Stalham – Ingham, Worstead

This extensive loop takes in a wide variety of landscapes. Leading you through villages, across waterways and past a number of historic sights, the route offers a great introduction to this beautiful part of the county. Spend a morning or afternoon exploring the attractions along the way or combine this circular loop with another cycling route and make a full day of your excursion.

Route
This route begins at Sutton Staithe. A quiet, open space just to the south of Stalham, it’s a great place to enjoy a picnic or moor your boat up for the day. From Sutton Staithe, cycle north towards Stalham and then keep right and head towards Ingham. Once you’ve cycled through the village, you’ll take a slight left before turning right onto High Road and cycling towards Lessingham.

Just after you pass the village pub, turn left and cycle towards Happisburgh Common. The route then leads you up towards Crostwight before turning south again and heading to Honing. At Honing, you can either choose to cut back along the Weavers’ Way to Stalham or, if you’re feeling energetic, you can do a loop past Briggate, Lyngates, Sloley Frankfort and Dilham.

Difficulty
If you decide to tackle the full route, you’ll be cycling for around 23 miles from start to finish. This should take you between 3 and 3.5 hours to complete, however you can easily make the bike ride last all day by stopping at local pubs and points of interest. It’s important to note that the Weavers’ Way can be muddy and uneven, especially in wet weather. Bikes with wider tyres will probably be more suitable for this section of the ride.

Facilities
There’s a good choice of pubs along this 23-mile route. You’ll find welcoming watering holes in Sutton Staithe, Stalham, Ingham Corner, Lessingham, Worstead and Dilham. There’s also a café in Happisburgh Common and a train station in Sloley.

Points of interest
If you’re interested in local history and architecture, a stop in Ingham is a must. The small village is home to an impressive 14th-century church and the ruins of a medieval priory.

You can also call in at the Old Vicarage Gardens in East Ruston. Boasting a number of rare and unusual plants, the gardens were designed by Alan Gray and Graham Robeson and make a great destination for an afternoon stroll. There’s a tearoom, plant shop and toilets on site.

Another important historic site on the route is Worstead. Once home to a large number of Flemish weavers, the village gave its name to Worstead cloth. This textile prowess made the village rich. Its profits were used to build the beautiful 14th-century St Mary’s church, a building that’s still impressing modern visitors today.

Find out more about things to do in the local area, and learn all about local bike routes, by exploring our site today.