norfolk cycling off road

[steveoo]

Hi all taking the family down to Broadland (just outside Ludham) for a few days at the weekend anyone know of any off road routes down there,day rides if possible all the ones i can find are on road and i'd like to take the kids on some
cheers

 

[Motozulu]

Steve - I would have thought Norfolk must be the worst MTB country in Europe - along with Holland.

Bound to be some canals about though.

 

[steveoo]

Yea I know the wife booked the trip to catch up with her relatives.so my requirements were ignored.
I think I will just cycle on grass verges

 

[Motozulu]

Being the old Fenlands there must be hundreds of canals about to pootle along - you might be lucky enough to find a few tree roots too.

 

[Cubist]

Thetford?

 

[mrandmrspoves]

Being the old Fenlands there must be hundreds of canals about to pootle along - you might be lucky enough to find a few tree roots too.

We don't have canals in Norfolk! (Well there used to be one at Dilham - but it's been dry for years)
Also Fenland really covers Cambridgeshire rather than Norfolk (although the tip of North West Norfolk is in Fenland.....the drainage system in the Fens are called Drains and they often smell like them too!

 

[Motozulu]

We don't have canals in Norfolk! (Well there used to be one at Dilham - but it's been dry for years)
Also Fenland really covers Cambridgeshire rather than Norfolk (although the tip of North West Norfolk is in Fenland.....the drainage system in the Fens are called Drains and they often smell like them too!

Showing my rubbish geography there then - I just assumed having once been wet they used canals to dry it - as you have probably guessed by now it's a part of the world I have'nt visited much - ho hum Looks like grass verges it is then

 

[mrandmrspoves]

Hi all taking the family down to Broadland (just outside Ludham) for a few days at the weekend anyone know of any off road routes down there,day rides if possible all the ones i can find are on road and i'd like to take the kids on some
cheers

Hi,
Your best bet is probably the 18 mile cycle track that runs through the Bure Valley between Aylsham and Wroxham - or better still The Marriott's Way - 26 miles from Reepham to Norwich along the old railway track. This takes you close to the centre of Norwich so can be combined with a trip into the "Fine City" (Park your car in the wrong place and you will soon see why it describes itself as a fine city!)

You can find more details for both in a simple Google search.
Last time I cycled Marriott's Way there was a diversion in place along country roads at one point due to badgers having dug up the path!)
If you want more adventurous off road - High Lodge near Thetford will give you a good day's forest cycling. The Black Route is about 10 miles long and has a few challenging (by Norfolk standards) sections - but can be managed by most intermediate cyclists on fairly basic bikes.... but for younger families there are red, blue and green routes too.

 

[mrandmrspoves]

For some info :http://www.norfolkbroadscycling.co.uk/

 

[steveoo]

Cheers guys i've done the burr valley ride before a bit boring but hey at least i'am out and about and the kids will like it.
Carnt be bothered driving anywhere when iam down there after the trip down so will just take things as they come sneak out early doors on my own i think and tour around.

 

[fenlandpsychocyclist]

My favourite route from wisbech to kings lynn isn't along the A47 on a road bike (13 miles) ... its down to outwell, along the middle level
drain to the great ouse, then along the ouse to lynn. 18.5 miles at 6mph average speed if the grass is long.

 

[mrandmrspoves]

My favourite route from wisbech to kings lynn isn't along the A47 on a road bike (13 miles) ... its down to outwell, along the middle level
drain to the great ouse, then along the ouse to lynn. 18.5 miles at 6mph average speed if the grass is long.

Well why would you rush to get to King's Lynn anyway?

 

[LCpl Boiled Egg]

Well why would you rush to get to King's Lynn anyway?

Van Pelt sausages.

 

[mrandmrspoves]

Van Pelt sausages.

Yes they are rather good (other sausage manufacturers are also available!)........and we do have one of the finest market places in the country! The best thing I can say about King's Lynn is .......it's not Runcorn!

 

[fenlandpsychocyclist]

Yes they are rather good (other sausage manufacturers are also available!)........and we do have one of the finest market places in the country! The best thing I can say about King's Lynn is .......it's not Runcorn!

And Kings Lynn has the River Great Ouse running through it, which happens to have its own "Bore wave" at certain times of the year.
(Like the one on the River Severn).
It moves at 6-8mph if you fancy chasing it from kings lynn to stowbridge on a mountain bike (i have).
Also its being featured on BBC East Inside out in a week or two, when the presenter (David Whiteley) attempts to surf it.