Hoveton – Neatishead, Barton Turf and Horning

This broadly circular route weaves its way through villages, wetlands, fields and protected areas, giving you a fantastic opportunity to take in some of Norfolk’s most beautiful countryside. Tackle the route on its own or combine it with one of the other bike paths found in the local area to make an even longer tour of the county.

Route
The best place to begin your bike ride is Bewilderwood. This popular local attraction has a car park and toilets and you can even stop to explore the woodland play area before you set off.

From Bewilderwood, turn left on St Peters Lane and cycle towards Belaugh Green. When you reach the T-junction, turn right onto Belaugh Lane and follow the road past Wroxham Barns towards Butcher’s Common. Just before you reach the village, turn right onto Norwich Road then left onto Cangate Road. Next, follow the road round to the left towards Neatishead before cycling a small loop up past Pennygate, Berry Hall and Hall Farm.

When you arrive back at Neatishead, turn left onto Irstead Road and follow it along the edge of Barton Broad. Continue south, past Irstead Street and Neatishead Hall towards Horning and the end of the route.

Difficulty
This route runs for around 16 miles. However, there are lots of opportunities to alter it to suit your fitness level and interests. If you skip the loop to Pennygate from Neatishead you’ll cut a few miles off your total or you can turn right onto Common Road in Neatishead and miss out even more of the circuit.

Alternatively, you can link up with route nine in Hoveton or route four in Horning and make your bike ride even longer. A local train station can be found in Hoveton.

Facilities
Hoveton and Horning offer the best choice of facilities on the route. You’ll also find a pub in Neatishead, a café in Wroxham Barns and a picnic area at Barton Turf. Car parks can be found in most of the villages on the route.

Points of interest
If you’re exploring the area with kids, a visit to Bewilderwood is a must. This woodland attraction features tree houses, forest walkways and a number of beautiful areas to discover.

Stop at Hoveton Hall Gardens to explore its lakeside walk and wide variety of plants and flowers, Visit Wroxham Barns to pick up local crafts, fuel up in the café or take in an exhibition, or spend an hour or two at Barton Broad learning about local wildlife.

Just before you return to Horning, you’ll pass the RAF Air Defence Radar Museum. A great place to learn about the development of this all-important tool, the museum is suitable for visitors of all ages. If you have any energy left after all that, you can take a stroll or cycle along the Bure Valley Path. This nine-mile stretch takes you alongside the Bure Valley Steam Railway all the way to Aylsham.

You’ll find lots more information about bike routes and cycling in Norfolk on our site. Take a look around today to find out more.