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Home> Walks> England> Norfolk> Ludham and the Broads

Ludham and the Broads

Recommended by
Our view
"Enjoy the windmill-studded skyline in this lovely stroll to the River Ant."
Walk directions

Leave the car park and the busy marina and walk up Horsefen Road, going the same way that you came in to park.

Turn left at the end of Horsefen Road, walking along the footpath that runs inside a hedge next to the road. When you see the King's Arms ahead, turn right up the road towards 'Catfield'. After a few paces turn left onto School Road. Houses soon give way to countryside. Take the permissive path on the right of a hedge next to the road. Go straight across the next junction, following the sign for How Hill.
View all directions
Location
Nearest postcode:
Additional information
  Terrain  - Quiet country lanes and grassy footpaths
  Landscape  - Reed-fringed broad and gently rolling agricultural land
  Dog friendliness  - Not permitted in nature reserve; on lead through farmland
  Parking  - Womack Staithe in Horsefen Road, Ludham
  Toilets en route  - At Womack Staithe
Walks in Norfolk Family friendly walks in Norfolk
About the walk
No visit to Norfolk would be complete without a trip to the Broads National Park. This is a patchwork of interlinked streams, lakes and channels that wind sluggishly over the flat land to the east of Norwich. Three major rivers – the Bure, Waveney and Yare – supply most of the water to the meres,...
Read more
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Walking in Safety

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About the area
The North Norfolk Coast is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and probably the finest of its kind in Europe. Here you’ll find a string of quaint villages and small towns – Holkham, Wells-next-the-Sea and Cley next the Sea are 21st-century favourites, while Sheringham and Cromer are classic examples of a good old-fashioned seaside resort where grand Victorian hotels look out to sea.
Explore Norfolk
Area image

Nearby places to stay

View all (8)
Self-Catering
The River House
★★★★
award
"The charming outdoor areas benefit from a unique riverside setting...."
  • Total units: 1
  • Private garden
  • Lawn area
  • Garden furniture
Self-Catering
Sunray
★★★★★
award
"Beautiful riverside location on the River Thurne...."
  • Total units: 1
Self-Catering
Wenlock
 Quality Assessed
awardaward
"..."
Nearby places to stay
The River House
The River House is a charming riverside cottage at Potter Heigham on the Norfolk Broads. The comfortable two-storey, three bedroom, holiday let/rental home is set on the banks of the Ri...
★★★★    Rating
Sunray
Sunray is a recently renovated property ideally situated overlooking the River Thurne. It has a large private frontage with its own mooring, decking and a pizza oven. The property featu...
★★★★★    Rating
Wenlock
Wenlock is a Courtyard cottage, fully refurbished in 2025. It's all on the ground floor with open plan lounge, kitchen and diner. It has one bedroom, sleeping 2 guests, with a zip and l...
Quality Assessed
Clippesby Hall
Set in peaceful woodlands and gardens in the Norfolk Broads National Park, Clippesby Hall is a family-run holiday park with self-catering options. Choose from a range of properties runn...
Awaiting assessment
Braemar
Braemar is a Courtyard cottage, fully refurbished in 2025. It's all on the ground floor with open plan lounge, kitchen and diner. It has one bedroom, sleeping 2 guests, with a zip and l...
Quality Assessed
Pine Lodge 2
Awaiting description...
Quality Assessed
Clippesby Hall
Clippesby Hall is a lovely country house estate with secluded pitches hidden among the trees or in sheltered sunny glades – guests can expect spacious pitches and good privacy. The toil...
★★★★★    Rating
The Kings Arms Fleggburgh & Norfolk Garden Rooms
The Kings Arms is ideally situated in the village of Fleggburgh just a few miles from Great Yarmouth and well placed for touring the Norfolk Broads. The 19th-century, red-brick country ...
★★★★    Rating
View all (8)
Places to eat nearby View all
The Kings Arms
   AA Rosette Award
The Kings Arms
The Ingham Swan
   AA Rosette Award
The Boathouse
Places to eat nearby
The Kings Arms
   AA Rosette Award
The Kings Arms
The Ingham Swan
   AA Rosette Award
The Boathouse
The Restaurant & Waterside Terrace at Hotel Wroxham
   AA Rosette Award
Kings Head Blofield
   AA Rosette Award
Norfolk Mead Hotel
   AA Rosette Award
Shambles Cafe Bar Bistro
   AA Rosette Award
View all
Route details
2hrs
Family-friendly
Difficulty:
Medium

Gradient:
Flat


Distance:
5 miles (8kms)

Ascent:
33ft (10m)

Stay in the area  
Eat or drink nearby  
Discover more walks in Norfolk
If you like this walk, you can try more routes in the area.
Find more walks in Norfolk

Ludham and the Broads

Recommended by
Our view
"Enjoy the windmill-studded skyline in this lovely stroll to the River Ant."
Walk details
2hrs
Family friendly
Difficulty:
Medium
Gradient:
Flat
Distance:
5 miles (8kms)
Ascent:
33ft (10m)
Walk directions

Leave the car park and the busy marina and walk up Horsefen Road, going the same way that you came in to park.
1 of 6

Turn left at the end of Horsefen Road, walking along the footpath that runs inside a hedge next to the road. When you see the King's Arms ahead, turn right up the road towards 'Catfield'. After a few paces turn left onto School Road. Houses soon give way to countryside. Take the permissive path on the right of a hedge next to the road. Go straight across the next junction, following the sign for How Hill.
2 of 6

Turn right along a lane signposted 'How Hill'. The lane winds and twists, and is fairly narrow, which makes for pleasant walking. You will soon reach How Hill House, a sail-less windmill and How Hill nature reserve. There are marked trails through the reserve, if you feel like a pleasant diversion. When you have finished, continue down How Hill Road. Pass Grove Farm Gallery and Studio on your right, and look for a red-brick barn followed by a lane, also on your right.
3 of 6

Turn right down Wateringpiece Lane. Pass the modern water tower on your left and walk past some fields. Look for the public footpath crossing the road. Go left along the bridleway that runs along the edge of a field until it ends at a lane.
4 of 6

Turn right on Catfield Road and walk along the verge on the right, where there is a footpath. This road can be busy in the summer, when thousands of visitors flock to Ludham and How Hill. Ignore the lane on your left, heading to Potter Heigham, and continue walking ahead until you reach a crossroads by Ludham Methodist Church.
5 of 6

Go straight across, walking a few paces until you reach the next junction with Ludham Church ahead of you. Turn left along Yarmouth Road, then right into Horsefen Road. This will take you back to the car park.
6 of 6
Location
Starting point
Nearest postcode:
Additional information
  Terrain - Quiet country lanes and grassy footpaths
  Landscape - Reed-fringed broad and gently rolling agricultural land
  Dog friendliness - Not permitted in nature reserve; on lead through farmland
  Parking - Womack Staithe in Horsefen Road, Ludham
  Toilets en route - At Womack Staithe
Walks in Norfolk Family friendly walks in Norfolk
About the walk
No visit to Norfolk would be complete without a trip to the Broads National Park. This is a patchwork of interlinked streams, lakes and channels that wind sluggishly over the flat land to the east of Norwich. Three major rivers – the Bure, Waveney and Yare – supply most of the water to the meres,...
Read more
Been on this walk placeholder

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more
Walking in Safety placeholder

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more
Get an AA guide placeholder

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more
About the area
Area image
Norfolk
The North Norfolk Coast is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and probably the finest of its kind in Europe. Here you’ll find a string of quaint villages and small towns – Holkham, Wells-next-the-Sea and Cley next the Sea are 21st-century favourites, while Sheringham and Cromer are classic examples of a good old-fashioned seaside resort where grand Victorian hotels look out to sea.
Explore Norfolk

Nearby places to stay

View all (8)
Self-Catering
The River House
★★★★
award
"The charming outdoor areas benefit from a unique riverside setting...."
  • Total units: 1
  • Private garden
  • Lawn area
  • Garden furniture
Self-Catering
Sunray
★★★★★
award
"Beautiful riverside location on the River Thurne...."
  • Total units: 1
Self-Catering
Wenlock
 Quality Assessed
awardaward
"..."
Nearby places to stay
The River House
The River House is a charming riverside cottage at Potter Heigham on the Norfolk Broads. The comfortable two-storey, three bedroom, holiday let/rental home is set on the banks of the Ri...
★★★★    Rating
Sunray
Sunray is a recently renovated property ideally situated overlooking the River Thurne. It has a large private frontage with its own mooring, decking and a pizza oven. The property featu...
★★★★★    Rating
Wenlock
Wenlock is a Courtyard cottage, fully refurbished in 2025. It's all on the ground floor with open plan lounge, kitchen and diner. It has one bedroom, sleeping 2 guests, with a zip and l...
Quality Assessed
Clippesby Hall
Set in peaceful woodlands and gardens in the Norfolk Broads National Park, Clippesby Hall is a family-run holiday park with self-catering options. Choose from a range of properties runn...
Awaiting assessment
Braemar
Braemar is a Courtyard cottage, fully refurbished in 2025. It's all on the ground floor with open plan lounge, kitchen and diner. It has one bedroom, sleeping 2 guests, with a zip and l...
Quality Assessed
Pine Lodge 2
Awaiting description...
Quality Assessed
Clippesby Hall
Clippesby Hall is a lovely country house estate with secluded pitches hidden among the trees or in sheltered sunny glades – guests can expect spacious pitches and good privacy. The toil...
★★★★★    Rating
The Kings Arms Fleggburgh & Norfolk Garden Rooms
The Kings Arms is ideally situated in the village of Fleggburgh just a few miles from Great Yarmouth and well placed for touring the Norfolk Broads. The 19th-century, red-brick country ...
★★★★    Rating
View all (8)
Places to eat nearby View all
The Kings Arms
   AA Rosette Award
The Kings Arms
The Ingham Swan
   AA Rosette Award
The Boathouse
Places to eat nearby
The Kings Arms
   AA Rosette Award
The Kings Arms
The Ingham Swan
   AA Rosette Award
The Boathouse
The Restaurant & Waterside Terrace at Hotel Wroxham
   AA Rosette Award
Kings Head Blofield
   AA Rosette Award
Norfolk Mead Hotel
   AA Rosette Award
Shambles Cafe Bar Bistro
   AA Rosette Award
View all
Stay in the area  
Eat or drink nearby