Fen and Railways - a walk around Honing and East Ruston

Quiet Northern Broadland landscapes of one of the less known areas of the County.

Technical sheet

15521914
A Honing walk posted on 05/10/21 by Norfolk Heron. Last update : 14/09/22
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.58 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 1h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 9 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 9 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 9 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 0 m

Description

Start : Junction between East Ruston Road and The Street in Honing nearby the village hall. NR28 9AB

(S/E) Walk down The Street (South-West) to a more open glade area of grassland within a wooded copse (which is Honing Common). At the road junction, turn left (East) along a minor lane and go straight across the crossroads at the other side of the common.

(1) After 200 yds the road divides - take the left fork as it curves Northwards. After 300yds turn right at a sharp junction along Honing Common Rd towards a small farmstead.

(2) After 50 yards, look out for a footpath across the agricultural field, there is a wooden signpost to search for, and turn left onto that across the field. Cross two fields on this path before dropping through a hedge and down a steep bank onto East Ruston Road (it becomes School Road later).

(3) Go right for approximatively 250 yards, cross the stream and look out for a road junction on the right where the road divides (to Honing Road). Here you have two options.

At this point you can go through a small gap in the hedge on the (north) left side of the road and - depending on the season, you can walk over part of the East Ruston Poors Allotment to view the small broad and heathland - returning to the point you went in by. Alternatively, just turn right into Honing Road and carry on for approx 1/4mile to a cross roads.

(4) At the road junction, take Chapel Road on your right and carry on for around 1/2 mile where there is a sharp turn to the left and ahead of you is a small low 'railway crossing cottage' type building on the right hand side of the road. A trackway branch off the road just before this cottage and almost immediately drops onto the former railway track which is now Weavers Way.

(5) Go right on the railway and this will take you back through woodland, and fields to Honing Road at Honing Common. Do not worry as this path goes on for quite a while until you reach a road ( Dilham Road) where you turn right. When you have turned right, you end up at the junction you came from before.

You can divert a few yards to the left when you come to a level crossing track if you want to go to see the lock at the North Walsham and Dilham Canal - it's worth the visit and you can hear the water running from the railway track.

(6) Just after the interesting cast iron road bridge which crosses the track, look out for a gate on the right with a trackway - this short track leads back to the glade in Honing Common. Turn left onto The Street and back to the start of the walk(S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 9 m - Village Hall
  2. 1 : km 0.78 - alt. 6 m - The Common
  3. 2 : km 1.07 - alt. 5 m - Footpath - Agricultural field
  4. 3 : km 1.7 - alt. 3 m - East Ruston Road
  5. 4 : km 2.46 - alt. 2 m - Chapel Road
  6. 5 : km 3.13 - alt. 0 m - Weavers Way - Railway
  7. 6 : km 5.1 - alt. 9 m - Iron road bridge
  8. S/E : km 5.58 - alt. 9 m

Useful Information

Parking : There is parking at the Village Hall or further along the walk route on Honing Common (just on the side of the road for one or two cars only). (near to point 6 on the map)

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

During the walk or to do/see around

Opposite the junction of Honing Road and East Ruston/School Road there is a small gap in the hedge and an informal path winds its way through the woodland carr (wet woodland) of East Ruston Allotment which is designated as Open Access land under the 2000 Act and is a form of common land containing an interesting and valuable range of ecological habitats including wet woodland (carr), fen (wetland with some open water), heath (gorse and dry woodland) and more open areas of heathy grassland with heather - overall a lovely area and very special.

About 1/4mile from Honing Common / Iron Bridge over the railway, at a point where the railway track is crossed by a shared trackway to some houses which are visible nearby on the right in the trees, listen out for the sound of running water and a public footpath signpost on the left - this will take you in about 100m to Honing Lock which is on the North Walsham to Dilham Canal (disused but being gradually restored by a community group) - again its a lovely spot with good wildlife viewing potential

Reviews and comments

2.3 / 5
Based on 1 review

Clarity of route description
2 / 5
Clarity of route map
3 / 5
Walk interest
2 / 5
Delphinium
Delphinium

Hi Johnny66,
Thank you for this feedback. I am sorry you had this experience. I am going to see with the author how we can improve this route.
Enjoy your walks

Johnny66
Johnny66

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of walk : 07/09/22
Clarity of route description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Walk interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

The initial directions are ambiguous.
The off road section in the woods is impassable so had to walk back
Had to ask for directions back to Honing at the end.
Met some interesting people but not recommended

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