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Where to Ride: Breckland - Road
Route Map (MapMyRide.com link)
Most people visiting the Brecks for cycling will probably not look beyond Thetford Forest. However, an offering of quiet country lanes, unique rural charm and a sprinkling of attractive market towns await those that do take to the road by bike.
Our 57 mile ride started from the train station in Thetford, an historical market town in Norfolk that was once an important medieval religious centre. From here we headed north out of the town on Sustrans National Route (NR) 13 towards the village of Croxton.
Within less than five minutes urban life had been left behind as Michael and I started to get a feel for the Brecks' unique environment. Flint, which was mined in the area over 5,000 years ago at sites such as Grime's Graves, clearly had a huge influence on the architectural make-up of villages such as Croxton, especially its church. In fact Norfolk has 659 medieval churches, the highest concentration in the world, most of which are made from flint.
Heading north-east we climbed gradually through the trees to the edge of an area of significant national importance. Stanford Training Area (which is not accessible to the public) is approximately 120 square km and is used by the military for training. Known locally as the Battle Area it was established by evacuating several villages towards the end of the WWII and was somewhat ironically used for the filming of several episodes of Dad's Army. In 2009 a mock-up Afghanistan village was created in the training area at a cost of £14m.
We continued on NR13 towards East Wreatham along a stretch of road with a view that typifies Breckland country: open heathland silhouetted by trees. According to the Breckland Society the word 'breck' was used to describe temporary fields, which were 'broken' from the heath and allowed to revert once the soil was exhausted. One of the uses of the land was rabbit farming and place names such as Tottington Warren remind us of this important period in Breckland history.
The route then joins the A1075 where it meets the Peddars Way, an ancient Roman road which begins at Knettishall Heath in Suffolk and runs through Breckland to eventually join Norfolk's Heritage Coastal Path. The ancient Roman road was built around the time (AD61) that Queen Boadicea, leader of the Iceni tribe, led a revolt against the Romans.
Our plan was to follow NR13 to Watton but at Hockham Heath the Peddars Way (which the NR13 follows for some time) follows a dirt track and was unsuitable for our bikes. Therefore, we headed east and re-joined the A1075 close to Great Hockenham (from where you can ride through to Watton on B-roads and county lanes if you want to avoid riding on what was not a busy A-road).
We eventually reached Watton, a small market town with plenty of places to stop for refreshments, via the quiet lanes that snaked through Thompson and Merton. Passing along the town's main street we headed north-west on the B1077 towards Swaffham. Shortly after riding through South Pickenham two massive wind turbines suddenly appeared through the mist, the whoosh of their blades emphasising the power generated on what was a calm day.
At Swaffham we stopped in one of the town's cafes and ate a Peddar's Breakfast. It's an attractive market town and was once home to Howard Carter, an archaeologist who discovered the Egyptian treasures of Tutankhamun.
From Swaffham we took a south-westerly direction along forest and heath-lined roads that passed through Cockley Cley (which has a reconstruction of an Iceni village) and then onto Oxborough. This small village has an impressive moated manor (Oxborough Hall) which was built by the Bedingfield family in the 15th century and whose descendents have lived there ever since.
We left the village in a south-easterly direction and rode through a mix of arable farmland and sandy heathland whilst battling a snow shower. After crossing the A134 the route was back in the heart of the forest on some very quiet roads, which typified most of the ride. Eventually we reached Brandon (where you can jump on the train back to Thetford station) and crossed into Suffolk for the first time.
On leaving Brandon the route cut through the forest on a minor road which passed Santon Downham (where the Forestry Commission's Eastern Region office is based) and up on a great, narrow tree-lined climb. After less than a mile on the A134 (which can be avoided by riding on a bridleway at Santon Warren) we were once again on a heath flanked lane that took us back through Croxton and onto Thetford Station.
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