Whitlingham Country Park

Today Kevin had an Army Fitness Test, so we had decided to spend the day in Norwich to save on petrol, the downside was Kevin had to be in Norwich at 8am, so we had to leave at 6.30am ugh.

I had heard of Whitlingham Country Park being advertised, the country park is 2 broads Little Whitlingham Broad and Great Whitlingham Broad, and woodlands walks.

These are new Broads in the 1988 they were mined as Gravel Pits, and then filled with water, with woodlands and meadows being created around them.

http://www.visiteastofengland.com/thedms.aspx?dms=13&nearby=1&feature=1&GroupId=5&venue=0223003

http://www.tournorfolk.co.uk/whitlingham.html#start

The complex is better known as Whitlingham Outdoor Education Centre

http://www.whitlinghamoec.co.uk/

Finding out about the Outdoor Education Centre was easy, finding out about the Country Park proved to be problematic, it seems to be the best kept secret in Norfolk.

After dropping off Kevin, we went into Norwich and had breakfast, then left for the park, we had problems finding the park, at one point ending up on the Yarmouth Road,

We seemed to drive round in circles, it turned out to be 10 minutes from Norwich Railway Station very close to Norwich Football Ground in Trowse, but it wasn't signposted.  However, it was FREE just cost £4 parking.

We arrived at Whitlingham, treated ourselves to an ice cream and started to walk round the Great Whitlingham Broad, it was a beautiful warm sunny day.


There were lots of ducks, geese and swans, as well as boats, it was idyllic.

Great Whitlingham Broad

Little Whitlingham Broad

There were some ruins of an old Manor House.

Arch to the Manor House

The Manor House Ruins

The Manor House through the Trees

River Yare

River Yare

Whitlingham Outdoor Education Centre


We passed very close to the Main Norwich Railway Line

 We did a complete circular of Great Whitlingham Broad which was about 3 miles, then had a packed lunch, we still had approximately 2 hours to kill, so decided to do the Woodland Walk.

However, when we thought we had reached the top there was MORE steps

There was some story posts round the park, if you ring a number it will tell you about the area, but we were too mean to pay for it:)

When we returned to the visitor centre we enjoyed a cream tea overlooking the Broad on some unusual tables.

We had about an hour to spare so thought we would go to Mousehold Heath and have an ice cream, but the road was closed, and we ended up on the Yarmouth Road, our car certainly wanted to to go Yarmouth.