Aclgre two

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 75.00% of reviewers

I walked this route alone from Acle to Great Yarmouth on a sunny day punctuated by an occasional rain shower. I was marching pretty quickly and made the occasional wrong turn and it took me just under 4 hours with no breaks. If you are accompanied (which I recommend because you are quite remote at times) and walk at a more leisurely pace then excluding breaks you should allow closer to 5 hours.

I downloaded the GPX file and followed it using the free “GPX viewer 2” which I downloaded onto my iPhone from the App Store. Being notoriously prone to getting lost I was determined to follow the specified route exactly. The app has a setting to also show where you are in relation to the route and I found that an indispensable aid to staying on course. TIP: if you do use the app as I have mentioned then zoom in to the greatest extent possible so that you don’t miss any of the more subtle turnings.

The route is almost entirely flat but the surface is very uneven in parts because for most of it you are walking cross-country. It would certainly not suit cyclists or walkers with impediments.

At times you cross fields and at the time I was walking this meant battling through waist-high undergrowth - I was glad to be wearing long trousers and a full sleeved top. Also, if it wasn’t for having a route to follow, I would have doubted myself at various points, partly because some of the route looked like you were walking where you shouldn’t be.

The walk includes having to go through a number of gates which look like they are designed to deter walkers but on closer inspection have some sort of undoable chain which you then need to restore after you have made it through. However, there was one gate (see picture) that definitely appeared to be impassable and so I resorted to climbing over it.

One of the other reviews mentioned crossing the busy Acle Straight (vehicle road) but the GPX route I followed took me under the road and emerged at a large Asda supermarket.

Overall, I really enjoyed the walk because it almost entirely off-road, quiet (I only passed one other walker during the whole twelve miles apart from when you reach Great Yarmouth), with beautiful countryside and nice views. But because of the terrain, undergrowth, and distance, it was hard work and you need to be fit, well-prepared and have some drinks and snacks.

We parked in Acle and caught the bus to Yarmouth, but you also have the option to take the train too.

Leaving Yarmouth along Breydon water is a nice long flat walk where you can pretty much see the end from the start. It's quite exposed, and there's no shade, so if it's windy or especially sunny dress appropriately!

Once you get to the old Berny arms pub, turn right towards the railway line. We've walked this section a few times over the years. It passes over several fields which can get quite water logged. This time we had to drag a log over to make a little bridge to get passed one particular section, but it's a nice quiet route over to Halvergate. We saw maybe 5 other walkers between the start of the Breydon water walk and Halvergate.

Once we got past Tunstall the path turned quite muddy, and it felt like a bit of a slog all the way to Acle dyke. I was happy we'd done it from the Yarmouth end as if we'd started from Acle I would have been carrying an extra few pounds of mud on my boots all the way! Would be fine later in the year though.

This is a route that is almost all on footpaths and away from the road which was nice. There was a small section in Halvergate that was busy (but I think this is due to roadworks sending more vehicles this way). One slightly hairy bit crossing the Acle Straight A47 but it didn't take long to cross. One section along the river suggested taking a dirt path away from the river path but I don't think that small stretch was a footpath as no obvious way down. It's navigable either way. We walked Yarmouth to Acle. The first stretch was easy and pleasant out of town and along the river and Breydon Water. It's winter so there are a lot of overwintering birds which was nice to see and hear. At one section we spotted 5 short eared owls hunting (all visible together so not one flying around!) which was a rarity. This was just before the main RSPB section. We have walked this just after one of the wettest February's recorded note and that first section to Berney Arms nearly completely fine underfoot. That is thanks to some blocks and matting on the bank in part. The track which follows the river towards Berney Arms was also good under foot. At the point the path turns to cross the grazing marsh I'd emphasize the "marsh". It was very wet and muddy so I'd recommend maybe not doing this after a lot of rain. We've walked this section before in winter and it wasn't this bad. Just after the rail crossing was unavoidable wading and it was relatively deep. Most of the fields were waterlogged but it was mostly fine and you could navigate ok and find the path. The last stretch between Tunstall and Acle was pretty muddy and slippery but a nice route. In summer this whole route would be lovely. It's charming in winter even given wildlife, green fields and copses and the water. In summer some of the visibility might be reduced given reeds. As the first review said there is the request stop on the railway at the Berney Arms mid way and there are pubs dotted in the villages towards Acle. Not much shelter if windy or rainy especially along the river. One stile and some of the kissing gates were a little narrow. This is a by foot route only.

We travelled to Great Yarmouth by bus from Norwich, but route starts by train station.

First few kilometres were overgrown and we had to watch our feet rather than look at Breydon Water, which was a shame as it’s beautiful. Once onto RSPB managed land footpath very good and well maintained (new planks across muddy areas).

The Berney Arms pub has been closed for a few years but still have their picnic benches by the river and we stopped here for lunch (no refreshment stops until pub in Halvergate, which was also closed so check opening times if you plan to stop here). There were also two picnic benches just past the Berney Mill at the entrance to RSPB site.

There is a train stop at Berney, it’s request ie you flag the train down, so route could be broken down into two. We also past a bus stop in Halvergate, which has a limited service to Acle.

We did have a problem with cows on the marsh. Twice we were ran at by two different herds of young bulls, but this is time of year dependant. Next time I would take my stick!!!

Once on the outskirts of Acle, we followed signs to train station to avoid walking by A47 into Acle. From here we got a bus back to Norwich.

Overall good path and signage.

Cafe, pub, post office, shop in Acle.

Share your views about this route, give it a star rating, indicate whether it should be verified or not.

Include information that will be useful to others considering to walk or wheel it.

You can add up to 15 photos.