Start by the King's Head on the village green in New Buckenham. The timber structure opposite you is the Market House, or Market Cross, which dates back to the 16th century and was raised on columnar legs in 1754. William d'Albini established a market here to attract local traders and farmers, and the tolls they paid were used to finance his new castle. Walk along Queen Street, then turn right along King Street, which becomes Castle Hill Road. When the road bends left, take the footpath to your right beside the old castle chapel, once used as a barn and now a dwelling.

Keep left to follow the path around the edge of the castle moat. Access to the ruins may be possible on a grassy bridge across the moat, but the gate is usually kept locked. After making a half-circuit, take the straight path that joins from the left and follow this towards the tower of St Martin’s Church ahead. This soon switches fields to follow a hedgerow to the right before emerging on Cuffer Lane.

Cross the road to enter the long, narrow cemetery in front of you and walk through it, keeping the lane on your left-hand side. When you reach the last of the graves, pass through the gap in the hedgerow to emerge back onto Cuffer Lane. Turn right, past the village allotments, and continue walking in the same direction until you reach a sign for Harlingwood Lane.

Stay on this road as it bends right, becoming Folly Lane, for just over 0.75 miles (1.2km).

At the T-junction, turn right, then take the next right-hand turn down a surfaced track. Continue through a metal gate to enter New Buckenham Common nature reserve, an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) managed by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust. Go through another gate to continue along a narrow lane. You can sometimes see waterfowl on Spittle Mere in the scrubby meadow to your left. The water table is often high here, making the land very boggy and unsuitable for arable farming. However, it is an ideal habitat for water-loving bog plants and you will see marsh mallows, rushes and many other wetland wild flowers in season.

When you see a cricket pitch on your right-hand side, you are nearing the village again. Pass a children's playground, also on your right, and an information board on your left, to reach another T-junction. Turn right on the street, signed 'Norwich Road', and enter the village. After a few paces, the road forks. Take the right-hand lane, past Crawford's and Corner Cottage, until you reach the green where the walk began.