This script used with kind permission of Professor James Stevens Curl - www.jamesstevenscurl.com. It was published in the 'Journal of The Gardens Trust xlv/1 (Summer 2017) 113-4, ISSN 0307-1243', under the title 'Garden History'. The article makes reference to the book 'Holkham: The Social, Architectural and Landscape History of a Great English Country House by Christine Hiskey (Norwich 2016)'.

Wells Harbour is home to the Lucy Lavers, a former lifeboat and Dunkirk veteran that has been restored and is owned by Rescue Wooden Boats. The Lucy Lavers has several chapters in her fascinating life story.

With thanks to Chris Richmond and his grandfather.

The bunker is in very good condition, it is clean and dry. The railings around the main entrance have been re-painted and so has the emergency escape ladder. The door on the WC has been restored and the bunker also features a small sump at the bottom of the main entrance steps, so far this is the only battle HQ to have this feature. There are a few artifacts inside the bunker which are now on display.

The Alan Williams turret is kind of gun emplacement. It was designed so that a Lewis gun could be mounted on it to fire at aircraft or the enemy on the ground. The metal structure of these turrets rarely survive as they often got moved away from their original location. The turrets were mostly used to defend airfields or important structures.

WW2 anti tank cubes and possible road blocks from https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/.

...is here, at a dizzying 105m above sea level! It's well worth a visit as there are beautiful walks through the woods around here.

We create Virtual Tours & Sound Walks for UK heritage organisations such as the National Trust and English Heritage.

North Norfolk Coast History

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The Outer Trial Bank

The Inner Trial Bank

The Village Signs of Babingley

The Royal Station at Wolferton

The Steam Trawler Sheraton

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