Route: Cley next the Sea
Area: North Norfolk
Date of walk: 27th January 2022
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 8.4 miles
Ascent: 500 feet
Weather: Cloudy at first, becoming sunny
The objective of today’s walk was to explore the unusual landscape around the coastal villages of Cley next the Sea and Blakeney, where the boundary between land and sea is a mixture of sand and marshes. This is a vast no-man’s-land which is home to countless species of birds, plants and insects, many of them rare
We started from Wiveton Down car park in the low lying hills behind the coast and followed the lane into Wiveton village. We crossed the River Glaven via ancient Wiveton Bridge and walked into nearby Cley next the Sea. We made a brief diversion into St Margaret’s Church whose grand cathedral-like appearance seems out of proportion to the size of the village. Its stature is testament to the wealth created here by trade in medieval times
We wandered through the attractive village and passed by Cley Windmill before joining a path along a dike above the marshes. This is both the Peddars Way and the Norfolk Coast Path and it took us in a large loop around Fresh Marshes and then into Blakeney. There were interesting bird sightings as we went along, including curlew, lapwing, stonechat and linnet as well a huge skeins of geese flying overhead. After pausing for refreshments at Blakeney Harbour we re-joined the coast path before turning inland. The inland section took us through fields back up to Wiveton Down and the end of a wonderful walk
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We leave the car park at Wiveton Down and walk down the lane into Wiveton
We pass by St Mary's Church, built in the early part of the 15th century
Looking back to Wiveton
We cross ancient Wiveton Bridge and turn sharp left
The River Glaven, which we'll be crossing again later in the walk
Looking back across the fields to Wiveton Church as we head to Cley next the Sea
A curlew in the field
We arrive at the village green in Cley next the Sea, which is only a few hundred yards from Wiverton, and are greeted by the grand sight of St Margaret's Church
We walk through the graveyard and join a back lane which runs through the village
We follow a narrow ginnel to the main road
At the main road we follow the sign to Cley Windmill
Cley Windmill, built in the 18th century
We leave the village via a raised path at the top of a dike above the marshes
After crossing the River Glaven again we head north, with good views across to Cley next the Sea
The reed beds are harvested for use as roof thatching
We continue along the raised path, heading for Blakeney
Looking over Fresh Marshes
The River Glaven on our right
A stonechat, one of the many bird sightings we enjoyed on this section of the walk
A ruined boat in the salt marshes outside Blakeney
We arrive at Blakeney Harbour
Our route takes us along the harbour's edge
Leaving Blakeney
Morston Salt Marshes ahead
Looking back to Blakeney
We follow the raised path, part of the long distance Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path
Looking back to Blakeney
Midway between Blakeney and Morston we leave the raised path and turn left to head inland back to the start
We follow a track across Morston Downs and Blakeney Downs
Looking back to the sea, which had been hidden from view by dunes and banks until now
The remainder of the walk was a pleasant stroll through agricultural land
We arrive back on Wiveton Down, and the end of the walk is just around the corner
We returned to Cley Windmill at sunset the next day....
