Date: Monday 5 May 2014
Distance: 17 miles
Footpaths: Peddars Way National Trail
http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/peddars-way-and-norfolk-coast-path
Time: 8 hrs with stops
Counties: Norfolk
Weather: Warm & Sunny – slight breeze
Terrain: Grass road verges, grass tracks and stone/gravel paths
Clothing: As per previous day but with vest top instead of t-shirt
Maps: OS Landranger 132
Books: Trailblazer Guide to Peddars Way & Norfolk Coast Path
Travel
No transport needed – On foot only
Rest Stops
Snack stop – opposite Norfolk Songlines Sculpture
Picnic Lunch Stop – on a stile next to Harpley Common
Dinner at The Gin Trap Inn, Ringstead
Dogs welcome in the bar, garden and pub areas but not allowed in the restaurant conservatory. Other dogs in the pub in the evening.
The Gin Trap Burger – Holkham Estate reared minced beef with cheese, homemade relish, tomato, gherkin, iceberg lettuce, chips and onion rings – great quality burger + amazing chips
Homemade mint ice cream – delicious and much nicer than synthetic mint flavouring
Pint of Coke
Half a Woodfordes Wherry
Pubs/cafes passed but not visited
None on Peddars Way
Accommodation
The Gin Trap Inn, Ringstead. 1 night single occupancy double room with huge private bathroom, including cooked breakfast – £50
www.thegintrap.co.uk/index.php?p=rooms
Cindy & Steve were very welcoming, the room was stunning and the gorgeous bathroom was the most amazing thing to discover after a 17 mile walk. The skylight above the bath was a lovely addition and having both a shower and was pure luxury. The bed was really comfy and there was no noise from the pub downstairs. Breakfast was a very good full English with other choices available. Would definitely return. Excellent value for money.
Notes
Today was a slog – 17 miles with blisters was hard
Wish there had been at least 1 pub or cafe en route
First part was rough going. The verges were overgrown, narrow with very uneven ground. Chose to walk mainly on the road
Route was straight and simple, no chance of losing the path
Trig point didn’t feel very high up and no real incline on approach.
Had to pick up dog and run across A148 – very busy road.
Learnt an interesting fact about male & female cow twins from a friendly farmer with a field of miniature cows http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemartin
Neolithic tumuli on Harpley Common – bronze age burial mounds
No dog poo bins until Ringstead – had to do a burial of our own
No toilet stops so more wild wees.
Very little shade from the sun. Least favourite day of the walk. Quite up and down towards the end.
Birds spotted – new to trip
Greenfinch, Goldcrest, Mistle Thrush, Black Headed Gull
LongWalkswiththeShortDog 