"Walk in the footsteps of the Icenian queen as you explore the land around a Roman fortress."
Walk directions
The first part of the walk follows the marked circular trail around Venta Icenorum, so go through the gate next to the notice board at the car park. The trail is marked by red and white circles. Climb a flight of steps, then go down six to reach the huge bank that protected the town, with a deep ditch to your left. Now head west, towards the River Tas.
Turn right by the bench, past fragments of old walls, then right again when you reach a longer section of wall, still following the trail markers. Go through a gate, then walk along the side of the bank with more wall to your right. Go up the steps, then descend again to the ditch on the eastern edge of the town. Go past St Edmund's Church and when you reach the car park, go through it. Cross the road, go through the gate opposite, then turn right, keeping to the broad sward between the edge of the field and the road. You are now on the Boudicca Way.
Just after the brick cottages take the tiny unmarked lane to your left, still keeping to the permissive path sward beside the road until the top of the hill. Continue straight past the next junction and keep walking until you pass Whiteford Hall.
Turn left onto Valley Farm Lane. After the farm, look for the footpath sign with Boudicca Way marker to your right. Take this and keep to your right, along the side of a hedge. Jig right, then immediately left, and keep walking until you reach a paved lane. Turn left and then look for another footpath with a sign pointing to your right.
Take the footpath, and follow the markers down a hill and up the other side. It's important to keep to the footpaths here, because there are plenty of signs indicating private property. At the top of the field, take the left-hand path through the woods, continuing to follow the yellow markers for the Boudicca Way.
At a four-way junction, go right across a field, still on the Boudicca Way. Continue around a chalk quarry until you see a gate to the right. Follow the path straight across the field. Turn left onto Arminghall Lane.
At the T-junction, go left using the gravel path and the verges. Descend a hill into the village of Caistor St Edmund, and follow signs for the Roman town, passing 17th-century Caistor Hall to your left. You can avoid the last short stretch of road by going through the churchyard once more back into the car park.
When the Romans invaded Britain, they built arrow-straight roads, established well-run, prosperous towns and developed industries like tile-making, salt production and potteries. But not all the local tribes were pleased to be part of the Roman Empire. Rebel queen One rebel was Boudicca, who had... been married to King Prasutagus of the Iceni. The trouble started when Prasutagus died in AD 60. He was barely cold in his grave before the Roman procurator's men arrived to grab property and money, and troops appeared to impose military law. One Roman insulted Boudicca, who responded with anger, and in retaliation was flogged and her daughters raped. News of this outrage spread like wildfire throughout East Anglia and the revolt was born. Her headquarters are said to have been at or near Venta Icenorum at Caistor. Contemporary accounts tell us that Boudicca was tall, with fierce eyes and a strident voice. She had a mane of tawny hair that tumbled to her waist and she wore a striking multicoloured tunic, a gold neck torc and a cloak held by a brooch. Female rulers were not unknown to the Iceni and they quickly rallied to her fiery speeches of rebellion and revenge. Other tribes joined the throng as Boudicca's army moved against the Romans, carrying huge shields and wearing their best battle gear. Retaliation From Venta Icenorum to Colchester they marched, probably using the recently completed Roman road. The army grew until it was 100,000 strong, all angry and determined to exact revenge on their hated oppressors. Meanwhile, Colchester was wholly unprepared for the attack, because the civilians had been assured there was nothing to worry about – they had well-trained Roman soldiers to defend them. But as soon as the garrison spotted the enormous, vengeful throng, they abandoned their posts and fled for safety inside the temple of Claudius. The civilians were left to fend for themselves. A massacre followed of the most shocking magnitude. No one was spared and as many as 20,000 were killed. The wooden town was burned to the ground and the stone temple fell two days later. Boudicca then moved on to London and St Albans, where the bloodshed continued. The Roman general Suetonius marched to meet her and the two forces met near St Albans. Suetonius' well-trained military machine was outnumbered by the Britons, but reports say that the Romans destroyed 80,000 of the larger force – an appalling number of dead for any battle. Boudicca probably poisoned herself after the defeat, but her legend lives on. This walk takes you through the lands she once ruled, some of it along the 36-mile (58km) footpath named in her honour.
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.
"Walk in the footsteps of the Icenian queen as you explore the land around a Roman fortress."
Walk details
3hrs
Difficulty:
Hard
Gradient:
Challenging
Distance:
6.25 miles (10.1kms)
Ascent:
279ft (85m)
Walk directions
The first part of the walk follows the marked circular trail around Venta Icenorum, so go through the gate next to the notice board at the car park. The trail is marked by red and white circles. Climb a flight of steps, then go down six to reach the huge bank that protected the town, with a deep ditch to your left. Now head west, towards the River Tas.
1 of 7
Turn right by the bench, past fragments of old walls, then right again when you reach a longer section of wall, still following the trail markers. Go through a gate, then walk along the side of the bank with more wall to your right. Go up the steps, then descend again to the ditch on the eastern edge of the town. Go past St Edmund's Church and when you reach the car park, go through it. Cross the road, go through the gate opposite, then turn right, keeping to the broad sward between the edge of the field and the road. You are now on the Boudicca Way.
2 of 7
Just after the brick cottages take the tiny unmarked lane to your left, still keeping to the permissive path sward beside the road until the top of the hill. Continue straight past the next junction and keep walking until you pass Whiteford Hall.
3 of 7
Turn left onto Valley Farm Lane. After the farm, look for the footpath sign with Boudicca Way marker to your right. Take this and keep to your right, along the side of a hedge. Jig right, then immediately left, and keep walking until you reach a paved lane. Turn left and then look for another footpath with a sign pointing to your right.
4 of 7
Take the footpath, and follow the markers down a hill and up the other side. It's important to keep to the footpaths here, because there are plenty of signs indicating private property. At the top of the field, take the left-hand path through the woods, continuing to follow the yellow markers for the Boudicca Way.
5 of 7
At a four-way junction, go right across a field, still on the Boudicca Way. Continue around a chalk quarry until you see a gate to the right. Follow the path straight across the field. Turn left onto Arminghall Lane.
6 of 7
At the T-junction, go left using the gravel path and the verges. Descend a hill into the village of Caistor St Edmund, and follow signs for the Roman town, passing 17th-century Caistor Hall to your left. You can avoid the last short stretch of road by going through the churchyard once more back into the car park.
When the Romans invaded Britain, they built arrow-straight roads, established well-run, prosperous towns and developed industries like tile-making, salt production and potteries. But not all the local tribes were pleased to be part of the Roman Empire. Rebel queen One rebel was Boudicca, who had... been married to King Prasutagus of the Iceni. The trouble started when Prasutagus died in AD 60. He was barely cold in his grave before the Roman procurator's men arrived to grab property and money, and troops appeared to impose military law. One Roman insulted Boudicca, who responded with anger, and in retaliation was flogged and her daughters raped. News of this outrage spread like wildfire throughout East Anglia and the revolt was born. Her headquarters are said to have been at or near Venta Icenorum at Caistor. Contemporary accounts tell us that Boudicca was tall, with fierce eyes and a strident voice. She had a mane of tawny hair that tumbled to her waist and she wore a striking multicoloured tunic, a gold neck torc and a cloak held by a brooch. Female rulers were not unknown to the Iceni and they quickly rallied to her fiery speeches of rebellion and revenge. Other tribes joined the throng as Boudicca's army moved against the Romans, carrying huge shields and wearing their best battle gear. Retaliation From Venta Icenorum to Colchester they marched, probably using the recently completed Roman road. The army grew until it was 100,000 strong, all angry and determined to exact revenge on their hated oppressors. Meanwhile, Colchester was wholly unprepared for the attack, because the civilians had been assured there was nothing to worry about – they had well-trained Roman soldiers to defend them. But as soon as the garrison spotted the enormous, vengeful throng, they abandoned their posts and fled for safety inside the temple of Claudius. The civilians were left to fend for themselves. A massacre followed of the most shocking magnitude. No one was spared and as many as 20,000 were killed. The wooden town was burned to the ground and the stone temple fell two days later. Boudicca then moved on to London and St Albans, where the bloodshed continued. The Roman general Suetonius marched to meet her and the two forces met near St Albans. Suetonius' well-trained military machine was outnumbered by the Britons, but reports say that the Romans destroyed 80,000 of the larger force – an appalling number of dead for any battle. Boudicca probably poisoned herself after the defeat, but her legend lives on. This walk takes you through the lands she once ruled, some of it along the 36-mile (58km) footpath named in her honour.
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.
