The Wherry Inn River and Heritage Walk

Standing on The Street with your back to the Wherry Inn, take the road opposite, Big Row, passing the village hall to the left. As the road bends left, fork right through the gateway into Rowan Marine. Follow the gravel drive ahead towards the marine buildings and, as you draw level, turn left onto the signed grass footpath. Follow the path as it swings right and then left, with the waterway Geldeston Dyke now running immediately to the right. You'll see a huge variety of river boats moored within the green bank marina here. Follow the riverside path for some distance. As you are forced to swing left at a branch in the waterway you are now following the banks of the River Waveney. This river, which is a major river within the Norfolk Broads, marks the boundary between Norfolk and Suffolk. Walking along the northern bank you are in Norfolk, with Suffolk visible on the opposite bank. Some distance in you'll pass by the old Mill Streams boat house and then pass under two sets of power lines running high overhead. Further still (having crossed a makeshift set of steps over a fallen tree), the path swings left away from the river alongside a private property. A few yards in you'll come to a signed junction of paths. Keep straight ahead here and follow the wooden steps uphill. You'll emerge via a staggered barrier to the village road in Dunburgh.

Turn right along the village road taking care of any occasional traffic. Follow the road around two double-bends and then you will pass the impressive flint-faced Manorhouse Farm on the right. Immediately afterwards, turn left onto the signed public footpath, a wide grass track running along the edge of a crop field with a tall hedge to the right. A little way in the path forks, keep right on the narrow path between trees. After a short distance, turn right over the small footbridge and then keep straight ahead along the right hand edge of this next field. You'll emerge out to the road in Gillingham, simply keep straight ahead along the pavement. At the end of the road you'll reach a T-junction, turn left (signed to Norwich). Beyond the houses, where the road bends right towards a junction, fork left onto the gravel path between trees. Continue through the staggered barrier and across the footbridge over the main road, the A146.

At the far side, keep left and follow the gravel path running parallel to the road down to the left. Keep ahead as the stone path becomes a tarmac lane, Church Road, where we will find three of the churches on this trail. First on the right is the Church of Lady of Perpetual Succour, an ornate red brick church topped with twin bell towers and a statue of Mary. Behind the church is Gillingham Hall (more of that in a moment), and this church was built in 1898 by the Kenyon family of Gillingham Hall after they had been received into the Catholic Church. Next along the road you'll see one of the sets of ornate gates belonging to Gillingham Hall. The Grade II listed hall dates from the 1500s with additions made in the 18th and 19th centuries. Sadly the owner of the hall, Baron Ballyedmond (a member of the House of Lords), was killed nearby in a helicopter crash in March 2014. After passing the hall gates you'll come to the next church on the right, St Mary's. This church dates back to the times of the Normans, and some old records suggest that it was built on the site of an earlier Saxon church. Today the church is dormant, with parishioners attending other local churches for their services. Keep ahead alongside the pair of black metal vehicle gates and now to the right you'll see the overgrown remains of All Saints Church. The ruined tower and graveyard is now all that remains of this church which was pulled down in 1748. Being of the 15th century, it is not as old as the adjacent St Mary's, although for many years the two churches shared the same rector. At the top of the lane you'll come to a small war memorial. Keep ahead on the narrow path to the right of this. Cross over the main A143 road with extreme care but do NOT follow the tarmac path to the right. Instead, turn left along the wide grass verge for a few paces and then turn right through the open gateway into the field. (NOTE: this section of the route is missing footpath signs, but don't worry, you are following a designated public footpath.) Keep straight ahead along the wide grass track with open fields to the left and a line of trees to the right. When you reach a wide gap in the hedgeline, dog leg through this (right then left) and keep ahead along the left-hand edge of the next section of field. When the hedge on the left ends, keep straight ahead across the open field heading for the large pylon in the distance. After just a few yards you'll enter the next open section of field. Cross this diagonally right, heading for the edge of the tree/hedge line which is just to the right of the large pylon. (If the crops make this impossible, you could follow the right-hand field edge instead). You will emerge out though a wide grass gap in the hedge to reach Rectory Lane (with a footpath sign, unhelpfully marking only the end of the path!).

Turn left along the lane, taking care of any occasional traffic. Follow it under the power lines and past the large complex of Winston Game Farm on the right. Ignore the first footpath off to the left, instead continue until you draw level with white property, The Old Rectory on the right. Turn left here onto the footpath across a small sleeper bridge, and follow the direction of this sleeper bridge across the crop field. If you've followed the correct line, you should emerge alongside a marker post through a gap in the hedge to reach the main A143 road. Cross over with care and cross the stile directly opposite. Keep ahead through the small belt of trees and you will emerge out to an open grass field within the Geldeston Hall estate. (Note: this field may be holding horses). Cross the field at about 1 o'clock, heading for the old oak trees at the left-hand edge of the woodland. Geldeston Hall is a grey and red brick hall built in 1777. It was home to the Kerrich family until 1930. Today the country estate is used for many equestrian events. As you reach the field corner, bear a little left to follow the footpath with a neatly clipped hedge to the left (and the buildings of Geldeston Hall visible beyond the hedge). After a few paces the hedge ends, simply keep straight ahead under the power lines, passing the telegraph pole to the left. As you reach the entrance drive, turn right along this. Use the gate to the right of the cattle grid to reach the road, with St Michael's Church opposite.

Cross the road and use the kissing gate opposite to enter the church yard. This church dates back to about 1150 and is one of 124 churches in Norfolk with a round tower. Keep ahead through the church yard with the church across to the right. Pass through the next kissing gate and then a single wooden gate to leave the church. Follow the grass path heading steadily downhill. Go through the next kissing gate, follow the path as it swings right and you'll emerge between properties. Bear slightly left to follow the wider stone track passing to the left of the property Farthing Green. You'll emerge to a T-junction with the village road in Geldeston. Turn right along this, passing several pretty cottages along the way. Further along you'll come to the Wherry Inn on the right for some well-deserved hospitality.