Stiffkey to Keeling – Spring Walking in North Norfolk

Описание: Welcome once again Llama Paw striders, walkers and explorers as I embark on another of my explorations of rural England. Come with me as this time I take a largely coastal walk along the top of Norfolk.

I start off in Stiffkey, a picturesque village close to the coast which isn’t pronounced quite like you think (more’s the pity!) From the local church I head through the heart of the village and then up the hill and into the roads alongside the working farmlands beyond. From here my route curves into the nearby small village of Cockthorpe, which despite lacking paths is still well worth the visit. I head next from Cockthorpe up a long track called – if you can believe it – Love Lane, which eventually gifts me the first view of the Norfolk coastline and marshes.

Taking a turn over the fields I head east and following a close encounter of the porcine-kind, return to the roads as they lead into Morston. A formerly busy working port, today Morston’s Quay is my entrance point to the extensive salt marshes running alongside this section of Norfolk’s North Sea coast, which means I pick up the track through them heading east. It might be spring but the chilly winds make themselves well known in this barren landscape, before I enter the relative civilisation of Blakeney. It’s from here, along with a lot of day trippers, that I take the chance to tour through the saltmarshes getting closer to the sea itself. This might have been a mistake though!

That’s because all those chilly winds drive me on at speed and thankfully back inland to the charming village of Cley next the Sea, a far more sheltered location. From here I’d planned to pick up more coastal walking, but thanks to the chilly winds I decide to replot my route to stay alongside the marshes rather than out in them. It’s the smartest move I make all day. Passing through the local nature reserves, fields and up the hills, I eventually emerge in peaceful Salthouse, from where I pick up a long overland trail. Sadly, this spits me out on the busy A149 road just before I can get to tiny Keeling, where I decide to call it a day, but not without popping in for a cup of teas and some lunch at the nearby tea rooms!

As is now tradition, I keep the chatter during the walk to a minimum, so you can enjoy the sights, sounds and scenery around me, as I experienced them. Naturally, there’s a range of informative text comments alongside the walk to offer a little colour commentary.

Naturally, if you’ve enjoyed this walk as much as I did – don’t forget to show your appreciation by giving me a like, subscribe or a share! My thanks in advance!

Location Guide (What3Words):
Start: ///craters.fuzzy.celebrate
Finish: ///schooling.shocks.prepared

Timecodes
00:00 – St John’s Church, Stiffkey (Start)
01:38 – Cockthorpe
03:21 – Piggies & Morston
05:08 – Salt Marshes & Blakeney
07:36 – Cley next the Sea
08:43 – Reserves & Fields
09:39 – Salthouse & Pinfold Lane
10:55 – Approaching Keeling & the Tearooms (End & Outro)